US08807464B2
A nozzle assembly for a material application device includes an expansion chamber for slowing down the velocity of powder fed to the nozzle from a dense phase pump. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle insert that forms the expansion chamber and provides air assist function. The nozzle includes an integral deflector, and further includes a passageway for a charging electrode so that the electrical path is routed away from the powder path, while permitting the electrode tip to be centered in the powder spray pattern from the nozzle. The nozzle also includes air wash for the electrode. The nozzle outlet orifice has a cross-sectional area that is equal to or greater than the inlet cross-sectional area so that a slow moving dense phase powder cloud is produced by the nozzle.
US08807452B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for producing a water maze from walls of falling water that can be reconfigured to change the maze. In one embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a plurality of spray bars that are each capable of producing a separate wall of falling water droplets and a plurality of water valves that are each associated with only one spray bar. The water valves can be used to define at least two different paths between the entrance and exit of the maze. The apparatus is also capable of being used to create interesting visual effects by projecting light/images on to multiple screens created by walls of falling water droplets.
US08807449B1
A pesticide delivery system integrated into an overflow drain system of a bathtub, a sink, or any other water-retaining basin. The pesticide delivery system includes a pesticide intake segment passing through a transition passage, wherein the transition passage is formed through a wall of a section of the overflow drain system. A fluid retentive seal is located between an exterior of the pesticide intake segment and the overflow conduit wall. A pesticide distribution conduit extends from a distribution end of the pesticide intake segment to a termination end. Pesticide can be discharged through a pesticide delivery port located at an end of the pesticide distribution conduit or through a plurality of pesticide distribution ports spatially located along the pesticide distribution conduit. A plurality of pesticide distribution continuation conduits can be in fluid communication with the pesticide distribution conduit to distribute the pesticide along various directions and locations.
US08807448B2
A foldable feed rail for a rock drill is composed of two segments, a first beam defining a first rail segment and a second beam defining a second rail segment. The second beam may be pivotally connected to the first beam with a hinge to enable the second beam to be folded relative to the first beam. Alternatively, the second beam can be detachably connected to the first beam so that the second beam can be removed altogether from the first beam. This invention enables the feed rail to be shortened, thereby making the feed rail much easier to maneuver in mines.
US08807447B2
Combined heating/hot water system (10) for a vehicle (12), comprising an air heating device (14), at least one air duct (20, 22, 24), by means of which the air heating device (14) is connected by air to an interior (30) of the vehicle (12) for heating, a fan (18), by means of which air heated in the air heating device (14) may be introduced into the interior (30) of the vehicle (12) for heating, a hot water reservoir (16) arranged in a recess (15) in the air heating device (14), a first pipe duct (36), by means of which the hot water reservoir (16) may be hydraulically connected to a tap (34) in the vehicle (12) and a second pipe duct (38), by means of which the hot water reservoir (16) is hydraulically coupled to a water tank (32), wherein at least one of the pipe ducts (36, 38) is arranged in one of the air ducts (20, 22, 24).
US08807446B2
The present invention provides a heating device with cathode oxygen depletion (COD) function for a fuel cell vehicle, in which an existing COD and a heating device for improving cold startability of the fuel cell vehicle are integrated. For this purpose, the present invention provides a heating device with COD function for a fuel cell vehicle, the heating device including: a housing having an inlet and an outlet formed on both ends thereof; a start-up heater and a shut-down heater provided in parallel on one side of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a coolant flow direction; and a plurality of heaters for heating coolant provided in parallel on the other side of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the coolant flow direction, wherein cross sections in the coolant flow direction of each of the respective heaters change periodically along the longitudinal direction of the heater so as to cause a flow disturbance.
US08807431B2
A portable encoded information reading (EIR) terminal for incorporation in a data collection system can comprise a terminal module communicatively coupled to a wireless interface module via a wired interface. The terminal module can include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an encoded information reading (EIR) device. The wireless interface module can include a microcontroller, a memory, and at least one wireless communication interface. The wireless interface module can establish one or more wireless links with one or more peer EIR terminals, to join a wireless network which is collectively formed by the peer EIR terminals. The wireless interface module can receive or transmit beacons containing at least an identifier of a path selection protocol which is used for unicast, multicast and broadcast frame transmission within the wireless network.
US08807427B1
In one embodiment, an account is established for non-negotiable credits provided by an entity to one or more users. Interactions that earn a quantity of non-negotiable credits are detected. The quantity of non-negotiable credits from the interactions is added to the account. In absence of a conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to in-game funds, a commerce partner does not accept the non-negotiable credits for in-game purchases for a computer game. The computer game is owned or controlled by the commerce partner. A quantity of the non-negotiable credits is subtracted from the account. The subtracted quantity of non-negotiable credits corresponds to a quantity of entity independent funds resulting from the conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to a quantity of the in-game funds in accordance with agreement terms established by the commerce partner and the entity. The commerce partner is compensated.
US08807425B2
A portable asset tagging system, process and computer writeable medium including at least one tag exhibiting a QR code along with a separate unique identification number printed thereon, the tag also identifying a site address accessibly by a member user and associated with the system. A software program is incorporated into a processor integrated device used to access the site address and exhibiting a visual display and includes user enterable fields for creating a member profile and for identifying and pairing the asset to the tag in order to establish ownership with information derived from the member profile. Upon the item being lost and subsequently found, the finder entering the unique identification number or scanning the QR code in order to uncover at least one additional data field which draws information from the member entered fields in order to facilitate return of the lost item.
US08807422B2
A tamper-proof barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of time and temperature thresholds following actuation thereof, including a first barcode including a first colorable area and being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a second barcode including a second colorable area and not being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator, a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, at a rate which is at least partially a function of time, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable, and a tamper-proof actuator element operative to actuate the indicator.
US08807418B2
A container is disclosed. The container may include a fillable bladder in an interior of an enclosure of the container. The container may be used for packaging a pourable product into a fillable bladder while the fillable bladder is positioned inside the container. The container may include an enclosure having a blind depth recess bottom handle. The container may include an enclosure having a bottom flap having a flap perimeter which generally matches a lower perimeter of a plurality of sides of the enclosure.
US08807415B2
A stapling device for a surgical endoscopic device provided with at least one flexible portion, comprising a staple-firing portion and an anvil portion, wherein one of the staple firing portions and one of the anvil portions are located longitudinally displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic device, with at least a part of said flexible portion between them. The parts of the stapling device are in correct working relationship when one or more alignment and/or locking pins or screws that are stored in one of the staple firing portions or one of the anvil portions are extended and engage and lock or screw into receptacles that have been provided on the other of the staple firing portion or of the anvil portion.
US08807414B2
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle portion, a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis and an articulating tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and having a proximal end. The articulating tool assembly is disposed at a distal end of the body portion and is movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis. The instrument also includes an articulation mechanism configured to articulate the articulating tool assembly, the articulation mechanism including an articulation sensor assembly configured to transmit a sensor signal to a microcontroller which is configured to determine an articulation angle of the articulation assembly.
US08807394B2
A system comprises an automatic mixing and dispensing device for a dental substance, and a material container. The mixing and dispensing device comprises a reservoir for receiving the dental substance, and first and second pressure plates. The material container has first and second material chambers for containing components of a material. The first and second material chambers have first and second cross-sectional chamber areas. At least one of the first and second cross-sectional chamber areas is smaller than smallest surface area of the first and second pressure plates. The system helps facilitating preparation and handling of dental materials.
US08807388B2
A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.
US08807382B1
A storage system useful for storing cryogenic liquids is disclosed. The storage system includes a storage vessel, insulation surrounding the storage vessel and a flexible vacuum jacket enclosing them both. The flexible vacuum jacket can be made from a flexible plastic film such as polyimide. Polyimide is preferred due to its ability to remain flexible at cryogenic temperatures. The inner volume of the flexible vacuum jacket is placed under vacuum such that the insulation is maintained under vacuum. The flexible vacuum jacket can collapse against and conform to the insulation when it is evacuated, saving substantially on volume. A fitting for combining multiple passageways is also disclosed, so that multiple passageways can proceed through the vacuum jacket through a single penetration.
US08807371B2
A drinking cup lid for attachment to a disposable drinking cup, the lid having a surface with a drinking hole opening, a peripheral wall for engaging and removably sealing the lid to the drinking cup, and a plug disposed outside the peripheral wall connected to the peripheral wall by a pair of flexible support arms, the plug engaging the drinking hole opening in a friction fit relationship.
US08807370B2
Disclosed herein is a preservation container having a container body and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes an upper cover, a knob provided on a top of the upper cover and rotated by a user, a vertical moving unit coupled to the upper cover and moved up and down by a rotation of the knob, an intermediate cover detachably coupled to a bottom of the upper cover and having in a central portion thereof a hole through which the vertical moving unit is exposed to an outside, a lower cover coupled to the vertical moving unit, and a packing fitted into a groove which is formed in a top of the lower cover and sliding along a bottom of the intermediate cover to be in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, when the vertical moving unit moves up.
US08807366B2
A folding assembly box includes vertical corner hinge frames disposed in corners of the box, and vertical middle hinge frames disposed between the vertical corner hinge frames facing each other at both sides thereof. The vertical corner hinge frames are unfolded at an angle to form the respective corners of the box, and are hinged in the opposite direction to the direction where the vertical corner hinge frames are unfolded. The vertical middle hinge frames are unfolded together with the vertical corner hinge frames at both sides thereof, and hinged in the opposite direction to the opposite direction where the vertical corner hinge frames are unfolded. Top and bottom horizontal frames are disposed to connect upper and lower ends of the vertical corner hinge frames facing each other. Panels are inserted between the first top and bottom horizontal frames facing each other.
US08807365B2
A foldable box includes a floor having a shaft arranged in a base area of an exterior wall area thereof. A guide opening in the fixed exterior wall area and includes a lateral opening section extending from an outside of the fixed exterior wall area inwards. A cam in the base area includes a cam contour which gets into contact with a contact surface of the exterior wall area. When exceeding a boundary angle the shaft is moved inwards. After exceeding the boundary angle a bottom side of the exterior wall is pressed against an internal edge area of the fixed exterior wall area by a force higher than a force by which the bottom side of the exterior wall in the erected vertical position is pressed against a top side of the fixed exterior wall area by the effect of the shaft or the cam.
US08807364B2
There is provided a receptacle for a modular telematic unit. An exemplary receptacle comprises a body, at least one housing, and at least one solar panel. The body comprises at least two rails positioned opposite from each other. The housing is configured to be detachably slid into the rails. The solar panel is configured to be detachably slid into the rails. An outer surface of the solar panel, when slid into the rails, is slanted at an angle α relative to at least one outer surface of the body. The outer surface of the body is positioned opposite the solar panel.
US08807362B2
A bottle cap that is an apparatus for containing heterogeneous materials, applied in the discharge direction of materials in a container, comprises: a main body coupled to a bottle neck; and a containing unit assembled inside the main body with a storage space. An activated unit is assembled in the center of the upper support unit of the main body. An activation unit for downward movement is coupled to the activated unit so that the activated unit may move downward by a separate activation unit. An opening/closing unit is coupled with the lower part of the activated unit with the above structure in order to seal an opening/closing hole of the storage space.
US08807358B2
An in-bottle aerator for mixing the oxygen in the air with wine as the wine is poured from its bottle. The aerator has at least one air ingress channel extending from one end of the aerator to the other allowing air into the bottle to displace wine exiting the bottle. Air mixing channels draw air from outside the bottle and direct that air to lateral channels that intersect a central flow channel extending from one end of the bottle to another. The air mixing and air ingress channels are preferably arranged to allow the user to pour and aerate wine at the same time and with the bottle in any orientation about its axis. The aerator may be a separately formed component that can be inserted into the bottle by the bottle manufacturer, by a wine bottler or by an enduser. Alternatively, the aerator may be wholly or partly formed as part of the neck of the bottle. A completely and integrally formed aerator may be formed a part of a plastic wine bottle. For or plastic or glass wine bottles aeration channels may be formed on the internal surface of the neck of the bottle and an insert can be used to complete the within bottle aerator by the insertion (by the bottle manufacturer, by a wine bottler or by an enduser) of an aerator component having additional channels formed therein.
US08807350B2
There is provided a composite membrane, which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. There is also provided a composite membrane for water application(s), which may include an electronically conductive porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. Moreover, there is provided a composite membrane for gas application(s), which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. There is also provided a membrane system which may include at least one composite membrane which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. In addition there is provided a method for the preparation of a composite membrane.
US08807342B2
A packaging box is disclosed, which is formed by coupling two packaging structures. The packaging structure includes a baseboard, which has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, a third side for connecting the first and second sides, and a fourth side opposite to the third side for connecting the first and second sides. The packaging structure includes a first sidewall standing on the first side, and a second sidewall standing on the third sidewall. The packaging structure further includes plural first coupling elements and plural second coupling elements. The first coupling elements are disposed on the first and second sidewalls. The second coupling elements corresponding to the first coupling elements are disposed on the second and fourth sides of the baseboard. Two packaging structures are coupled by coupling the first coupling elements to the second coupling elements to obtain the packaging box.
US08807339B2
The present invention refers to a multi-layered package, and particularly to a container comprising a container opening and a container bottom. Preferably, at least one outer wall comprises a predetermined removable wall section, revealing an information. The feature of the package according to the present invention is that the package is formed with at least one inner wall and one outer wall. Thereby, the wall section is as part of the outer wall a removable card.
US08807338B2
A package for mailing of a light-weight product includes a compressible body and a sheet that is less compressible than the body. A front face of the body has a cutout shaped to receive the product. The sheet has a planar first panel and a planar second panel. An inside face of the first panel is secured to a back face of the compressible body. The second panel is foldably connected to a first edge of the first panel and movable between a folded configuration in which the second panel covers the front face of the compressible body and an unfolded configuration in which the front face of the compressible body is uncovered and an inside face of the second panel is exposed. The sheet does not cover the top face and the bottom face of the compressible body.
US08807323B2
A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements, first and second drive rollers between the frame elements, and a flexible belt mounted between the first and second drive rollers that has a load bearing portion and a return portion, the return portion extending between the first and second frame elements. The conveyor has a first end portion including the first drive roller, a second end portion including the second drive roller and a central portion including a midpoint between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, and the central portion of the conveyor includes a lift-table receiving space between the first drive roller and the second drive roller and between the first frame element and the second frame element, and the return portion of the belt extends between the load bearing portion and the lift-table-receiving space.
US08807317B2
A parking meter mechanism is described that may include a front housing, having a display opening for viewing a display through, connected to an internal structure. Additionally or alternatively the parking meter mechanism may include a contactless payment reader located behind the display. The parking meter mechanism may be secured to a lower housing. A back housing may be secured to the lower housing as well. The front or back housing may include a solar panel compartment and solar panel mounted therein.
US08807307B2
Disclosed is a high-performance shear friction damper provided in a building construction and attenuating a vibration which is applied to the building construction due to external loads such as an earthquake or strong wind. The high-performance shear friction damper includes first and second support bodies supported to a building construction or damping rods, two prop plates fixed to the second support body and extending to surround both side surfaces of the first support body, friction plates mounted between the first support body and the prop plates, and fastening units each including a tension bolt penetrating the first support body, the friction plates and the prop plates, and a nut fastened to an end of the tension bolt, wherein the first support body has slots extending in a horizontal direction, the tension bolts extend while penetrating the slots to allow the first support body to be slidably movable in the horizontal direction with respect to the friction plates.
US08807304B2
A vibration damping device capable of achieving sufficient vibration damping effect utilizing members for converting kinetic energy into thermal energy. In the vibration damping device, a plurality of members is attached to an object to be vibrated in a manner to displace relatively while being contacted with each other, and vibrations of the vibrating object is damped by converting kinetic energy resulting from the vibrations of the object into thermal energy by the relative displacement of the plurality of members. The vibration damping device includes a tightening member, which is attached to the plurality of members to tighten the plurality of members so as to increase frictional force among the plurality of members.
US08807303B2
A second shock absorbing portion (18) includes an encirclement wall (42) and ribs (46) which are formed to have a height greater than that of an encirclement wall (40) and ribs (44) in a first shock absorbing portion (20). The ribs (44) and the ribs (46) have substantially the same wall thickness, and the number of the ribs (44) is the same as the number of the ribs (46). Accordingly, the second shock absorbing portion (18) is more brittle than the first shock absorbing portion (20), since the second shock absorbing portion (18) is made to have a height greater than that of the first shock absorbing portion (20). Further, the first shock absorbing portion (20) is placed in a vehicle inner side, while the second shock absorbing portion (18) is placed in a vehicle outer side.
US08807301B2
A fluid pressure shock absorber includes a piston which is constituted by two piston bodies. An annular valve seat is formed on a non-coupled surface of one of the piston bodies, so that extension-side communication passages are located radially inside the annular valve seat and compression-side communication passages are located radially outside the annular valve seat, and an annular valve seat is formed on a non-coupled surface of the other of the piston bodies, so that the compression-side communication passages are located radially inside the annular valve seat and the extension-side communication passages are located radially outside the annular valve seat. A sliding member is disposed around one of the pitons bodies. A rotation preventing unit for preventing relative rotation of the piston bodies is provided on coupled surfaces and of the piston bodies. A nut for fastening the piston bodies and disk valves is disposed at an end of a piston rod.
US08807298B2
A disk brake is provided which is free from problems attributed to the obverse-reverse orientation of a cover member as installed. A cylinder portion (21) slidably accommodating a piston is formed from a plate-shaped cover member (43) constituting the bottom thereof and a caliper body main part (46) having an opening (45) that is closed with the cover member (43). The cover member (43) is joined to the caliper body main part (46) to close the opening (45). A projection (60) is provided on one side of the cover member (43) that faces inside the cylinder portion (21), and a blind hole (61) is provided on the other side of the cover member (43). When the cover member (43) has been installed in the normal orientation, the blind hole (61) remains after the outer surface of the bottom of the caliper body has been subjected to face cutting after the installation of the cover member (43).
US08807291B2
An attachment support for temporarily installing equipment on a wheel of an aircraft or a vehicle, includes: two support elements connected by a shaft that together form a plane, the elements bearing respectively on the ground and against a tire of the wheel, with the elements extending along an axis parallel to the wheel axis, and displacement members to place the support elements in a first inactive position in which they do not bear on the tire, and a second locked position, in which they bear on the tire to lock the wheel. The members include a lever arm having one end connected to the end of one U-shaped element, whose two arms are mounted in a rotary manner respectively on the ends of one of each support element, the lever arm being displaceable from a horizontal to a vertical position.
US08807278B1
A hunting stand apparatus includes a pair of posts each having a bottom end and a top end. Each of the posts is telescoping and includes a same number of a plurality of tubular members such that sets of tubular members are defined. Each of a plurality of rungs is attached to and extending between tubular members of each set. A plurality of locking members is provided for locking the sets in an extended position. A seat has a front edge pivotally coupled to an upper most one of the rungs. A pair of brackets is also provided. Brackets are attached to each of the posts. Each of a pair of supports is removably attached to and extends between one of the brackets and a back edge of the seat such that the seat is angled with respect to the posts.
US08807274B2
A control device of a motor vehicle having a noise transmission system and an exhaust system, wherein the noise transmission system has, for manipulating an interior noise of the motor vehicle, at least one intake noise transmission device which can be coupled via a first tubular connecting element to an air intake pipe leading to an internal combustion engine, the first tubular connecting element being assigned a switchable shut-off device, and which can be coupled via a second tubular connecting element to a vehicle interior, wherein the exhaust system has at least one switchable shut-off device for manipulating an exterior noise of the motor vehicle, and wherein the control device manipulates the operation of the noise transmission system and of the exhaust system jointly as a function of an actuation of a common operating element by the driver.
US08807262B2
A vehicle (10) having a bearing frame (12) of the tubular trestle type, two front steered wheels (14, 16), two rear wheels (18, 20) with fixed axis (144), an engine unit (22), steering means (24), a front suspension unit (26), connecting the frame (12) to the front wheels (14, 16), a rear suspension unit (28), connecting the frame (12) to the rear wheels (18, 20), a transmission unit, interposed between the engine unit (22) and the axle shafts of the rear wheels (18, 20), a seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10), arranged at a central position with respect to such vehicle (10), and at least two seats (44′) for the passengers of the vehicle (10) adjacent to each other, arranged laterally and receded according to a predefined distance with respect to the seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10).
US08807248B2
A hard cutting insert for use with a roof drill bit includes a first webbed notch and a second webbed notch structured and arranged on the hard insert for removing or evacuating drilling debris from an upper surface of the hard insert during a drilling operation. A roof drill bit including a hard cutting insert having a first webbed notch and a second webbed notch structured and arranged on the hard insert.
US08807243B2
Systems and methods for reducing the amount of torque transferred to the Bottom Hole Assembly and the drill string during drilling operations are disclosed. The drill string includes an optionally non-rotatable portion. A rotational hold down system is positioned at a first position on the drill string where it is not rotationally coupled to the drill string. The rotational hold down system is then moved to a second position on the drill string where it is rotationally coupled to the optionally non-rotatable portion of the drill string. In the second position, one or more bars on the rotational hold down system substantially prevent rotation of the optionally non-rotatable portion of the drill string.
US08807241B2
Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.
US08807240B2
A gas-engine-powered handheld working machine has a working unit driven by a engine capable of running on a gas fuel supplied from a gas cartridge. The gas cartridge is arranged such that when the handheld working machine is disposed in a normal rest position where the handheld working machine is placed on a horizontal plane with a bottom surface of a machine body lying flat on the horizontal plane, the gas cartridge is disposed in a substantially vertical position with a discharge nozzle directed downwards while a central axis of the gas cartridge extends substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
US08807236B2
A stack-fold implement having a central bulk fill hopper assembly is provided. The bulk fill hopper assembly is mounted to the center frame section of the stack-fold implement and does not affect the narrowness of the stack-fold implement when it's in a stacked, transport position. The hopper assembly includes a pair of bulk fill hoppers or tanks supported by cradle that is in turn supported by a pair of wheels. The cradle is removably coupled to the center frame section by a plurality of rigid frame members.
US08807233B2
A method for fire-fighting, a rescue boom and a nozzle of a piercing tool. A rescue boom is provided with an elongated piercing tool that can be pushed through a shell of a burning object. A fire extinguishing medium can be conveyed through the piercing tool to a nozzle provided in the piercing tool. The nozzle is provided with orifices arranged such that single jets form a single uniform jet having a flat curtain-like shape.
US08807230B2
A well tubing installer includes a base having a tubular connector extending downward for connection to an upper end of a blowout preventer. A support floor having support slips is mounted to hydraulic cylinders at a fixed distance above the base. A traveling slip base containing traveling slips is mounted to upper ends of piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders. A pipe lifting assembly is supported by the base for lifting and positioning an additional joint of tubing to be added to the string of tubing. A pipe make-up mechanism is supported by the base for rotating the additional joint into threaded engagement with the string of tubing. A control line supply source for supplies control line to and alongside the string of tubing at a point between the base and the support floor.
US08807228B2
A mechanism to enhance disengagement of release assembly portions from one another when disposed in a well. The mechanism may be disposed at an internal rod of the release assembly and configured to prevent frictional resistance to shifting of the rod.
US08807222B2
A process is provided for reducing the pressure for injecting a solution of water-soluble polymer from a given injection pump into various oil wells in a given field as a function of the fracturation pressure for each well. Between the injection pump and each well, a respective main volumetric pump is placed. The fracturation pressure of each well is detected with a respective manometer, and the flow rate of each volumetric pump is controlled, using a brake, as a function of detected fracturation pressure of the respective well.
US08807207B1
A remote controlled tilting power swivel capable of being tilted to any angle up to an adjustable maximum tilt angle. The tilting power swivel angle of tilt can be adjusted to line up with pipe staged at various angles as required by different rigs. Adjusting the maximum extension of the tilt cylinder allows the power swivel to repeat a desired angle for the duration of a job. The system requires the addition of only one hydraulic fluid supply hose, thereby allowing a simple live hose reel with four hoses. The tilting power swivel promotes safety, efficiency, and saves time by eliminating the need for a stabbing man hanging in the derrick.
US08807204B2
A system for cooling a heat generating device comprises a heat sink and a plurality of ion emitter elements that form an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) air flow device. The heat sink has a base disposed in thermal communication with a heat generating device, such as a processor. A plurality of heat sink fins is coupled to electrical ground to form ion collectors. Ion emitter elements are disposed in a non-planar pattern along first ends of the plurality of fins so that each ion emitter element is equidistant from the first end of a nearest fin. A power supply applies an electrical potential between the plurality of ion emitter elements and the plurality of fins to induce a flow of ions that cause airflow across the heat sink. It is preferable to have at least three ion emitter elements that are equidistant from each fin of the heat sink.
US08807200B2
The invention is provided with a first injection electric motor used for low-speed injection and increasing pressure, a second injection electric motor used for high-speed injection, first and second power transmission mechanisms for transmitting rotary motion of the injection electric motors to a screw shaft, first and second clutch mechanisms provided in the power transmission mechanisms, an injection plunger advanced and withdrawn integrally with respect to a nut threaded on the screw shaft, and a controller for controlling the driving of the injection electric motors and the clutch mechanisms. The controller starts the second injection electric motor from a stopped state before the point in time where the high-speed injection step is to commence; and switches the second clutch mechanism from a disengaged state to an engaged state at the point in time where the high-speed injection step is to commence, or at a requisite timing prior thereto.
US08807198B2
A method for die casting a component includes inserting at least one sacrificial core into a die cavity of a die comprised of a plurality of die elements. Molten metal is injected into the die cavity. The molten metal is solidified within the die cavity to form the component. The plurality of die elements are disassembled from the component, and the at least one sacrificial core is destructively removed from the component.
US08807195B2
The invention concerns a device with a curtain which can be rolled up and unrolled between a shut position and an open position, whereby this curtain (1) comprises a belt (2,3) on each of its faces, whereby each belt (2,3) has successive teeth (5,6) in the longitudinal direction, whereby these belts (2,3) are situated opposite one another in such a way that they can mesh when the curtain (1) is being rolled up. At least one of these belts (2,3) comprises teeth (5,6) having at least one recess (8,9) in which at least one protruding part (10,11) of the teeth (5,6) of the other belt (2,3) can engage in such a way that the two belts (2,3) can mesh and such that one of these belts (2,3) can push the other belt (2,3) in their longitudinal directions.
US08807192B2
A blind for a building opening, and having a head rail, attachable adjacent to the building opening; a first blind panel stored in the head rail, and adapted to be lowered as a loop defing two loop parts, over the building opening; a second blind panel stored in the head rail and adapted to be lowered over the building opening, and wherein the first panel is formed of light permeable material, whereby to admit at least some light into the interior of the building, and the second panel is formed of light impermeable material; transverse blind strips on the first panel, at spaced intervals there across; and, blind panel control mechanism in the head rail whereby the first blind panel loops can be adjusted so as to adjust the transverse blind strips between open and closed positions.
US08807190B2
An end cap for enclosing or covering the end of a cassette of a roller blind or a roller shade. The cassette includes a roller having wound thereon a fabric having a bottom bar attached or otherwise secured thereto or thereover. The end cap comprises a wall portion and a bottom bar stop. The wall portion is releasably securable to an end of the cassette. The bottom bar stop is fixed to and extends outwardly from the wall portion and inhibits upward movement of the bottom bar beyond the elevation of the bottom bar stop when the end cap is secured to an end of the cassette.
US08807180B2
The current application is directed to a single-spout, dual-channel recyclable-fuel fueling nozzle that extracts spent fuel from a vehicle and introduces fresh fuel into the vehicle via a single filler neck. Liquids move in two different directions within two separate channels of the dual-channel recyclable-fuel fueling nozzle to and from two different reservoirs within the vehicle, including a fresh-fuel reservoir and a spent-fuel reservoir.
US08807177B2
An automated syringe filler is disclosed comprising a housing and motor with a rotatable syringe holder plate that can be raised and lowered onto exposed syringe needles. The housing also has components for one or more syringes to be attached with the needles pointing upward and the syringe plungers moveably positioned at the bottom. The syringe plunger tool controls the movement of the syringe plunger and can be horizontally and vertically positionable. The syringe plunger tool is motorized and can be controlled by a CPU or similar device containing programmable media.
US08807176B2
A method for forming a diffuse visual pattern of two or more product components in a container. The method includes providing a filler/mixer having a mixing chamber with up to about 10 mixing elements. A container is positioned after the mixing chamber on a container support that is capable of rotating the container. The components are fed into the mixing chamber to form a mixture. The mixture is fed into the container while it is rotated and concurrently separated from the mixing chamber.
US08807167B2
A method for regulating water output is presented. The method includes receiving an input at a plurality of sensors, transmitting a signal to a control unit in response to receiving the input, controlling, via the control unit, a first plurality of solenoid valves to regulate hot water controlling, via the control unit, a second plurality of solenoid valves to regulate cold water in response to the signal, creating a water mixture comprising at least hot water output from at least one of the first plurality of solenoid valves or cold water output from at least one of the second plurality of solenoid valves, and outputting the water mixture to a water output unit.
US08807155B2
A regulator that performs control such that a tilt angle of a variable volume pump increases as a pilot pressure in a pilot flow passage decreases is provided, and when a controller determines that all of a plurality of operation valves for controlling a flow of a discharged oil that is led from the variable volume pump to respective actuators are in a neutral position, the controller supplies the discharged oil from the variable volume pump to a regenerative hydraulic motor by setting a solenoid valve in an open position and sets a pilot flow passage change-over solenoid valve in a blocking position such that the pilot pressure led to the regulator through the pilot flow passage is reduced by a pressure reducing valve.
US08807153B2
This invention relates to a support unit of a roof element comprising a frame and a fabric fixed on the frame and intended to be stretched between said frame and the support unit, said support unit comprising a central mast and being remarkable in that it comprises means of connecting assembled slidingly and in a lockable manner on said central mast and arranged in order to be fixed to the fabric, a plurality of cables fixed on the upper end of the central mast. This invention also has for object a lightweight shelter comprising a support unit according to the invention, a frame and a fabric, and a modular awning comprising a plurality of lightweight shelters. This invention relates finally to the methods for assembling said lightweight shelter and modular awning.
US08807147B2
A cosmetic powder container, including: a container body for containing cosmetic powder therein; a middle cap defining a powder application space, with a powder discharging part provided in the bottom of the middle cap; an outer cap removably fastened to the container body, with an annular sealing protrusion formed in the outer cap so as to be brought into close contact with the middle cap; a sealing cap assembled with a locking collar formed on the lower surface of the outer cap, with an annular sealing foot formed on the lower surface of the sealing cap so as to be closely seated on an outer shoulder of the powder discharging part when the outer cap is closed to the container body, and with a sealing bottom formed inside the annular sealing foot and fitted into the sealing step; and a powder charge cap.
US08807143B2
A filter for a smoking article comprises elongate body 4 of filter material 7 for filtering smoke, an inner wrapper comprising first and second regions 9, 10 of non-porous material around and spaced apart along the length the filter material 7 to define a gap 11 that acts as a ventilation zone, and an outer wrapper 13 of porous material overlying the inner wrapper such as to allow ventilation air to be drawn through the ventilation zone and pass into the filter material (a) through the porous third wrapper and (b) longitudinally between inner wrapper and the outer wrapper.
US08807134B2
A patient interface that reliably and comfortably seals a user's face by providing an oral-nasal mask that includes an integrated nasal interface. The patient interface includes a seal member having an oral cushion portion configured to surround the user's mouth and a nasal interface portion that provides an interface with the user's nose. The seal member, including the oral cushion portion and the nasal interface portion, is a unitary member. Finally, the nasal interface portion remains below the bridge of the nose.
US08807133B2
An aspiration and resuscitation system which is useable to perform aspiration and/or resuscitation procedures on living beings, particularly small animals, and most particularly newborn small animals such as puppies and kittens. The system includes an aspirator and a resuscitator. Each includes a separable pump and animal interface mask. Further disclosed are aspiration and resuscitation methods using the disclosed apparatus.
US08807125B1
The present invention relates to a three dimensionally fiber-reinforced riser and to the unitary or single-step methods of making the same. In one embodiment (a cross bow riser for example), the riser has an interior support with opposed side members and a front brace. The front brace has a depression centrally located therein. Two side ribs are also provided for structural support. Two pockets each optionally having a divider wall defining a top and bottom section are provided for receiving respective top and bottom pieces of a split limb, when a split limb is used. The riser can be made of a composite material having fibers aligned there within in the directions of the highest stresses for enhancing the structural strength of the riser. Other bow parts or components can likewise be made via composite material as well.
US08807122B2
A tank venting apparatus for a supercharged internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor reservoir (25) connected to the fuel tank (18) via a connecting line (26) and to an intake pipe (9) of the internal combustion engine (1) via a venting line (27), a tank venting valve (28) which is arranged in the venting line (27), and a safety valve (33) which is arranged in the venting line (27) between the tank venting valve (28) and the intake pipe (9). The safety valve (33) is configured so as to permit a gas flow in a blocking direction (S) from the intake pipe (9) to the tank venting valve (28) with a certain positive pressure in relation to the pressure at the tank venting valve (28) is achieved in the intake pipe (9).
US08807115B2
An engine having improved combustion characteristics is provided. The engine includes a fuel injection system that is variable between two operational states. In the first operating state, the fuel injectors provide a fuel spray having first spray pattern characteristics. When the system detects that an operation characteristic exceeds a threshold, the fuel injectors are displaced into a second operating state. In the second operating state, the fuel injectors provide a spray pattern having first spray pattern characteristics. The combustion cycle may be characterized by timing the fuel injection so that the fuel is sprayed into the cylinder early in the compression stroke. Further still, the combustion cycle may be characterized by controlling the fuel pressure so that the fuel pressure is inversely related to the load on the engine.
US08807108B2
A crankshaft is provided. The crankshaft includes an unsupported axially-aligned shaft section interposing an outer main bearing journal and an inner main bearing journal, the unsupported axially-aligned shaft section having a central axis aligned with a rotational axis of the crankshaft, and a pendulum absorber coupled to the unsupported axially-aligned shaft section, the pendulum absorber including a blade extending from the unsupported axially-aligned shaft section and a pendulous counterweight coupled to the blade.
US08807102B2
In a variable valve operating device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of changing operation characteristics of an engine valve in accordance with a change in rotation speed of a camshaft, a high-speed cam (60) including a base circle portion which has the same radius as that of a base circle portion of a low-speed cam (59) and also including a high-level portion which has a protruding amount larger than that of a high-level portion of the low-speed cam (59) is supported on a camshaft (43A) having the low-speed cam (59) fixed thereto such that the high-speed cam (60) is rotatable relative to the camshaft (43A), at a position adjacent to the low-speed cam (59); a cam follower member (46) is supported by an engine main body (11) to be operable in a manner following one of the low-speed cam (59) and the high-speed cam (60); and a centrifugal clutch (61A) configured to connect the high-speed cam (60) to the camshaft (43A) while synchronizing the phase of the high-speed cam (60) with that of the low-speed cam (59) when the rotation speed of the camshaft (43A) reaches or exceeds a predetermined rotation speed is provided between the camshaft (43A) and the high-speed cam (60). Accordingly, it is possible to change operation characteristics of an engine valve with a simple and compact structure.
US08807100B2
An engine is equipped with a supercharger (exhaust turbocharger) which is rotationally driven by means of exhaust gas and in which an expansion ratio is settable greater than a compression ratio. The engine includes: an operation state determination unit that determines an operation state of the engine; a plurality of exhaust valves provided at a single cylinder; a variable exhaust valve timing mechanism that is capable of changing opening timing of at least one exhaust valve among the exhaust valves; and a controller that, when it is determined by the operation state determination unit that the engine is operated with low load and is acceleration time, transmits a command to the variable exhaust valve timing mechanism and advances the opening timing of the at least one exhaust valve relative to the opening timing of another exhaust valve. Thereby, supercharging response and the expansion ratio are maintained.
US08807099B2
A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater.
US08807084B2
An animal handling system for use in a magnetic resonance device (MRD) device, including: a first elongated enclosure having a proximal end, a distal open end and a first geometry, and a second elongated enclosure having a proximal end, a distal open end and a second geometry. The first geometry comprises a first cross-sectional area that is larger than a second cross-sectional area of the second geometry. The first elongated enclosure is inserted into a first input port of the MRD device and the second elongated enclosure is inserted in a second input port of the MRD device diametrically opposite to first input port. When the first elongated enclosure and the second elongated enclosure are inserted into the respective input ports, the second elongated enclosure slides into the first elongated enclosure through the open distal end of the first elongated enclosure.
US08807074B2
Exemplary illustrations of a supply tube, e.g., for a painting system, such as for supplying compressed air to a turbine in a rotary atomizer or for supplying an atomizer with a fluid medium, such as paint or a rinsing agent, are disclosed. An exemplary supply tube may include an upstream tube section and a downstream tube section. The upstream tube section may have a larger inner cross-section than the downstream tube section. A painting robot is also disclosed, which includes an exemplary supply tube.
US08807071B2
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.
US08807066B2
A device (30) for applying adhesive is used in fiber web machine slitter-winder. The slitter-winder has an unwinder for a machine roll, slitter blades for slitting the unwound web into partial webs, and a winder forming them into rolls. The device (30) applies adhesive on ends of partial webs attaching the ends of the partial webs onto the web rolls. The device (30) has a support structure (31), a moving element (32) on the support structure and two adhesive nozzles (33, 34) on the moving element. The adhesive nozzles (33, 34) are attached to the moving element (32) such that the nozzles (33, 34) are spaced apart in the direction of travel of the moving element (32) so that a trailing nozzle can be accelerated to operating speed before traversing the partial webs, and a leading nozzle can extend further in the direction of travel than the moving element.
US08807054B2
The invention is related to a system (1) for converting fuel material comprising: a first reactor (2) in which a fuel material reacts with an oxide material for producing reaction products including fuel particles, ash and oxide particles, a second reactor (3) for oxidizing the oxide particles produced in the first reactor (2), a carbon separator (4) that receives fuel particles, ash and oxide particles produced in the first reactor (2) and suitable for separating the oxide particles and ash from the fuel particles, the carbon separator (4) comprising an outlet path (4c) for the oxide particles and ash exhaust, characterized in that said outlet path (4c) of the carbon separator (4) is connected to an ash separator (10) for separating the ash from the oxide particles.
US08807049B2
A vibration suppression device for a railway vehicle includes an actuator (5) disposed between a bogie truck (2) and a vehicle body (1), the actuator adjusting a vibration of the railway vehicle by extension/retraction motion thereof, and a controller (4) for controlling the extension/retraction motion of the actuator (5), and the controller (4) derives the total amount of extension/retraction displacements of the actuator (5) within a predetermined period of time during the running of the railway vehicle, and compares the derived total amount of extension/retraction displacements with a preliminarily registered threshold value to determine that the actuator (5) is seized in the case where the total amount of extension/retraction displacements is smaller than the threshold value. Thereby, seizing of the actuator can be self-diagnosed and found at an early stage.
US08807044B2
An apparatus and system whereby a first member can move along a cable track and then on a glide track to then move in another direction and back on a glide track. The first member has a secondary retention system disposed therein.
US08807025B2
A screen printing mesh including a plurality of octagonal first openings and a plurality of polygonal second openings, each of the second openings being disposed between the first openings, wherein an inner angle between a first line segment of each of the second openings and an adjacent second line segment is 90 degrees or greater.
US08807022B2
The subject application is directed to a food processing device to extract juice. The device includes an inlet coupled to a disintegrator. The inlet is configured to accept food items and the disintegrator configured to disintegrate food items passed through the inlet. The device further includes a separator that accepts the disintegrated food items and separates out the liquid components from the food item. The device further includes a reservoir that is coupled to the separator for accepting and holding the liquid components. The reservoir includes a translucent member for viewing of liquid levels within the reservoir, and a valved outlet. The valved outlet is configured to allow or prevent the flow of liquid from the reservoir through the valved outlet.
US08807018B2
The invention relates to a capsule containing ingredients for producing a beverage, wherein the ingredients are housed in a compartment and an internal perforation mechanism is provided for opening the lower face of the compartment by using pressure inside the compartment to cause the lower face to act against the perforation member to allow the beverage to exit the capsule through a beverage outlet. The capsule is provided with a valve arranged for selectively blocking the flow path of the beverage to the beverage outlet of the capsule to prevent dripping of the beverage from the compartment after dispensing.
US08807008B2
An example of a polymer-based machine gun link can include a first side having a finger to hold a cartridge and a second side, opposite the first side, having at least two fingers to hold a second cartridge. A stem can join the first side and the second side the two fingers are smaller than the finger and spaced along the stem so that the finger fits between the two fingers. All of the finger, the two fingers, and the stem are made from polymer.
US08806995B2
A high precision micro/nanoscale machining system. A multi-axis movement machine provides relative movement along multiple axes between a workpiece and a tool holder. A cutting tool is disposed on a flexible cantilever held by the tool holder, the tool holder being movable to provide at least two of the axes to set the angle and distance of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece. A feedback control system uses measurement of deflection of the cantilever during cutting to maintain a desired cantilever deflection and hence a desired load on the cutting tool.
US08806994B2
A tool for manipulating the hand brake controls on a railroad car by a user standing on the ground generally comprises an elongate handle and a split collar swivelly attached to the distal end of the handle. The collar includes split for passage of the rim of a brake wheel, and a central bore for retaining the rim while the user turns the brake wheel with the collar bearing against a spoke. A cavity in distal end of handle is adapted for engaging the free end of a brake release handle for moving it to release the brakes. Each side of the collar includes a concave portion adapted for engaging a spoke of the brake wheel for turning the wheel for final tightening of the brakes. Preferably, the handle includes a plurality of telescopingly coupled sections and locks for locking the handle at an extended position.
US08806991B2
A multi-bit tool comprises a housing having a bit chuck with a bit-receiving opening. A substantially rigid main frame member defines a plurality of longitudinal channels and is disposed within the housing such that each of the plurality of longitudinal channels is generally aligned along the longitudinal axis of the multi-bit tool. A plurality of spring loaded actuator mechanisms are mounted in rigidly retained relation within one channel of the frame member. Each spring loaded actuator mechanism has a carriage member movable between a rearward position and a forward position, and a trigger member movable between a rest position, a forward triggering position and a rearward triggering position. The carriage member is moved to its rearward position by movement of the trigger member to its rearward triggering position and the carriage member is moved to its forward position by movement of the trigger member to its forward triggering position. Bit assemblies having a tool bit are operatively mounted within the housing for movement by the actuator mechanism between a retracted configuration and a forwardly extended in-use configuration corresponding. Each bit assembly is operatively connected to the carriage member on a corresponding spring loaded mechanism for co-operative movement therewith.
US08806988B2
An adjustable wrench includes a fixed jaw base, an adjustable jaw base and a handle. The adjustable jaw base includes a slide rod which is slidably movable in a slide grove of the fixed jaw base to adjust the space to clip an object. A poke rod of the handle is located in a poke recess of the slide rod to provide an action force or a limit force to the slide rod. The slide rod is provided with a spring to react to the action force or limit force of the poke rod. One side of the fixed jaw base has a first operation portion for the user to press and control the space to clip the object, enhancing the convenience to turn a workpiece. Particularly, when the handle is pivoted, the poke rod in the poke recess will direct act on the center of the slide rod.
US08806987B2
A steering device for a ratchet screwdriver includes a base. The base has a receiving hole defined therein. Two receiving grooves are defined in the base. A moving slot is comparted from receiving hole. A ratchet rod is partially received in the base. The ratchet rod includes a spindle and a ratchet wheel disposed on the spindle. Two blockers are respectively received in the two receiving grooves. Each blocker has unidirectional teeth formed on one end thereof for selectively engaging with the ratchet wheel. A housing is sleeved on the base. The housing has a protrusion disposed on an interior thereof for inserting into the moving slot.
US08806986B2
A ratchet wrench includes a wrench head, a ratchet assembly and a bushing. The wrench head is made of metal and defines a cavity therein. The ratchet assembly is disposed in the cavity of the wrench head and has an outer configuration corresponding in shape to a periphery of the cavity of wrench head and being slightly smaller than the cavity of the wrench head. The bushing is made of a metal with a hardness greater than that of the wrench head and is fitted in a clearance defined between the ratchet assembly and an inner wall of the cavity of the wrench head. Moreover, the bushing has a substantially consistent thickness so that the bushing has an outer periphery and an inner periphery both corresponding in shape to the periphery of the cavity.
US08806985B2
A reversing device for a ratchet wrench comprises a body of the ratchet wrench, a ratchet wheel, a left engaging member, a right engaging member, a left spring, a right spring, a control member, and a control cover. Both of the left and right engaging members, when subjected to a force, will not be in contact with the control member, so that, the problem that the left or right engaging member, when subjected to a force, will push the control member to reversely rotate and cause slippage, can be solved.
US08806981B2
A handlebar assembly suitable to be installed on a steerer tube of a bicycle is provided. The handlebar assembly includes a stem, a handlebar, and a fastener. The stem has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the stem has a first fastening surface positioned at the first end, and wherein the second end is suitable to be assembled to the steerer tube. The handlebar includes a middle portion and two handle portions, wherein the handle portions are positioned on two opposite sides of the middle portion respectively, and wherein the middle portion has a second fastening surface to be infixed to the first fastening surface. The fastener crosses the first fastening surface and the second fastening surface infixed to each other to fasten the stem and the handlebar and is positioned within the stem and the middle portion.
US08806979B2
An operating mechanism for a parking brake includes a manual brake lever pivotably coupled to a bearing block, a locking device adapted to secure the manual brake lever in a predetermined pivoting position, an actuating rod guided inside the manual brake lever and operatively connected to the locking device, and a guiding device for the actuating rod located on the manual brake lever. The guiding device comprises a U-shaped profile having an opening oriented toward a side of the manual brake lever. The opening is adapted to receive the actuating rod.
US08806976B2
A pedal assembly using a non-contacting position sensor utilizing a spring-biased roller on a cam surface to simulate the feel of a conventional brake pedal is provided. The pedal assembly includes an elongated brake support bracket having a cam surface and a pedal arm having a spring-biased roller. A spring-biased roller assembly is mounted to an inward side or beside the pedal arm or on both sides of the pedal arm. The roller assembly includes a fixed leg extending on from an inner side of the pedal arm and a movable leg which is pivotally mounted to the pedal arm. A biasing member extends over the support between the fixed leg and movable leg to generate a biasing force against the roller. When the pedal is depressed, the roller is moved along the cam surface of the support bracket thereby creating the ‘feel’ of a traditional pedal assembly.
US08806970B2
A sealing device for a device for measuring a fill level in a fluid container, particularly in a pressure container of a nuclear facility, includes at least one thermocouple which is connected by a pressure pipe to the pressure container and a pipeline connected to the pressure pipe to an evaluation unit. The pressure pipe and the pipeline are connected to each other by a pipe screw connection including a central part having two threaded pieces. One threaded piece is connected by a screw connection to a pipe sleeve and the other threaded piece is connected by a further screw connection to the pressure pipe.
US08806968B2
A sampling container for receiving media from a container filling system includes a closed base region, a peripheral wall adjoining the base region and extending substantially orthogonal to the base region, and a filling region opposite the base region and adjoining the peripheral wall. The filling region has a container neck extending substantially orthogonal to the base region and includes a filling opening. An outer thread is arranged over an outer periphery of the container neck. The thread has an outer diameter between 44 and 46 mm and a core diameter between 41 and 43 mm, and rounded edges, at least over portions, with a radius between 0.95 and 1.05 mm. The container neck can be arranged in a receiver of a sampling head, during the sampling process so that the container is sealed in a media-tight manner in relation to an ambient environment.
US08806967B2
An improved immersible oxygen probe for molten metals has a gas permeable body including an immersion end and a support end adapted for being supported by a lance. An oxygen cell and a thermocouple are supported in the immersion end of the body. An unobstructed gas flow passageway is provided through the gas permeable bodies and through the probe body from the immersion end to the support/connector end whereby gases released from the molten metal and sensor body during immersion readily pass through the probe and can escape from within the probe. Thus rapid analysis of the molten metal with improved accuracy within a few seconds after immersion is achieved.
US08806963B2
The invention relates to a measuring device (20) for ascertaining a torque acting on an axis (A2,) and to a robot (1) with a robot arm (2) having a plurality of members which are rotatably mounted in reference to axes (A1-A6). The robot (1) also has the measuring device (20), in order to determine for at least one of the axes (A2) the torque exerted on that axis (A2).
US08806954B1
The present invention relates to a new laboratory apparatus for measuring the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at a single water potential. One or more embodiments of the invented apparatus can be used over a wide range of water potential values within the tensiometric range, requires minimal laboratory preparation, and operates unattended for extended periods with minimal supervision.The present invention relates to a new laboratory apparatus for measuring the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at a single water potential. One or more embodiments of the invented apparatus can be used over a wide range of water potential values within the tensiometric range, requires minimal laboratory preparation, and operates unattended for extended periods with minimal supervision.
US08806953B2
Provided is a bending test apparatus for flexible substrate which may increase or maximize reliability. The bending test apparatus includes a table, a first electrode part fixing one side of a flexible substrate on the table, a guide rail disposed adjacent to the first electrode part, the guide rail extending from the one side of the flexible substrate to the other side, a slider moved along the guide rail, and a second electrode part connected to the slider, the second electrode part approaching or spacing the other side of the flexible substrate to/from the first electrode part.
US08806951B2
Rheometer, also usable for stress-strain-investigations, with at least one bearing (28; 35) having an adjustable stiffness in a direction normal to the bearing surfaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27). The instrument further includes a system (31, 32, 33, 34; 36, 37) for controlling a parameter for adjusting the stiffness of the at least one bearing (28; 35); a system (10) for determining a value of a quantity associated with a second force exerted between the rotor (8, 5, 6,7) and the stator (2) and opposing the force associated with the quantity to be determined; and a data processing system for correcting the determined value of the quantity associated with the second force by a bias value, obtained using a mapping having as a parameter a variable representative of the parameter for adjusting the stiffness.
US08806949B2
An electromagnetic ultrasound transducer is disclosed for receiving linearly polarized horizontal shear waves from an electrically conductive workpiece including a magnetizing unit, which provides a side facing the workpiece, along which a number n of permanent magnets are attached in at least two rows arranged next to one another in such a manner that the magnetic polarities of the magnetic poles which face the side alternate along a row periodically with a period length which corresponds to a trace wavelength λs and a HF coil arrangement with conductor sections in at least two rows running parallel to one another, through which current can pass in mutually opposite directions.
US08806943B2
An analyzer that can provide information concerning a golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties, its natural frequency and its flat line oscillation planes. In the embodiments presented, a clamping assembly holds both the golf shaft assembly and an oscillator. Oscillation of the golf shaft assembly and that of the oscillator with known oscillation properties provides information about the golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties. Some of the test procedures presented are made possible by oscillation coupling between the golf shaft assembly and the oscillator. Oscillator assemblies are presented which have adjustable natural frequencies and one has a preferred oscillation deflection plane.
US08806937B2
A temperature sensor supporting device includes a supporting body having first and second groove portions, a separation preventive part, and a pair of harnesses connected to a temperature sensor. The first groove portion is set to have such a groove width size as to permit clamping of proximal end parts of the harnesses inward of the supporting body when the proximal end parts are viewed as a single overlapping line from a first angle. The second groove portion is set to have such a groove width size as to permit clamping of intermediate parts of the harnesses inward of the supporting body when the intermediate parts are viewed as two lines from a second angle. The proximal end parts and the intermediate parts are clamped respectively in the first and second groove portions so that the sensor is positioned and fixed with the sensor disposed outside the supporting body.
US08806932B2
A snorkel and pad for use with a formation testing tool is formed with a cylindrical geometry at the interface where the snorkel and pad contacts the inner surface of a borehole. The cylindrical geometry reduces or eliminates gaps that a flat interface surface would leave between the snorkel and the inner surface of the borehole, reducing the possibility that a surrounding pad could extrude through the gap. The snorkel is prevented from rotating during operation, ensuring the correct orientation of the cylindrical geometry interface surface relative to the inner surface of the borehole. The snorkel may be used as part of a formation testing system.
US08806930B2
A method and apparatus for determining the depth of a metal feature in a rubber or elastomeric material is provided. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the depth of e.g., a metal cable in a tire. A sensor that changes state within range of the metal feature is used to determine the depth of such feature in the material without the necessity of deconstructing the material.
US08806919B2
A leak detector contains a pump that withdraws gas from a volume into which a tracer gas is leaking. The volume may also contain small amounts of air or other gas in addition to the tracer gas. Downstream from the pump, a flow restriction creates a back pressure between this restriction and the outlet of the pump, the back pressure being determined by the pressure in the test volume, the pumping speed, and the nature of the flow restriction. The flow restriction may be fixed, such as an orifice or a section of a capillary tube, or it may be variable, such as a needle valve. In many cases, the back pressure may be adjusted to approximately one atmosphere, allowing the use there of various conventional gas sensors that are designed to operate at one atmosphere. The invention may also be used for general gas analysis problems.
US08806918B2
A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in an axial direction (O), having a detection portion (11) provided at a front end thereof, and having electrode pads (12a) provided at a rear end thereof; connection terminals (31, 32) electrically connected to the respective electrode pads; and a cover (60, 61) covering the rear end of the gas sensor element and the connection terminals. The cover integrally has a connector portion (63) having an opening (63b) which allows an external connector to be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom in a predetermined direction, and has a connector terminal member (120) which can be inserted into the opening. The connector terminal member has a plurality of connector terminals (70) to be electrically connected to the respective connection terminals, and an insulator (121) integrally molded with the connector terminals. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the gas sensor.
US08806915B2
An apparatus for measuring concentrations of airborne particulate matter may include, in one embodiment, a primary channel to receive air samples from the external environment. The air samples include particles of varying sizes. A microfluidic circuit communicates with the primary channel and small particles (having a size less than a threshold size) are diverted around a bend into a secondary channel. Remaining larger particles are unable to make the bend and continue through the primary channel. A mass-sensitive element communicating with the secondary channel includes a collection surface to collect the small particles. A resonant frequency of the mass-sensitive element is reduced in proportion to the mass of the particles collected.
US08806914B2
A target odor detecting apparatus and method, the apparatus including a rotatable door assembly is disclosed for screening odor emitters for target odors. A screening zone is defined within the rotatable door assembly wherein air is moved to an observation room for screening by an animate odor detector to detect one or more target odors.
US08806913B2
A system for calibrating a response to an exhaust-stream NOx level in a motor vehicle is provided. The system comprises a NOx sensor that includes an electrode, a current from the electrode responsive to the exhaust-stream NOx level while a bias voltage is applied to the electrode. The system further comprises a controller configured to interrupt the bias voltage and to adjust a motor-vehicle response to the current based at least partly on an attained voltage of the electrode while the bias voltage is interrupted. Other embodiments provide a method of calibrating a NOx sensor response in terms of gain and offset parameters.
US08806905B2
A padlock includes a lock body, a shackle assembled with the lock body, a lock subassembly disposed in a cavity in the lock body, and a shackle retainer assembled with the lock body. The lock subassembly is operable between a locked position securing the shackle in a closed position and an unlocked position permitting movement of the shackle to an open position. The shackle retainer extends into a first shackle bore and is received in a recess in a first leg of the shackle. When the shackle is in the open position, the lock subassembly is manipulable to be moved from a first position to a second position to generate a space in the cavity aligned with the shackle retainer, such that the shackle retainer is extendable into the space for disengagement of the shackle retainer from the first shackle leg recess.
US08806904B2
The laundry drum is configured for removing water from wet laundry at a high rotational speed and has a circulating drum cover which is bent from a thin-walled material strip to form a cylinder or flat truncated cone wherein the parallel end edges of the material strip make contact in a connecting seam, with an assembly for connecting the end sections including a first tab formed at a first end section and continuing over the general curvature of the drum cover, a second tab formed at a second end section wherein the second tab is at least one of outwardly creased about the wall thickness of the material strip and inwardly creased about the wall thickness of the material strip wherein the tabs of the end sections are fixedly connected to one another and the overlapping tabs on the inside of the drum cover are covered.
US08806901B2
A rotary sinker enabling stitch formation by a knitting machine using a rotor for forming a stitch, a knitting machine including the rotary sinker, and a stitch forming method are provided. The ring sinkers as rotating bodies are capable of rotating about a rotation axis independently of each other. The rotation times of the ring sinkers are set to be different from each other. Thus, the rotation times are adjusted to be different between the ring sinker that holds an old loop and the ring sinker that holds a new loop. Adjustment of the rotation times prevents application of a large tension to the knitting yarn made of low stretch fiber, and a stitch can be formed even with a knitting yarn made of non-stretch or low-stretch fiber.
US08806898B2
An layout for a glass manufacturing system may include a hot process part having a batch plant for storing a glass raw material, a tank for melting the raw material and storing a molten glass, a float bath for forming the molten glass into a glass of a ribbon shape, an annealing lehr for cooling the glass ribbon, and a cold end connected to the annealing lehr, and an etching process part having a final cutting sector for cutting the glass provided from the cold end into sheet glasses of a preset final size, a beveling and etching sector for bevel the edges of the cut sheet glasses and etching the beveled sheet glasses, and a first inspection sector for inspecting the etched sheet glasses, and the hot process part and the etching process part may be connected by a single conveyor to form a continuous line.
US08806894B2
A manufacturing method for a glass roll includes forming a glass film by a downdraw method, winding the glass film into a roll using a winding roller in a state in which front and back glass surfaces of the glass film formed in said forming operation are exposed, and during said winding operation, superposing the glass film on a separable protective sheet. The protective sheet extends beyond both sides in a width direction of the glass film. The method may further include winding the protective sheet on an outer peripheral surface of the glass film by winding only the protective sheet from a trailing end of the glass film in a winding direction of the glass film.
US08806891B2
The present invention relates to a process plant and method for cooling and optionally liquefaction of a product gas, particularly for liquefaction of natural gas, based on a closed loop of multi-component refrigerant in heat exchange with the gas to be cooled and optionally condensed. The process plant is comprises at least one primary heat exchanger (20) arranged to cool the product gas directed to the heat exchanger (10), at least one compressor (46) arranged to compress the low level refrigerant directed from the first of the at least two secondary heat exchangers (64), at least one pre-cooling heat exchanger (54) to sub-cool and partly liquefy the compressed refrigerant, at least one phase-separator (60) arranged to separate the partly liquefied multi-component refrigerant into a more volatile fraction and a less volatile fraction, at least two secondary heat exchangers (64, 114), the first of the at least two secondary heat exchangers (64) arranged to cool the more volatile fraction from the phase-separator (62), and the second of the at least two secondary heat exchangers (114) arranged to cool further the more volatile fraction, a throttling device (118) arranged to reduce the pressure of a part of the more volatile fraction to become the low level refrigerant to be heat exchanged in the second of at least two secondary heat exchangers, a throttling device (76) arranged to reduce the pressure of a part of the more volatile fraction to become the low level refrigerant to be heat exchanged in the at least one primary heat exchanger (20), a throttling device (102) arranged to reducing the pressure of the less volatile fraction from the at least one phase-separator (60) to become part of the low level refrigerant, for mixing with the low level refrigerant from the at least one primary heat exchanger (20), and the low level refrigerant from the second of at least two secondary heat exchangers (114) this directed to heat exchange through the first of at the least two secondary heat exchangers (64).
US08806884B2
A refrigerator is provided. Usability and efficiency of a storage space are improved in the refrigerator.
US08806839B2
A combined concrete material, including: a concrete; a reinforcing bar, the reinforcing bar disposed inside the concrete; and a decorative sheet, the decorative sheet including: a flat part, a first junction, and a second junction. The concrete, the reinforcing bar, and the decorative sheet are fixed together as one whole body. The decorative sheet is disposed outside the concrete, and the inner surface of the flat part is attached to the outer surface of the concrete. The first junction and the second junction are disposed on two ends of the flat part. The inner surface of the flat part is concave and forms a dovetail slot. Neighboring decorative sheets are connected together via the first junction and the second junction, which are embedded in the concrete.
US08806837B2
An elongated generally rectangular ceiling plank formed of wood or plastic composition and has opposite elongated side edges with a length that is between nine and ten times the width of the opposite end edges. The ceiling plank includes complementary tongue and groove engagement portions formed at the sides and ends for side-by-side or end-to-end engagement with other similar planks. In a ceiling plank installation a ceiling plank securement clip secures the side groove portion of one plank to a ceiling. The secured plank can be joined to another plank in side-by-side or end-to-end engagement at a ceiling by interengagement with the tongue portion at the side or end of the other plank. The ceiling plank is approximately forty-eight inches long and five inches wide and can thus be easily handled and installed by one person.
US08806832B2
A vertical joint system for substrates is formed with joints Jm and Jf which engaged by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to major surfaces and of the substrate. The joints are configured to enable relative rotation of up to 3 degrees (i.e. clockwise or anticlockwise) while maintaining engagement of the joints. The joints Jm and Jf are further configured to form two locking planes, one on each of the inner and outer most sides of the joint. Engagement about the locking planes is provided by transverse outward extending surfaces Cm1, Cm2, Cf1 and Cf2. The surface Cf1 and Cf2 overhang the surfaces Cm1 and Cm2. At least one surface in each pair of engaging surfaces: Cf1 and Cm1; and, Cf2 and Cm2 is smoothly curved. The joints Jm and Jf can be further arranged to provide a third locking plane parallel to and between the locking planes.
US08806829B2
An anchoring device of highly resilient material of varying thicknesses, to accommodate the irregularly cut slots into which the anchors fit, is additionally embedded with one or more layers of high-strength material of solid or particulate form. The high-strength material, metal, for example, is notched to accommodate buckling, extension, and compression of planks secured by the anchor and has folds for increased strength. Multiple attachment apertures through the anchor allow use of a single anchor to secure two adjacent planks. The anchor is designed to keep planks separated from joists so that water can evaporate and not cause rot and to keep attached planks evenly spaced. The high-strength material is embedded into the anchor during the manufacturing molding process. Small openings within a layer of high-strength material provide for molten plastic of the molding process to reach all high-strength material surfaces creating a strong bond between plastic and high-strength material.
US08806823B2
A sealing component is disclosed that is installed across an uneven surface without having dedicated segments for engaging raised and recessed portions of the uneven surface. The sealing component may include an elongated strip of compressible nonwoven material. The elongated strip may include an adhesive on one or two sides. In a pre-installation configuration, the strip may be wound into a coil.
US08806822B1
A mat with puzzle function is a four-sided pad. Each side has a tooth part with a succession of teeth. At least two cutting lines divide the mat into four blocks, in such a way that each block has an assembling part with the complementary shape to connect with others. The block of each mat can engage with another block of the mat to form a puzzle mat set.
US08806819B1
In one instance, the disclosure is a removable wall opening frame comprising a mounting element and trim element. The mounting element contains a slit receiver and the trim element contains raised slits. The slit receiver of the mounting element and the raised slits of the trim element are configured to lockedly engage the mounting element and the trim element. When engaged, the slit receiver is not visible or accessible. The trim element can be disengaged from the mounting element by inserting a key into a hole in the mounting element. When disengaged, the frame can be removed from the wall opening. Neither the mounting element, trim element, nor wall opening are damaged by removal.
US08806813B2
A mounting system is provided for an array of solar modules. The mounting system includes one or more rail assemblies that extend lengthwise in a first direction to support a plurality of solar modules that comprise the array. Each of the one or more rail assemblies may be configured to compress in order to retain an edge section of one or more of the plurality of solar modules in an operable position. A conductive element may be positioned to bond the edge section of at least one of the plurality of solar modules with at least a section of the rail assembly that retains that edge section in the operable position, so as to form a conductive path for electrical current.
US08806804B2
The invention relates to an injection pick for dosing systemic and nutritional products into trees and Palmaceae. The invention is characterized in that, once installed in the trunk, it can repeatedly dose any type of systemic or nutritional product in an environmentally friendly manner. The invention comprises an easy-to-install plastic cannula formed by four interconnected parts and the design thereof allows the selected nutritional product or systemic insecticide to be easily applied, preventing continued wounds that could damage the trunk or stem of the plant. The invention comprises the following elements: pick, cover, latch and key.
US08806803B1
A combination bait bucket and tackle box comprises a cylindrical container providing a means for dry storage of fishing supplies and also live bait. The bait container comprises a top portion of the device. The container further comprises a hinged access lid, a carrying handle, and a pair of slots adapted for securely receiving an aerator pump and a lantern. A bottom portion of the bait container lockably engages a top portion of the tackle box in order to allow the entire apparatus to be carried as unitary device. The tackle box comprises a round bottom portion of the apparatus which includes a plurality of drawers for storage of fishing supplies.
US08806802B2
A metal fishing lure having the appearance, action and small electrical charge of an injured bait fish. The front portion is planar but the rear portion is curved, the curve characterized by a transverse bend and a slight twist about the longitudinal axis. The lure is precisely balanced so that, when pulled through the water, the twist causes the lure to roll x times clockwise, winding up the leader, whereupon the bend and the weight of the lure cause the leader to unwind then wind up counter-clockwise, so that the lure rolls counter-clockwise, settling into a reverses roll action of 2x rolls in one direction, then 2x rolls in the opposite direction, repeated indefinitely. This realistic action induces game fish to strike in a reaction bite.
US08806801B2
A landing net having a net member attached to a connecting member that is attached to a handle. The connecting member has at least two locking rings and a receiver attached to each locking ring. Each locking ring has a bushing attached to an inner surface of the ring. The receivers have a non-circular shape and extend parallel to a central axis of the rings.
US08806800B2
A fish release device is claimed, comprising a spring-loaded set of opposing members with tip portions capable of retaining the lip of a fish suffering from barotrauma to a depth sufficient to reverse the effects of barotrauma prior to releasing the fish. The opposing members cross over each other such that the jaws can be temporarily opened merely by tugging upward on the line attached to the device. Once the jaws are opened, the fish normally swims away rapidly, before the jaws close again. The device is small, compact, and can be used with a variety of fish species and sizes.
US08806774B2
A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive or a mixture thereof; depositing the resulting mixture into a disposal area; pumping water from the deposit to one or more sumps, and allowing the deposit to reach a sufficient strength; and removing remaining deposit water and rainfall through one or more of a network of ditches, a decant tower, or a plurality of dike drainage structures to yield a non-segregating deposit for reclamation.
US08806766B1
A tool for applying a circular indicia onto a surface, such as a ceiling, wall or other flat surface, with a marking implement has a base that includes a first side with a center punch projecting away therefrom. At least one marker holder is fixed with a second side of the base and configured to hold the marking implement therein, such that a marking point of the marking implement projects through a marking aperture traversing the base. A handle is selectively removable from the base and is adapted for selective engagement with the center punch to assume a collapsed configuration.
US08806755B2
Disclosed are a pad spring for disc brakes wherein the surface of the pad spring is roughened through the use of a sanding device using a basket, thereby increasing adhesive force of a coating material coated on the pad spring, and a manufacturing method thereof.
US08806748B2
A heat pipe mounting method and a heat pipe assembly thereof are disclosed. The method includes the step of providing a heat-transfer block and a plurality of heat pipes. A plurality of heat pipe grooves is formed on the heat-transfer block. The heat pipes are then press-fitted to respective heat pipe grooves. During the press-fitting step, the heat pipes are flattened to force the flattened part of one heat pipe into abutment against the flattened part of another heat pipe in a flushed manner. Thereby, the heat pipes are abutted to each other with no separation therebetween. Hence, the heat transfer performance is increased.
US08806739B2
In a framing system for framing motor-vehicle bodies or sub-assemblies thereof, the body to be framed is located and clamped in position during the assembling operations by side locating and clamping structures (8). Each of these structures comprises a rigid supporting structure (82) including a base platform (82a) and a frame (81) which carries locating and clamping devices (D). The base platform (82a) is dimensioned in the direction parallel to a body conveyor line with a standard length proportionated to the length of the longest body type on which the system is to operate. Pillars (82b) for supporting the frame (81) are mounted on the platform (82a) at positions which are selected between different possible positions, displaced relative to each other longitudinally and/or transversely. Thus, the side locating and clamping structures (8) can be configured easily for different types of body and the system is able to operate on body types having also very relevant differences in length and/or width.
US08806738B2
A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit, comprising the steps of forming a quartz crystal tuning fork shape having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having the quartz crystal tuning fork shape, forming at least one groove in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, determining each of a length of the at least one groove and an overall length of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator so that a series resistance R1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than a series resistance R2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof, housing the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator in a case, connecting a lid to the case, and disposing a metal or a glass in a through-hole of the case.
US08806736B1
Devices, systems and methods of mounting plastic translucent panels and/or colored panels and/or advertising panels to balconies, banisters and stair railings using magnetic fasteners and clips, to protect pets and small children. The panels can be attached by a plurality of strips of double sided magnetic tape to the posts of the banister. Snapable clips can be attached to the posts above and below the panel to further hold the panel to the banister.
US08806735B2
A method of spooling a marine pipeline (90) including a plurality of bi-metallic pipe sections (10) (66) onto a reel (60) including at least the steps of: (a) filling a first pipe section with a fluid (12); (b) spooling the first pipe section onto the reel; (c) filling a second pipe section with a fluid (78); (d) joining the first pipe section with the second pipe section wherein at least one of the first and second pipe sections maintains the fluid (12,78) therein; and (e) spooling the second pipe section onto the reel.
US08806730B2
The invention relates to a mounting rail (8) for mounting and positioning a seal, having attachment devices (12) disposed on a longitudinal side (15) of the mounting rail and each separated from each other by an interruption (13). In order to propose a mounting rail comprising high flexibility allowing simple insertion of the seal even after a long period of use and allowing more uniform pressure distribution when pressing on the seal, the invention proposes that the mounting rail (8) comprises a web (19) running through on the other longitudinal side (16), and at least one opening (1ha-c) is disposed in the mounting rail between the web and each attachment device.
US08806721B2
In a strap-band type connecting device (1), a strap band (3) has an array of teeth (8), each of which forms a bridged brace (10) between the neighboring slits (8a) to make a helical thread (9a) engage with the bridged brace (10) when a rod screw (9) is brought at the helical thread (9a) into engagement with the slits (8a) within a housing (4). The bridged brace (10) is curvedly deformed to provide a width-reduced groove (10a) in its lengthwise direction (P) so as to form a cross piece segment (11, 13), a geometrical moment of inertia of which increases along a circumferential direction (R) of the strap band (3) with a sufficient rigidity provided to resist against a bending force from the helical thread (9a) upon rotationally operating the rod screw (9).
US08806719B2
A door hinge for a household appliance, the household appliance including a body and a door, the door being movable about a horizontal axis between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal opened position. The door hinge includes a housing couplable to the body, a door lever pivotably mountable on the door for movement about a main shaft, a weight compensating spring and a closing spring. The weight compensating spring holds the door substantially in a position of equilibrium when the door is opened and the closing spring applies a self-closing force shortly before the door reaches the closed position and applies a closure maintaining force when the door reaches the closed position. Further included is a dampening device that counteracts one or both of a closing force and an opening force.
US08806715B2
A door closer, in particular a hinge door closer, including a locking function or free-swing function, having a door closer housing, an output shaft to be connected to a door, a piston assembly connected to the output shaft and guided in the door closer housing, a closer spring, a piston rod adapted to connect the piston assembly to the closer spring, a hydraulic lock compartment adapted to lock the closer spring, and a spring-loaded check valve arranged between the lock compartment and a space becoming smaller during the opening process of the door, in particular an accommodating space for the closer spring. The spring-loaded check valve locks toward the space becoming smaller.
US08806714B2
Hand-operated brakes caster system is easy to use, compact, lightweight, low-cost. A fork supports a rotating wheel via an axle. A bag mounted base supports the swinging fork. A hollow swing shaft mounts on a base bearing. A force transmitting wire is pulled by a rotation knob in a controller away from the wheel. Opening direction force is applied by a spring to the wire in the opening direction. Therefore, if the knob is rotated by an angle not smaller than a predetermined value, reverse rotational moment is applied, locking the rotation knob. Force transmitted to a lever via the wire is magnified by the action of the lever, and the resulting force pushes a brake pin located inside the fork swing shaft. The brake pin abuts the tire resulting in frictional resistance preventing rotation of the wheel.
US08806712B2
A vacuum accessory tool comprises a nozzle body that forms a suction nozzle and at least one light emitting element that emits light in an ultraviolet (UV) spectrum that will illuminate stains on the surface to be cleaned. The light is projected forwardly of the suction nozzle body so that stains on the surface will be visible to a user as the vacuum accessory tool is moved over the surface.
US08806711B2
An automatic cleaner includes a casing including a suction port, a suction device disposed in the casing to suction a foreign substance through the suction port, a moving device that moves the casing, and a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing. The side brush assembly includes a brush housing rotatable about a first rotation shaft, and a brush rotatably mounted on the brush housing by a second rotation shaft. The second rotation shaft is moved according to a rotation of the brush housing.
US08806698B2
An improved splatter guard for a (e.g. barbeque) grill brush is disclosed. The present solution provides advantages and design features absent heretofore to include a solution that is able to be configured to existing brushes. Additional improvement features are that the solution provides a better range of splatter protection and a handle is provided for the guard main portion (separate from a brush handle). An opaque configuration is additionally provided as an improvement over a transparent design as well as other enhancements detailed and disclosed herein.
US08806697B1
A machine for automatically cleaning the interior surface of a water storage tank includes a motor for mounting on a cover of the tank. A drive shaft is operably connected to the motor and extends through a channel in the cover of the tank. A scrubbing assembly is connected to the drive shaft. The motor operates the drive shaft to turn the scrubbing assembly within the tank such that brushes of the scrubbing assembly engage and clean the interior surfaces of the tank.
US08806694B2
An electric power line conductor cleaning brush assembly includes a tubular housing having a longitudinal opening. A multitude of open disc brushes having bristles are located within an interior of the tubular housing and normal to the tubular housing.
US08806692B2
A quick cable deicing device and a power component thereof are provided. The deicing device comprises a cable clamping pedestal (11,13) which is sleeved on a cable and is capable of moving along the cable, a deicing head (21, 22) mounted at the head part of the cable clamping pedestal, and a power component which is connected with the tail part of the cable clamping pedestal and is capable of generating a thrust. The deicing device can advance and rotate at the same time under the drive of the power component. The power component comprises a gas tank (31) in a structure which conforms to a Laval nozzle principle and has an aperture expanded after sharply narrowed. The power component conforming to an aerodynamic principle is adopted to generate the momentary thrust to drive the whole device to advance and rotate at the same time; and the deicing velocity of the deicing device is high, while the rotational inertia improves the ice crushing capacity of the deicing head, thereby improving the deicing efficiency; the quick cable deicing device has a low cost, does not need manual operation after the cable is prepared in place, and has a higher safety.
US08806691B2
The invention provides an electric toothbrush capable of changing a resonant frequency and vibration amplitude of an eccentric shaft. An electric toothbrush of the present invention includes a motor, an eccentric shaft with one end fixed to a rotation shaft of the motor, and a stemserving as a vibration transmitting component having a bearing for supporting the other end of the eccentric shaft for transmitting vibration generated in accordance with rotation of the eccentric shaft to a brush portion. In the electric toothbrush, the eccentric shaft is formed so that a gravity center position is movable at least in one direction among a direction in which a distance to a shaft center is changed and an axial direction.
US08806687B1
A crib is provided that includes a mattress support portion, a horizontal member and a vertical member. The horizontal member may correspond to a portion of a front or back wall of the crib. The vertical member may correspond to a post adjacent the horizontal member, which vertical member includes an upper end that extends above the mattress support portion and a lower end that extends below the mattress support portion. The crib may also include at least one bumper mounted with a fastener that connects the vertical member to the horizontal member of the crib.
US08806679B2
An operating room table adapter is disclosed herein for use with a surgical table includes an adapter board, a rail receiver, and a rail assembly. The adapter board includes a slot formed in the adapter board and a strap extending through the slot. The adapter board has a first side including a first coupler. The first coupler is configured to engage a coupler of the surgical table and the strap is configured to wrap around at least a portion of the surgical table. The rail assembly extends beyond an edge of the adapter board and is operable to couple to a patient support.
US08806676B2
In one embodiment, a frame has a first expanded configuration, a second expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The frame includes a support member, a first elongate member, a second elongate member and a coupling member. A first end portion of the first elongate member is pivotally coupled to the support member. A first end portion of the second elongate member is pivotally coupled to the support member. The coupling member is coupled to a second end portion of the second elongate member. A second end portion of the first elongate member is coupled to the coupling at a first location of the coupling member when the frame is in its first expanded configuration. The second end portion of the first elongate member is coupled to the coupling member at a second location of the coupling member when the frame is in its second expanded configuration.
US08806674B2
A foldable structure includes: an upper assembly forming an upper portion of the structure; a base assembly forming a lower portion of the structure; a centrally-located hub assembly operatively connected to the base assembly; and a post extending from each corner of the upper assembly to a corner of the base assembly. The upper assembly includes a plurality of arm assemblies. At least one latching mechanism is provided at each corner of the upper assembly extending from an upper portion of at least one of the posts to a portion of at least one of the arm assemblies.
US08806672B1
A foldable sofa mattress and method for storing within low profile furniture. The mattress includes a transition section disposed between different collapsible sinuous spring sections. The sinuous spring sections are pivotably joined to the transition section and the sections are affixed to upper and lower grids for support. A method for storing a foldable mattress includes the steps of providing a mattress with a transition section disposed between two collapsible sections, extending opposing pairs of straps from the transition section to each of the separate collapsible sections, and bending the mattress. The method further includes the steps of flattening the two collapsible sections, placing the flattened sections on top of one another, and storing the folded mattress in a cavity.
US08806669B2
A canister flush valve is disclosed with a valve seat modified to accommodate a greater initial surge of flow, without distorting flushing performance. There is a mounting at the bottom of a toilet tank that links to an outlet hole from the tank and forms a valve seat. A passageway through the mounting tapers in an arcuate manner below the valve seat. There is also a guide support structure in the passageway, preferably centered. The guide support structure also has a tapered leg.
US08806664B1
A garment comprising a cover having a lower edge attached substantially to the circumference of a neck of the garment and an upper edge that is attached to a hat. The cover having an opening for the wearer's face has a secure fitting around the wearer's head when the hat is worn by the wearer, thereby preventing wind and cold from reaching the wearer's neck and sides of the face and head and improving the wearer's peripheral vision.
US08806663B2
A fabric is provided having a defined pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions that extend entirely through the thickness of the fabric so that the defined pattern is identical on the inner and outer surfaces of the fabric. The defined pattern is configured so that the hydrophilic regions are all in communication or interconnected so that moisture, such as perspiration, can wick not only from the inner to the outer surface of the fabric but also throughout the surface of the fabric and in several directions on the fabric so that the surface area of the wetted hydrophilic regions increases. The defined pattern may be further configured so that none of the hydrophobic regions are in communication.
US08806662B2
Disclosed is a welding helmet with a protection cover for a cartridge, being manufactured in various forms and capable of covering a cartridge of the welding helmet and thereby protecting the cartridge from welding heat and preventing melting of the cartridge. According to the present invention, the welding helmet comprising a helmet body covering an operator's face, an opening formed on a front of the helmet body, and a cartridge connected with the opening and equipped with an LCD panel which intercepts light emanating from a welding operation to protect the operator's eyes, further comprises a heat transmission interception unit formed on a front of the cartridge of the welding helmet to prevent surface deformation caused by welding heat.
US08813260B2
Self-contained security for memory devices or, alternatively, for other devices and/or other types of machinery to be protected with user authentication. User authentication occurs within the device itself, enabling access to be physically unlocked when the proper security code is provided. A dialing approach is used, whereby a user rotates a disk-shaped device through a sequence of numbers or other symbols, in a similar manner to rotating the dial of a padlock. The device is inserted into a host device or receptacle (such as a Universal Serial Bus, or “USB”, port), and receives power therefrom.
US08813255B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for security classification applying social norming. More specifically, content is received from a user via an interface; and, a data repository connected to the interface stores the content. A portal connected to the data repository identifies an attempt to access the content from a non-user. A program processor connected to the portal determines whether the content includes a security classification. When the content does not include a security classification, a communications module connected to the program processor sends an alert to the user. The alert includes a request to assign a security classification to the content. When the content includes a security classification, the communications module sends a message to the user, wherein the message includes a request to verify the security classification.
US08813254B2
A system is configured to provide access between a plurality of terminals and a plurality of different conditional access systems (CASs) associated with the terminals. The system includes a CAS switcher configured to receive requests from the plurality of terminals and, for each of the requests, identifies and sends the requests to a corresponding CAS. The CAS switcher also receives messages from the CASs responsive to the requests and, for each of the messages, identifies and sends the message to a corresponding terminal.
US08813245B1
A transcoding service is described that is capable of transcoding or otherwise processing content, such as video, audio or multimedia content, by utilizing one or more pipelines. A pipeline can enable a user to submit transcoding jobs (or other processing jobs) into an available pipeline, where a transcoding service (or other such service) assigns one or more computing resources to process the jobs received to each pipeline. The transcoding service and the pipelines can be provided by at least one service provider (e.g., a cloud computing provider) or other such entity to a plurality of customers. A service provider can also provide the computing resources (e.g., servers, virtual machines, etc.) used to process the transcoding jobs from the pipelines.
US08813243B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system, including a client and security token, for reducing a size of a security-related object stored in the token. The object is stored in a storage structure that is indexed according to an identity reference to a certificate associated with the object and a private key identifier identifying a private key assigned to an owner of the token. A request to access an encrypted data object results in accessing the private key identifier in the storage structure using only the identity reference as an index.
US08813238B2
There is a performing of digital rights management (DRM), operable in an offline mode with respect to a communications network. The performing includes identifying a stored rights object associated with a stored asset. The stored rights object includes reporting duration information associated with the stored asset. The performing also includes determining, utilizing a processor, whether a transmission of an early status message is a successful communication based on an early status message determination. If a failure in communicating the early status message is determined, utilizing the stored asset. The performing may also include transmitting an early status message and/or later status message after identifying the stored rights object. There is also a performing of digital rights management (DRM) associated with a DRM system and operable in an offline mode with respect to a communications network. There are also client devices, communicating systems, computer readable mediums and protocols.
US08813237B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to thwarting fraud perpetrated with a computer by receiving a request from a computer to perform a transaction. Embodiments of the invention may include receiving the request together with transaction data and a cookie, where the transaction data are separate from the cookie; determining in accordance with predefined validation criteria whether the cookie includes a valid representation of the transaction data; and performing the transaction only if the cookie includes a valid representation of the transaction data.
US08813227B2
A system for securing an electronic device may include a memory, a processor; one or more operating systems residing in the memory for execution by the processor; and a security agent configured to execute on the electronic device at a level below all of the operating systems of the electronic device accessing the memory. The security agent may be further configured to: (i) trap attempted accesses to the memory, wherein each of such attempted accesses may, individually or in the aggregate, indicate the presence of self-modifying malware; (ii) in response to trapping each attempted access to the memory, record information associated with the attempted access in a history; and (iii) in response to a triggering attempted access associated with a particular memory location, analyze information in the history associated with the particular memory location to determine if suspicious behavior has occurred with respect to the particular memory location.
US08813220B2
A computer-based method for providing information about a potential security incident ascertained from received internet protocol (IP) packets is described. The method includes capturing IP packets from a computer network, stripping packet header data from the captured IP packets, reviewing the stripped packet header data for multiple occurrences of matching packet header data, and storing, in a database, only a single instance of packet header data for any reviewed packet header data that is determined to have occurred multiple times.
US08813214B1
A method and system for providing secure peer-to-peer file transfers whereby request/negotiation message mechanisms used to negotiate file transfers between peers is used to identify/intercept, and block, direct file transfers. The request/negotiation messages are then replaced with messages sent to both peers that include upload and download URL links through which the file can be uploaded, scanned analyzed, and then transferred, via a secure file transfer server. Using the method and system for providing secure peer-to-peer file transfers disclosed herein, peer-to-peer file transfer transactions are provided protection from malware, and provided additional data security, so that peer-to-peer users can utilize this important capability without taking unacceptable risks.
US08813212B2
A computer or microchip securely controlled-through a private network and including a secure private unit that is protected by an inner hardware-based access barrier or firewall that denies access to the private unit from a network of computers including the Internet, an unprotected public unit including a network connection, a separate private network connection for the private network in the private unit, a general purpose microprocessor, core or processing unit in the public unit, a master controlling device for the computer or microchip in the private unit; and a secure control bus connecting the master controlling device with the microprocessor, core or processing unit and isolated from input from the network and components of the public unit. The master controlling device securely controls an operation executed by the microprocessor, core or processing unit through the private network to the additional private network connection via the secure control bus.
US08813210B2
A Mandatory Access Control (MAC) aware firewall includes an extended rule set for MAC attributes, such as a security label or path. Application labels may be used to identify processes and perform firewall rule-checking. The firewall rule set may including conventional firewall rules, such as address checking, in addition to an extension for MAC attributes.
US08813207B2
An image generating apparatus includes a timepiece determining section determining whether or not the setting of an internal clock is normal, a certificate determining section determining whether or not a received electronic certificate from a communication target apparatus is valid based on the setting of the internal clock, a communication section performing communication for authentication with the communication target apparatus if the certificate determining section determines that the received electronic certificate is valid and receiving image information from an image supplying apparatus belonging to a network to which the communication target apparatus belongs or the communication target apparatus, a control section making the communication section perform communication for authentication irrespective of whether or not the received electronic certificate is valid if the timepiece determining section determines that the setting of the internal clock is not normal, and an image generating section generating an image based on the image information.
US08813206B2
An online content publishing and consumption environment can be modeled such that communities of content consumers (users), such as educational institutes and libraries, are categorized as Content Brokers; content providers, such as book, music, and multimedia publishers, and news sources, are categorized as Content Providers; and a Content Bridge, a standalone component providing the functionalities of the presently claimed invention in the online content publishing and consumption environment. The Content Bridge allows a simpler and loosely-coupled integration with lowered integration cost and effort, as the Content Broker is required to integrate once only with the Content Bridge instead of having to integrate individually with every Content Provider.
US08813205B2
A method for consolidating cloud service data and behaviors can begin with the compilation of user/service membership data that associates requesting entities with subscribed cloud services by a trusted cloud service consolidator. A federated trust library housing inter-service trust information for the cloud services contained in the user/service membership data can be created. In response to a service request from a requesting entity, trusted secondary cloud services can be identified for the requesting entity. Identification of the trusted secondary cloud services can be based upon trust factors synthesized from data contained in the federated trust library. Data satisfying the service request and associated behaviors from each trusted secondary cloud service can then be consolidated into a unified data structure. A behavior can be an executable action supported by a trusted secondary cloud service. The unified data structure can be conveyed to the requesting entity in a service response.
US08813192B2
Techniques for establishing a trusted cloud service are provided. Packages are created for services that include certificates, configuration information, trust information, and images for deploying instances of the services. The packages can be used to deploy the services in trusted environments and authenticated to deploy in sub environments of un-trusted environments. The sub environments are trusted by the trusted environments. Also, clouds are prospected for purposes of identifying desirable clouds and creating the packages for deployment.
US08813183B2
A system is for a proof of knowledge enrollment or authentication. The system includes a processor having an input, an output and a routine; and a display having an image from the output of the processor. The routine is structured to input from the input of the processor a plurality of different position selections and/or a plurality of different path selections on the image. The routine is further structured to authenticate the proof of knowledge as a function of the plurality of different position selections and/or the plurality of different path selections on the image.
US08813180B1
Applying a security policy to an application session, includes: recognizing the application session between a network and an application via a security gateway; determining by the security gateway a user identity of the application session using information about the application session; obtaining by the security gateway the security policy comprising network parameters mapped to the user identity; and applying the security policy to the application session by the security gateway. The user identity may be a network user identity or an application user identity recognized from packets of the application session. The security policy may comprise a network traffic policy mapped and/or a document access policy mapped to the user identity, where the network traffic policy is applied to the application session. The security gateway may further generate a security report concerning the application of the security policy to the application session.
US08813176B2
A method and apparatus for creating a policy based on a pre-configured template is described. In one embodiment, source data having a tabular structure is identified. Further, one of multiple policy templates is used to automatically create a policy for detecting information from any one or more rows within the tabular structure of the source data.
US08813170B2
A policy that governs access to a resource may be tested against real-world access requests before being used to control access to the resource. In one example, access to a resource is governed by a policy, referred to as an effective policy. When the policy is to be modified or replaced, the modification or replacement may become a test policy. When a request is made to access the resource, the request may be evaluated under both the effective policy and the test policy. Whether access is granted is determined under the effective policy, but the decision that would be made under the test policy is noted, and may be logged. If the test policy is determined to behave acceptably when confronted with real-world access requests, then the current effective policy may be replaced with the test policy.
US08813169B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for using a virtual security boundary. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving information from a virtual machine after the virtual machine has been moved from a first physical location in a network to a second physical location in the network, where the information identifies the virtual machine as one previously assigned to a security boundary; determining that access to the virtual machine at the first physical location was permitted by the security gateway; assigning the virtual machine at the second physical location to the security boundary, and applying a security policy associated with the security boundary to communications between the network and the virtual machine at the second physical location.
US08813166B2
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for transferring a partially viewed media content file from a digital video recorder to a mobile device. In one embodiment, the method transfers only a remaining portion of a partially viewed media content file to the mobile device. In other embodiments, the method may transfer the entire partially viewed media content file with an indicator of the current viewing point of the partially viewed media content file. The indicator enables the mobile device to begin playing of the partially viewed media content file starting at the current viewing point.
US08813156B1
When a request for a content item is received from a device, the resolution parameters of the device are identified. Based on the resolution parameters of the device, a selection is made as to a version of the content item to recommend from a plurality of versions of the content item. Each version of the content item has a different resolution. A recommendation is provided to the user of the device that the selected version of the content item be displayed on the device.
US08813152B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for providing interactive services used with a time sensitive interactive application are provided. A request is received for interactive services that corresponds to a program. A program identification (ID) for the program is determined. An interactive application that corresponds to the program is determined based on the program ID, where the interactive application has a corresponding interactive application ID. The interactive application ID that corresponds to the interactive application for the program is provided.
US08813148B2
A PC (11) of the present invention comprises a one-segment broadcast tuner (16), a display output I/F (18) for transmitting, to a TV (21), data of a broadcast program received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16), and a PC-side relay coordination control section (14) for transmitting a channel code for (i) causing the TV (21) to receive, via a digital tuner (26) or an analog tuner (27), a broadcast program containing same content as the broadcast program being received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16), and (ii) causing the TV (21) to output data of the broadcast program. Therefore, in a case where an output of the TV (21) is switched from the broadcast program being received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16) to the broadcast program being received by the digital tuner (26) or the analog tuner (27), a user of the PC (11) can continuously watch a broadcast program containing same content as before the output switching. This makes it possible to continuously watch, after an output switching, a broadcast program containing same content as before the output switching.
US08813140B2
A computer receives broadcast content through a receiver and receives a request from a user to record a segment of broadcast content. The computer determines whether metadata associated with the segment of broadcast content includes a location from which the segment can be retrieved at a subsequent time. Responsive to determining that the metadata includes the location from which the segment can be retrieved, the computer records a first portion of the segment of broadcast content, the computer storing the first portion of the segment of broadcast content in a database. Responsive to a request to play the segment of broadcast content, the computer retrieves the first portion of the segment of broadcast content from the database and plays the first portion of the segment of broadcast content. The computer retrieves a remaining portion of the segment of broadcast content not previously recorded through a network connection.
US08813138B2
A hospitality media system includes a media system controller and a plurality of media devices located in a plurality of rooms and coupled to the media system controller. Each room has one or more in-room media devices located therein for performing a media function. A connection port allows a user of a room to establish data communications between the media system controller and a guest device. The media system controller is coupled to the connection port and configured to catalogue guest content available on the guest device to thereby form a guest content list, associate the guest content with one or more associated rooms at least including the user's room, and perform the media function utilizing content selected from the guest content list only on the in-room media devices located within the one or more associated rooms.
US08813137B2
An apparatus and method for decoding of encoded signals representing at least image information from a storage medium is claimed. A storage device is configured to receive the storage medium. A decoder is configured receive the compressed encrypted encoded signals from the storage medium, and send the signals to a decryptor. The decryptor is configured to decrypt the compressed encrypted encoded signals, and send the signals to a decompressor. The decompressor is configured to receive the compressed encoded signals from the decryptor and to decompress the compressed encoded signals to enable display of the image.
US08813134B2
A method, performed by a mobile communication device, may include detecting a smart television device. The method may further include receiving an incoming telephone call, wherein the incoming telephone call includes caller identification information; providing the caller identification information to the smart television device; receiving an instruction on how to process the incoming call from the smart television device; and processing the incoming telephone call based on the received instruction.
US08813130B2
The information processing device of the present invention includes: a display portion that displays objects that respectively performed a function assigned in advance by being selected; an operation portion that inputs operation information to select one of the objects; and a control portion that displays supplementary information linked to the object on the display portion, based on the operation information. The control portion, based on predetermined conditions, performs a first process to display first supplementary information on the display portion. If operation information is not newly input during a prescribed period of time after the first process is performed, the control portion performs a second process to acquire second supplementary information and display the second supplementary information on the display portion.
US08813127B2
A system is disclosed for media content search and retrieval, and a virtual television channel capable of using that system. The present system may be implemented on a computing device, such as for example a media service server, and a client device, such as for example a set top box for a television system, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or a gaming console. A first aspect of the present system relates to a media download control engine which enables a client device with limited capabilities to play media content which comes from a website in a format not supported by the client device. A second aspect of the present system may make use of the media download control engine to obtain media content and create customized virtual channels. The second aspect in particular relates to a virtual channel engine that schedules a continuous stream of content for the user, which content is selected based on topics of interest to the user.
US08813126B1
An advertisement storage and filtering system for selectively identifying targeted advertisements to be stored in the memory of the STB. This storing of the selected advertisements can be accomplished in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the advertisements, in real-time and as they are received at the STB, are processed by the STB and only those advertisements with the appropriate characteristics are stored on the hard drive (HD). This may require some buffering of the advertisements in the STB memory as the STB processes and determines whether or not to store the advertisement. The information required to determine whether or not to store the advertisement could also be sent in advance, e.g., as a data service in an advertisement channel. Alternatively, the STB may store incoming advertisements in a memory temporarily and subsequently determine whether or not to retain the stored advertisements.
US08813121B2
Methods and systems for delaying or dismissing emergency alert system (EAS) messages displayed within multimedia content, wherein user input is provided to temporarily delay for a user selectable or predetermined time period or to permanently dismiss EAS messages. Further user input may determine a snooze period during which the display of EAS messages is temporarily suspended. In some embodiments, EAS messages are automatically delayed until a commercial is displayed. In some embodiments, EAS messages are forwarded from a customer premises equipment device (e.g., a set-top box) to a user specified communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or remote control device) while the presentation of a multimedia program continues.
US08813115B2
The present invention provides a service access method, device, and system, and relates to the field of television services, to guarantee multicast security of a network device. The method includes: obtaining an authorized multicast address list according to program channel list information provided by a server; receiving an Internet Group Management Protocol IGMP packet request sent by a user terminal device, where the IGMP packet request carries a multicast address; verifying the multicast address in the IGMP packet request according to the multicast address list; and sending a media data stream corresponding to the verified multicast address to the user terminal device. The solutions of the present invention are suitable for realizing the security of multicast of network device.
US08813114B2
A method includes receiving, at a component of a multimedia content distribution system, a command including blackout information related to a first version of content. The blackout information includes scheduling information. The method includes updating a first entry within a control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The first entry includes information related to when the first version of the content in a first stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes updating a second entry within the control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The second entry includes information related to when the second version of the content in a second stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes sending a control stream based on the control matrix to one or more set top boxes.
US08813101B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a framework with a common set of domain-specific entity identifier types that object models representing conceptually similar entities from a domain can use to correlate to model-specific object instances. A particular model-specific object instance of a particular one of the object models can be retrieved using a common set of domain-specific entity identifier types. An instance of a particular domain-specific entity identifier type can be retrieved from a corresponding one of the model-specific object instances. One or more extensibility mechanisms allow third parties to extend the set of domain-specific entity identifier types.
US08813099B2
The present invention provides a technical solution for a unified driver used in a handheld device. An embodiment of the technical solution may comprise a unified driving method used in a handheld device, which method may comprise: determining driver types of currently installed hardware; setting a current dispatch table on the basis of the driver type and a unified dispatch table suitable for multiple hardware and driving corresponding hardware or software by calling the current dispatch table.
US08813095B2
A system for providing audio feedback for command line interface (CLI) commands in a computing environment. Auditory notifications are generated for indicating a completion of CLI commands. The auditory notifications are configurable by user preferences.
US08813083B2
A method and system to facilitate a user level application executing in a first processing unit to enqueue work or task(s) safely for a second processing unit without performing any ring transition. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the first processing unit executes one or more user level applications, where each user level application has a task to be offloaded to a second processing unit. The first processing unit signals the second processing unit to handle the task from each user level application without performing any ring transition in one embodiment of the invention.
US08813081B2
According to the present invention, it is possible to execute a process by an image processing apparatus while a user does not need to pay attention to a license necessary for executing application software for every image processing apparatus. In accordance with a description content of a statement of job and a function (application software) which the image processing apparatus is provided with, such a scheme is provided that a license necessary for executing the process is obtained from a license management server. An image processing apparatus executes a determined process, thus making it possible to effectively utilize the license.
US08813076B2
Various systems, processes, and products may be used to update virtual machines. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for updating virtual machines may include the ability to determine whether a change to a portion of an operating system for a virtual machine is available and identify a virtual machine using the operating system. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to determine when the virtual machine is modifiable and update the portion of the operating system for the virtual machine when it is modifiable.
US08813062B1
A method for use in a communications node includes exposing at least one processing point in an execution flow of base software executing in the communications node. A logic component can be dynamically bound to the exposed processing point, where the logic component specifies actions to be performed by the communications node.
US08813054B2
A parallel-code optimization system includes a siloed program reference-identifier and an intermediate representation (IR) updater. The siloed program reference identifier determines siloed program references in parallel code, wherein siloed program references are free of cross-thread interference. The IR updater modifies data-flow abstractions based on the identified siloed program references.
US08813052B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a bounded transactional memory application that accesses cache metadata in a cache of a central processing unit. When performing a transactional read from the bounded transactional memory application, a cache line metadata transaction-read bit is set. When performing a transactional write from the bounded transactional memory application, a cache line metadata transaction-write bit is set and a conditional store is performed. At commit time, if any lines marked with the transaction-read bit or the transaction-write bit were evicted or invalidated, all speculatively written lines are discarded. The application can also interrogate a cache line metadata eviction summary to determine whether a transaction is doomed and then take an appropriate action.
US08813051B2
A method for running multiple copies of the same native code in a Java Virtual Machine is described. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a class to enable segregating multiple copies of the same native code. The method defines, within the class, a native method configured to dispatch operation of the native code. The method further includes generating first and second instances of the class. Calling the native method in the first instance causes a first copy of the native code to run in a first remote execution container (e.g., a first process). Similarly, calling the native method in the second instance causes a second copy of the native code to run in a second remote execution container (e.g., a second process) separate from the first remote execution container. A corresponding computer program product is also disclosed.
US08813036B2
A method, apparatus, and product for assisting in the use of functional models. The method comprises obtaining two or more functional models comprising variables, domains and restrictions, the two or more functional models defining a test-space comprising legal tasks; determining a difference between the test-spaces defined by the two or more functional models, wherein the difference comprises at least one task which is covered by one functional model and not the other; and displaying to a user a visual representation of the difference.
US08813035B2
A concurrency testcase generation includes providing a concurrency testcase template for features built into a concurrency testcase generation infrastructure that requires no compilation. Through the concurrency testcase template, testers may input directives for managing activities of concurrent threads, directives for configuring timing tests by the concurrent threads, directives for configuring responses to errors by the concurrent threads, and directives for configuring logging of data for the concurrent threads. The directives for managing activities of the concurrent threads may include directives for managing creation of the concurrent threads, directives for customizing actions of each concurrent thread, directives for managing a sequence of the concurrent threads, directives for exchanging of information between the concurrent threads, and directives for configuring throughput for the concurrent threads. The inputted directives collectively define the concurrency testcase. In this manner, the testcase generation infrastructure masks the programming complexities of the features from testers.
US08813030B2
Detection of various issues with plug-ins and fragments corresponding to a software product as part of an automated quality engineering investigation is provided. In order to determine whether any issues are present, information pertaining to each plug-in and fragment is analyzed. The information can be stored in a corresponding manifest for the plug-in and fragment, and can include version information and dependency information for the corresponding plug-in and fragment. The issues can include an error relating to the manifest, an error relating to the version information, an error relating to the dependency information, and/or the like.
US08813023B2
The present invention relates to the visualization of a complex system such as a software offering using a set of buildings. A method for generating a visualization of a complex system using a set of buildings in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: representing each of a plurality of complex systems using a respective set of buildings in a virtual city environment. The set of buildings in the virtual city environment is displayed.
US08813020B2
A system and method for automatically modifying a first layout of a circuit. The first layout may describe a plurality of layers used in a fabrication process to manufacture the circuit. When performed, the fabrication process may result in a vertical electrical connection between two of the layers. However, the vertical electrical connection may not be directly specified by the first layout. The system and method may operate to apply a set of rules to the first layout to automatically generate a modified layout directly specifying a vertical electrical connection between the two layers. The set of rules may be based on knowledge of the fabrication process, and may be designed to modify the geometry of the first layout to more closely model the real geometry of the circuit that will result from the fabrication process. The modified layout may enable an electromagnetic (EM) simulation of the circuit to be accurately performed.
US08813013B2
This disclosure relates generally to field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Some implementations relate to methods and systems for partitioning FPGA circuit designs to facilitate certification. In one aspect, a method includes generating a hardware description language (HDL) implementation of a circuit design. The method additionally includes partitioning the design into a first portion and a second portion. In some implementations, the second portion corresponds to a safety-critical portion of the design while the first portion corresponds to a non-safety-critical portion. The method additionally includes generating first configuration settings for the first portion and generating second configuration settings for the second portion. The method additionally includes verifying, or providing to a third-party certification body for verification, the first configuration settings for the first portion and the second configuration settings for the second portion. The method further includes providing the configuration settings for the second portion for programming into a PLD.
US08813006B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for electronic circuit design is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a netlist of a subcircuit to determine one or more input pins and one or more output pins; forming an arc graph of the subcircuit including one or more timing arcs between the one or more input pins and the one or more output pins; and reducing the number of transistors to perturb to perform a sensitivity analysis for within die process variations over the one or more timing arcs to reduce the number of simulations to characterize the subcircuit.
US08813000B2
Manufacturing circuits with reference plane voids over vias with a strip segment interconnect permits routing critical signal paths over vias, while increasing via insertion capacitance only slightly. The transmission line reference plane defines voids above (or below) signal-bearing plated-through holes (PTHs) that pass through a rigid substrate core, so that the signals are not degraded by an impedance mismatch that would otherwise be caused by shunt capacitance from the top (or bottom) of the signal-bearing PTHs to the transmission line reference plane. In order to provide increased routing density, signal paths are routed over the voids, but disruption of the signal paths by the voids is prevented by including a conductive strip through the voids that reduces the coupling to the signal-bearing PTHs and maintains the impedance of the signal path conductor.
US08812995B1
A software module provides multiple individually selectable items via a user interface. The software module detects a contact with an area on the user interface that includes several of the individually selectable items in a first relative arrangement. The software module determines that the contact corresponds to an attempted selection of a single item. The software module provides a disambiguation menu for selecting the single item from among the several individually selectable items within the area, and arranges the several individually selectable items in the disambiguation menu according to a second relative arrangement different from the first relative arrangement.
US08812993B2
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code which, when executed by a mobile handheld device that has a touch sensitive display, instructs the device (i) to display a notification of an incoming phone call, and (ii) to accept the call in response to a mufti-step operation comprising an object touching the touch sensitive display, and the object gliding along the touch sensitive display in a specific direction.
US08812989B1
A system and machine-implemented method for displaying thumbnails includes receiving thumbnail data corresponding to plural thumbnails. The plural thumbnails are displayed within a display area. A viewing component is displayed within the display area. The viewing component moves within the display area. Differentiated display of at least one of the thumbnails relative to the remaining plural thumbnails is provided, based on the movement of the viewing component.
US08812988B2
Dynamic icons associated with remote content provide one or more pieces of information to a user by changing the appearance of the icon based on changes to data of a data source associated with the icon. For example, when the icon represents data available from a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, the icon may be represented as an image extracted from the RSS feed, which may change when the RSS feed is updated or includes new content. In some embodiments, the icon may by dynamically updated based on user information and/or device information, such as an icon for a weather forecast that is based at least in part on a location of a device and thus directs the icon to show imagery and/or information based at least in part on the respective location.
US08812987B2
An apparatus generally directed to controlling a video game. The apparatus preferably includes a tablet computer, an electronic game communicating with the tablet computer, and an input device for controlling movement of a virtual object provided by the electronic game. Preferably, the input device includes a pair of opposing side structures adjacent opposing sides of a plurality of sides of the tablet computer. The input device further preferably includes a plurality of input switches, wherein said input switches are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer, and a bridge structure disposed between the pair of sides to form a three sided structure. The third structure mitigates inadvertent removal of the tablet computer from the three sided structure when the tablet computer is fully nested within the three sided structure.
US08812984B2
An input device comprises: an operation unit having a display part that can display a plurality of character keys and a touch screen; a subsequent input candidate search unit that, upon detection of contact to an area corresponding to a specific character key in the touch screen, searches among the input candidate string for an input candidate string with a first character being a specific character corresponding to the area thus detected, as a subsequent input candidate string; a subsequent input candidate determination unit that, with regard to the subsequent input candidate thus found, determines a subsequent character following the first character as a subsequent input candidate character; and a display exchange unit that displays a character key of the subsequent input candidate character thus determined, by exchanging with a character key arranged in the vicinity of a character key for the specific character as the first character.
US08812978B2
A system and method for dynamic zoom adjustment based, in part, upon: the raster data in the user selected local area is disclosed; and/or the knowledge of a prevailing font size in a user selected region such that the text in that region is enlarged to be just readable. To achieve this, the detail in the local area is examined and a zoom factor is calculated that depends on the image detail and/or the viewing screen resolution. A document server may be employed to develop the information needed to enable this functionality. In one embodiment, the information is developed by RIPping the document, and then storing a spatial map of localized details (e.g., font sizes at several display resolutions) to automatically adjust a zoom level or factor and thereby facilitate navigation and reading.
US08812969B2
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for assisting a user with authoring a multimedia representation of documents. In one embodiment, the method comprises displaying one or more visual, audible, or audiovisual document elements from an input document in graphical user interface; and selecting one or more elements and for inclusion in a multimedia representation.
US08812968B2
A system, tool or method permitting a prospective purchaser of floor coverings or other surface coverings to engage in the contemporaneous manipulation and evaluation of various combinations of surface patterns, designs, colors, shapes, and the like as well as placement or orientations of the floor covering or surface covering elements prior to actual purchase and installation. For example, simulated tile elements having surface patterns corresponding to the surface patterns of the actual floor covering tile elements are provided in a manner such that each of the simulated tile elements may be rotated or replaced to simulate at least one alternative arrangement or layout.
US08812967B2
An aspect of the present invention enables a user to have a custom desired experience while accessing electronic files. A digital processing system provides the user the ability to define an experience profile with experience profile containing experience attributes. The user may be provided the ability to associate an experience profile with the electronic file. The digital processing system then controls the experience attributes to create a custom defined experience. As a result, two different electronic files (accessed using a single application) may be associated with two different experience profiles. In addition, experience attributes rooted in dissimilar applications may also be included in an experience profile.
US08812960B1
An interactive, customizable, user interaction data analysis system is disclosed. The system may be configured to provide cohort-based analysis and/or graphical visualizations of user interaction data to a system operator. User interaction data may be obtained, for example, as users interact with one or more software applications. In various embodiments, interactive and customizable visualizations and analysis provided by the system may be based on user interaction data aggregated across groups of users (also referred to as cohorts of users), across particular time frames, and/or from particular software and/or computer-based applications. According to various embodiments, the system may enable insights into, for example, user interaction patterns, the frequency of software application features accessed, the performance of various aspects of software applications, and/or crashes of software applications, among others.
US08812941B2
New and useful methods and systems for providing improved performance of a Viterbi device are disclosed. For example, in an embodiment a Viterbi device includes metric circuitry configured to determine branch metrics using at least one of a variance signal based on both received data and detected data of the Viterbi device and a priori probabilities of available state transitions within a trellis of the Viterbi device.
US08812940B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a BCH encoder formed with linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) to form quotients and products of input polynomials with irreducible polynomials of a generator polynomial g(x) of the BCH encoder, with and without pre-multiplication by a factor xm. The BCH encoder includes multiplexers that couple LFSR inputs and outputs to other LFSRs depending on a data input or parity generation state. The BCH encoder can correct up to a selectable maximum number of errors in the input polynomials. The BCH encoder further includes LFSR output polynomial exponentiation processes to produce partial syndromes for the input data in a syndrome generation state. In the syndrome generation state the LFSRs perform polynomial division without pre-multiplication by the factor xm. The exponentiation processes produce partial syndromes from the resulting remainder polynomials of the input data block.
US08812936B2
A method includes receiving a request to read data at a data storage device from an external device. In response to determining that the data is in a first memory of the data storage device, a first read operation is initiated to read the data from the first memory and a response is sent to the external device. The response indicates an error correction code (ECC) error. A read latency of the first read operation exceeds a reply time period corresponding to the request. The response is sent prior to completion of the first read operation and within reply time period.
US08812935B2
A system for detecting an address or data error in a memory system. During operation, the system stores a data block to an address by: calculating a hash of the address; using the calculated hash and data bits from the data block to compute ECC check bits; and storing the data block containing the data bits and the ECC check bits at the address. During a subsequent retrieval operation, the memory system uses the address to retrieve the data block containing the data bits and ECC check bits. Next, the system calculates a hash of the address and uses the calculated hash and the data bits to compute ECC check bits. Finally, the system compares the computed ECC check bits with the retrieved ECC check bits to determine whether an error exists in the address or data bits, or if a data corruption indicator is set.
US08812918B2
A method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system is described. A pattern of test information is generated in a transmit circuit of the system and is transmitted to a receive circuit. A similar pattern of information is generated in the receive circuit and used as a reference. The receive circuit compares the patterns. Any differences between the patterns are observable. In one embodiment, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) is implemented to produce patterns. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be practiced with various types of signaling systems, including those with single-ended signals and those with differential signals. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to systems communicating a single bit of information on a single conductor at a given time and to systems communicating multiple bits of information on a single conductor simultaneously.
US08812911B2
A system includes a platform server with a software platform on which platform targeting applications (PTAs) execute. An update server may be coupled to the platform server to provide an update to this software platform. Responsive to notification to independent software vendors of the PTAs, results of regression testing performed on at least some of the PTAs can be received in a test server, which may enable commitment of the update based on at least some of the results.
US08812907B1
A computer system configured to provide fault tolerance includes a first host system and a second host system. The first host system is programmed to monitor a number of portions of memory of the first host system that have been modified by a guest running on the first host system and, upon determining that the number of portions exceeds a threshold level, determine that a checkpoint needs to be created. Upon determining that the checkpoint needs to be created, operation of the guest is paused and checkpoint data is generated. After generating the checkpoint data, operation of the guest is resumed while the checkpoint data is transmitted to the second host system.
US08812904B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for performing load balancing via a plurality of virtual servers upon a failover using metrics from a backup virtual server. The methods and systems described herein provide systems and methods for an appliance detecting that a first virtual server of a plurality of virtual servers having one or more backup virtual servers load balanced by an appliance is not available, identifying at least a first backup virtual server of a one or more backup virtual servers of the first virtual server is available, maintaining a status of the first virtual server as available in response to the identification, obtaining one or more metrics from the first backup virtual server of a one or more backup virtual servers, and determining the load across the plurality of virtual servers using the metrics obtained from the first backup virtual server associated with the first virtual server.
US08812888B2
A system and method for wireless waking computing devices over a computer network is provided. A signal is broadcast over the network that includes one or more device specific wake-up data sequences. Each device specific wake-up data sequence includes multiple iterations of the hardware address of the wireless network card associated with that device. While in a reduced power or “sleep mode”, the wireless network card monitors wireless channels for packets containing a wake-up data sequence. If a wake-up data sequence is received, the sequence is matched against the hardware address information for that network card. If a match is determined, the network card sends a signal to the computing device causing full system power to be restored. A signal is sent to the network confirming that the device has been successfully woken from the sleep mode.
US08812885B2
A device is provided that includes a chip having a processor and wake-up logic. The device also includes power management circuitry coupled to the chip. The power management circuitry selectively provides a core power supply and an input/output (I/O) power supply to the chip. Even if the power management circuitry cuts off the core power supply to the chip, the wake-up logic detects and responds to wake-up events based on power provided by the I/O power supply.
US08812884B2
A system and method for user driven configuration sets for energy efficient networks. A customization module can be used to generate energy efficiency control policy customizations based on indications of user preference received through a graphical user interface. These customizations enable abstraction of the energy efficiency control policy customization process from low-level details.
US08812883B2
Handshaking circuits are provided in a communications cable and in a device operable to be mated with the communications cable. Before a device can utilize the power supply signal of such a communications channel, the two handshaking circuits must sufficiently identify one another over a power supply signal with a decreased voltage. The decreased voltage allows for a cable plug to be provided with a safe, protected power that cannot cause harm to a human. The decreased voltage also reduces the chance that a device can receive a primary power supply signal from the cable before the device sufficiently identifies itself. Accordingly, a laptop may be connected to a portable music player, but the voltage of the power supply signal provided by the laptop to the cable may be decreased on-cable until the handshaking circuit of the portable music player sufficiently performs a handshaking operation with a on-cable handshaking circuit.
US08812877B2
A user apparatus connected to database apparatus via network comprises: unit that manages key information in order to encrypt and decrypt; storage unit that stores security configuration information of data and/or metadata; application response unit that determines whether or not encryption is necessary for database operation command, and if encryption is necessary, selects encryption algorithm corresponding to data and/or metadata, performs encryption, and transmits result to database control unit to cause database control unit to execute database operation, if encryption is not necessary, transmits database operation command to database control unit to cause database control unit to execute database operation, and receives processing result transmitted by database control unit, and if decryption or conversion of data and/or metadata of processing result is necessary, performs necessary decryption or conversion, and returns response to database operation command; and security configuration unit that configures security information of data stored in database.
US08812871B2
The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus configured to provide for the trusted execution of virtual machines (VMs) on a virtualization server, e.g., for executing VMs on a virtualization server provided within Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud environment. A physical multi-core CPU may be configured with a hardware trust anchor. The trust anchor itself may be configured to manage session keys used to encrypt/decrypt instructions and data when a VM (or hypervisor) is executed on one of the CPU cores. When a context switch occurs due to an exception, the trust anchor swaps the session key used to encrypt/decrypt the contents of memory and cache allocated to a VM (or hypervisor).
US08812866B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method comprises providing a matrix comprising m rows and n columns, each of the rows and columns comprising elements of zero and one, dividing data into n data blocks, associating each of the data blocks with each of the columns, calculating an exclusive-OR of selected data blocks in reference to one of the rows, the selected data blocks being determined by the element of one in the associated columns in the one of the rows, repeating the calculating in other rows and storing separately the calculated data resulting from the exclusive-OR of data blocks in association with the associated rows, respectively.
US08812865B2
A client-server type computer system for graphical applications is provided, that is to say, for displaying data in the form of software units called “widgets” on display screens called “display units”, said system being intended to control the operation of a machine, the machine including at least one human-machine interface allowing interaction with the widgets, said system managing critical data or functions. The computer system includes a securing engine controlling the integrity of the display of the critical widgets, the sending of commands which is performed by means of the human-machine interface, the input and display of the critical data. The main provisions of this securing engine are the use of computer “signatures”, the provision of “feedback” circuits and the use of guard mechanisms or dedicated confirmation dialog boxes. Preferably, the machine is an aircraft, the computer system is the avionics on board said aircraft and the display screens are the cockpit display systems.
US08812861B2
A method and system for protection of and secure access to a computer system or computer network. The method includes the steps of receiving a first login account identifier, such as a user name from a user in communication with the computer system or network. A determination is made if the user is recognized and enrolled from the first login account from the first login account identifier. If the user is recognized, a grid of randomly generated visual images is displayed including one visual image from an image category which has been preselected by the user upon enrollment. An image category identifier is randomly assigned to each visual image in the grid. An image category identifier, second login account identifier, such as a password, is entered and received. If the login account identifier and the image category is validated, access is permitted to the computer system or network.
US08812850B2
A method and apparatus for secure multimedia transfer provides an encrypted data transfer system that makes transferring multimedia content from a client to any incompatible system or to a system outside the location of the client very difficult.
US08812845B2
An authentication method of a first module by a second module includes the steps of generating a first random datum by the second module to be sent to the first module, generating a first number by the first module starting from the first datum and by way of a private key, and generating a second number by the second module to be compared with the first number, so as to authenticate the first module. The step of generating the second number is performed starting from public parameters and is independent of the step of generating the first number.
US08812843B2
According to one embodiment, a device includes first and second data generator, a one-way function processor, and a data output interface. The first data generator generates a second key by encrypting a host constant with a first key in AES operation. The second data generator generates a session key by encrypting a random number with a second key in AES operation. The one-way function processor generates authentication information by processing secret identification information with the session key in one-way function operation. The data output interface outputs the encrypted secret identification information, a family key block, and the authentication information to outside of the device.
US08812831B2
A fan control method for an information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a device area and a fan for providing air flow to the device area. A plurality of devices is installed on the device area. The method includes the steps of: collecting thermal data of installed devices in the device area when booting up the information handling system; determining a threshold power of the installed devices and a discreteness level of the installed devices based on the thermal data; adjusting an initial speed of the fan based on the discreteness level; and calibrating the speed of the fan to obtain an optimized speed thereof based on the threshold power and the adjusted initial speed. A fan control apparatus for an information handling system is further provided.
US08812830B2
In a cloud computing environment, a production server virtualization stack is minimized to present fewer security vulnerabilities to malicious software running within a guest virtual machine. The minimal virtualization stack includes support for those virtual devices necessary for the operation of a guest operating system, with the code base of those virtual devices further reduced. Further, a dedicated, isolated boot server provides functionality to securely boot a guest operating system. The boot server is isolated through use of an attestation protocol, by which the boot server presents a secret to a network switch to attest that the boot server is operating in a clean mode. The attestation protocol may further employ a secure co-processor to seal the secret, so that it is only accessible when the boot server is operating in the clean mode.
US08812829B2
An information processing apparatus includes, a processer, a non-volatile memory to store a plurality of programs, a volatile memory to store at least one program executed by the processor and data accessed by the program, an acceptance unit to accept context information when power supplied to the processor is resumed from a state in which power supplied to the processor is interrupted while a power supplied to the volatile memory is maintained, a selection unit to select one program from the plurality of programs stored in the non-volatile memory based on context information accepted by the acceptance unit, and a program determination unit to determine whether the one program selected by the selection unit is stored in the volatile memory. When the processor determines the one program selected by the program determination unit is stored in the volatile memory, the processor starts the one program stored in the volatile memory.
US08812827B2
A Wi-Fi router with an integrated configuration touch-screen, and method to use this integrated touch screen to provide enhanced security features. The Wi-Fi router, which has a wired or optical network interface, may be factory pre-configured with hard to anticipate passwords and encryption codes, thus making even its default Wi-Fi settings difficult to attack. Besides displaying interactive menus on the touch-screen, the router may also generate touch sensitive dynamic alphanumeric virtual keypads to enable administrators to interact with the device without the need of extra computers or software. Inexperienced administrators secure in the knowledge that they may access and change even difficult to remember security settings at any time through the built-in touch-screen controller and simplified user interface, are encouraged to set up secure Wi-Fi systems. The device may optionally include security software that, upon touch of a button, can provide new randomized or otherwise obfuscated router settings.
US08812823B2
A memory access management technique is disclosed, one embodiment of which relates to a technique to issue loads to a memory ahead of older store operations corresponding to the same target address. A processor may include load buffer entries having predictor table entries associated therewith, including saturation counters to record history of previous conflicts between loads and stores corresponding to the same target address. A watchdog unit may disable memory disambiguation (MD) if the MD causes too high a misprediction rate for load operation and store operation conflicts. In one embodiment, the MD is disabled if a flush counter value reaches a threshold.
US08812820B2
A data processing device comprising a multidimensional array of coarse grained logic elements processing data and operating at a first clock rate and communicating with one another and/or other elements via busses and/or communication lines operated at a second clock rate is disclosed, wherein the first clock rate is higher than the second and wherein the coarse grained logic elements comprise storage means for storing data needed to be processed.
US08812814B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for dynamically allocating storage capacity in a user equipment buffer. In various embodiments of the invention, a plurality of transport blocks associated with a process are stored in a plurality of subpartitions of a partition of a buffer in a user equipment device.
US08812809B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that allocates memory for immutable data on a computing device. During operation, the system receives an application to be executed on the computing device. Next, the system allocates a memory region on the computing device to store immutable data for the application. Note that this memory region is smaller than the immutable data for the application. When the system subsequently receives a request to access a block of immutable data for the application, the system allocates space in this memory region for the block, and proceeds to load the block into the memory region. However, if at a later time the space occupied by this first block is needed for another block, the system unloads and discards the first block. If a subsequent operation needs to use information in the first block, the system regenerates the block by transforming raw data associated with the block into a form that can be directly accessed by the application, and then reloads the block into the memory region.
US08812804B2
A secure demand paging (SDP) system includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a microprocessor having a secure internal memory and coupled to said DRAM, and a non-volatile memory storing a representation of operations accessible by the microprocessor. The stored representation of operations includes a coded physical representation of operations to configure an SDP space in the DRAM, to organize the SDP space into virtual machine contexts, to organize at least one of the virtual machine contexts into block book keeping blocks and book keeping spaces in the block book keeping blocks, and to execute a secure demand paging process between said secure internal memory and said DRAM.
US08812802B2
A memory subsystem includes a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, and a controller including logic to interface the volatile memory to an external system. The volatile memory is addressable for reading and writing by the external system. The memory subsystem includes a power controller with logic to detect when power from the external system to at least one of the volatile and nonvolatile memories and to the controller fails. When external system power fails, backup power is provided to at least one of the volatile and nonvolatile memories and to the controller for long enough to enable the controller to back up data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory.
US08812800B2
The performance to transfer data to external storage media in thin provisioning is enhanced.A storage apparatus is connected via a network to a host system writing of data and to a tape management apparatus for managing tape storage media for storing the data. The storage apparatus is designed so that data, for which a write request is issued by the host system, is stored in a virtual volume; a predetermined area in a plurality of storage devices is allocated to a data storage area in the virtual volume storing the data; and if the virtual volume is a backup object to be backed up to the tape storage media, a predetermined area in a specified storage device, from among the plurality of storage devices, is allocated to the data storage area in the virtual volume; and if the virtual volume is not a backup object to be backed up to the tape storage media, a predetermined area in an unspecified storage device, from among the plurality of storage devices, is allocated to the data storage area in the virtual volume.
US08812792B2
A technique for using memory attributes to relay information to a program or other agent. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to using memory attribute bits to check various memory properties in an efficient manner.
US08812790B2
A controller is communicatively coupled with a storage medium and with a cache device and configured to interface with a processor or a memory of a computer system. The controller is further configured to receive a specified quantity of address references associated with a storage system; determine a spatial distribution of references to addresses of the storage system based at least in part on the received specified quantity of the address references, where to perform a determination of the spatial distribution, the controller is further configured to omit a random quantity of address references between previous determination of the spatial distribution and said determination of the spatial distribution; combine the determined spatial distribution with the previous determination of the spatial distribution into a spatial locality metric of the storage system; and output the spatial locality metric to use in caching data from the storage medium to the cache device.
US08812780B2
A RAID group control device for performing access control over one or more RAID groups each having redundancy. The RAID group control device includes an acquiring unit to acquire access frequency information with respect to a RAID group among the one or more RAID groups; a scheduling unit to find a time period exhibiting a lower access frequency than access frequencies of anterior and posterior time periods in a specified time range on the basis of the access frequency information, and to determine start timing of a process of rewriting firmware of drives belonging to the RAID group on the basis of the found time period; and a firmware rewrite processing unit to start the process of rewriting the firmware of the drives at the determined start timing.
US08812776B2
A data writing method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module containing physical blocks is provided. The method includes: configuring virtual block address to map to at least a part of the logical blocks; receiving a write command which instructs to write file data to the first virtual block addresses, and the first virtual block addresses are mapped to first logical blocks of the at least the part of the logical blocks. The method further includes: writing the file data into the physical blocks mapped to a plurality of second logical blocks; determining whether a program failure is occurred during the writing period; and if the program failure is not occurred, the first virtual block addresses are remapped to the second logical block. Accordingly, the method can ensure the update completeness of the file data.
US08812773B2
In a method of merging blocks in a semiconductor memory device according to example embodiments, a plurality of data are written into one or more first blocks using a first program method. One or more merge target blocks that are required to be merged are selected among the one or more first blocks. A merge-performing block for a block merge operation is selected among the one or more first blocks and one or more second blocks. A plurality of merge target data are written from the merge target blocks into the merge-performing block using a second program method that is different from the first program method.
US08812765B2
A method for maintaining data coherency in a shared-memory computer system having a plurality of nodes divides the local memory of a given node into one or more blocks and stores a data record for each block indicating a plurality of node groups and a selection of the node groups. Each selected node group represents a number of nodes, and selected node groups represent at least one node that has requested access to the block. In response to receiving an access request from a requesting node that may or may not be in a selected node group, the method and system update the data record to indicate the correct selection. If the requesting node is not in any node group, the data record is adjusted to have new node groups, one of which represents the requesting node.
US08812759B2
Bus subscriber device for connection to a line-redundant, serial data bus, over which data are exchanged according to a predefined protocol, having the following features: a data transmission unit, at least two data receiving units that are connected in parallel, a line selection logic and at least two bus communication interfaces for connecting to a corresponding number of lines of the data bus, wherein each of the data receiving units is connectable via an associated bus communication interface to an assigned line of the data bus and has means for receiving a data block from the associated line of the data bus and means for forwarding the received data block to the line selection logic, and wherein the line selection logic has means for selecting a line of the data bus as a receiving line and forwarding the data block received over the selected receiving line.
US08812757B2
An online calibration method and device for a universal serial bus system is disclosed in the present invention. The method comprises following steps: providing a plurality of chirp JK pairs; detecting the plurality of chirp JK pairs, and loading a power on a terminal resistor of a USB device end of the universal serial bus and its coupled to a terminal resistor of a USB host end of the universal serial bus; detecting a voltage level variation of the chirp JK pair; and processing the online calibration according to the voltage level variation to maintain the voltage level within a preset range.
US08812756B2
A method of dispatching and transmitting data stream, which is used for a memory storage apparatus having a non-volatile memory module and a smart card chip, is provided. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical block addresses, and a plurality of specific logical block addresses are used for storing a specific file. The method also includes receiving a response data unit from the smart card chip and storing the response data unit in a buffer memory. The method also includes, when a logical block address corresponding to a read command from a host system belongs to one of the specific logical block addresses and the buffer memory stores a response data unit, transmitting the response data unit stored in the buffer memory to the host system. Accordingly, the method can make the host system to correctly receive the response data unit from the smart card chip.
US08812745B2
A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
US08812741B2
A process to manage data between one or more MDIO manageable devices situated on the same bus utilizing the MDIO protocol. The data management efficiency can be increased through the use of an MDIO protocol that includes a page-write mode. The MDIO protocol including the page-write mode can reduce the overhead for a write operation by omitting various portions of the MDIO communication frame format, including the preamble, start-of-frame, operational code, port address, device address, and turn-around fields that generally precede data to be written. The MDIO protocol including the page-write mode may include a next-data code to initiate the page-write mode.
US08812739B2
In one embodiment, a clock on a network device is initialized, and then a first timing message is received at the network device from a reference device having a first timestamp indicating when the first timing message was transmitted from the reference device. The network device may then determine and store a one-way delay from the first timestamp to a first time at which the first timing message was received at the network device. In response to restarting the clock, the network device may receive a second timing message from the reference device having a second timestamp indicating when the second timing message was transmitted from the reference device. The network device may then calibrate the clock such that a second time at which the network device received the second timing message is the second timestamp plus the stored one-way delay.
US08812735B2
A method, apparatus, encoder, and decoder for receiving, transmitting, encoding and decoding content is provided. The method includes receiving a first segment of the content, the first segment having a first format, receiving, from a transmitting apparatus, a second segment of the content, the second segment having a second format, monitoring a network status between the receiving apparatus and the transmitting apparatus, and selecting the first segment or the second segment based on the monitored network status.
US08812718B2
A system and method of streaming data in real time and, more particularly, a system and method of real time streaming of data over a grid network or other distributed infrastructure. The method and system includes updating a content directory of a root server with end resource information. The method and system further includes processing the end resource information to determine connection locations for streaming data to at least one requesting end resource in a network.
US08812712B2
Methods for proxy-driven content rate selection for streaming media servers are provided. In one method, one or more maximum transmission rate parameters from a network controller are stored at a proxy server in response to a receiver report message from the client. A target rate for the media session is generated based on the stored maximum transmission rate parameters, and the target rate is transmitted to a media server in a proxy-to-server feedback message. The media server selects the content rate from among a plurality of supported content rates in response to the proxy-to-server feedback message from the proxy server, and streams streaming multimedia frames to the client at the selected content rate.
US08812689B2
A client device, a gateway and a corresponding method are provided in order to increase the security of a network to which access is provided via a gateway. The address of the gateway may rotate, e.g., change, such that hackers or other individuals or devices that should not have access to the network will experience much greater difficulty in securing the address of the gateway and accessing the network, at least for any extended period of time. By ensuring that both the client device and the gateway are synchronized in regard to the rotation of the address of the gateway, however, the client device may still properly address the gateway and therefore access the network, even as the address of the gateway rotates. Different operating systems may also be associated with some of the different addresses of the gateway in order to increase the security of the network.
US08812688B2
An approach is provided for providing shared path connectivity among devices. A connection sharing platform determines to specify at least one group of devices, the at least one group including at least a first path to establish a network connection and a second path to establish a local connection among the devices. The connection sharing platform also determines to cause at least in part an activation of one or more of the devices to establish the network connection, wherein one or more unactivated devices share the network connection over the local connection.
US08812678B2
Described herein are systems and methods for providing a software application executing on an application server direct access to at least one of a distributed data or distributed service provided by a data grid. The system includes an application server having software applications executing thereon, and a data grid including a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes is adapted to provide at least one of a distributed data or distributed service. A resource configuration specified by one of a resource annotation added in the software applications or a resource reference defined in a deployment descriptor of said software applications is provided. Upon deployment of the software applications, the resource configuration is used by the system to provide the software applications direct access the distributed data and the distributed services provided by the data grid.
US08812674B2
A control system is described for controlling the operation of a target system, such as a data center. The control system uses a prediction module to predict demand for resources of the target system for future time steps. The control system then uses a transition determination module to determine state transitions within the target system to address the predicted demand. Each state transition describes a number of units to be advanced from a first state, at a first time step, to a second state, at a second time step. The control system then commences those state transitions which begin in the current step, and then repeats the predicting and determining for a next time step. The transition determination module can determine the state transitions by operating on an objective function that includes a demand difference component and a cost component, as subject to a set of conservation equations.
US08812666B2
A software system for enabling remote data access to and task execution on a data processing system through a proxy server has an instance of the software residing on the data processing system for receiving and analyzing requests and performing according to request directive, and an instance of the software residing on the proxy server for identifying and authenticating a user and for redirecting requests to the data processing system. The system is characterized in that a user connects to a network accessible to the data processing system and initiates a request for services, wherein the request is after authentication of the user, redirected from the proxy server to the data processing system for task execution and possible return of results according to the contents of the request.
US08812664B2
An apparatus in a LAN has first and second hardware interfaces to connect to the LAN. First and second monitoring request messages are transmitted to one or more devices in a first VLAN and one or more devices in a second VLAN respectively, via both the first and second hardware interfaces. The monitoring request messages use the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) or the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP). First and second monitoring response messages are received via the first and/or second hardware interfaces in response to the first and second monitoring request messages respectively. A selection is made between the first and second hardware interfaces for performing data communication, based on the first and second monitoring response messages. The selection is performed independently for data communication via the first and second VLANs based on at least one characteristic of the first and second monitoring response messages respectively.
US08812658B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for pre-fetching of resources referenced on a network page. A predicted next network page is retrieved by a computer system. The predicted next network page references at least one resource. At least one attribute of the resource is evaluated according to at least one retrieval criteria. At least one resource is retrieved if the attribute meets the retrieval criteria.
US08812655B2
In a method for determining deadlock-critical relations between networked components of a vehicle system, a graph, which at least partially represents the inhibit relations defined in the vehicle system and which has nodes and edges, is used, in which a classification takes place of at least a portion of the edges on the basis of the properties of the edges and the nodes connected by the edges, a prioritization of the edges on the basis of the classification takes place, and a determination of shortest deadlock-critical cycles for all nodes and at least some of the edges on the basis of the prioritization is implemented.
US08812654B2
The Wireless Integrated Network Sensor Next Generation (WINS NG) nodes provide distributed network and Internet access to sensors, controls, and processors that are deeply embedded in equipment, facilities, and the environment. The WINS NG network is a new monitoring and control capability for applications in transportation, manufacturing, health care, environmental monitoring, and safety and security. The WINS NG nodes combine microsensor technology, low power distributed signal processing, low power computation, and low power, low cost wireless and/or wired networking capability in a compact system. The WINS NG networks provide sensing, local control, remote reconfigurability, and embedded intelligent systems in structures, materials, and environments.
US08812653B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to create a hypergraph of weighted vertices comprising computing resources and storage resources, and nets comprising workloads; to receive a plurality of requests to be addressed by a network associated with the hypergraph, at least some of the requests associated with data objects; to calculate partition schemes for the network based on the requests and the data objects according to an ant colony optimization heuristic; and to autonomously reallocate the workloads to the computing resources and/or the storage resources according to the partition schemes. The workloads may act as ants following a path defined by the vertices of the hypergraph. Further activities may thus include depositing pheromones along hyperedges of the hypergraph, wherein the hyperedges are used for swapping the vertices between the workloads. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08812650B2
A method for transmitting useful data from a data source to a data sink, the data source being connected to a locating unit, the useful data in the data source being assigned supplementary data derived from information of the locating unit connected to the data source, which are transmitted to the data sink together with the useful data, wherein the received useful data in the data sink are assigned additional supplementary data, which are derived from additional information of a locating unit connected to the data sink. A system for transmitting useful data from a data source to a data sink, the data source being connected to a locating unit and the data source being designed to assign to the useful data supplementary data derived from information of the locating unit connected to the data source and to transmit it to the data sink together with the useful data, wherein the data sink is connected to a locating unit and the data sink is designed to assign to the received useful data additional supplementary data, which are derived from additional information of the locating unit connected to the data sink. When the supplementary data assigned on the source-side and the additional supplementary data assigned on the sink-side are set in relation to each other, information about the data transmission may be obtained therefrom.
US08812648B2
Techniques for measuring above-the-fold (ATF) page rendering are provided. Visible objects for an ATF portion of a browser page are identified. A start and end time for each visible object is recorded. Furthermore, a total elapsed time to finish loading each of the visible objects to the ATF portion of a browser is determined.
US08812639B2
A job managing device distributes jobs to be processed to a plurality calculation devices. The job managing device includes an information obtaining unit that obtains at least one of characteristic information or load information of the plurality of calculation devices, a job size determining unit that determines a job size to be allocated to each of the plurality of calculation devices based on the information obtained by the information obtaining unit, a job dividing unit that divides a job to be processed into divided jobs based on the job sizes determined by the job size determining unit, and a job distributing unit that distributes the divided jobs to the plurality of calculation devices.
US08812635B2
A unified network management framework enables a network operator to manage an entire network as if the operator is managing a single device.
US08812627B2
An application framework may include a cloud-independent application manager, a cloud-independent content services manager, and cloud-independent content services servers. The framework may dynamically install and manage scalable, multi-tenant applications in a cloud, and may scale the applications, as needed. The application manager may receive and handle requests to install application domains and configurations thereof, and may receive and respond to requests for information about servers on which installed methods are available. The content services servers may execute installed methods, using underlying resources of the cloud, through a cloud-specific SPI. The content services manager and application manager may work together using shared cloud storage to provide scalable content services at a very large scale. In the context of the framework described herein, an “application” may be defined by methods bundled into configurations, and by various cost-based and/or performance-based rules that specify how server instances providing those methods are to be managed.
US08812624B2
Method for updating a table of correspondence between a logical address and an identification number
A method for updating a table of correspondence between a logical address associated to a user unit in a communication network and a unique identification number associated to one of a group of user units managed by a management center, a method where messages are exchanged between said management center and a specific user unit of said group by using said communication network, these messages being forwarded to the logical address of the specific user in said network, the method including searching in said table for the logical address of the user unit in said communication network corresponding to the unique identification number of the specific user unit; sending of messages to the user unit having the concerned unique identification number, to the logical address corresponding to said communication network; and if the messages are received incorrectly, sending a request containing an identifier of said specific user unit.
US08812614B2
A system and method of backing up a data file from a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method can include receiving a data file from the mobile computing device at a server computer and storing the data file on a storage device. The method can include receiving data indicative of changes made to the data file on the mobile computing device. The method can further include changing the data file stored on the storage device based on the data indicative of changes made to the data file on the mobile computing device.
US08812611B2
A system and method for securely storing, retrieving and sharing data using PCs and mobile devices and for controlling and tracking the movement of data to and from a variety of computing and storage devices.
US08812598B2
Method, in a presence and intermediation system, to transfer from one owner (15) to at least one watcher (17) at least a share of owner's presence information related to at least one owner's buddy (13, 14, 16) in order to enable said watcher (17) to replace the owner (15) toward said buddy (13, 14, 16). Presence and intermediation system comprising means to apply the said method.
US08812595B2
A method for scanning a message-list accessible to a plurality of processors includes retrieving, from a cache associated with a scanning processor from the plurality of processors, information identifying a starting message-slot. This information is then used to begin a scan of the message-list at that starting message-slot. The information indicating the starting message-slot is obtained by identifying, in the message-list, a message-slot containing a message intended for a recipient processor from the plurality of processors and obtaining, from the identified message-slot, information indicative of a location of a succeeding message-slot in the message-list. This information is then cached, for retrieval during a subsequent scan of the message-list.
US08812589B2
A system for document-driven message-based communications may include a presentation module to open a subject electronic document at a first electronic system; an attribute detector to detect that the subject electronic document is a message-enabled document; an RTC module to initiate an RTC session between a first user associated with the first electronic system and a second user associated with a second electronic system; and a storing module to store one or more RTC messages generated during the RTC session as associated with the subject electronic document. The message-enabled document includes an infrastructure required for real time communications (RTC).
US08812586B1
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for correlating status information generated in a computer network. A computing system receives, for each particular computer server or application program in a group of computer servers and application programs that are executing on the computer servers, information that identifies statuses of the particular computer server or application program at a plurality of times. The computing system generates, using the information received, network signatures that each represent statuses of the computer servers and application programs in the group for a particular time, the network signatures being for multiple times. The computer system stores the network signatures along with data that identifies relationships, for each of the multiple times, between (i) application programs and the computer servers on which they were executing, and (ii) application programs that were in communication with each other.
US08812583B2
A method and system for conducting multiple Internet-based conventions, events, conferences, trade shows and meetings (“conventions”) includes a plurality of meeting planner clients, exhibitor/sponsor clients and attendee clients, all using web browser computers and a central website server on the Internet. The system receives and stores initial convention data, and control parameter rules from meeting planner clients. Then the system receives and stores exhibit booth display data and control parameter rules for said convention from exhibitor/sponsor clients. Based on search criteria provided by the participating attendee client, the central website server releases stored database convention information and provides a wide array of convention activity simulated with the program instructions and the databases. Thus, the system allows the creation of a “virtual convention venue” for conventions that exist only on the central website server and available using the Internet. Additionally, the system supports and augments a convention being held in a physical or venue-based center (e.g., Moscone Center in San Francisco).
US08812579B2
An apparatus is provided for transferring data among clients, recipients, and servers. In general, an apparatus is described for coordinating and modifying data being transferred from clients to destination servers and from destination servers to recipients. A proxy server modifies requests and responses from clients and destination servers, respectively, and ultimately communicates related responses to recipients according to one or more predefined rules pertaining to each client and destination server. In this way, requests may be communicated from clients to the appropriate destination servers such that the requests may be fulfilled by the destination servers, and responses may be communicated from the destination servers to the appropriate recipients. The load on potential destination servers, network conditions, and the content of the responses received may be considered and addressed by the proxy server, facilitating the transfer of data.
US08812578B2
Start times are determined for jobs to be executed in the future in a multi-cluster environment. The start times are, for instance, the earliest start times in which the jobs may be executed. The start times are computed in logarithmic time, providing processing efficiencies for the multi-cluster environment. Processing efficiencies are further realized by employing parallel processing in determining the start times.
US08812573B2
Circuitry for computing a trigonometric function of an input includes circuitry for relating the input to another value to generate an intermediate value, circuitry for selecting one of the input and the intermediate value as a trigonometric input value, circuitry for determining respective initial values of a plurality of trigonometric functions for the trigonometric input value, and circuitry for deriving, based at least in part on a trigonometric identity, a final value of the first trigonometric function from the respective initial values of the plurality of trigonometric functions. The trigonometric function may be any of sine, cosine and tangent and their inverse functions. The trigonometric identities used allow a computation of a trigonometric function to be broken into pieces that either are easier to perform or can be performed more accurately.
US08812570B2
In one embodiment, a mechanism for string hashing using a random number generator is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing an input stream provided to a hashing module into a plurality of subsets of ‘n’ bits, entangling, by a mixer of the hashing module, one of the subsets of ‘n’ bits by a next sequential output of a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG), adding a product of the entangling to an accumulator of the hashing module, repeating the entangling and adding until all subsets of the plurality of subsets have been processed, and returning a value in the accumulator as a hash result value.
US08812567B1
Various embodiments of a system and method for creating a unification directory to unify a group of directories are described herein. The system may enable a first directory to be unified with one or more other directories such that when directory operations are performed on the first directory, it appears to them that the first directory includes not only its own files, but also the files of the one or more other directories. This may be accomplished by creating a persistent, re-useable unification directory which includes directory entries corresponding to the names of the files in the first directory and the one or more other directories. The unification directory does not contain complete copies of the files. Instead, the unification directory is used to obtain a listing of the files when needed, and the system then re-directs file operations to the real files in the individual directories as necessary.
US08812564B2
An insertion of a record into a table that includes a primary key column and a second column that includes a global uniqueness constraint across all of a plurality of data partitions across which the table is split is initiated without checking that a value of the record in the second column is globally unique by contacting other partitions the one partition to which the record is to be added to. The insertion can be processed, at least in part by implementing a write lock on the one partition but without implementing a read lock on the other partitions. The write lock on the one partition can be released after the insertion is completed, after which the validity of the insertion can be verified, for example by examining the other parts and a delta partition corresponding to the table. The insertion can be undone if the insertion was not valid.
US08812545B2
In one aspect of the invention, a memory is described for facilitating splitting data by taxonomy. The memory is accessed by an application program, and includes one or more top-level categories, where each top-level category comprises a subset of the items; and also includes a category group corresponding to at least one of the top-level categories and the subset of the items belonging to the top-level categories.
US08812531B2
A concept bridge employable with a search engine, method of operating the same and computer information system employing the concept bridge and method. In one embodiment, the concept bridge includes an extractor configured to derive concept terms by extracting significant terms from search text and inferring relevant terms therefrom. The concept bridge also includes a query generator configured to generate a query consistent with an index of a search engine as a function of the concept terms.
US08812529B2
Determining and storing at least one validated results set in a global ontology database for future use by an entity that subscribes to the global ontology database. If global ontology data is stored in a global ontology database, attempt to determine a mapping between first and second ontologies. If a mapping between the first and second ontologies can be determined from the global ontology data, the mapping is validated and the validated mapping is defined as a validated results set. If global ontology data is not stored in a global ontology database or a mapping between the first and second ontologies can not be determined from global ontology data stored in the global ontology database, the first and second ontologies are unified by determining a mapping between the first and second ontologies, the mapping is validated and the validated mapping is defined as a validated results set. The validated results set is stored in the global ontology database for future use by an entity that subscribes to the global ontology database.
US08812528B1
A card creation indication is received from a first user concerning a request to create a future experience data card, wherein the future experience data card corresponds to a future experience. Two or more data items related to the future experience are received on the one or more computing devices. The two or more data items include at least one temporal indication. The future experience data card is generated on the one or more computing devices for the future experience based at least in part on the two or more data items related to the future experience. The future experience data card is stored, using the one or more computing devices, in an experience database. The experience database includes a plurality of experience data cards that are each associated with an experience and are each accessible by users of an interface to the experience database.
US08812526B2
A system for selecting among a plurality of advertising content from a first and second mobile content inventory for presentation of the advertising content on a mobile communication facility includes (a) receiving at a server a request for an advertisement associated with a user-action initiated at the mobile communication facility operated by a user; (b) searching the first and second mobile content inventory for a first and second advertisement, respectively, that corresponds to the request for an advertisement; (c) determining that the first advertisement is more relevant for presentation to the mobile communication facility than the second advertisement, wherein the determination is based at least on a respective yield optimization of the first and second advertisements; (d) determining that the yield associated with the first advertisement is greater than the yield associated with the second advertisement; (e) and transmitting the first advertisement instead of the second advertisement.
US08812519B1
Methods and apparatus for vision based dating recommendations which analyze face photographs in a members database and recommends potential dating partners. A user selects faces the user finds attractive or unattractive from an objectively diverse group of member photographs. Member faces are mapped and compared with defining data extracted from the attractive and unattractive face selections made by the user to present to the user a ranking of photographs from most to least attractive. The user may continue to select attractive and unattractive face photographs allowing for a more refined and accurate ranking of faces attractive to the particular user. The ranked face data may be combined with narrative compatibility data to present to the user members the user is most likely to find compatible as well as attractive.
US08812515B1
Systems and methods for processing contact information are described. In one embodiment, an entity name is identified from an event associated with an article, wherein the entity name is associated with an entity and the event is associated with a user, contact information associated with the entity name is identified, the entity name and at least some of the contact information is indexed, and the entity name and at least some of the contact information is stored.
US08812513B2
A method of checking consistency of pointers in a hierarchical database includes reading segment information recorded on the hierarchical database and determining a type of each segment and pointer included in each segment. The method also includes extracting parent pointers and twin pointers from child segments and extracting a child pointer from the parent segment. The method also includes calculating a first hash value by a combination of a storage location address of the parent segment and a value of the child pointer and a combination of the values of the parent pointers and the twin pointers included in the child segments, and a second hash value from a combination of storage location addresses of the child segments and the values of the parent pointers included in the child segments. The method further includes indicating a consistency error when the first hash value and the second hash value differ.
US08812512B2
A method of reducing the time taken to manufacture a bitemporal relational database is disclosed. The method involves designing business database tables with relational rules stored in a relational kernel or referential rule dictionary, and designing those tables so as to be without start date and end date columns for start of valid time and end of valid time for entities, and designing the system to be without history tables recording the history of relationships between entities in the database; the system being designed as a current view with primary key and unique key constraints, and time-related issues being taken care of by the S$, T$, and E$ tables automatically generated as the data structure of the system is populated with data.
US08812507B2
A self-organizing personal file system is disclosed that evaluates the “importance” of terms and phrases in a document in a personal corpus relative to usage in a reference corpus. A personalized term weighting scheme assigns a weight to terms or phrases based on the frequency of occurrence of the corresponding term or phrase in a reference corpus. Documents are positioned in a visual file space associated with a personal corpus by storing each of the documents with an indication of the term weight for terms appearing in the corresponding document. A singular value decomposition is performed based on the term weights to position a given document in the visual file space based on a relative frequency distribution of terms of the document compared to the occurrence of such terms in a reference corpus.
US08812503B2
An information processing device includes an obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of contents to which labels indicating users' subjective evaluation of the contents are assigned as metadata, a selection unit that selects labels having a high reliability in regards to evaluation of the contents among the labels assigned to the plurality of contents obtained by the obtaining unit, a calculation unit that calculates a degree of similarity between the labels selected by the selection unit, a clustering unit that clusters the labels based on the degree of similarity calculated by the calculation unit, and a storage unit that stores a cluster obtained as a result of the clustering in the clustering unit, as one label.
US08812497B2
Storing image data and related information for sharing via a URL includes receiving image data uploaded from a client computer via a user interface and receiving, separate from the receiving of the image data, related information uploaded via the user interface. The uploaded image data and related information are stored. A uniform resource locator (URL) configured for retrieving a display that includes the stored image data and the related information is generated. The URL is provided in a message.
US08812494B2
Systems and methods are provided for selecting contexts for new invitational content and invitational content for new contexts. In particular, a performance history of delivered invitational content in known contexts is combined with similarity measures for the delivered invitational content, with respect to a new invitational content, to generate a list of potential contexts for the new invitational content. Similarly, a performance history of in known contexts with delivered invitational content can combined with similarity measures for known contexts, with respect to a new context, to generate a list of potential content for the new context. Further, a combination of these methods can be used to pair new invitational content with new contexts.
US08812493B2
Architecture for extracting document information from documents received as search results based on a query string, and computing an edit distance between the data string and the query string. The edit distance is employed in determining relevance of the document as part of result ranking by detecting near-matches of a whole query or part of the query. The edit distance evaluates how close the query string is to a given data stream that includes document information such as TAUC (title, anchor text, URL, clicks) information, etc. The architecture includes the index-time splitting of compound terms in the URL to allow the more effective discovery of query terms. Additionally, index-time filtering of anchor text is utilized to find the top N anchors of one or more of the document results. The TAUC information can be input to a neural network (e.g., 2-layer) to improve relevance metrics for ranking the search results.
US08812492B2
A system and method is provided for automatic and dynamic adaptation of cache groups in a database system having one or more processors. The method includes analyzing a database query and determining if a set of predicates in a predicate pattern are suitable for inclusion in one or more cache groups, with the one or more cache groups having one or more cache tables; mapping value-based predicates in the predicate pattern to a filling column in the one or more cache tables; and mapping equi-join predicates in the predicate pattern to a referential cache constraint in the one or more cache tables. New cache groups can be created for predicate patterns occurring more frequently and existing cache groups can be deleted if the frequency of the predicate pattern falls below a predetermined threshold value.
US08812483B2
A system for optimizing web searching and scheduling of service providers which has three main characteristics: a system and method for search optimization that automatically aggregates service providers and their services; checks, in real time, the availability information for the service providers; and proposes one or more optimized series of services for which there is availability. First, service providers and their services, including schedule are aggregated. Second the system checks, in real time, the availability information for the service providers. The availability is used as a criterion for the schedule optimization. Finally, the system proposes one or more optimized series of services for which there is availability, and that will take place in a given period of time. The optimization process aims at scheduling this succession of events under various constraints. An optimization algorithm assigns a score to each series of services that can thereby be ranked.
US08812479B2
A method of triggering crawling of a domain includes receiving information related to a domain from a registrar and processing the information related to the domain. The method also includes storing the processed information in a registry zone file and forming a list of registry data based on the processed information. The list of registry data comprises a subset of the registry zone file. The method farther includes crawling one or more of the domains in the list of registry data.
US08812477B2
A method includes receiving, on an electronic device, one or more logical entities from a storage system having a universe of data. The one or more logical entities encapsulate data from the universe of data on the storage system. Each of the one or more logical entities belong to one of a plurality of logical-entity types defined by a universal representation format. The method additionally includes, for each of the one or more logical entities, rendering a representation of the logical entity on a spatial interface, the spatial interface comprising a plurality of spatial components.
US08812470B2
Various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, and software to automatically reorder search results presented to users based on information specific to the user or the computing environment of the user. Some embodiments include a data store holding user or environment specific data that is used to identify search results that are more likely to be relevant to the user. These and other embodiments are described in greater detail herein.
US08812468B2
A lower-level master node sends, to a higher-level master node, a write set expanded in its own memory including a shadow copy of its own database and a heap tuple map, and the higher-level master node that received the write set verifies whether the update has already been executed and sends the record of this update to the lower-level master node as a transaction log, whereby the database can be updated efficiently and consistently from the lower-level master node to the higher-level master node, and from the higher-level master node to the lower-level master node under its control.
US08812463B2
An information processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory storing a program. The apparatus may also include a processor configured to execute the program to cause the apparatus to perform a method. The method may include creating a function relating feature quantities of first contents to known values of the first contents. The method may also include calculating, using the created function, expected values of second contents based on feature quantities of the second contents. In addition, the method may include controlling display of a presentation of the second contents in relation to a search axis, the second contents being positioned along a direction of the search axis based on the calculated expected values.
US08812460B2
Each file is assigned in advance with a WWUID which is newly assigned to a file upon the creation or update of the file and is inherited from a file to a copied file when the file is copied. In a backup apparatus, a file name reception unit receives the file name of a backup target file. A WWUID reception unit receives a WWUID corresponding to the file name. A WWUID search unit searches for the same WWUID in backup management information of a previous day stored in a backup destination. Only if the search is failed, a file operation instruction unit instructs the storing of the backup target file into the backup destination. Then, an Rcnt update instruction unit instructs the updating of the number of references made to the WWUID within the backup destination. A second management information update instruction unit then instructs the updating of backup management information of the current day.
US08812450B1
Techniques to clone a writeable data object in non-persistent memory are disclosed. The writeable data object is stored in a storage structure in non-persistent memory that corresponds to a portion of a persistent storage. The techniques enable cloning of the writeable data object without having to wait until the writeable data object is saved to the persistent storage and without needing to quiesce incoming operations (e.g., reads and writes) to the writeable data object.
US08812445B2
This disclosure enables a user to incrementally increase or decrease the size of the cluster and, in particular, to incrementally increase or decrease the number of map regions implemented in a metadata manager associated with the cluster while maintaining availability of the cluster. In a representative embodiment, a configurable target map size is identified, either manually (e.g., by the user) or programmatically. If the target map size is found to be within an acceptable value (given the available node configuration), a procedure to create a new map is triggered. The new map preferably is generated as follows. Initially, one or more new temporary region(s) are created either to split or join the existing regions (depending on whether the map is being increased or decreased). For each temporary region, the process also generates MDPL backup regions. Metadata from an original region (or regions) is then migrated to the temporary region(s). Once the migrations have been completed, the old region or regions (from which the metadata is migrated) are removed and what were the temporary regions are, in effect, promoted. The result is the new map.
US08812434B2
A technique for monitoring software which efficiently communicates transaction trace data, including static and dynamic data, from an agent to a manager is disclosed. A tree data structure describes transactions as a sequence of transaction elements. Each branch may correspond to one type of transaction. The nodes along a branch may be associated with components of monitored software that are invoked to perform the transaction. A provisional branch may be constructed when an agent is unable to initially identify the transaction. Transaction data may be stored in association with the nodes in the provisional branch during the monitoring. After information needed to identify the transaction becomes available to the agent, the provisional branch is updated. The transaction data is reported in response to determining the branch in the tree data structure that matches the provisional branch.
US08812428B2
Disclosed herein are methods for transforming numerical output of mathematical-fatigue models into contextual performance metrics, including without limitation, performance, incident and/or accident-related metrics associated with particular activities and/or with particular environments, such as but not limited to: the number and severity of injuries or cost of repairs associated with a particular incident, increases in insurance premiums, a performance rate, an error rate and/or the like.
US08812426B2
A computer-implemented method and non-transitory article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for selecting a solution for carbon emission prediction. The method includes the steps of: obtaining historical records of carbon emission and a current demand for carbon emission, locating from the historical records of carbon emission a best matching historical record with respect to the current demand, selecting, based on the located best matching historical record, one of (i) a data prediction solution record and (ii) a rule prediction solution, and calculating a demand gap between the current demand and the best matching historical record as a best matching demand gap, where at least one step is carried out using a computer device.
US08812418B2
A method for implementing an artificial neural network includes connecting a plurality of receiving neurons to a plurality of transmitting neurons through memristive synapses. Each memristive synapse has a weight which is initialized into a conductive state. A binary input vector is presented through the memristive synapses to the plurality of receiving neurons and the state of one or more of the memristive synapses modified based on the binary input vector.
US08812407B2
Social network information may be shared across online service providers. Thus, one online service provider M that maintains a membership separate from a second online service provider N may nevertheless use the social network maintained by the second online service provider N to tailor content and/or services based on such social network information.
US08812400B2
In a method for managing a memory segment through use of a memory virtual appliance, data is encapsulated with the memory virtual appliance, in which the memory virtual appliance comprises a virtual machine configured to manage a memory segment in a physical memory. In addition, the memory virtual appliance is implemented using a virtualization wrapper comprising computer readable code enabling the encapsulated data to be shared among a plurality of clients. Moreover, the encapsulated data is stored in the memory segment controlled by the memory virtual appliance.
US08812396B2
Local shipping addresses in a first country are assigned to a plurality of consumers having physical addresses in at least one country other than the first country. A request is obtained, from an e-commerce retailer, for a corresponding one of the local shipping addresses. Product information, an indication of a desired form of shipping from the e-commerce retailer to the corresponding one of the local shipping addresses, and an indication of a desired form of shipping from the corresponding one of the local shipping addresses to a corresponding one of the physical addresses in the at least one country other than the first country are obtained. An indication of an estimated fully landed cost associated with the on-line shopping session is dispatched.
US08812390B1
The instant invention relates generally to a group of computer-based methods preferably utilized in an implied alpha model and investor preferences to detect and address a preference drag problem. The computer-based method starts with an implied alpha model, which is derived from an existing portfolio. An implied alpha model can be treated as a preference aggregation when its factors represent investors' preferences on the portfolio. In this case, the model is also called an implied preference model. After an implied preference model is developed from a portfolio, a drag problem can be detected by checking whether the model has persistent and negative returns. If a drag problem exists in a portfolio, it can be solved by modifying the portfolio under assistance from the model.
US08812385B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that allow for personalized data to be embedded in a primary account number associated with a consumer device. In one embodiment, a consumer device comprises a body and personalized data embedded into a primary account number, associated with the body. The primary account number includes a bank identification number and the bank identification number and the personalized data overlap.
US08812380B2
In an embodiment of the invention, a tax preparation method is implementable in an electronic system coupled to an electronic device, which is, in turn, coupled to a display device. A web page displayable on the display device is served to the electronic device. The displayed web page includes a user interface, which, in turn, includes a tab bar, with a plurality of tabs. In each tab at least one accordion is present. In each of the accordions there preferably exists at least one text box for explaining or receiving tax information, having a title, an input box and a flyout, the flyout providing tax assistance information to a the user. Once a desired amount of the text boxes have been completed and a completed tax document has been developed, a tax return may be filed with a government agency.
US08812376B2
Techniques are disclosed for generating an electronic shopping list based on a digital photograph of a handwritten shopping list. The techniques include obtaining a digital photograph of a handwritten shopping list and identifying a handwritten text portion in the digital photograph. The techniques further include determining a set of candidate items corresponding to the handwritten text portion, each candidate item of the set of candidate items representing a different item that may have written in the handwritten text portion of the handwritten shopping list and being indicative of a product sold by a retailer. The techniques further include selecting one of the set of candidate items for inclusion in the electronic shopping list. The techniques can be performed by a mobile computing device or by a shopping list server.
US08812369B2
The present invention is directed to a method for requesting a service, using a multi-dimensional code. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a user terminal recognizes a multi-dimensional code displayed with information or advertisement in any of information delivery media (e.g., television, newspaper, magazine, etc.), and receives and displays detailed information corresponding to the information or advertisement or performs ordering/making a payment for a product corresponding to the advertisement. With the present invention, not only does it become more convenient to order/make a payment for an advertised product, but also a variety of services corresponding to the pertinent product can be provided.
US08812368B1
Computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a video apparatus with image capture and digitization capability, and multiple wireless interfaces for accomplishing various purposes, including e.g., streaming the digitized video data to another device for viewing and/or storage thereon. In one variant, one of the wireless interfaces is a short range passive RFID-based interface which generates replies to interrogation signals, the replies including user-specific information.
US08812367B2
Methods and systems for adjusting a security level of a transaction system based on biometric characteristics of a customer are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes interacting with a customer at a transaction terminal. The method also includes determining a biometric characteristic of the customer based on the interaction with the customer. Further, the method may include adjusting a security level of a transaction system based on the biometric characteristic.
US08812356B1
A method of voting with your feet is disclosed. A performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game is associated with a vote on a matter. The performance of the location-based action by the player is detected. A count of votes corresponding to the vote on the matter is incremented based on the detecting of the performance of the location-based action by the player.
US08812354B2
A method for use in providing content to a user includes providing a first item of content to the user, calculating a first remaining amount of time between an end of the first item of content and an end of a fixed period of time, selecting a second item of content based on information relating to the user and with a length of the second item of content being equal to or less than the first remaining amount of time, and providing the second item of content to the user. A storage medium stores a computer program for causing a processor based system to execute these steps, and a system for use in providing content includes a processing system configured to execute these steps.
US08812349B2
A method performed by a wireless node including receiving charging policies for data offloading; performing data offloading with respect to a user data flow; generating charging information associated with data offloading based on the charging policies; and sending the charging information to at least one of an on-line charging function or an off-line charging function.
US08812348B2
A system and method for providing model-based promotion and price computation is described in which promotional offers in the form of promotion information from a manufacturer are combined with price determination parameters from the retailer to calculate a final retail price. The system prevents fraud by eliminating the heavy dependence on unverifiable trust between the retailer and manufacturer and by assuring that the consumer will receive the benefit of the promotions intended by the manufacturer.
US08812340B2
Provides workflow systems and methods. A workflow system having a matchmaking unit for receiving a task query from a workflow, and a plurality of task definer units, each providing a definition of a task. The matchmaking unit communicates with the task definer units to evaluate the task definitions against the task query based on at least one property associated with each task definition and provides at least one of the task definitions to the workflow as offers based on the evaluation.
US08812337B2
Security personnel time is assigned to a store property by generating an incident score based on a probability of an incident occurring on a store property. A set of ranges of incident scores, each range being associated with a number of hours of security personnel time, are retrieved from computer memory. A range of incident scores in the set of ranges of incident scores that the generated incident score falls within is identified and an associated number of hours of security personnel time is retrieved. Security personnel time is assigned to the store property using a processor based on the number of hours of security personnel time retrieved for the identified range of incident scores.
US08812336B2
A system for generating a work unit test ahead candidate list. A list is generated of all potential candidate systems for test ahead operations. A system in the potential candidate list is selected. It is determined whether any work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts. Determining that no work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts, a complexity score is calculated for each work unit in the selected system. The calculated complexity scores are added to a total system complexity score. It is then determined whether an override exists for a work unit in the selected system. Determining that an override does exist, the selected system is removed from the potential candidate list. A candidate list is generated from remaining systems in the potential candidate list. Then, the candidate list is outputted to provide recommendations for optimizing work unit test ahead operations.
US08812334B2
A method for performing oilfield operations for an oilfield having a subterranean formation with an underground reservoir therein, the oilfield being provided with at least one wellsite with oilfield equipment for extracting fluid from the underground reservoir, involving collecting data comprising trajectory and earth properties associated with a planned well for a geoscience application to obtain a geoscience model, invoking a well planning system integrated with the geoscience application, extracting the trajectory and earth properties from the geoscience model to obtain an extracted trajectory and extracted earth properties, determining at least one parameter for the planned well based on the extracted trajectory and the extracted earth properties, and displaying the at least one parameter associated with the planned well within a geological context of the geoscience application to allow refinement of the planned well for efficient fluid extraction from the underground reservoir.
US08812332B2
This invention relates generally to a computer system and method for integrating insurance policy underwriting. In one aspect it integrates the older legacy insurance policy generating systems to on line systems where users access the system through browsers. The computer system to perform the process of underwriting, rating, quoting, binding, and booking an insurance policy includes browsers, data bases, processors and a dispatcher that parses the information to select an insurance process. Suitable software programs review messages received from users to determine if certain messages are less than a prescribed limit. If a message is greater than the limit, then the message is parsed into a header information and one or more data fields whereby the header information is provided to a legacy processor and to policy generation software for further creation of policy related information and documentation.
US08812330B1
A system and method for calculating and applying insurance costs. For vehicle insurance under one embodiment of the present invention, insurance costs are calculated on a per-mile basis in a nonlinear fashion, assigning different levels of risk based upon the distance driven by a customer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first miles or kilometers driven by a customer are assigned a greater level of risk than later-driven miles or kilometers. The present invention provides an actuarial method that more closely conforms the cost of insurance for a particular vehicle to its annual mileage by creating a Rate Per Mile Factor (RMF), where the RMF is expressed as a function of annual mileage.
US08812325B2
A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device. Alternatively, if the confidence of the speech recognition is lower, the recorded audio data file is routed to a human transcriber employed by the telecommunications service, who manually reviews the digital voice file and builds the application command or text file. Once the application command is created, it is transmitted to the communication device. As a result of the present invention, speech recognition in the context of a communications devices has been shown to be accurate over 90% of the time.
US08812321B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods and non-transitory computer-readable media for performing speech recognition across different applications or environments without model customization or prior knowledge of the domain of the received speech. The disclosure includes recognizing received speech with a collection of domain-specific speech recognizers, determining a speech recognition confidence for each of the speech recognition outputs, selecting speech recognition candidates based on a respective speech recognition confidence for each speech recognition output, and combining selected speech recognition candidates to generate text based on the combination.
US08812317B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for recognizing voice commands, the apparatus including: a voice command recognition unit which recognizes an input voice command; a voice command recognition learning unit which learns a recognition-targeted voice command; and a controller which controls the voice command recognition unit to recognize the recognition-targeted voice command from an input voice command, controls the voice command recognition learning unit to learn the input voice command if the voice command recognition is unsuccessful, and performs a particular operation corresponding to the recognized voice command if the voice command recognition is successful.
US08812315B2
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for recognizing speech by adapting automatic speech recognition pronunciation by acoustic model restructuring. The method identifies an acoustic model and a matching pronouncing dictionary trained on typical native speech in a target dialect. The method collects speech from a new speaker resulting in collected speech and transcribes the collected speech to generate a lattice of plausible phonemes. Then the method creates a custom speech model for representing each phoneme used in the pronouncing dictionary by a weighted sum of acoustic models for all the plausible phonemes, wherein the pronouncing dictionary does not change, but the model of the acoustic space for each phoneme in the dictionary becomes a weighted sum of the acoustic models of phonemes of the typical native speech. Finally the method includes recognizing via a processor additional speech from the target speaker using the custom speech model.
US08812310B2
The present disclosure introduces a new technique for environmental recognition of audio input using feature selection. In one embodiment, audio data may be identified using feature selection. A plurality of audio descriptors may be ranked by calculating a Fisher's discriminant ratio for each audio descriptor. Next, a configurable number of highest ranking audio descriptors based on the Fisher's discriminant ratio of each audio descriptor are selected to obtain a selected feature set. The selected feature set is then applied to audio data. Other embodiments are also described.
US08812309B2
A method for suppressing ambient noise using multiple audio signals may include providing at least two audio signals captured by at least two electro-acoustic transducers. The at least two audio signals may include desired audio and ambient noise. The method may also include performing beamforming on the at least two audio signals in order to obtain a desired audio reference signal that is separate from a noise reference signal.
US08812297B2
Determining synonyms of words in a set of documents. Particularly, when provided with a word or phrase as input, in exemplary embodiments there is afforded the return of a predetermined number of “top” synonym words (or phrases) for an input word (or phrase) in a specific collection of text documents. Further, a user is able to provide ongoing and iterative positive or negative feedback on the returned synonym words, by manually accepting or rejecting such words as the process is underway.
US08812295B1
A technique for translating a portion of a website includes receiving a language set of a user indicating a primary language of the user is received. A content feed to be displayed to the user is received and parsed to identify a text portion of a user generated content. The original language of the text portion is determined and compared with the one or more languages in the language set. When the original language of the text portion does not match the languages in the language set: (i) the text portion, the original language, and the primary language are provided to a translation engine, (ii) a translated version of the text portion is received from the translation engine, (iii) the translated version of the text portion is inserted into the content feed to obtain a modified content feed, and (iv) the modified content feed is displayed to the user.
US08812292B2
A Natural Language Understanding system is provided for indexing of free text documents. The system according to the invention utilizes typographical and functional segmentation of text to identify those portions of free text that carry meaning. The system then uses words and multi-word terms and phrases identified in the free to text to identify concepts in the free text. The system uses a lexicon of terms linked to a formal ontology that is independent of a specific language to extract concepts from the free text based on the words and multi-word terms in the free text. The formal ontology contains both language independent domain knowledge concepts and language dependent linguistic concepts that govern the relationships between concepts and contain the rules about how language works. The system according to the current invention may preferably be used to index medical documents and assign codes from independent coding systems, such as, SNOMED, ICD-9 and ICD-10. The system according to the current invention may also preferably make use of syntactic parsing to improve the efficiency of the method.
US08812290B2
Disclosed is a text display apparatus including: a display section; a dictionary storage section to store dictionary information composed of a headword of a first language corresponded to description information of a second language; a text storage section to store text data of the first language; a text/translation display control section to display text data and to display a portion of the description information as an initial translated word in the second language; a selection section to select a word; a description information display control section to display the description information; and a translated word selection section to select a portion of the description information as a selected translated word, wherein the text/translation display control section includes a selected translated word discrimination display section to replace the initial translated word to display the selected translated word with a display form different from the initial translated word.
US08812286B1
A method for modeling power management in an integrated circuit (IC) includes: specifying a circuit design and a power architecture for the IC, the power architecture including a plurality of power domains for specifying power levels in different portions of the IC; determining an emulation module for the IC by including one or more hardware elements for modeling the power architecture in the emulation module; and using the emulation module to simulate changing power levels in one or more power domains of the IC including a power shutoff in at least one power domain.
US08812282B2
A method for efficient inversion of measured geophysical data from a subsurface region to prospect for hydrocarbons. Gathers of measured data (40) are encoded (60) using a set of non-equivalent encoding functions (30). Then all data records in each encoded gather that correspond to a single receiver are summed (60), repeating for each receiver to generate a simultaneous encoded gather (80). The method employs iterative, local optimization of a cost function to invert the encoded gathers of simultaneous source data. An adjoint method is used to calculate the gradients of the cost function needed for the local optimization process (100). The inverted data yields a physical properties model (110) of the subsurface region that, after iterative updating, can indicate presence of accumulations of hydrocarbons.
US08812275B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for modeling movement of air underneath a floor of a data center. Embodiments include receiving, by a management system, from a plurality of environmental condition sensors, environmental condition information corresponding to an area underneath the floor of the data center; in dependence upon the environmental condition information, generating, by the management system, a model representing movement of air within the area underneath the floor of the data center; and indicating, by the management system, physical obstacles underneath the floor of the data center based on the model of the movement of air.
US08812274B2
Methods and systems for creating ensembles of hypersurfaces in high-dimensional feature spaces, and to machines and systems relating thereto. More specifically, exemplary aspects of the invention relate to methods and systems for generating supervised hypersurfaces based on user domain expertise, machine learning techniques, or other supervised learning techniques. These supervised hypersurfaces may optionally be combined with unsupervised hypersurfaces derived from unsupervised learning techniques. Lower-dimensional subspaces may be determined by the methods and systems for creating ensembles of hypersurfaces in high-dimensional feature spaces. Data may then be projected onto the lower-dimensional subspaces for use, e.g., in further data discovery, visualization for display, or database access. Also provided are tools, systems, devices, and software implementing the methods, and computers embodying the methods and/or running the software, where the methods, software, and computers utilize various aspects of the present invention relating to analyzing data.
US08812253B2
A system comprises a differential pressure sensor, a process pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The differential pressure sensor is positioned to sense differential pressure along a fluid flow, where fluid properties of the fluid flow have first and second phases separated along a transition curve. The process pressure sensor is positioned to sense a pressure of the fluid flow, and the temperature sensor is positioned to sense a temperature of the fluid flow. The microprocessor is coupled to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor to determine a flow rate, and the microprocessor generates a diagnostic based on the process pressure and the temperature as compared to the transition curve.
US08812247B2
The present invention relates to methods of optimization of a protein coding sequences for expression in a given host cell. The methods apply genetic algorithms to optimise single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness sequences coding for a predetermined amino acid sequence. In the algorithm generation of new sequence variants and subsequent selection of fitter variants is reiterated until the variant coding sequences reach a minimum value for single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness. The invention also relates to a computer comprising a processor and memory, the processor being arranged to read from and write into the memory, the memory comprising data and instructions arranged to provide the processor with the capacity to perform the genetic algorithms for optimization of single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness. The invention further relates to nucleic acids comprising a coding sequence for a predetermined amino acid sequence, the coding sequence being optimised with respect to single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness for a given host in the methods of the invention, to host cells comprising such nucleic acids and to methods for producing polypeptides and other fermentation products in which these host cells are used.
US08812237B2
A method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation is provided, the method including the steps of obtaining crosswell electromagnetic signals between two wells and using an inversion of said signals to investigate or delineate the presence of a resistivity anomaly, such as brine in a low resistivity background, wherein the resistivity anomaly is assumed to be distributed as one or more bodies characterized by a limited number of geometrical parameters and the inversion is used to determine said geometrical parameters. The method can also be applied to determine the trajectory of an in-fill well to be drilled.
US08812214B2
An internal combustion engine control device the present invention provides is a control device that can realize both of request torque and a request A/F for each of cylinder groups with high precision, even when the request A/F differs at each of the cylinder groups. The present control device sets a reference A/F within a range from the leanest A/F to the richest A/F out of the request A/Fs to the respective cylinder groups. The present control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the request torque under the reference A/F, based on data that defines a relation between engine output torque and an air quantity in relation to an A/F. The present control device controls a throttle opening in accordance with the target air quantity, and controls fuel injection amounts of the respective cylinders in accordance with the request A/F s to the respective cylinder groups.
US08812203B2
A control apparatus for a power transmitting system of a vehicle provided with a transmission portion having a plurality of speed ratios to be established in steps, and an electric motor operatively connected to an input-side rotary member of said transmission portion and controlled to generate a regenerative torque in a decelerating state of the vehicle, the control apparatus is configured: to implement a shifting control to perform a shifting operation of said transmission portion under the condition of a determination in the decelerating state of the vehicle that an input torque of said transmission portion including said regenerative torque is substantially zero; and to implement the shifting control to perform the shifting operation of said transmission portion under the condition of an improvement of a fuel economy rather than the determination that the input torque of said transmission portion is substantially zero, when a target deceleration value of the vehicle is larger than a predetermined threshold value.
US08812202B2
A drive controller of an operating machine configured to drive a structure by a hydraulic motor and an electric motor includes: a remote control valve configured to determine the operation amount of the structure; an electric motor torque calculation portion configured to calculate torque of the electric motor; a hydraulic motor torque calculation portion configured to calculate torque of the hydraulic motor; a controller configured to transmit an opening position control signal to the control valve based on the operation amount determined by the remote control valve such that torque necessary to drive the structure is obtained from the torque of the electric motor and the torque of the hydraulic motor; and solenoid-operated reducing valves and each configured to reduce a pilot pressure, to be applied to the control valve, based on the opening position control signal output from the controller.
US08812200B2
A method of determining an operating state of a form-locking shift element of a transmission apparatus that, at least for changing one operating state between a disengaged operating state and an engaged operating state, is pressurized with an actuating pressure by a pressure-conducting region of the transmission apparatus. The pressure of the pressure-conducting region is monitored. Depending on the progression of the pressure of the pressure-conducting region, while pressurizing the form-locking shift element with the actuating pressure for changing the operating state, checking whether the form-locking shift element has the requested operating state.
US08812198B1
A system for assisting in docking of a machine at a loading location is provided. The system includes a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is configured to generate a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines. The second controller is communicably coupled to the first controller, a position detection unit and a display unit. The second controller is configured to receive the list of loading locations, receive a signal indicative of a current position of the machine, display a subset of the list of loading locations, select a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations and display a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.
US08812195B2
Collision safety control device having a ground wire connected to a plurality of portions of a vehicle body frame, in which two of the plurality of portions may be mutually separated by more than a width of the frame and the ground wire may include a first portion connecting the collision safety control device to the cab and a second portion connecting the cab to the frame.
US08812189B2
An engine cooling device for providing fresh air to an engine includes a first and second fan assembly for producing concentrated airflow, a mounting bracket configured to position the first and second fan assemblies adjacent to the engine jugs, and a wiring harness for providing instructions and power to each of the first and second fan assemblies. A system for monitoring and adjusting the individual temperatures of each jug includes an engine cooling device and a control system that includes a processor, memory, Input/Output devices and a communication medium for communicating commands to the engine cooling device.
US08812179B1
The different advantageous embodiments provide for identifying gas leakage in a platform. A processor unit identifies a rate of the gas of the substance leaking from a container in a first compartment for a platform. The processor unit also identifies an amount of gas that has leaked from the container at a selected time based on the rate of the gas of the substance leaking from the container and a total time. The processor unit identifies an amount of the gas of the substance present in a number of compartments associated with the first compartment using the amount of gas leaked from the container in the first compartment and a pressure for each compartment in the number of compartments. The processor unit determines whether the amount of gas in at least one of the first compartment and the number of compartments is outside of a desired amount for the gas.
US08812165B1
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for optimizing energy use with one or more optimization engine objects. An optimization engine object may have a plurality of dependent objects including at least a dependent optimization engine object, or at least one of a supply-side or demand-side object. The optimization engine object may receive dependent object attribute data from each of the at least one dependent objects; determine an optimal configuration for the plurality of dependent objects over the first time period subject to at least one optimization constraint; and conditioned upon the optimization engine depending from a superior optimization engine, transmit a net energy usage associated with the optimal configuration to the superior optimization engine.
US08812147B2
Various embodiments are directed to a method for fulfilling orders from an inventory comprising serialized products. For example, a computer system may receive an order and derive from the order a plurality of products, a unit quantity for each of the plurality of products, and a serial identifier referencing a first product unit of at least one of the plurality of products. At least one of the plurality of products may be a non-reserved product. Also, the computer system may determine a first bin selected from a plurality of non-reserved product bins that is associated with product units of the non-reserved product and generate a pick instruction specifying the first bin and the unit quantity of the non-reserved product specified by the order. The computer system may also instruct a robot to retrieve the first product unit from one of the plurality of robot accessible bins. The robot may be programmed to load product units to the plurality of robot-accessible bins and retrieve product units from the plurality of robot-accessible bins.
US08812142B2
A numerical controller, wherein an operator, even remotely, can recognize a sound of a machine tool or the like, and can intuitively know the effect in adjusting the parameter. The numerical controller includes a drive axis controlling part configured to control a drive axis; a drive axis data storing part configured to obtain a physical quantity of the drive axis as time-series data and store the time-series data; a displaying part configured to convert the time-series data into a predetermined indication form and display the data as at least one displayed waveform; a selecting part configured to select the displayed waveform by input operation of the operator; a sound converting part configured to convert the selected waveform into sound conversion data, a type of which is capable of being output as sound; and a sound outputting part configured to output the generated sound conversion data as sound.
US08812138B2
A method and system of controlling and/or configuring an electronic audio processor and/or synthesizer, comprises a network or bi-directional data port that allows such a device to be connected to a computer or computer network, as well as within the memory of the device, or within memory or other data storage attached to or integrated with the device, the software required for the user to control and/or configure the device itself from a computer, such that the software can be transferred to the computer, executed, and used to control and/or configure the device without requiring the user to have previously found and installed such control and/or configuration software on the computer through means other than those described herein.
US08812137B2
A control element for a sensor network having a set of different sensors. In operation, the control element transfers connections between the control element and the set of different sensors, where the transfer connections are compliant with respective sensor-specific protocols. A sensor controller element is provided for each sensor, and establishes transfer connections between the control element and new sensors in runtime. Information obtained in a sensor-specific protocol format from the sensors is converted into a common format in the sensor controller elements. The common format information is processed by a set of common control components of the control element. The control element provides a service based on the information in the common format to at least one consumer, and updates the service in accordance with the sensors present in the sensor network.
US08812131B2
A method for configuring stimulation pulses in an implantable stimulator device having a plurality of electrodes is disclosed, which method is particularly useful in adjusting the electrodes by current steering during initialization of the device. In one aspect, a set of ideal pulses for patient therapy is determined, in which at least two of the ideal pulses are of the same polarity and are intended to be simultaneous applied to corresponding electrodes on the implantable stimulator device during an initial duration. These pulses are reconstructed into fractionalized pulses, each comprised of pulse portions. The fractionalized pulses are applied to the corresponding electrodes on the device during a final duration, but the pulse portions of the fractionalized pulses are not simultaneously applied during the final duration.
US08812130B2
An implantable apparatus can comprise an electrical test energy delivery circuit configured to provide an electrical test signal to a cervical location in a patient body. A detector circuit can use the electrical test signal to detect cervical impedance and generate a cervical impedance signal representing fluctuations in the detected cervical impedance. The implantable apparatus can comprise a therapy delivery circuit, such as configured to provide electrical neural modulation therapy using a neural modulation timing parameter, and a processor circuit that can be coupled to the electrical test energy delivery circuit, the detector circuit, and the therapy delivery circuit. The processor circuit can be configured to determine a pulsatile signal or pulse pressure signal, such as using the cervical impedance signal, identify a characteristic of the pulsatile signal or pulse pressure signal, and control a neural modulation therapy using the timing parameter and the identified pulse pressure signal characteristic.
US08812114B2
Single-use electrical leads for a nerve stimulator are disclosed. The leads include a status flag element such as a fuse, which is deliberately blown after use of the leads has begun to indicate that the leads are not to be reused. The nerve stimulator has a “test mode” that determines a current value for treatment, and a “therapy mode” that administers treatment with the chosen current value. If the fuse in the electrical leads is blown (not conducting), then the stimulator assumes that the leads have already been used and does not enter therapy mode, and optionally may not enter test mode. If the fuse in the electrical leads is intact (conducting), or not blown, then the stimulator assumes that the leads are as yet unused, and allows the user to enter either test mode or therapy mode. The fuse is deliberately blown after a particular amount of time spent in therapy mode. After the fuse is blown, the user may still complete the therapy mode, even though the fuse is non-conducting, although the user may not initiate another therapy mode (and optionally may not initiate another test mode) using the blown leads. Preferably the fuse is electrically isolated from the leads that contact the patient.
US08812111B2
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (“ICD”) comprises a battery, control circuitry and a capacitor assembly. The capacitor assembly includes at least one capacitor, a flex circuit for connection to the control circuitry of the ICD and a first and second support portions. The flex circuit is arranged between the first and second support portions and includes a plurality of tangs for connecting to the anode and cathode of the capacitor(s), as well as to the control circuitry of the ICD.
US08812105B2
Tools and methods are particularly suited for certain cardiac conditions involving use of a catheter for pacing of the right and left ventricles from a lead in the right ventricle, e.g., to facilitate mechanically and/or electrically synchronous contractions for resynchronization. Certain aspects involve pacing and/or mapping by generating pulses for delivery to a cardiac site useful for improving heart function as measured, e.g., by QRS width, fractionation, late LV activation timing, mechanical synchronicity of free wall and septal wall, effective throughput/pressure, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator includes circuitry for generating pacing profiles, with signals of opposite polarities, specifically selected for delivery on electrodes at a site near the septal wall of a right ventricle of the heart.
US08812104B2
Pacing post-conditioning (PPC) therapy is applied to a patient to minimize ischemic injury associated with MI and/or reperfusion injury associated with a post-MI revascularization procedure. In various embodiments, a PPC therapy is delivered by executing a pacing protocol with pacing parameters determined and dynamically adjusted based on patient-specific factors to ensure efficacy and safety of the patient.
US08812103B2
Disclosed is a method for the diagnosis of conductor anomalies, such as an insulation failure resulting in a short circuit, in an implantable medical device, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Upon determining if a specific defibrillation pathway is shorted, the method excludes the one electrode from the defibrillation circuit, delivering defibrillation current only between functioning defibrillation electrodes. Protection can be provided against a short in the right-ventricular coil-CAN defibrillation pathway of a pectoral, transvenous ICD with a dual-coil defibrillation lead. If a short caused by an in-pocket abrasion is present, the CAN is excluded from the defibrillation circuit, delivering defibrillation current only between the right-ventricular and superior vena cava defibrillation coils. Determination that the defibrillation pathway is shorted may be made by conventional low current measurements or delivery of high current extremely short test pulses.
US08812102B2
An apparatus comprises a cardiac signal sensing circuit, a physiologic sensor circuit configured to provide a physiologic sensor signal representative of mechanical cardiac activity, a therapy circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a cardiac depolarization detection circuit, a tachyarrhythmia detection circuit, and a timer circuit. A time interval between a mechanical cardiac event and a detected fiducial electrical cardiac event is monitored. The control circuit is configured to correct the monitored time interval for variation with heart rate to form a corrected electromechanical time interval, initiate anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy when the corrected electromechanical time interval satisfies a specified time interval threshold value during a detected episode of tachyarrhythmia, and withhold anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy otherwise.
US08812099B2
Some embodiments of a mapping device may be capable of passing through cerebral veins and other cerebrovascular spaces to provide electrophysiological mapping of the brain. These embodiments of the device may also be capable of providing, simultaneously or separately, ablation energy or other treatments to targeted brain tissue. In such circumstances, a user may be enabled to analyze an electrophysiological map of a patient's brain and, at the same time or within a short time period before or after the mapping process, may be enabled to apply ablation energy for treatment of a central nervous system disorder. Such treatment may be accomplished without the use of invasive surgery in which the brain is accessed through an opening in the patient's cranium.
US08812098B2
In some examples, systems, devices, and techniques for determining a particular sleep stage of a patient, determining a seizure state of the patient during the particular sleep stage, and generating a seizure probability metric for the particular sleep stage based on the sleep stage and seizure state are described. In some cases, a patient may be more susceptible to seizure events during particular sleep stages. One or more seizure probability metrics indicative of a patient's susceptibility to seizure events during a particular sleep stage may be useful in creating a patient-specific treatment regimen.
US08812092B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) is provided which is capable of sensing and determining its orientation, and of determining whether the IMD has been displaced over time away from its original or optimal position. Electronic components of the IMD, including a processor, digital memory, signal conditioning components, and a power supply, are preferably hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing. At least three subcutaneous electrodes have fixed relative spacing for sensing electrical cardiac activity for various combinations of two electrodes, forming sensing vectors. Amplitude ratios and sign indicators associated with the sensing vectors are compared with a reference to determine an orientation of the device. In one embodiment, a telemetry unit transmits orientation data as a function of time to a remote device, and the remote device compares different stored orientations to detect displacement over time.
US08812080B2
Needles are widely used in interventional radiology. Each medical application requires a specific needle type. The same holds for the photonic needles which analysis depends on the type of application the clinician aims for. Therefore, it is relevant to have the X-ray machine recognize the type of needle that is being used and to load the required software for the tissue analysis. It is therefore proposed to have a data link established between the imaging modality used for the acquisition of the patient anatomy (X-ray, CT, MR or US) and the system that processes optical data from the needle, so that the information from this imaging modality can be used to guide the processing. In a preferred embodiment the selection is made by reading out the code present in the disposable needle when it is connected to the console.
US08812079B2
A method, consisting of generating, using a plurality of magnetic transmitters, a magnetic field in a region and introducing a field perturbing element into the region. The method includes characterizing multiple images of each magnetic transmitter in the field perturbing element, and calculating a reaction magnetic field in the region based on the characterized images. The method further includes positioning a probe in the region and measuring a perturbed magnetic field at the probe, and determining a location of the probe in response to the measured perturbed magnetic field and the calculated reaction magnetic field.
US08812078B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for determining at least one electromagnetic quantity characterizing an electromagnetic property of an object, in particular a human body, wherein said object contains magnetic particles. The apparatus (100) applying the known principle of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) comprises selection means for generating a magnetic selection field (50) having the known field pattern showing a field free point (FFP), drive means for changing the position in space of the FFP by means of a magnetic drive field, receiving means for acquiring detection signals depending on the magnetization of the magnetic particles within a field of view (28) and a reconstruction unit (152) for reconstructing a particle distribution quantity depending on the detection signals. The apparatus (100) further comprises a control unit (150) for controlling the receiving means for acquiring a first set of detection signals corresponding to a first drive field frequency and a second set of detection signals corresponding to a second drive field frequency, with both drive field frequencies differing from each other. The control unit (15) further controls the reconstruction unit (152) for reconstructing a first particle distribution quantity depending on the first set of detection signals and a second particle distribution quantity depending on the second set of detection signals. The apparatus (100) further comprises a determination unit (160) for determining the electromagnetic quantity depending on the first and second particle distribution quantity. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method as well as to a computer program.
US08812077B2
A surgical guidance system is disclosed that allows for real-time imaging and patient monitoring during a surgical procedure. The system can include an MRI system for generating real-time images of the patient while surgery is being performed. Prior to surgery, a surgical plan can be created using a planning interface. A control unit receives the real-time image data and the surgical plan, and monitors the image data based on parameters included in the surgical plan. The control-unit monitoring occurs in real-time while the surgical procedure is being performed. The control unit can detect deviations from the surgical plan and/or high-risk patient conditions and instruct an alert unit to issue an alert based on the detected conditions.
US08812076B2
A system and method for improving available signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and speed of MR imaging of hyperpolarized substances is disclosed. The system and method include decoupling spin effects of hydrogen nuclei from non-hydrogen nuclei of interest during sampling of MR signals therefrom. Though the hydrogen nuclei of the hyperpolarized substance may not be directly bonded to the non-hydrogen nuclei of interest, resonance splitting may still impact SNR. Long range decoupling improves T2* time, and thus preserves signal strength and available SNR.
US08812069B2
A device and method for making a persistent joint allowing end terminations of superconducting MgB2 wire to be joined with a superconducting bridge. Superconducting electromagnetic coils may be joined in series or joining of coil assemblies to current sources and the two ends of a persistent switch. The device includes wire filaments with end preparation exposing reacted MgB2, inserted into a block and surrounded with Mg+B and/or MgB2 in powder, solid, slurry or sol-gel form and subsequently reacted to establish a bridge of superconducting MgB2 electrically connecting the superconducting MgB2 wires. Autonomous operation of the superconducting background magnet coils in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) devices are allowed, or similar devices where autonomous operation of an MgB2 based superconducting magnet is required. The low resistant joint will also be beneficial for other superconducting applications such as fault current limiters, motors, generators, etc.
US08812066B2
SQUIDs may detect local magnetic fields. SQUIDS of varying sizes, and hence sensitivities may detect different magnitudes of magnetic fields. SQUIDs may be oriented to detect magnetic fields in a variety of orientations, for example along an orthogonal reference frame of a chip or wafer. The SQUIDS may be formed or carried on the same chip or wafer as a superconducting processor (e.g., a superconducting quantum processor). Measurement of magnetic fields may permit compensation, for example allowing tuning of a compensation field via a compensation coil and/or a heater to warm select portions of a system. A SQIF may be implemented as a SQUID employing an unconventional grating structure. Successful fabrication of an operable SQIF may be facilitated by incorporating multiple Josephson junctions in series in each arm of the unconventional grating structure.
US08812064B2
The invention is directed at a headset for a mobile communication device having a multi-button control and is implemented with a standard headset jack. The multi-button control is decoded by a microprocessor after which an encoded signal is then transmitted from the processor to the handset. In this manner, by using the standard jack, no additional hardware is required on the handset.
US08812057B2
The present invention envisages a GSM mobile telephone in which a line of icons is displayed on a display. As a user navigates through the displayed line of icons, the positions of the icons alter so that the selectable icon moves to the head of the line. This approach makes it very clear (i) which icon is selectable at any time and (ii) where that icon sits in relation to other icons at the same functional level (e.g. only first level icons will be present in one line). First level icons typically relate to the following functions: phonebook; messages; call register; counters; call diversion; telephone settings; network details; voice mail and IrDA activation.
US08812056B2
The present invention generally relates to a voice-based command driven computer implemented method and programmed apparatus that allows a user to easily add any open API communication product they choose to one interface. The computer implemented method filters all electronic communications selected by the user through a common source, such as the user's cell phone or computer. Each time an electronic communication is received, no matter through what program or application, the computer implemented method operates to communicate to the user that the electronic communication has been received and provides the user with the option of listening to and responding to the electronic communication, if appropriate. The user responds to the electronic communication through voice-based communication rather than physical interaction with the common source. The user may additionally initiate electronic communication through voice-based communication.
US08812055B2
A method of displaying user-related information to a user on a display of a user's mobile telephony handset, including modifying a content of a file resident in a subscriber identification module operatively associated with the user's mobile telephony handset and used to store a name of a mobile telephony operator, said modifying comprising writing in said file the user-related information to be displayed.
US08812047B2
There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.
US08812041B2
A Tap-to-End feature for unlocking a virtual Slide-to-Lock lock feature on a display screen of the communication device running a PTT application. In one embodiment, the Tap-to-End is implemented by simply tapping the display screen. In a second embodiment, the Tap-to-End feature is implemented by contacting the display screen on the communication device running the PTT application for a predetermined period of time. When the threshold is exceeded, the Slide-to-lock feature is unlocked. In various embodiments, the threshold is 3 seconds or less. In yet other embodiments, the Tap-to-End feature may be implemented anywhere on the display screen of the communication device running the PTT application including, but not limited to, in the vicinity of where the virtual Slide-to-lock feature is implemented.
US08812016B2
A method and system for obtaining position information of a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication environment is provided. The system includes a UE, a radio network wirelessly coupled to the UE, and a core network wirelessly coupled to the radio network and having a positioning server and a core network element. The UE generates a request to initiate a positioning session including a temporary session identifier from the UE. The core network element allocates a permanent session identifier for the positioning session upon receiving the request with the temporary session identifier and communicates the permanent session identifier and the temporary session identifier to the UE. Moreover, the positioning server receives transaction data from the UE during the positioning session associated with the permanent session identifier and estimates a geographic location and velocity information associated with the UE based on the received transaction data.
US08812011B2
A bootstrapping technique for wirelessly obtaining white space data that may be used to identify an available white space channel for connecting to a service. Portable wireless devices may collaborate to provide white space data to a device requesting such data. A requesting device transmits a request for the white space data using, for example, an unlicensed band. A device receiving the request may transmit a copy of the data to the requesting device. The transmitted copy may be obtained by the receiving device from a local data store or may be provided from a database server to which the receiving device is connected. In the later case the receiving device acts as a proxy between the database server and the requesting device. Once the white space data is received by the requesting device it may be used to select a channel for communication in the white space.
US08812002B2
There is provided an information acquisition method to be executed by a mobile station, connected to a first radio access network of a first radio access technology, to perform acquisition of an information set related to a second radio access network of a second, different radio access technology for enabling mobility to the second radio access network. Basically, the method comprises receiving (S1) message instances, wherein a set of the message instances includes the information set for enabling mobility to the second radio access network. The method further comprises investigating (S2) the message instances to find counter information in a message instance indicating the number of message instances the mobile station must acquire to assemble the information set. The method also comprises identifying (S3), in relation to the message instance in which the counter information is found, the set of message instances that includes the information set based on the counter information. The method then comprises collecting (S4) the information set from the identified set of message instances.
US08811984B2
A regional access control method is provided in a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for network access for a User Equipment (UE) that performs Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. An access request message and location information of the UE are received from a base station. The access request message is transmitted to the MME in response to reception of the access request message at the base station from the UE. A location of the UE that is determined based on the location information of the UE, is registered in a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). An allowed list of the UE is obtained from the HSS. It is determined whether the location information of the UE is registered in the allowed list.
US08811983B2
A system and method for activating services on a wireless device are provided that improve a user's experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device by providing a new provisioning channel for service activations. A user is simply required to input a short activation code(s) into the wireless device which is combined into an activation message along with other device-related information that is automatically retrieved from the wireless device. The generated activation message is then transmitted over the messaging provisioning channel accessible by inactive and/or unprovisioned wireless devices for delivery to a remote site for use in activating services on the wireless device. The services to be activated may include at least one of the following: out of the box activation, device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.
US08811981B2
The present invention refers to a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for relaying CAMEL related messages in a telecommunication network, wherein received CAMEL related messages and corresponding subscriber data are analyzed (S3), the received CAMEL related messages are translated (S5) in non-Camel messages, the non-Camel messages are relayed (S6) to a service delivery framework on the basis of the ana-lyzing result and non-CAMEL responses are received (S8) from the service delivery framework. The non-CAMEL responses are re-translated into standard CAMEL operation responses (S9), which are sent to initiator of the received CAMEL related message (S11).
US08811973B2
Techniques for managing peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) for multi-carrier modulation in wireless communication systems. Different terminals in a multiple-access system may have different required transmit powers. The number of carriers to allocate to each terminal is made dependent on its required transmit power. Terminals with higher required transmit powers may be allocated fewer carriers (associated with smaller PAPR) to allow the power amplifier to operate at higher power levels. Terminals with lower required transmit powers may be allocated more carriers (associated with higher PAPR) since the power amplifier is operated at lower power levels. The specific carriers to assign to the terminals may also be determined by their transmit power levels to reduce out-of-band emissions. Terminals with higher required transmit powers may be assigned with carriers near the middle of the operating band, and terminals with lower required transmit powers may be assigned with carriers near the band edges.
US08811967B2
A technique is disclosed that changes one or more properties of a user interface at a telecommunications terminal based on an incoming call. When a first caller calls the telephone number of the terminal directly and the terminal answers the call, the terminal presents the direct call to the user through a first user interface. When a second caller calls a telephone number that is associated with a data-processing system and the call is then redirected to the terminal, the terminal presents the redirected call to the user through a second user interface. The telecommunications terminal can be a cell phone that belongs to a user, and the data-processing system can be a private branch exchange that serves an office enterprise network that the user belongs to, wherein the private branch exchange extends the call to the user's cell phone when the user is out of the office.
US08811953B2
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.
US08811943B2
The details of an apparatus and method of handling simultaneous universal terrestrial radio access network radio resource control procedures which change the security configuration in a universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment are disclosed herein. According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a user equipment apparatus having a message handler, a sequential processor, a command store, and a security configuration change detector, wherein said message handler is coupled to said command store, is coupled to said sequential processor, and is coupled to said security configuration change detector to save, process, and detect configuration changes in commands respectively, and to determine if there is an existing command at the user equipment, such that the user equipment appears to the UTRAN as though it were processing commands simultaneously. According to another aspect, there is provided a method of processing simultaneous commands at a user equipment having a security configuration, including the steps of: determining if there is an existing command at the user equipment; upon reception of a received command: suspending the existing command processing; determining if commands contain a security configuration change; and either rejecting the received command; or saving the received command prior to resuming the existing command; such that the user equipment appears to the UTRAN to be processing commands simultaneously.
US08811942B2
An approach is provided for presenting an activation indicator to a user. A connection with a mobile device is detected. Retrieval is caused, at least in part, of a unique hardware identifier associated with the mobile device. It is determined that the mobile device is eligible for a service based on the unique hardware identifier. Presentation is caused, at least in part, of a visual indicator of the eligibility for the service based on the determination.
US08811938B2
A mobile device is described herein that provides a user interface experience to a user who is operating the mobile device within a vehicle. The mobile device provides the user interface experience using mode functionality. The mode functionality operates by receiving inference-input information from one or more input sources. At least one input source corresponds to at least one movement-sensing device, provided by the mobile device, that determines movement of the mobile device. The mode functionality then infers a state of the vehicle based on the inference-input information and presents a user interface experience that is appropriate for the vehicle state. In one scenario, the mode functionality can also infer that the vehicle is in a distress condition. In response, the mode functionality can solicit assistance for the user.
US08811932B2
A method and system for wireless communications between base and mobile stations use reference signals transmitted from base stations prior transmission of data signals. The reference signals are used to determine propagation characteristics of communication channels between the base and mobile stations and optimize, in real time, parameters of receivers of the mobile stations for processing the following data signals. Applications of the invention include wireless communication systems compliant with OFDMA, 3GPP LTE, RFN-OFDMA, OFDM, TDMA, and the like communication protocols.
US08811924B2
A diversity receiver includes a plurality of receiver circuits that are configured to receive and process the received radio frequency signals. A channel estimator is coupled to at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits and is configured to determine at least one channel estimation value for the received radio frequency signals. A controller is coupled to the channel estimator and to at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits and is configured to selectively activate or deactivate the at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits based on the determined at least one channel estimation value.
US08811916B2
A dual-standby terminal and a method for operating wireless communication unit are disclosed. The dual-standby terminal includes: a plurality of wireless communication units; a plurality of low-noise amplifiers located on reception paths of the wireless communication units, respectively; and a controller. The controller enables all of the plurality of low-noise amplifiers when the dual-standby terminal performs a simultaneous call. The controller also enables part of the plurality of low-noise amplifiers when the dual-standby terminal performs a single call or is operated in a standby state.
US08811913B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an operation method for a portable device. The method comprises steps of mounting a first partition of a flash memory to an application processor, wherein a calibration data is stored in the first partition and the first partition is read only by the application processor; mounting a second partition of the flash memory to the application processor, wherein a radio data is stored in the second partition and the second partition can be read or written by the application processor; transmitting the calibration data and the radio data to a communication processor by the application processor; the communication processor operating according to the calibration data and the radio data.
US08811904B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for downlink beam forming in a TD-CDMA system. The method includes: acquiring the spatial covariance matrixes of all uplink slot interference user signals and the downlink slots in which the interference user signals locate; obtaining the interference spatial covariance matrixes of each downlink slot based on the downlink slots in which the interference user signals locate and the spatial covariance matrixes of the interference user signals; determining the beam forming weight coefficient of downlink expected user signals based on the interference spatial covariance matrixes of each downlink slot and the spatial covariance matrixes of the downlink expected user signals; implementing beam forming based on the beam forming weight coefficient of downlink expected user signals.
US08811898B2
An information processing device is provided. The information processing device including a communication antenna having a variable Q value, for performing contactless-type communication with an external device by using a communication path capable of transmitting and receiving a signal using a carrier of a predetermined frequency, a communication speed determining unit for determining a communication speed in the communication with the external device, and a communication controlling unit for allowing the Q value of the communication antenna to be set to a value corresponding to a determined communication speed based on the communication speed determined in the communication speed determining unit.
US08811896B2
A contactless system is described in which energy is scavenged from an electromagnetic field provided by a proximate reader device. An embedded processor and a volatile memory circuit within a near field communication (NFC) controller are operated using the scavenged energy. Parameter data from the proximate reader device may be acquired while conducting a near field communication transaction. A non-volatile memory (NVRAM) server is coupled to the NFC controller and also operates using the scavenged energy. Parameter data may be stored within the NVRAM server by sending a command and the parameter data from the NFC controller to the NVRAM server. At the completion of the transaction, the electromagnet field may be removed and all parameter data stored within the NFC controller will be lost. However, the next time the electromagnetic field is applied, the NFC controller may retrieve the parameters from the NVRAM server by sending a command.
US08811893B2
Embodiments of the invention include electronic communications devices having a memory in near field communication device, a memory arbitrator and a host processor. The near field communication (NFC) devices are configured to receive data and drive power from the communication signal. The memory arbitrator is connected to the NFC device and the memory. The memory arbitrator is also configured to access the memory in response to an access request from the NFC device. Additionally, the memory is configurable to be accessed by both the host processor and the NFC device according to embodiments of the present invention.
US08811892B2
The subject matter described herein includes a method of performing multiple transactions through a single near field communication (NFC) tap. The method includes storing, at a linking application in a wireless device, a plurality of application identifiers (AIDs) that identify a plurality of applications to be processed in a single NFC tap. The method can further include detecting, by a wireless device reader, a linking application AID in the wireless device that identifies the linking application upon interfacing the wireless device with the wireless device reader through the single NFC tap. The method can include accessing, by the wireless device reader, the plurality of AIDs using the linking application. The method can further include processing the plurality of applications associated with the plurality of AIDs through the single NFC tap.
US08811887B2
It is described a method for changing the data load distribution within a telecommunication network including a first base station, a second base station and a relay node being connected to the first base station and/or to the second base station. The described method includes (a) establishing for each of a plurality of user equipments a first indirect connection to the first base station via the relay node, (b) establishing in a collective manner for each of the plurality of user equipments a second indirect connection to the second base station via the relay node, and (c) terminating in a collective manner for each of the plurality of user equipments the first indirect connection. It is further described a network element, which is adapted to carry out the above described data load redistribution method, and a computer program, which is adapted for controlling the above described data load redistribution method.
US08811884B2
A sheet discharge tray that forms a sheet-receiving unit in an image-forming apparatus includes a climbing slope from a sheet discharge direction start point to a sheet discharge direction end point. The sheet discharge direction end point is formed by a variable tray having a supporting portion provided on a side of the sheet discharge direction start point.
US08811881B2
A cleaning device, including, a first blade to slidably contact with a surface of an image carrier to which a toner including an external additive adheres, a second blade to slidably contact with the surface of the image carrier and to be provided downstream of the first blade in a rotation direction of the image carrier, and a lubricant applying mechanism section to apply a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, wherein hardness of the first blade is equal to or more than hardness of the second blade.
US08811880B2
The processing apparatus includes: a first storage device that stores correction image information defining a correction image Ap formed on the surface of a to-be-processed medium S, in which the positional relationship relative to an output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; a second storage device that stores processing area information defining an area of the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by a heating unit, in which the positional relationship with the output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; and a control unit that uses a detection result of a correction image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S detected by an image detection unit and the correction image information to correct a heating position on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by the heating unit indicated by the processing area information.
US08811878B2
A fixing device includes a first radiating portion that includes plural light sources arranged along a first direction at a determined interval, and radiates light on a recording medium on which a toner image is formed and which is transported in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and an optical member that includes plural transmission regions through which the light radiated by the plural light sources is transmitted and includes plural light diffusion portions diffusing the light in the first direction on each of the plural transmission regions.
US08811875B2
A pair of meander regulating rollers are disposed on the paper input side at both the longitudinal ends of a fixing roller. If a fixing belt moves off to one side end from the correct position, the meander regulating roller arranged on the one side end presses the fixing belt so as to produce a force of moving the belt to the other side end, whereby the fixing belt is stabilized in a state where the belt is held by the meander regulating roller on the one side end. On the other hand, if the fixing belt moves off to the opposite side end due to uneven temperature distribution, imbalance nip load or the like in the axial direction, it is possible to restrain the meandering in a similar manner by means of the meander regulating roller on the other side end.
US08811872B2
An image heating apparatus, for heating, in a nip, a recording material for carrying a toner image while conveying the recording material, includes a flexible cylindrical film; a nip-forming member contacting an inner surface of the film; and a pressing member for forming the nip between itself and the film. The inner surface of the film is provided with a roughened surface portion in a region in which the nip-forming member slides on the inner surface of the film. The roughened surface portion has a skewness Rsk satisfying: Rsk<0.
US08811867B2
A transfer device includes a plurality of rollers, a rotatable intermediate transfer belt wound around and stretched between the rollers, a transfer member disposed in the inner loop of the belt and facing an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus disposed at an outer circumference of the belt, to transfer an image formed onto the surface of the image bearing member when contacting the intermediate transfer belt, and a position adjuster to adjust the position of the intermediate transfer belt at different positions relative to the image bearing member. The positions include a contact state in which the intermediate transfer belt applied with a predetermined tension contacts the image bearing member, a first separation state in which the tensioned intermediate transfer belt separates from the image bearing member, and a second separation state in which the intermediate transfer belt separates further away from the image bearing member.
US08811866B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a detector that detects a density of developer on the image bearing member, a support member supported in the image forming apparatus and removably supporting the detector, a separator disposed with a space from the detector, a first connected unit disposed on the support member between the separator and detector, a second connected unit disposed on the support member on an opposite side of the detector from the first connected unit, a fixing member including a first connecting unit that passes through the space and is supported by the first connected unit and a second connecting unit supported by the second connected unit, where the fixing member fixes the detector to the support member, and a disengagement restricting unit disposed on an opposite side of the detector from the separator so as to be adjacent to the second connecting unit.
US08811862B2
The present application discloses a developing mechanism including a developing device for developing electrostatic latent images and a container containing developer. The developing device includes a carrier carrying and supplying the developer to the electrostatic latent images; a first housing having a feed port through which the developer is fed; a first conveyance member conveying the developer along a first direction away from the feed port; and a first shutter mechanism selectively opening and closing the feed port. The container includes a second housing having a supply port from which the developer is supplied through the feed port to the developing device; a second shutter mechanism selectively opening and closing the supply port; and a second conveyance member conveying the developer along a second direction across the first direction for developer discharge through the supply port. The feed port is opened earlier than the supply port is opened.
US08811858B2
A charging and/or discharging unit for an image formation device may include a discharge wire extending in a lateral direction (a second direction) perpendicular to a first direction, the first direction corresponding to a moving direction of the surface of a photosensitive drum and parallel to the surface of the photosensitive drum. The discharge wire may be distanced from the surface of the photosensitive drum. Shield electrodes and a grid electrode are opposed to the discharge wire, with a distance therefrom and extending along the lateral direction. The shield electrodes and the grid electrode may include ribs extending in the lateral direction, respectively. In one or more examples, the ribs may correspond to recessed portions in a surface of the corresponding electrodes and may be located out of a specified circular area.
US08811857B2
The sheet feeding device includes a housing, first and second feeding paths, and first and second covers. The first feeding path extends in a vertical direction within the housing. The second feeding path extends in the vertical direction within the housing, and a lower end thereof is connected to an upper end of the first feeding path. The first cover exposes, in an open state, the first feeding path outside of the housing. The second cover exposes, in an open state, the second feeding path outside of the housing. When both the first cover and the second cover are opened, the first cover and the second cover are respectively in the open state relative to the housing in a mode where a second opening angle of the second cover relative to the housing is smaller than a first opening angle of the first cover relative to the housing.
US08811841B2
A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a power controller, a pressure applying unit, and a timing controller. The fixing unit fixes toner onto a recording medium transported in a determined transport direction, by using heat generated by a heat generator. The power controller controls supply of power for heating the fixing unit. The pressure applying unit applies pressure to the recording medium in a nip part formed between the pressure applying unit and the fixing unit. The timing controller controls the power controller to start supply of the power at a time which is a determined time period prior to an arrival time at which a leading edge of the recording medium in the transport direction arrives at the nip part.
US08811833B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a detection mode execution unit, and a notice signal generating unit. The developing device supplies a toner bearing member with toner in a container by rotating a toner supply member in a contact manner with the toner bearing member. The detection mode execution unit executes a detection mode in which a predetermined period for changing a toner amount in the foam layer by rotating the toner supply member is provided, a capacitance C1 between the first and second electrode members is detected before the predetermined period, and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members is detected after the predetermined period. The notice signal generating unit generates a low toner amount notice signal in response to an absolute value |C1−C2| of a difference between the capacitances C1 and C2 being smaller than a predetermined threshold.
US08811815B2
A method includes generating a test signal and modulating the test signal. The method may also include transmitting the test signal on an optical path, where the optical path may include a number of add-drop multiplexer devices and amplifiers. The method may also include receiving the test signal at a destination device and converting the received test signal into an electrical signal. The method may further include identifying a portion of the electrical signal that is associated with the modulated test signal.
US08811814B2
Described herein is a system and method for camera module alignment. A camera module comprises a terminal block and an endcap with a connector shroud. The terminal block includes flexible terminal legs connected to a circuit board and terminal pins for connection with an external connector through the connector shroud. The terminal block includes alignment ribs and an endcap includes alignment pockets. Placement of the alignment ribs into the alignment pockets flexes the flexible terminal legs, moves the terminal block across the circuit board surface and aligns the terminal pins for connection with the external connector through the connector shroud.
US08811808B2
A camera lens assembly comprising a lens assembly housing and a compound lens and a motion sensor arrangement within the lens assembly housing, wherein the motion sensor arrangement comprises: angular rotation sensors configured to detect angular rotation about three orthogonal axes of rotation; and linear acceleration sensors configured to detect linear acceleration in three orthogonal directions.
US08811807B2
A boiler for use in a machine for making hot beverages includes a heat diffuser with a first wall destined to be placed in contact with the liquid to be heated and a second wall opposite first wall, heating element consisting of at least one serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance arranged on second wall of heat diffuser and defining a pattern formed of at least on resistive track, a body which with first wall of heat diffuser defines a heating chamber inside which the liquid is to be heated. It also includes a bearing element shaped to bear on second wall of heat diffuser on at least one zone, the resistive track(s) being arranged on either side of the zone so that the bearing element receives at least part of the force transmitted by the liquid to heat diffuser and resulting from the pressurizing of liquid in the heating chamber.
US08811806B2
In a power supply arrangement for supplying electrical power to the pipeline, the power supply arrangement for direct electrical heating of a pipeline system has basically a three phase transformer, a symmetrization unit, and a compensation unit. The three phase transformer is adapted to support a single phase load connected between a first and a second phase of the transformer. The transformer has at least one first tap changer at a high voltage side of the transformer. The symmetrization unit has a first capacitor connected between the first phase and a third phase of the transformer and an inductor connected between the second phase and the third phase of the transformer. The compensation unit has a second capacitor connected between the first phase and the second phase of the transformer. The first tap changer, the first capacitor, the second capacitor and the inductor are adapted to be varied on-load.
US08811802B2
Some embodiments provide a method of capturing digital video. According to this method, the digital video is received at a first rate. The received digital video includes metadata. The method uses the metadata to store the digital video at a second rate that is different from the first rate. In some embodiments, the first rate is an encoded rate, while the second rate is the digital video's native shooting rate. The digital video's native shooting rate can be any arbitrary rate up to, but not including, the encoded rate. Some embodiments provide a method of outputting digital video from a computer. From a storage structure of the computer, this method retrieves a video clip. In this video clip, the method embeds a metadata structure and records a set of metadata in this structure. The method then outputs the video clip with the embedded metadata.
US08811800B2
Multimedia content containing moving pictures and audio is divided into multiple scenes and metadata is generated for each of the scenes obtained as a result of the division. It is possible to generate metadata containing scene structure information metadata that describes the hierarchical structure of the content in addition to scene section information and titles. Also, a name or an identifier of each descriptor contained in the metadata is described as hint information for manipulation of metadata composed of at least one descriptor describing semantic content, a structure, and characteristics of content.
US08811787B2
Various apparatus and methods for reducing inter-core crosstalk in a multicore optical fiber are disclosed. A multicore optical fiber may include a plurality of cores capable of transmitting optical signals, and a cladding surrounding the cores, the cladding having a heterogeneous refractive index such that the optical signals propagate at different velocities in different ones of the cores. A multicore optical fiber may include a first length including cores having heterogeneous modal velocities and a second length, adjacent to the first length, including cores having heterogeneous modal velocities, and the cores in the first length are aligned with cores in the second length having a different modal velocity. Inter-core cross talk in a multicore optical fiber may also be reduced by transmitting optical signals through cores of a multicore optical fiber and pumping light into the cores to create unequal modal velocities in the cores.
US08811785B2
The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of cores, in each of which an effective area at the wavelength of 1550 nm, a transmission loss at the wavelength of 1550 nm, a chromatic dispersion at the wavelength of 1550 nm, a cable cutoff wavelength, and a bending loss in a bending radius of 30 mm at the wavelength of 1625 nm are set so as to increase a transmission capacity in each core in a state in which a difference of the transmission loss at the wavelength of 1550 nm between different cores is controlled to at most 0.02 dB/km or less.
US08811778B2
Systems and a method for routing optical signals are disclosed. One system includes a first large core hollow metal waveguide configured to guide a substantially coherent optical beam. A second large core hollow waveguide is optically coupled to the first waveguide with a coupling device. The coupling device is configured to divide the coherent optical beam into a transmitted beam and a reflected beam. Beam walk-off within the coupling device causes the transmitted beam to be shifted by an offset amount. The second large core hollow metal waveguide is shifted from the first large core hollow metal waveguide by approximately the offset amount to receive the shifted transmitted beam.
US08811777B2
A method for measuring bending is provided. The method includes receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile.
US08811775B1
A computer based, digital image management system that visually presents an entire archive in a manner that facilitates easy, non-textual, searching for specific images. In one embodiment, the system includes two elements: a file management methodology and a graphical user interface. The file management method utilizes reference files that contain multiple properties (metadata) relating to each image file. Image files are grouped into a multiplicity of collections based on user-defined associations of the properties. The graphical user interface visually represents the groups of image files on 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional graphic metaphors. In addition, the graphical interface uses multiple display variables such as icons, mnemonics, size, movement, color, and luminance to signify relationships between groups, and/or communicate key properties of individual or groups of images.
US08811773B2
An image enlargement apparatus includes an interpolation unit that generates a high-resolution interpolation image from a low-resolution image; and a synthesis unit that generates a first high-resolution image by synthesizing the interpolation image and a correction amount. Additionally, a re-correction unit generates a second high-resolution image by re-correcting the first high-resolution image using a generated feature value.
US08811769B1
According to various embodiments, the system and method of the present invention process light-field image data in a manner that reduces artifacts and that yields 2-D images with extended depth of field, and with variable placement of the center of perspective. Center of perspective can be varied based on user input or on pre-specified parameters. Various techniques for improving the presentation of light-field images with variable center of perspective are described, and for performing other effects in connection with projection of light-field images.
US08811766B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining the perceptibility of noise in a block of images and/or video. The systems and methods may compute a mask value for the block using a block masking generator. The mask value may indicate the perceptibility of noise in the block. The mask value may be computed using a normalized activity value and/or a texture value for the block. The normalized activity value may indicate the relative activity in the block as compared to the activity in the image and/or video. The texture value may indicate the strength and/or number of edges in the block.
US08811761B2
An image coding method includes coding first binary data indicating a first intra prediction mode and second binary data indicating a second intra prediction mode, wherein in the coding, a first context adaptive portion which is part of the first binary data and a second context adaptive portion which is part of the second binary data are coded by context adaptive binary arithmetic coding, a first bypass portion which is different part of the first binary data and a second bypass portion which is different part of the second binary data are coded by bypass coding, and coded data is generated which includes the first context adaptive portion, the second context adaptive portion, the first bypass portion, and the second bypass portion, the first bypass portion and the second bypass portion being included subsequent to the first context adaptive portion and the second context adaptive portion.
US08811760B2
A system and a method for decoding at least a portion of an image includes determining a current prediction mode based on a combination of a prediction mode residue and a function of at least one previous prediction mode and decoding the portion of the image using the current prediction mode.
US08811754B2
A method and system for clustering the pixels of a multispectral image is provided. A clustering system computes a maximum spectral similarity score for each pixel that indicates the similarity between that pixel and the most similar neighboring. To determine the maximum similarity score for a pixel, the clustering system generates a similarity score between that pixel and each of its neighboring pixels and then selects the similarity score that represents the highest similarity as the maximum similarity score. The clustering system may apply a filtering criterion based on the maximum similarity score so that pixels with similarity scores below a minimum threshold are not clustered. The clustering system changes the current pixel values of the pixels in a cluster based on an averaging of the original pixel values of the pixels in the cluster.
US08811752B2
A method of creating an analysis model includes the steps of storing first shape information in association with instruction information that is used for creating the analysis model and that includes shape feature information about a connecting part in the first shape information; comparing second shape information with the first shape information associated with the instruction information; determining whether a difference between the first shape information and the second shape information is within an allowable range for the shape feature information included in the instruction information; and setting the instruction information if the difference between the first shape information and the second shape information is within the allowable range.
US08811748B2
A collaborative feature extraction system uses crowdsourced feedback to improve its ability to recognize objects in three-dimensional datasets. The system accesses a three-dimensional dataset and presents images showing possible objects to a group of users, along with potential identifiers for the objects. The users provide feedback as to the accuracy of the identifiers, and the system uses the feedback to adjust parameters for candidate identifiers to improve its recognition of three-dimensional assets in future iterations.
US08811746B2
The mobile unit position detecting apparatus generates target data by extracting a target from an image shot by the image capturing device, extracts target setting data that best matches the target data, is prerecorded in a recording unit and is shot for each target, obtains a target ID corresponding to the extracted target setting data from the recording unit, detects position data associated with the obtained target ID, tracks the target in the image shot by the image capturing device, and calculates an aspect ratio of the target being tracked in the image. If the aspect ratio is equal to or lower than a threshold value, the mobile unit position detecting apparatus outputs the detected position data.
US08811739B2
An image processing device includes a pattern kind determining unit that determines a hatch pattern representing a hatch shape corresponding to a color of a color image by a monochromatic concentration, a pattern concentration determining unit that determines a background concentration that is applied to a hatch-shaped background area, and a monochromatic image data generating unit that generates monochromatic image data in which the hatch pattern having the background concentration is applied to the background area. The pattern concentration determining unit changes the background concentration of the hatch pattern according to the color of the color image.
US08811737B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for block based image compression with multiple non-uniform block encodings. In one embodiment, an image is divided into blocks of pixels. In one embodiment the blocks are four pixels by four pixels, but other block sizes are used in other embodiments. In one embodiment, a block of pixels in the original image is compressed using two different methods to produce a first and second compressed block. Thus, each block in the original image is represented by two, typically different, compressed blocks. In one embodiment, color associated with a pixel is determined by combining the compressed information about the pixel in the first compressed block with information about the pixel in the second compressed block. In another embodiment, global information about the image is combined with the information in the first and second compressed blocks.
US08811732B2
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing an estimate for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and optimizing the estimate of an orientation as a function of a minimization of a weighted entropy.
US08811731B2
Embodiments disclosed include methods and systems for assigning one or more labels to one or more segments of data received in an incoming segment to a line buffer for propagated component labeling, including preventing repeated labels in each line of the line buffer by assigning a different label for each of the one or more segments of data received in each line; labeling the incoming segment of the one or more segments of data by adopting a label of an overlapping segment on a prior received line when the overlapping segment does not overlap any other segment of data; labeling the incoming segment of the one or more segments of data by adopting a label of an overlapping segment on a prior received line when the overlapping segment overlaps more than one segment on the incoming segment when the segment is a first segment in the line buffer; and labeling the incoming segment of the one or more segments of data by adopting a label of a last overlapping segment when more than one segment overlaps the incoming segment.
US08811728B2
An image processing apparatus uses an estimation operator to estimate a spectroscopic property. The image processing apparatus includes an effect extent analyzing unit which analyzes, based on the estimation operator, a relative extent of an effect on the spectroscopic property against a noise in a wavelength axis.
US08811724B2
The invention provides methods for automated classification of a medical diagnostic image of a lung according to its deduced probability of relating to a lung of a patient who is suffering from a diffuse parenchymal lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or severe asthma, or to a class of patients characterized by the severity of such a condition, or to a class of patients characterized by a prognostic likelihood of developing such a condition or severity of condition.
US08811721B2
A three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection apparatus 10 can make increased inspection accuracy in comparison to the conventional apparatus and includes: an ultrasonic transducer 11 disposed m×n piezoelectric vibrators in a matrix; a signal processing unit 17 to receive, detect an echo, and generate a three-dimensional image data by processing an electric signal of the echo detected; a peak detecting element 51, 52 to detect a first peak and a second peak of an intensity distribution of the three-dimensional image data in a depth (z) direction; a joint portion image creation unit 36 to create a three-dimensional image of the joined area 15 by mapping z direction distance of the first peak and the second peak to x-y plane; a determination unit 37 to determine whether the joined area 15 is sound by two-step determination; and a display unit 38 to display the three-dimensional image and the determination result, of the joined area 15.
US08811720B2
In accordance with particular embodiments, a method includes receiving LIDAR data associated with a geographic area and generating a three-dimensional image of the geographic area based on the LIDAR data. The method further includes presenting at least a first portion of the three-dimensional image to a user based on a camera at a first location. The first portion of the three-dimensional image is presented from a walking perspective. The method also includes navigating the three-dimensional image based on a first input received from the user. The first input is used to direct the camera to move along a path in the walking perspective based on the first input and the three-dimensional image. The method further includes presenting at least a second portion of the three-dimensional image to the user based on navigating the camera to a second location. The second portion of the three dimensional image presented from the walking perspective.
US08811719B2
Three-dimensional (3-D) spatial image data may be received that is associated with at least one arm motion of an actor based on free-form movements of at least one hand of the actor, based on natural gesture motions of the at least one hand. A plurality of sequential 3-D spatial representations that each include 3-D spatial map data corresponding to a 3-D posture and position of the hand at sequential instances of time during the free-form movements may be determined, based on the received 3-D spatial image data. An integrated 3-D model may be generated, via a spatial object processor, based on incrementally integrating the 3-D spatial map data included in the determined sequential 3-D spatial representations and comparing a threshold time value with model time values indicating numbers of instances of time spent by the hand occupying a plurality of 3-D spatial regions during the free-form movements.
US08811717B2
The present invention relate to an image generating apparatus for generating an image from a viewpoint specified by a user. According to the invention, the apparatus has a storage unit that stores data of a plurality of images, and a disparity map generating unit that generates a disparity map. The disparity map is associated with a pair of images including a first image and a second image, and indicates corresponding pixels in the first and second images.
US08811715B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for wafer identification fault recovery. A digital image is received that includes a data symbol comprising a message encoded in a set of data cells. The digital image is processed to form a set of classified data cells, wherein one or more classified data cells from the set of classified data cells comprises an error. User interface data is transmitted comprising the digital image and interactive graphics, the interactive graphics including at least one data cell control. Interaction data is received from the interactive graphics that modifies a data cell location, a data cell state, or both, of at least one classified data cell from the set of classified data cells to form a modified set of classified data cells. An error free decoded message string is generated based on the modified set of classified data cells.
US08811713B2
A plurality of photomasks used to manufacture the same semiconductor device, each of the photomasks having a plurality of mutually replaceable unit regions set therein, are inspected to detect a defect. It is determined whether or not the detected defect has a redundancy defect positioned in a unit region replaceable with another unit region to remedy the photomask. Then, when inspecting the second or subsequent photomask, a unit region including the coordinate of a redundancy defect detected in another photomask inspected previously is set to be a non-inspection region, and the non-inspection region is not inspected.
US08811712B2
The invention provides a defect inspection method and a defect inspection device which enable a defect to be inspected regardless of optical conditions. The invention comprises the steps of setting a target local region and a plurality of corresponding local regions in the image signals, the target local region including a target pixel and an area surrounding the target pixel, the corresponding local regions including pixels corresponding to the target pixel and areas surrounding the corresponding pixels; searching similarities between the image signal of the target local region and the image signals of the plurality of corresponding local regions; determining a plurality of image signals that represent corresponding local regions and are similar to the image signal of the target local region; and comparing the image signal of the target local region with the image signals that represent the corresponding local regions.
US08811700B2
A system and method for tomographic image reconstruction using truncated projection data that allows exact interior reconstruction (interior tomography) of a region of interest (ROI) based on the known sparsity models of the ROI, thereby improving image quality while reducing radiation dosage. In addition, the method includes parallel interior tomography using multiple sources beamed at multiple angles through an ROI and that enables higher temporal resolution.
US08811692B2
Calibrated infrared and range imaging sensors are used to produce a true-metric three-dimensional (3D) surface model of any body region within the fields of view of both sensors. Curvilinear surface features in both modalities are caused by internal and external anatomical elements. They are extracted to form 3D Feature Maps that are projected onto the skin surface. Skeletonized Feature Maps define subpixel intersections that serve as anatomical landmarks to aggregate multiple images for models of larger regions of the body, and to transform images into precise standard poses. Features are classified by origin, location, and characteristics to produce annotations that are recorded with the images and feature maps in reference image libraries. The system provides an enabling technology for searchable medical image libraries.
US08811669B2
In an object tracking device, a search region setting unit sets the search region of an object in a frame image at a present point in time, based on an object region in a frame image at a previous point in time, zoom center coordinates in the frame image at the previous point in time, and a ratio between the zoom scaling factor of the frame image at the previous point in time and the zoom scaling factor of the frame image at the present point in time. A normalizing unit normalizes the image of a search region of the object included in the frame image at the present point in time to a fixed size. A matching unit searches the normalized mage of the search region for an object region similar to a template image.
US08811661B2
A system includes a plurality of image capturing units configured to capture an object image to generate video data, a video coding unit configured to code each of the generated video data, a measurement unit configured to measure a recognition degree representing a feature of the object from each of the generated video data, and a control unit configured to control the video coding unit to code each of the video data based on the measured recognition degree.
US08811660B2
A system and method for tracking, identifying, and labeling objects or features of interest is provided. In some embodiments, tracking is accomplished using unique signature of the feature of interest and image stabilization techniques. According to some aspects a frame of reference using predetermined markers is defined and updated based on a change in location of the markers and/or specific signature information. Individual objects or features within the frame may also be tracked and identified. Objects may be tracked by comparing two still images, determining a change in position of an object between the still images, calculating a movement vector of the object, and using the movement vector to update the location of an image device.
US08811658B2
An interpolation method, applied to image pictures, for interpolating at least one pixel into a position to be interpolated in a target image frame is disclosed. The interpolation method includes receiving a plurality of image fields having a corresponding image object, estimating a motion speed of the image object according to a distance between a first pixel position to which the image object located in a first image field of the plurality of image fields and a second pixel position to which the image object located in a second image field of the plurality of image fields, determining the pixel from the plurality of image fields according to the motion speed of the image object, and interpolating the pixel into the position to be interpolated in the target image frame.
US08811657B2
An eye tracking method for determining a position of an eye or a part of an eye in an image of an image sequence by performing a comparison between said image and a reference image, said process including: aligning a set of images; computing an enhanced reference image based on a combination of said set of aligned images; and determining said position in said image of said image sequence by comparing said image of said image sequence and said enhanced reference image to yield a motion estimation between said reference image and said image of said sequence.
US08811654B2
A non-destructive determination of material characteristics of an aircraft component is provided. To provide a simple determination of material characteristics, which can be implemented economically, it is provided to make available image data of a layer, which can be detected from outside using electromagnetic radiation, of a workpiece to be examined; to detect first areas having a first pixel characteristic using the image data; and to detect second areas having a second pixel characteristic using the image data; the first pixel characteristic being associated with a fiber inlay of a fiber composite layer; and the second pixel characteristic being associated with an at least part-crystalline thermoplastic polymer of the fiber composite layer, which thermoplastic polymer is in a crystalline state; and to determine a relationship of the first areas to the second areas.
US08811650B2
A ribbon transducer comprising a ribbon made of conductive material, two rigid supports where the ends of the ribbon are fixed, and a tensioning and damping system provided at least at one end of the conductive ribbon to tension the ribbon and damp its movements. The tensioning and damping system comprises a leaf spring comprising a first end section to which said ribbon is fixed and a second end section fixed to said rigid support, in such a way to exert a tensile force in the tensioning direction of the ribbon.
US08811648B2
An electronic device having an enclosure including an upper panel and a bottom panel operably connected to the upper panel. A transducer is operably connected to the enclosure and the transducer is configured to mechanically vibrate the enclosure. The transducer includes a magnet, an electromagnetic coil and a retention element maintaining a relationship between the magnet and the electromagnetic coil.
US08811642B2
A hearing assistance device has one multipurpose control device that operates in an algorithm selection mode and a daily use mode. In the algorithm selection mode, the multipurpose control device is used to switch between amplification algorithms and select one of the algorithms to be implemented in an audio processing program. In the daily use mode, the multipurpose control device is used to adjust the volume of sound generated by an audio output section. A battery compartment door of the device has an open position in which the device is powered off, and a closed position in which the device is powered on. The multipurpose control device and the battery compartment door are the only user-operable controls on the hearing assistance device for controlling the device and powering the device on or off. No other controls are needed for adjusting volume, selecting algorithms, and switching between and selecting programs.
US08811641B2
A hearing aid device has an input converter for receiving an input signal and converting the signal into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit for processing and frequency-dependent amplification of the electrical input signal and generating an electrical output signal, an output converter for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, and a sound detector facility for identifying sounds in a signal. Facilities increase an amplification above a normal amplification for a frequency range in which an identified sound contains signal components. Further facilities set the normal amplification of an electrical input signal in dependence on a signal frequency. The amplification is restricted to a maximum amplification in a specific frequency range. The amplification exceeds the normal amplification or the maximum amplification for the duration of the identified sound and at most for a duration which lies below a setting time of a feedback whistling.
US08811621B2
A parametric stereo upmix apparatus generates left and right signals from a mono downmix signal based on spatial parameters. The parametric stereo upmix includes a predictor configured to predict a difference signal including a difference between the left and right signals based on the mono downmix signal scaled with a prediction coefficient. The prediction coefficient is derived from the spatial parameters. The parametric stereo upmix apparatus further includes an arithmetic unit configured to derive the left and right signals based on a sum and a difference of the mono downmix signal and the difference signal.
US08811620B2
Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to sharing data in a supply chain, the data corresponding to an item having a tag associated therewith. Methods include determining a random number from the tag, the random number being unique to the item, selecting a first integer and a second integer, generating a first public key based on the first integer and a semi-public key based on the second integer, generating an identifier based on the first public key and the random number, generating a key based on the semi-public key and the random number, encrypting the data using the key to provide encrypted data, defining a tuple comprising the identifier and the encrypted data, and transmitting the tuple over a network for storage in a persistent storage device.
US08811611B2
Methods and apparatus involve two keys to decode data that are generated during original encoding of the data. The keys are stored on computing devices separate from one another, and the encrypted data, which maintains security until such time as the original data requires decoding. Because the keys can be relatively large, its stored form may have padding bits to align with the file form of the encoded data. Representative keys include a dictionary corresponding to symbols representing the data and a weighted path decoder that correlates the symbols of the dictionary to underlying original bits. A “fast approximation” of compression of current data involves using information obtained from an earlier compression of similar data. Creating the two keys for the original data can also include creating a master key for decoding a plurality of later-encoded files. A second key also works in conjunction with the master key during decoding.
US08811608B2
A cryptographic method, apparatus, and system, including selecting a first multivariate polynomial mapping, which includes first multivariate polynomial equations over first variables in a finite field, defining a second multivariate polynomial mapping, which includes at least some of the first multivariate polynomial equations and further includes second multivariate polynomial equations over the first variables together with second variables in the finite field, generating a public key based on the second multivariate polynomial mapping, and digitally signing a message, using a processor, with a digital signature that is verifiable using the public key and is generated by solving the first multivariate polynomial mapping to find respective first values of the first variables, solving a set of linear equations using the first values to find respective second values of the second variables, and applying a transform to the first and second values so as to generate a vector corresponding to the digital signature, wherein the second values are chosen so that a predefined group of elements of the vector will be zero. Related methods, apparatus, and systems are also described.
US08811603B2
An echo canceler circuit (10) and method attenuates at least post-echo canceler uplink data (90) to produce attenuated uplink data (100) in response to uplink echo return loss based attenuation data (40). The echo canceler circuit (10) includes an echo return loss based attenuation data generator (20) and at least an uplink data attenuator (30). The echo return loss based attenuation data generator (20) produces the uplink echo return loss based attenuation data (40) in response to echo return loss data (70). The echo return loss data (70) is based on at least one of: attenuated downlink data (50), pre-echo canceler uplink data (60), and/or amplifier gain data (80). The uplink data attenuator (30) attenuates the post-echo canceler uplink data (90) to produce attenuated uplink data (100) based on the uplink echo return loss based attenuation data (40).
US08811593B1
The computerized call center method and system decodes agent and customer communications sessions. Questions and answers (Q&A) are displayed to the agent based upon decoding of agent speech using both a basic Q&A database and an agent database, each with key words/phrases. A positive feedback loop uses agent's speech data for the agent key word-phrase database. When words-phrases are decoded, the system queues up and displays Q&A in real time from the Q&A database (with speech data elements for word-phrases). A quality function for successful sessions integrates agent key words-phrases into the basic Q&A database.
US08811582B1
An exemplary embodiment provides for a computer-implemented method for rating telephone calls originating from a secure facility. The method includes receiving a destination number, of a called party, forβ a telephone call from the secure facility and determining, based on the destination number, if the called party is pre-verified wherein pre-verified includes at least a billing address of the called party. Next, a rate for the telephone call is then determined based on the billing address of the called party, if the called party is pre-verified.
US08811563B2
A system and method for assessing failure of fuel rods are disclosed. The method may include monitoring fuel rod operational conditions, comparing the fuel rod parameters to parameters limits, calculating the fuel rod performance parameters to determine the likelihood of failure of individual fuel rods, and updating plant operating parameters based on the calculated fuel rod parameters. The system may input the calculated fuel rod parameters into a fuel failure model to assess the probability of failure, and predict the probability of failure of individual fuel rods based on fuel rod parameters in the fuel failure model.
US08811561B2
A control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) for use in a nuclear reactor, the CRDM comprising: a connecting rod connected with at least one control rod; a lead screw; a drive mechanism configured to linearly translate the lead screw; an electromagnet coil assembly; and a latching assembly that latches the connecting rod to the lead screw responsive to energizing the electromagnet coil assembly and unlatches the connecting rod from the lead screw responsive to deenergizing the electromagnet coil assembly. The latching assembly is secured with and linearly translates with the lead screw, while the electromagnet coil assembly does not move with the lead screw. The electromagnet coil assembly is at least coextensive with a linear translation stroke over which the drive mechanism is configured to linearly translate the lead screw.
US08811552B2
A method, system and device are provided for using a predetermined vector, vref and channel knowledge H, G from each transmitter to compute and feedback equivalent channel vector information hi,jeq to its affiliated transmitter. With this information, each transmitter selects Li receivers and constructs a transmitted signal by applying a selected precoding vector to rank 1 data, thereby eliminating interference to the rest of the receivers in the network.
US08811528B2
Transmitter-based techniques are provided for compensation of intersymbol interference and/or simultaneous switching outputs, using selective pulse width modulation. One or more signals are transmitted by detecting whether one or more of said signals satisfy one or more predefined signal corruption conditions, wherein said predefined signal corruption conditions indicate that one or more of said signals are anticipated to exhibit one or more of intersymbol interference and simultaneous switching outputs; and selecting a delay for one or more of the signals based on the one or more predefined signal corruptions conditions. The predefined signal corruption conditions comprise, for example, (i) digital data encoded in the one or more signals maintaining a same binary value for two or more consecutive clock cycles (to indicate intersymbol interference); and (ii) a predefined minimum number of aggressor data edges in digital data encoded in the one or more signals, and a corresponding predefined number of victim data edges in the digital data encoded in the one or more signals, wherein the victim edges are moving in an opposite direction to the aggressor data edges (to indicate simultaneous switching outputs).
US08811525B2
The present invention relates to a general active array antenna apparatus capable of environmentally and temporally controlling radio frequency (RF) polarization resource necessary for wireless communication in order to improve communication quality and increase communication capacity. The antenna according to the present invention has a form of an active array antenna element, wherein each active array antenna element has a structure in which it may generate orthogonal dual polarizations and includes two input terminals and output terminals. An end orthogonal dual polarization antenna is connected to a polarization control apparatus that may process analog or digital signals, and the polarization control apparatus is controlled by or communicate with an antenna main controlling apparatus performing a polarization control algorithm. Ultimately, an object of this antenna apparatus is to improve communication quality and increase communication capacity.
US08811522B2
A wireless User Equipment (UE) receiving system, may include tunable receiving antennas; a channel estimation module configured to: carry out a periodic, non-continuous channel estimation to a plurality of desired signals and undesired co-channel downlink signals which are transmitted from different base stations and received by said plurality of antennas, causing interference; wherein the UE receiving system is configured to select between: tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to maximize the total average power of said desired signals; and tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to minimize the total average power of the strongest undesired co-channel base station's signals. Alternatively, the tuning is carried out so as to maximize a power ratio between said desired signals and a combination of said undesired co-channel downlink signals having the strongest interference level and an internal noise of the receiving system.
US08811514B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are described that employ a partial interference alignment scheme in conjunction with an interference detection scheme to mitigate interference in quasi-static multiple input multiple output (MIMO) channels. In an aspect, sets of transmitter and receiver pairs are determined based on feasibility of alignment of the transmitters at the receivers of the sets in accordance with an interference alignment scheme and path loss associated with signal transmissions between the transmitter and receiver pairs, wherein the sets include different alignment assignments of the respective transmitters at the respective receivers of the sets. The alignment assignments can include different numbers of the transmitters aligned at the receivers of the sets. A set is then selected from the sets that contributes to an interference profile at the receivers that facilitates interference detection at the receivers. Interference detection at a receiver is further simplified using semi-definite relaxation techniques.
US08811512B2
Wireless communications methods and apparatus are described. A communications apparatus, e.g., a base station, measures interference information, e.g., other sector interference information. The communications apparatus generates a preamble which includes a plurality of pilot symbols and at least one of the pilot symbols includes interference information. In some embodiments, the preamble is part of a superframe structure, e.g., a recurring superframe structure, including the preamble and a plurality of frames, at least some of the frames used to convey traffic data. The communications apparatus transmits the preamble, thus broadcasting the interference information to access terminals in the vicinity. An access terminal receives the preamble including a plurality of pilot signals, at least one of the pilot signals including interference information. The access terminal recovers the interference information from the received preamble and controls signal transmission based on the recovered interference information.
US08811510B2
A method, a wireless terminal device, and a base station are disclosed. A receiving unit 408 may receive from a base station an antenna precoding instruction for an uplink transmission. A processor 304 may execute a modification of the antenna precoding instruction according to a transmit antenna adapter into a customized precoding. A transmitting unit 406 may perform the uplink transmission according to the customized precoding.
US08811509B2
Forward error correction (FEC) m-bit symbol modulation. Any desired FEC, error correction code (ECC), and/or combination thereof generates coded bits for combination with either uncoded bits, separately generated coded bits, and/or combination thereof to generate a number of symbols that undergo mapping to a constellation whose respective constellation points have a mapping characterized by a maximum minimum intra-Euclidean distance between the respective constellation points thereby generating a sequence of discrete-valued modulation symbols. The sequence of discrete-valued modulation symbols may then undergo modulation of any of a number of different operations (e.g., digital to analog conversion [e.g., digital to analog converter (DAC)], scaling, frequency shifting, filtering, etc.) to generate a continuous time signal for transmission via a communication channel. Such a device operative to perform including such functionality, circuitry, capability, etc., may be implemented to be operative within any desired communication system (e.g., satellite, wireless, wired, fiber-optic, and/or combination thereof, etc.).
US08811508B2
A system including a first network device, a second network device, and a third network device. The first network device is configured to transmit a first starting signal. The second network device configured to transmit a second starting signal, wherein at least one of the first network device and the second network device is further configured to change a ratio between at least one of respective phases of carriers of the first starting signal and the second starting signal and respective amplitudes of the carriers of the first starting signal and the second starting signal. The third network device is configured to receive the first starting signal and the second starting signal, selectively allow communication with the first network device based on the ratio, and ignore communication from the second network device based on the ratio.
US08811506B2
A disclosed base station apparatus is capable of communicating with a user equipment terminal in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) mobile communication system using Pre-coding. The base station apparatus includes a receiving unit receiving a Pre-coding Matrix Indicator (PMI) indicating a specific Pre-coding matrix, a determination unit determining a value of a flag indicator indicating whether the Pre-coding matrix specified in the PMI is to be used for downlink communications, a control signal generation unit generating a downlink control signal including at least the flag indicator, and a transmission unit transmitting a signal including the downlink control signal in downlink.
US08811500B2
A system for transmitting data between a first device and a second device, the first device being arranged to transmit data to the second device and the second device being arranged to transmit an acknowledgement to the first device if the data transmitted by the first device is properly received by the second device; wherein the system comprises means to measure the quality of reception of acknowledgements by the first device and to modify one or more acknowledgement transmission parameters depending on the measurement. The parameters may include: transmission rate, degree of forward error correction coding, and output power. The parameters may be modified to improve the quality of reception of acknowledgements if the measured quality falls below a threshold. The means to measure the quality of reception may comprise means to determine a measure of the number, or relative number, of acknowledgements that were not properly received by the first device. In an embodiment the first device is arranged to retransmit the data if an acknowledgement is not properly received, and the means to determine a measure of the number of acknowledgements that were not properly received by the first device comprises means to determine the number of data packets that have been received by the second device which were previously properly received by the second device.
