US08905092B2

A pressure brace device holds a gas pump handle in the open position, can store small items such as a SPEEDPASS, and can be clipped to small-gauge items such as a key ring. The pressure brace comprises a depressible plunger within a spring-loaded housing. The plunger is compressed into the housing while the brace is situated in the gas pump handle, then released. The outward pressure provided by the spring holds the handle in the open position, allowing gas to flow through the pump.
US08905091B2

A dispenser device (10) for dispensing a liquid cosmetic having a first bottle (12), a second bottle (14) and a first transfer means (24) for transferring the liquid from the first bottle (12) towards the second bottle (14). The first transfer means (24) has a first portion that is secured to the first bottle (12) and that is disposed in the proximity of the bottom wall, and a second portion that is secured to the second bottle (14), the first and second portions sealing their respective bottles (12, 14) when they are uncoupled. The coupling of the first portion with the second portion enables the liquid to flow between the first bottle (12) and the second bottle (14), in such a manner that, after coupling the two portions together, the first and second bottles (12, 14) present first and second pressures that tend towards equilibrium by the liquid flowing from the first bottle (12) towards the second bottle (14).
US08905085B2

A device for simultaneously edge sealing and gas filling an insulated glass unit, the insulated glass unit including a supporting structure that supports the insulated glass unit in a working position and a gas filling module including a gas fill injection structure and a displaced air extraction structure and a gas metering unit. The device also includes an edge sealing module having a sealant metering device, an edge sealing dispensing head, and an edge sealing dispensing nozzle. The device also includes a control device programmed with an algorithm to initiate gas filling substantially simultaneously with initiating edge sealing of the insulated glass unit and to complete the gas filling of the insulated glass unit prior to completion of the edge sealing.
US08905084B2

A tube of a radiator includes a tube body, and a reinforcement strip. The tube body has a first curved face and a second curved face. The tube body is formed by a sheet plate which has two opposite ends connected to form a connecting portion which is located at the first curved face of the tube body. The reinforcement strip is mounted in the sheet plate and is located at the second curved face of the tube body. Thus, the first curved face of the tube body is formed with the connecting portion, and the second curved face of the tube body is combined with the reinforcement strip so that both of the first curved face and the second curved face of the tube body have a larger thickness to enhance the stiffness and strength of the tube body.
US08905076B2

A vehicular cooling system coolant-return manifold is provided that includes a plurality of ports reconfigurable by the user to open, such that coolant will flow into the manifold, or close, such that coolant will not flow into the manifold. The ports are opened and closed by rotating a valve spool in relation to the manifold body. The ports of the manifold are brought into alignment with holes in the valve spool to open a port such that coolant flows into the manifold. A plurality of positions of the valve spool in relation to the manifold body allow a user to select a position wherein the desired combination of ports are on and off.
US08905059B2

A system for controlling leakage of diesel fuel into the natural gas side of a dual fuel injector during low pressure natural gas conditions comprises a leakage control valve that blocks the diesel fuel line during very low natural gas line pressure conditions, including start-up and limp-home mode conditions.
US08905058B2

A method and apparatus for detecting and preventing electrically induced fires in a gas tubing systems constructed of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) and Gas Appliance Connectors (GAC). The system of the present invention may include one or more energy detection schemes to detect electrical energy surges on the gas line. When such a surge is detected, the control circuitry of the present invention causes an electric main gas valve de-energize into a closed position. In addition, the system of the present invention further includes a residual gas dispersal system that automatically vents the residual downstream gas pressure remaining in the gas tubing system after the closure of the main gas valve.
US08905056B2

A manifold system for routing pressurized fluid from a fluid source is disclosed. The manifold system includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a frame, an intake section coupled to the frame, and an articulating arm coupled to the intake section. The intake section is configured to route pressurized fluid to the articulating arm. The articulating arm is configured to route pressurized fluid away from the intake section.
US08905054B2

This disclosure relates to an apparatus configured to transform from a retracted configuration to a protruded configuration, and vice versa, by rotating via one or more guides disposed on a base. The apparatus may be formed in different sizes, from various materials depending on the intended use of the apparatus. In some implementations, the apparatus may include one or more of guides, a base, one or more members, a coupler, and/or other components.
US08905050B2

An applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator having an applicator member having a core; and applicator elements that extend from the core, having ends that define an envelope surface, the applicator elements including first and second applicator elements; the first applicator elements having free ends that are wide relative to the free ends of the second applicator elements having a maximum length that is greater than the maximum length of the first applicator elements; the envelope surface having a non-circular cross-section over at least a fraction of the length of the applicator member, or presenting at least two disjoint portions that are defined by the first applicator, elements.
US08905049B2

The present invention relates to a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, in particular human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising a step in which a non-detergent cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, an amount of greater than or equal to 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of one or more water-soluble inorganic calcium salts, is applied to the said keratin fibers, and a step of rinsing the said keratin fibers.
US08905047B2

The invention relates to a device for shaping pubic hair, comprising a shape-determining member having a circumference for determining the shape of the pubic hair to be realized. The device also comprises a handle for a user to place the shape-determining member on the skin manually. The device comprises a tightening member for pushing in the skin under the device at a distance from the circumference of the shape-determining member, whereby the skin is pushed in deeper underneath the tightening member than underneath the circumference of the shape-determining member. The presence of the tightening member reduces the pressure on the skin at the circumference, owing to which a fold is prevented or is less deep and the slope is less steep. This enables a razor to come closer to the circumference of the template, which makes the contour sharper.
US08905042B2

Filters and cigarettes include an activated carbon sorbent capable of selectively removing nitric oxide from mainstream tobacco smoke. Methods for making cigarette filters and cigarettes using the activated carbon sorbent and methods for treating mainstream tobacco smoke produced by smoking a cigarette comprising the sorbent are also provided.
US08905036B2

The invention concerns an assembly for heat treatment of a region of a biological tissue (410) comprising energy-generating means (100) to supply energy to the region; means (200) for measuring and recording spatial temperature distribution in said region; a control unit (300) comprising means for point-to-point digital processing of the temperature distribution in the region. The invention is characterised in that the energy-generating means comprise means(110) for spatial and temporal distribution of the power available to them on said region, the control unit (300) comprising means (330, 350), based on the temperature distribution, for controlling the amount and distribution of energy supplied by the generating means (100).
US08905035B2

A system for positioning a patient on a treatment couchtop for SBRT is provided. The system includes a patient support panel and at least one positioning/fixation component for releasable mounting on the patient support panel at a desired position to immobilize a portion of the patient's body. The patient support panel includes a pair of longitudinally extending side rails having a series of longitudinally spaced indexing apertures for receipt of a locking bar for mounting a positioning/fixation component thereon at a discrete index position. The at least one positioning component includes a pair of clamping mechanisms for releasably securing that component to the side rails at any longitudinal position along the side rails.
US08905025B2

A control system for a high frequency oscillating ventilator (HFOV) includes an oscillator controller and a mean airway pressure (MAP) controller. The HFOV includes a reciprocating piston which is adapted to generate positive and negative pressure waves for delivery to a patient airway. The oscillator controller comprises a pair of closed loop control circuits including an oscillator pressure loop and a centering loop which are collectively adapted to regulate frequency and amplitude of piston reciprocations and centering of the piston. The MAP controller comprises a closed loop control circuit that is adapted for regulating MAP at the patient utilizing feedback in the form of patient circuit pressure. Likewise, the oscillator controller utilizes patient circuit pressure as well as piston displacement feedback in order to regulate movement of the piston.
US08905020B2

A spacer for delivering a medicinal substance is provided having a chamber having a tubular body defining a first reservoir, the top end of the body narrowing to define a single unobstructed central chamber aperture, a base for the body having an inlet for admission of the substance into the first reservoir, a vented member connected atop the body, a mouthpiece connected atop the vented member and partly defining a second reservoir, the mouthpiece having an outlet for withdrawal of the substance from the second reservoir The spacer also has a valve within the chamber having a self-supporting central domed portion and defining a central cross slit at its peak, the domed portion opening during inspiration and closing during expiration, and a flat ringed portion surrounding the domed portion with a circumferential free edge, the diameter of the ringed portion being approximately twice the diameter of the domed portion.
US08905015B2

A pulse burner includes: a combustion chamber provided in a liquid vat capable of storing liquid; a tail pipe that is connected to the combustion chamber and has a heat exchanging portion located in the liquid vat and bent in a predetermined shape; and a mixing chamber which communicates with the combustion chamber and to which fuel gas and combustion air is allowed to be supplied. When mixed gas including the fuel gas and the combustion gas is exploded and combusted, the combustion exhaust gas is exhausted through the tail pipe to allow heat exchange with the liquid, and the mixed gas is inhaled from the mixing chamber into the combustion chamber. At least the heat exchanging portion of the tail pipe is bent on a substantially horizontal plane.
US08905014B2

An oven appliance with a pair of doors is provided. The doors slide along a track in order to open and close and are coupled with a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly allows movement of one of the doors to be transferred to the other door such that the doors open and close simultaneously. When the doors are open, the doors are stored in pockets defined in the oven appliance.
US08905013B2

An apparatus for launching projectiles, the apparatus includes a hollow cylinder and a piston in sliding engagement through the hollow cylinder. The piston is configured to drive a fluid through the hollow cylinder. The apparatus further includes a barrel defining an open end and a chamber in fluid communication with the hollow cylinder. The chamber is configured to receive a projectile and to receive fluid driven from the hollow cylinder wherein the projectile is driven from the barrel through the open end.
US08905009B2

When a failure occurs in synchronizing mechanism, an intake air throttle valve is rotated in a direction that is opposite from a normal operational time valve closing direction, so that an arm of a driven plate contacts a throttle valve side stopper to stop rotation of the intake air throttle valve. Thereafter, when a low pressure EGR valve is rotated from a full close position to a full open position, an EGR valve side stopper contacts the arm of the driven plate to stop the low pressure EGR valve. A rotational angle of the EGR valve is sensed with a sensor and is outputted to an ECU. The ECU determines that a failure mode is set when a valve angle sensed with the sensor coincides with a rotation stop position of the EGR valve.
US08905008B2

The invention relates to a gas supply module (20) for an engine, comprising a heat exchanger (22) capable of cooling gases for the intake thereof in an intake space of a cylinder head of the engine, and a gas supply valve (24) capable of directing said gases toward the intake space of said cylinder head and/or through said heat exchanger (22), said module (20) further comprising an interface element (26) closing said intake space of said cylinder head. According to the invention, said interface element (26) and said valve (24) are shaped such that said valve (24) can be attached to said cylinder head via at least a first attachment means extending through at least the interface element (26). The invention also relates to an assembly of an engine cylinder head and such a module, and to a motor vehicle engine comprising such an assembly. The invention can particularly be used in the field of motor vehicles.
US08905006B2

A diesel engine for combusting a diesel-LPG mixture includes a fuel system for supplying diesel and LPG. The mixture is obtained by combining the fuel flow from a LPG tank and diesel tank. Increased pressure is applied in both fuel flows for mixing purposes. Immediately following the mixing a circulation system is present in which increase in pressure also takes place, wherein a part of the mixture is supplied to a high-pressure pump for injection to the diesel engine and a part is recirculated. In a method of supplying the diesel-LPG mixture, the part of the mixture that is supplied to the high-pressure pump is returned to a position upstream of the mixing point. The pressure in the fuel system is higher downstream of the mixing point. When the LPG supply is switched off the pressure can be gradually decreased through circulation.
US08904992B2

An energy transducer comprising: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder connected to a connecting rod extending out of the cylinder and connected to a crankshaft; a chamber within the cylinder defined by the first end of the cylinder and the piston; a direct injector in fluid communication with the chamber and in fluid communication with a fuel tank such that the direct injector is capable of injecting fuel from the fuel tank into the chamber, where the fuel is hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and oxygen; and an igniter located such that the igniter is capable of igniting the fuel within the chamber; such that ignition of the fuel within the chamber causes an explosion that forces the piston toward the crankshaft, causing the crankshaft to rotate 180°, followed by an implosion that forces the piston away from the crankshaft, causing the crankshaft to complete one full rotation.
US08904980B2

A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.
US08904978B2

A method for operation of an engine is provided. The method includes operating an engine with independent variable intake and exhaust valve timing with an intake valve timing actuator and an exhaust valve timing actuator, locking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators in a mid-lock position, and unlocking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators via a common locking-control valve.
US08904971B2

A method of controlling combustion of a gas appliance includes the following steps: a) Read a first burning data in a database; b) Burn gas according to the first burning data; c) Obtain a burning efficiency of the gas appliance; and d) Compare the burning efficiency with a predetermined value, and repeat the step b to the step d when the burning efficiency is higher than the value, or read a second burning data in the database and burn gas according to the second burning data when the burning efficiency is lower than the value. The present invention provides plural stages of burning according to the main component of the gas to be burned to increase the total burning efficiency.
US08904964B2

A method and a compartment within an incubator, capable of allowing chicks to feed during the hatching process without reducing hatchability or livability. Thanks to immediate post hatch nutrition, the development during the chicks first days is significantly improved, resulting in a significant improvement in their weight as well.Furthermore, the accessibility of feed for the chicks is enabled and improved immediately after their hatching thanks to suitable lighting and the use of feeding troughs with transparent walls.
US08904957B2

An etching chamber 1 incorporates a focus ring 9 so as to surround a semiconductor wafer W provided on a lower electrode 4. The plasma processor is provided with an electric potential control DC power supply 33 to control the electric potential of this focus ring 9, and so constituted that the lower electrode 4 is supplied with a DC voltage of, e.g., −400 to −600 V to control the electric potential of the focus ring 9. This constitution prevents surface arcing from developing along the surface of a substrate to be processed.
US08904955B2

A substrate processing apparatus includes a control unit executing a first recipe for substrate processing. After the substrate processing is completed through the execution of the first recipe, if a predetermined time is elapsed in a state that a next substrate to be processed is not carried into the process chamber, a second recipe is executed for maintaining a process chamber where the substrate is processed.
US08904953B2

An apparatus for applying glue to regions of paper or plastic webs or paper or plastic web-sections for the production of paper sacks includes a nozzle unit having a plurality of glue outlet openings and glue supply lines and a plurality of glue valves via which the glue supply lines can be provided selectively with glue. Each glue valve includes at least one tappet having a sealing head and at least one counter element, with which the sealing head can make sealing contact. The apparatus includes a glue chamber via which glue can be provided. The counter element is disposed in, or in close vicinity to, the glue chamber.
US08904945B2

A double shoot coulter assembly for an agricultural implement includes a packer wheel. The packer wheel is disposed behind a soil engaging blade. The packer wheel is configured to press soil displaced by the soil engaging blade into trenches formed by the soil engaging blade and a disc blade. A centerline of the packer wheel extends adjacent to a soil displacing side of the soil engaging blade.
US08904944B2

A feed device for a granular firing product for furnaces with a minimum capacity of 1 kW, includes a conveyor screw disposed in a pipe for conveying a granular firing product. A central screw axis pipe has an outer wall with a volution mounted thereon and with the conveyor screw disposed in the pipe so that it can rotate and which is at least a quarter of the pipe diameter. The screw pipe axis has a conical shape at its tip, where a circular grating with a central circular hole and air feed openings on the outer region of the grating are horizontally disposed. The central circular hole is smaller than the diameter of the conveyor screw and a conically expanding funnel-shaped wall is guided downwardly from its edge as a sliding wall for a firing product to be conveyed. The conically expanding funnel-shaped wall runs substantially parallel to the cone of the upper end of the screw axis. The inside of the conveyor pipe is provided with a rough surface, preferably longitudinal ribs, so that the firing product is supported and does not rotate with the conveyor screw.
US08904941B2

An ammunition capable of improving flying speed, shooting range, flight velocity, and straightness of a bullet by reducing the air resistance of the bullet due to the eddy flow of air generated at the rear portion of the bullet is provided. The wad of the ammunition includes a pressing portion having a through hole in which the cylindrical surface of the bullet is inserted, a coupling surface closely contacted to the vertical surface of the bullet, and a pressing surface extending from the through hole; and a cover portion having an inner peripheral surface which extends from the coupling surface of the pressing portion in the thrust force acting direction to cover a part of the circumferential surface of the streamlined tail portion of the bullet, and an outer peripheral surface which extends from an outer periphery of the pressing portion substantially parallel to the cylindrical surface of the bullet.
US08904922B2

An infusion assembly for a machine for the preparation of beverages. The infusion assembly (1) includes an abutment member (6) and a receiving member (7) adapted to assume, in a stationary support and guide structure (2), a separated open position, as well as a coupled closed position in which an infusion chamber is defined. The relative movement of said members (6, 7) is controlled using an electrical linear actuator (14).
US08904917B2

A fluid-powered, helical rotary actuary is provided. The actuary includes a housing, a shaft with output ends positioned in the housing, and a piston sleeve surrounding the shaft and also positioned within the housing. The shaft includes a groove for receiving a collar. The collar creates a false shoulder such that the shaft is able to have the same diameter along the length of the shaft, thus allowing for a larger working area and more torque output density. The actuary also includes a support ring positioned on the shaft near the splined portion of the output end. The support ring is used to stabilize the attachment of an external member, and also to protect the shaft from damage caused by the splined receiving portion of the external member, or hub.
US08904916B2

A blast resistant vehicle hull includes an enclosure and a blast channel extending between and through a lower, outer surface of the enclosure and a surface of the enclosure other than the lower, outer surface of the enclosure. A vehicle includes a blast resistant vehicle hull. The blast resistant vehicle hull includes an enclosure and a blast channel extending between and through a lower, outer surface of the enclosure and a surface of the enclosure other than the lower, outer surface of the enclosure.
US08904913B2

A hand operated press for reloading metal rifle cartridges including indicating means for providing for an operator of the press discrete indications of the different forces that can be manually applied through the drive mechanism during use of the press to crimp the second end of a cartridge against a bullet in the cartridge to allow the operator to use one of those indications to manually apply the same force to form essentially the same degree of crimp of the second ends of identical cartridges against identical bullets in the cartridges.
US08904912B2

Waterjet systems including control valves and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A waterjet system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a fluid source, a jet outlet, and a fluid conveyance extending from the fluid source to the jet outlet. The system further includes a control valve positioned along the fluid conveyance downstream from the fluid source and upstream from the jet outlet. The fluid conveyance has a first portion upstream from the control valve and a second portion downstream from the control valve. The control valve is configured to controllably reduce a pressure of fluid within the second portion of the fluid conveyance relative to a pressure of fluid within the first portion of the fluid conveyance. The first portion of the fluid conveyance is configured to accommodate movement of the jet outlet relative to the fluid source.
US08904897B2

A device for controlling a device for locking a motor-vehicle gear change in a parking condition includes a transmission which connects the gear change lever to a driven member movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, respectively for engagement and disengagement of the locking device. The transmission is connected to the driven member through a rotatable drum with a cylindrical surface having a cam-track cooperating with a cam-following element. The cam-track is designed so as to cause engagement of the locking device when the transmission is subjected to a pulling action or to a pushing action, depending upon the requirements.
US08904888B2

A drinking simulator provides for testing of dental samples under three different condition sets simultaneously. A first tank provides chilled liquid to testing chambers at a first temperature range, a second tank provides heated liquid to testing chambers at a second temperature range and a third tank provides heated liquid to testing chambers at a third temperature range. Shower heads in each of the tanks are provided to shower dental samples with the provided liquid. A human machine interface allows for user control of multiple showering modes and liquid temperatures and additionally displays testing conditions to the user.
US08904870B2

Provided is a device for predicting an underground behavior by using an acoustic emission (AE) sensor, including: a waveguide rod having an elongated end to be inserted in a borehole; a plurality of acoustic emission sensors mounted on different positions of the waveguide rod; a wrapping layer configured to cover a circumferential surface of the waveguide rod such that a gap is formed between the waveguide rod and the wrapping layer; an acoustic emission generating layer filled into the gap and being homogeneous along a direction of the waveguide rod; and a grouting layer configured to fix the waveguide rod in the borehole.
US08904869B2

In a method for alerting to the wear of a tire that includes a tread strip equipped with at least one circumferential groove, the running noise made by the tire running along a ground is measured, from the measured running noise, a noise emitted in a predetermined range of frequencies close to a predetermined resonant frequency of a portion of the circumferential groove during running is isolated, the amplitude of the isolated noise is measured, and the measured amplitude is compared against a predetermined alert threshold.
US08904868B2

A sensing apparatus includes an acceleration sensing unit, for measuring an acceleration applied to a proof mass, further including: a proof mass; a carrier signal source, for providing a carrier signal; a capacitive half-bridge, including a first and a second capacitor, wherein each capacitor is coupled to the proof mass and the carrier signal source, one with a positive electrode and the other one with a negative electrode, and the acceleration applied to the proof mass makes the carrier signal flow through the first and the second capacitor so that the first capacitor and the second capacitor respectively generates a first voltage and a second voltage variation which have opposite phases with each other; and an instrumentation amplifier, for receiving and amplifying the first voltage and the second voltage variation, whereby the magnitude and the direction of the acceleration applied to the proof mass is determined.
US08904867B2

An optical accelerometer and method of determining an acceleration are disclosed. In one aspect, an accelerometer includes a light source, a substrate, a light guide attached to a first side of the substrate and configured to redirect light from the light source through the substrate. The accelerometer also includes a light detector, a proof mass attached to a second side of the substrate via one or more springs, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and wherein motion of the proof mass alters a characteristic of the light from the light source reaching the light detector, and a processor configured to determine an acceleration based on the characteristic of the light reaching the light detector.
US08904858B2

The invention subject of this disclosure teaches a method of determining a production factor for a carbonaceous material reservoir, the method comprising: providing a well in a carbonaceous material reservoir; providing unsampled fluid at a depth in the well; placing a sensor adjacent to the unsampled fluid and performing a measurement on the unsampled fluid; using data from the measurement to determine a partial pressure of a solution gas in the carbonaceous material reservoir; and determining a production factor for the carbonaceous material reservoir from the partial pressure of the solution gas.
US08904855B2

A fault sensing device for a vehicle includes a time measuring section functioning as a sleep mode while power to a controller is off. The time measuring section can measure a stop time of an engine, and can transmit information on the stop time to the controller when power to the controller is on. When the controller determines that a stop time of the engine is a predetermined time, the controller performs fault sensing for an oil pressure switch.
US08904854B2

An air flow measurement device arranged in an intake passage includes a bypass passage having an inlet from which a part of a main flow of an intake air is introduced, and an outlet from which the introduced intake air flows out. A sensor is located in the bypass passage to generate an electrical signal, and the bypass passage communicates with the intake passage through a hole portion. The outlet is open toward a downstream side of the intake passage in a flow direction of the main flow of the intake air. The hole portion is located within an outlet projected area that is provided by projecting an open area of the outlet in straight and toward upstream in the flow direction of the main flow on a projection surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the main flow.
US08904847B2

In some examples, a laminated tooling die may include multiple sheets or plates used in conjunction in any of a number of forming operations such as, for example, hydroforming, compression molding, and stamping. The sheets or plates can include an open interior that, when used in conjunction with neighboring sheets, produce a cavity into which a deformable workpiece can be placed and subjected to the forming operation. In some examples, one or more sheets can be coupled with a heat exchanger to impart a heat transfer with the workpiece.
US08904846B2

A device and a method for providing a stent for implantation into a body lumen are provided, wherein the stent (3) has a proximal end (31) and a distal end (32), between which a stent lumen having a compressible diameter d extends. The device comprises a crimping apparatus (4), having elements (40) which are disposed about an axis and can be moved at least partially relative to each other radially to the axis, and an activator (42) for actuating the crimping apparatus (4). The elements (40) of the crimping apparatus comprise the stent (3) and can be moved radially by means of the activator (42) from a widened position, in which the stent (3) is not crimped, into a closed position, in which the diameter d of the stent (3) is compressed. According to the invention, a storage compartment comprising an inert medium or an inert filling is provided, which forms a jacket in which the stent (3) is stored in an inert manner at least the majority of the time, while the elements (40) enclose the stent (3) and are moved from the widened position into the closed position. The inert jacket can be interrupted during compression of the stent.
US08904840B2

A method for manufacturing a coating rod, comprising the steps of preparing a rod material, disposing a pair of form rolling dies having a plurality of helical convex threads, so that the closure angle of a main axis of each of the form rolling dies in the horizontal direction of the main axis is substantially 0.25° or larger but not larger than 0.35° with respect to an axial direction of the rod material, and form-rolling the rod material by feeding the rod material along the axial direction thereof and rotating the pair of form rolling dies around the main axes thereof, while clamping the rod material with the pair of form rolling dies.
US08904837B1

An electronic lock for locking or unlocking a door of a safe is provided with a housing mounted on the door; an axis-shaped coder disposed in the housing; a dial mounted on the coder; a plurality of LEDs disposed in the housing; an electromechanical solenoid disposed in the housing; a latch bolt operatively connected to the electromechanical solenoid; a fastening unit disposed in the housing and including a clamping element put on the latch bolt; a pin tumbler lock secured to the housing and including a keyhole and a lever; a microcontroller disposed in the housing for controlling the coder, the electromechanical solenoid, and the LEDs; and a battery disposed in the housing for supplying electricity to the coder, the microcontroller, the electromechanical solenoid, and the LEDs.
US08904834B2

A lockable strike for walk-in cold rooms includes a housing that has a mounting plate, a cover and a deadbolt moveably engaged therein to reciprocally move along a path of travel between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the housing. The mounting plate includes a base and a bridge defining a tongue channel through which the deadbolt travels. The mounting plate base is made of a metal for strength while the cover is made of a plastic for thermally insulative purposes.
US08904832B1

A handcuff that includes two compression control mechanisms that allow the handcuff to ensure a tight fit, but prevent the handcuff from being over-tightened causing injury and preventing potential liability. The handcuff includes a first half bracelet and a second half bracelet that are pivotally coupled. The first half bracelet includes a base that houses a locking mechanism and the second half bracelet includes a toothed portion that operably engages the locking mechanism. The handcuff includes a first compression control mechanism proximate the first half bracelet and a second compression control mechanism proximate the second half bracelet. The first and second compression control mechanisms engage the locking mechanism and are operable to automatically change the locking mechanism from an active mode to a locked mode to ensure the proper closure of the handcuff, and prevent the handcuff from being over constricted.
US08904817B2

A refrigerator and a control method for the same are provided. A refrigerator includes a body having a cooling compartment and a storage compartment provided in the cooling compartment to form a predetermined cooling space, a cool air generation compartment having a cooler and a fan to supply cool air, and a partition plate that partitions a predetermined space into the cooling compartment and the cool air generation compartment. The partition plate includes a main path to guide the cool air into the cooling compartment and a bypass path to guide the cool air into the storage compartment. A cool air controller is provided at the bypass path to control the cool air supplied to the storage compartment via the bypass path.
US08904815B2

A heating installation is provided with a first circuit (K1) containing a first medium, a second circuit (K2) containing a second medium, a first heat pump (2) arranged in the first circuit (K1) for heating the first medium, a third circuit (K3) containing a third medium, a heat exchanger (40) arranged in the third circuit (K3) and connected between the condenser (2d) and expansion valve (2f) of the first heat pump to transfer heat from the working medium of the first heat pump to the third medium in the third circuit (K3), and a second heat pump (3) arranged for heating the second medium in the second circuit (K2) by absorbing heat energy from the third medium in the third circuit (K3).
US08904814B2

A system and method for determining a fault condition in a compressor is provided. The current of a motor drive powering the compressor and the outdoor ambient temperature are measured and used to determine if a fault condition or a potential fault condition is present in the compressor. If a fault condition is determined to be present, the compressor can be shutdown to avoid damage to the compressor. If a potential fault condition is determined, remedial action can be taken to attempt to prevent the fault condition from occurring and shutting down the compressor.
US08904794B2

A gas turbine including a combustion oscillation suppressing device disposed to a transition piece of a combustor to define a gas space S, and having a plurality of vent holes through which a gas space L and the inside of the transition piece communicate. The combustion oscillation suppressing device is formed of a first member and a second member which define the gas space, the second member having the plurality of vent holes, and a portion of a transition piece wall includes the second member. A distance from the second member to the first member in the radial direction of the transition piece is a height of the gas space, and when the height of the gas space varies along an axial direction of the transition piece, an opening ratio σp of each of the plurality of vent holes is adjusted depending on the height of the gas space.
US08904781B2

An actuation system having a configuration of first and second components, each component having longitudinally extending fingers interlaced with one another. Relative longitudinal movement is permitted between the fingers in a manner to permit the second component to be movable longitudinally with respect to the first component between a first position and a second position. A biasing member is provided within the configuration that biases the second component towards the second position. A wire is wound about the fingers that restrains the second component in the first position. A release device selectively causes the wire to be loosened about the fingers such that the biasing member moves the second component from the first position to the second position. An actuator connected to the second component moves with the second component from the first position to the second position.
US08904774B2

A rotational system is provided for controlling rotation of one or more solar collectors to track the movement of the sun, to automatically keep the collectors locked in stow position during high wind conditions, and advantageously also to prevent damage to the rotational system due to high pressures caused by high temperature conditions. The system utilizes a bi-directional hydraulic rotational actuator hydraulically connected to a control system. The actuator advantageously includes a system of helical gears and a piston, and the control system includes hydraulic lines equipped with check valves that prevent circulation of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic lines and the actuator when backpressure is exerted in one of the hydraulic lines as a result of high wind force on the collectors. In addition, the control system advantageously comprises a pressure-relief system to prevent damage to the actuator during high temperature conditions. A single actuator can be used to operate up to sixteen or more large solar collectors.
US08904772B2

Regarding an engine exhaust gas heat exchanger that allows exhaust gas to collide with a coolant passage through apertures, a configuration that can improve efficiency of heat exchange is provided. The engine exhaust gas heat exchanger 1 is provided with multiple stages of unit exhaust gas passages 3a, 3b, 3c that are configured with a first exhaust gas passage A in which a plane facing an inlet is blocked and that has a plurality of apertures 30 in a circumferential direction and in a flow direction, and a second exhaust gas passage B that has a dividing wall facing the apertures 30 and also serving as the coolant passage 20 and an outlet that also serves as an inlet of the first exhaust gas passage A of a next stage or an outlet 26 of the engine exhaust gas heat exchanger 1.
US08904771B2

An exhaust heat recovery apparatus for a vehicle, may include a case having an inlet and an outlet, a heat exchange part mounted in the case, the heat exchange part, a bypass tube connecting the inlet and the outlet of the case in the case, having an inflow opening for the inflow of the exhaust gas to the heat exchange part, and allowing an exhaust gas to bypass the heat exchange part, and a variable valve installed in the bypass tube to selectively block flow of the exhaust gas through the bypass tube and induce the exhaust gas to the heat exchange part, wherein the heat exchange part includes a coolant distribution member having a plurality of coolant paths connected to and spaced apart from each other between the bypass tube and the case, and a lubricant distribution member installed in one of the coolant paths and in which the lubricant flows.
US08904759B2

System and methods for treating particulate matter vented from an engine crankcase are provided. In one embodiment, an engine includes a crankcase. A ventilation hose is coupled to the engine to vent a crankcase gas from the crankcase. A catalytic emissions control device is coupled to the ventilation hose to treat particulate matter in the crankcase gas.
US08904757B2

Method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine comprises receiving an upstream temperature signal, receiving a downstream temperature signal, and calculating a temperature difference based on a difference between the upstream temperature signal and the downstream temperature signal. The temperature difference is compared to a predetermined temperature change limit to determine whether the temperature difference is less than or greater than the predetermined temperature change limit. If the temperature difference is less than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a primary soot accumulation model. If the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a secondary soot accumulation model. The estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is compared to a predetermined threshold associated with the after-treatment component.
US08904755B2

A heater control device of an oxygen concentration sensor is provided in which even in a case where an internal combustion engine is automatically stopped by idle stop control after cold start-up, it is possible to start energization of a heater at an appropriate time.The heater control device includes a model temperature calculation section that calculates model temperature around the oxygen concentration sensor, a heat amount integration section that calculates an integrated heat amount by integrating the amount of heat passing through an installation position of the oxygen concentration sensor, an energization instruction section that starts the energization of the heater when the integrated heat amount has reached a predetermined energization start threshold value, a reset section that resets the integrated heat amount and the energization start threshold value at the time of stop or start-up of the internal combustion engine and, on the other hand, does not reset the integrated heat amount and the energization start threshold value at the time of automatic stop and restart of the internal combustion engine by the idle stop control, and a correction section that corrects the integrated heat amount or the energization start threshold value in consideration of the influence of heat radiation during the automatic stop of the internal combustion engine by the idle stop control.
US08904752B2

A cap for a liquid propellant injection assembly of a rocket engine includes a cap body and a valve assembly. The cap body extends between first and second ends. The cap body has a bore that fluidly connects one or more inlets to an outlet. The inlets are disposed in a tubular sidewall of the cap body. The outlet is disposed in the second end of the cap body. The valve assembly includes a valve cap disposed around the first end of the cap body. The valve assembly is adapted to selectively regulate flow of a propellant through the inlets in the cap body as a function of pressure exerted by the propellant against the valve assembly.
US08904751B2

A thrust reverser assembly and operation suitable for high-bypass turbofan engines. The thrust reverser assembly includes a translating cowl mounted to a nacelle of an engine and adapted to translate in an aft direction of the engine. The translating cowl has a radially inner wall that defines a radially outer flow surface of a bypass duct of the engine. The thrust reverser assembly includes blocker doors axially guided adjacent first ends thereof by a fixed structure and pivotally and slidably connected along lengths thereof to the inner wall of the translating cowl so that translation of the translating cowl in the aft direction causes each blocker door to move from a stowed position to a deployed position as a result of the blocker door sliding at its first end relative to the fixed structure and sliding along its length relative to the inner wall of the translating cowl.
US08904749B2

The present invention provides an inductively coupled plasma device with a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical vessel is transparent or semi-transparent to a wave energy. A tangential inlet is connected to or proximate to the first end. A tangential outlet is connected to or proximate to the second end. An electrode housing is connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel. A hollow electrode nozzle is connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. An electromagnetic radiation source that produces a wave energy and is disposed around or within the cylindrical vessel.
US08904748B2

A system for providing hydrogen enriched fuel includes first and second gas turbines. The second gas turbine receives a portion of compressed working fluid from the first gas turbine and produces a reformed fuel, and a fuel skid provides fluid communication between a turbine in the second gas turbine and a combustor in the first gas turbine. A method for providing hydrogen enriched fuel includes diverting a portion of a first compressed working fluid from a first compressor to a second compressor and providing a second compressed working fluid from the second compressor. The method further includes mixing a fuel with the second compressed working fluid in a reformer to produce a reformed fuel, flowing the reformed fuel through a second turbine to cool the reformed fuel, and connecting the second turbine to the second compressor so that the second turbine drives the second compressor.
US08904747B2

A gas turbine inlet heating system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes: a compressor having: an inlet bellmouth adjacent to a set of inlet guide vanes (IGVs); and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet bellmouth; and a conduit coupled to an outlet of the compressor, the conduit including a control valve, the conduit for diverting a first portion of compressed air from the outlet of the compressor to the inlet bellmouth.
US08904730B2

A high-strength thermally-isolating surface-mounted anchoring system for a cavity wall is disclosed. The thermally-isolated anchoring system is adaptable to varied structures, including high-span applications, and for use with interlocking veneer ties and reinforcement wires. The anchoring system includes an anchor base and a stepped cylinder which sheaths the mounting hardware to limit insulation tearing and resultant loss of insulation integrity. The anchoring system is thermally-isolated through the use of a series of strategically placed compressible nonconductive fittings. Seals are formed which preclude penetration of air, moisture, and water vapor into the wall structure.
US08904721B2

Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running therethrough or therealong. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that, when closed, exert a radial clamping force on a reinforcement member in the axial bore. A tensioning and anchoring system may include one or more tensioners integrally connected to an anchor block. At least one sleeve may be secured to the anchor block and cooperate with a bolt that displaces the anchor block to place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement member and impart a compressive force on the static structure.
US08904714B2

A tunnel structure includes a frame; a continuous plate fixed to the frame in order to protect passing-through pedestrians; supporting legs hinged to the frame; and a connecting section supported by the frame, the connecting section configured to enable the combination of multiple tunnel structures.
US08904709B2

A moveable holder for connecting a moveable member to a stationary member includes two pivoting arms mountable between the members. The moveable member has a position abutting the stationary member and a position spaced away from the stationary member. One of the arms is spring-loaded such that the moveable member is easily urged to either the abutting position or the spaced-away position when the moveable member is located at a neutral position intermediate to the abutting position and the spaced-away position.
US08904703B2

Apparatus and method for boring into the earth near a Kudzu vine root system to apply herbicidal helium gas to the roots and eradicate the Kudzu vine. The technique uses a perforated tube with a drill bit that protrudes from one end of the tube to bore into the earth near the vine roots. Boring is stopped when all of the tube perforations are below the earth's surface. About 0.5 cubic meters of helium gas are applied to flow through the tube enabling the helium gas to flow out through the tube perforations and attack the Kudzu vine through the vine's root system.
US08904701B2

A bed bug trap includes heat, carbon dioxide and/or semiochemicals (pheromones and/or kairomones), to attract and trap bed bugs. The trap may be combined with the appearance and/or function of another appliance, such as an air freshener. The release of semiochemicals may be combined with the release of air freshening compositions. The bed bug trap may provide one attraction mode, or two attraction modes, namely one which uses heat, carbon dioxide and/or kairomones to attract bed bugs seeking a meal, and the other which uses pheromones to attract bed bugs seeking a safe harbor, i.e. a hiding place. The bed bug trap may be combined with a wide variety of appliances, such as air fresheners, alarm clocks, clock radios, humidifiers, desk or table lamps, power bars, etc.
US08904698B2

A weapon-mountable designator/illuminator unit having a light source adapted to generate a light beam in a direction away from the unit. The light beam is variable between a collimated light beam and a divergent light beam for, respectively, designating a target and illuminating a target area of the weapon. At least a first modular power supply is adapted for installation in the designator/illuminator unit. The power supply includes a cage adapted to receive a power source, a first end adapted to be received within the designator/illuminator unit, and an end cap adapted to be exposed when the power supply is assembled with the unit. The power supply is adapted to deliver power from its power source to the light source of the designator/illuminator unit. The end cap may contain a light source for generating a light beam in addition to the light beam generated by the designator/illuminator unit.
US08904697B2

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of scope shields, protectors, guards or devices for shielding and/or guarding gun-mounted scopes. Also disclosed are methods for shielding and/or guarding a gun-mounted scope. In use, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, for example, may prevent bumping of the scope by another object and the misalignment that might otherwise occur if the scope was bumped by another object.
US08904695B2

Methods for manufacturing firearms and firearm components from bonded multi-metallic base materials comprising at least two dissimilar metallic materials having different properties, such as weight, density, wear resistance, durability, hardness, and the like, bonded to one another are provided. The bonded multi-metallic materials may be explosively bonded multi-metallic materials. The methods involve providing a bonded multi-metallic substrate material, cutting the rough shape of a component from the bonded multi-metallic substrate material, and machining the rough component shape to a desired three dimensional configuration of the component.
US08904689B2

A projectile is presented including a casing, a propellant, and a primer configured to ignite the propellant. The projectile also includes an electronic beacon incorporated within the casing of the projectile, the electronic beacon configured to emit at least one signal to be received by at least one electronic device located within a pre-established vicinity of the projectile. The electronic device provides a notification indicating proximity of the projectile. The electronic beacon may be a radio transceiver operating at, at least one of a plurality of frequencies. The electronic device may be a mobile device. The notification is a visual notification or an audible notification or a combination thereof. The notification may indicate a safe condition or a danger condition based on an identifier of the electronic beacon.
US08904685B2

A signboard comprising a base; a plurality of signs formed on the base, the plurality of the signs comprising predefined shapes; and a perforation outline surrounding each of the plurality of the signs, the perforation outline adapted to allow for the removal of the plurality of the signs from the base.
US08904680B1

A reconstructed wooden log has segments from the same log, each having opposing concentric arcuate ends and being fastened to adjacent segments with a spacer contacting effecting separation from each adjacent segment. A light source within a hollow interior defined by the arcuate interior ends emits light between the separations of the adjacent wood segments and around the spacers. Reconstruction of the original log includes separating the original log radially about its longitudinal axis into the segments, and removing a portion of each segment that was proximal the original log's longitudinal axis. The reconstructed log, having about the same length and width as that of the original log, can have electro-mechanics within and/or near its hollow interior to receive control signals and detect motion to initiate rotation of the log to reveal signage and other decorative embellishments illuminated by the light source, and/or render an audible report.
US08904667B2

A drying device comprising a titano-alumino-phosphate with thermal management for the more efficient drying of objects and appliances, and its production. Further, a drying method for obtaining dried objects and appliances, as well as a method for regeneration accompanied by the desorption of water from water-containing titano-alumino-phosphate.
US08904664B2

This invention relates generally to a dehydration device and methods for drying biological materials to produce dried biological materials having enhanced structural properties. More specifically, the invention relates to a dehydration device and related methods for drying biological tissue to produce enhanced tissue grafts.
US08904650B2

The present invention relates to a cutting tool, in particular in the form of a razor blade, a scalpel, a knife, a machine knife, scissors etc., which has a synthetic diamond layer with a cutting edge. The diamond layer thereby consists of fine-crystalline diamond.
US08904643B2

A vehicle seat frame provides a tilting feature for tilting the seat cushion. The frame includes side brackets (20) with a torsion tube (60) laterally-extending through an aperture (100) of the side brackets. The torsion tube is fitted against the side bracket through an internal swaging procedure to allow smooth rotation of the torsion tube within the side brackets. The torsion tube includes an annular protrusion (200) which provides an axial locking feature that tightly secures the subcomponents placed onto the torsion tube during vehicle operation.
US08904638B2

A manufacturing method and structure of a heat exchanger for a bathing shower involves two plates welded together to form a passage for cold water. Hot water from the shower drips onto the upper plate and transfer heat to cold water flowing through the passage between the plates. The upper plate may be spot welded to the lower plate at bottoms of frustoconical indentations in the lower plate, the plates may sandwich an adiabatic layer, and/or the passage between the plates may be formed by pipes situated between the plates.
US08904628B2

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a noise removing filter, including preparing at least one conductive pattern, an insulating layer for covering the at least one conductive pattern, and a lower magnetic body including input/output stud terminals for electrically inputting and outputting electricity to and from the at least one conductive pattern; disposing a recognizable portion on upper surfaces of the input/output stud terminals; disposing an upper magnetic body on the recognizable portion and the insulating layer; polishing the upper magnetic body; and removing the recognizable portion such that a level of an upper surface of the upper magnetic body is higher than levels of the upper surfaces of the input/output stud terminals.
US08904619B2

A medical device- includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen.
US08904609B2

A capacitor with a combined with a resistor and/or fuse is described. This safe capacitor can rapidly discharge through the resistor when shorted. The presence of a fuse in series with the capacitor and results in a resistive failure when this opens during and overcurrent condition. Furthermore, the presence of a resistor in parallel to the capacitor allows the energy to be rapidly dissipated when a failure occurs.
US08904607B2

A fastening device includes a clip and a retaining element. The clip has a head from which lateral wings for fastening to a panel and resilient lugs for fastening the retaining element to the clip extend laterally. The retaining element temporarily fastened inside the clip is inserted in this state inside a mounting hole or opening where final fastening of the device to the panel is performed. The retaining element has an internal cavity for disassembling the clip. The resilient lugs have a fold from which they extend so as to form inner wings which are provided with an opening. Upon insertion of the retaining element, projections of the retaining element engage inside the opening.
US08904599B2

A quick coupling furniture hinge for a quick arrangement of a door of a furniture element onto a base furniture element, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge pot arranged in the furniture door and a hinge arm pivotably fastened thereon. The hinge arm is provided with a mounting assembly fixed in the hinge arm, via which mounting assembly the hinge arm is fastened to a base mounting panel that is fixed on the base furniture element, so that the pivotable assemblies co-operate independently from each other with each complementarily shaped element arranged on the base mounting panel.
US08904597B2

A protective bumper attaches to a caster wheel assembly and substantially surrounds the assembly to act as a point of contact with other objects or articles, in order to limit or prevent damage to struck objects, and/or to the caster wheel assembly, and/or to a movable object or article supported on the caster wheel assembly. The protective bumper includes an outer bumper portion and an inner frame portion that attaches to a frame of the caster wheel assembly. The bumper may be attached to the caster wheel assembly via an axle that rotatably couples a wheel to the frame of the wheel assembly. Optionally, the outer bumper portion may be fitted with a relatively soft annular outer member or surface.
US08904595B2

A vacuum cleaner suction head having a housing, one or more support to support the housing on a surface to be cleaned, a suction inlet and front and rear sealing plates. The front and rear sealing plates extend along the front and rear edges of the suction inlet, respectively. the sealing plates are movable between raised positions in which the lower surfaces of the plates are close to the housing, and lowered positions in which the lower surfaces of the plates are remote from the housing. The front and rear plates are movable from the lowered position to the raised position by contact with debris on the surface to be cleaned.
US08904593B2

A flexible hollow sleeve member comprising an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a stitch-less inner layer and a stitch-less outer layer, the inner layer of the inner core comprising a water proof bladder made of a moisture-control fabric configured to draw moisture toward the outer layer of the inner core, the outer layer of the inner core comprising a hygroscopic material which absorbs moisture rapidly, the flexible hollow sleeve member having an enclosed upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion defining an opening that is configured to receive a golf ball, said lower portion having a stretchable lower rim that has an internal diameter that is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of a golf ball, wherein the stretchable lower rim retracts to its original diameter after receipt of the golf ball such that the golf ball is retained in the inner core of the golf ball cleaner for cleaning or temporarily storing the golf ball, the outer core of the flexible hollow sleeve member comprising a versatile synthetic material that is water resistant, wherein the flexible hollow sleeve member is configured to hold moisture in the interior of the flexible hollow sleeve member without allowing excess moisture to seep through to the exterior of the flexible hollow sleeve member.
US08904589B2

The cleanup system employs an associated clearing component, such as a tool comprised of squeegee and/or brush elements, to close the entrance to a containment or receptacle unit to thereby prevent leakage or escape of liquid, semi-liquid, and/or dry matter during transport.
US08904581B2

An expandable mattress cover comprises a top sheet, a bottom sheet and a side wall joining the top sheet and the bottom sheet. A plurality of edges of the side wall is stitched to the top sheet and the bottom sheet to form a compartment. An expandable means having a hook is attached to the side wall. An opening is provided on the side wall for inserting a mattress into the compartment. The expandable means may be adjusted to fit mattresses of different thicknesses inside the expandable mattress cover. A fastening means with a hook is adjusted to open the opening before inserting a mattress into the compartment. The mattress is secured in position by adjusting the fastening means to a closed position. The hook is used to clip the expandable means and the fastening means onto the side wall.
US08904572B2

An assembly for initiating flushing of a toilet includes a handle and a bushing. The handle includes an axially extending stem that defines an axis of rotation. The bushing is configured to rotatably couple the handle to a tank of the toilet and includes a passage with the stem of the handle received therein. The handle defines two or more annular handle surfaces that are configured to cooperatively engage two or more annular bushing surfaces for rotation of the handle relative to the bushing about the axis.
US08904568B2

A clothing support system is provided, which includes a clothing support article for providing support to a portion of a user's body. The clothing support article has front and rear panels of a substantially non-elastic fabric, for the support of a portion of the user's body. The front and rear panels are attached together by first and second side panels, which include a fabric of two-way elasticity which is stretchable between the front and rear panels. The clothing support system may further include a tension strap having a central support portion and two ends which are attachable to the front panel, to thereby provide enhanced support to a user's body. A method for providing support to a user's body is also provided, wherein tension is applied to the tension strap of the clothing support system.
US08904566B2

A mitten hand covering which can be reconfigured from a closed end condition covering the fingers and thumb to a condition where the fingers and thumb may be protruded through openings to be exposed for improved dexterity. The hand covering is made from a sheet of material folded up and sewn along perimeter edges of an auxiliary section and subsection of a main section of a pattern formed by the sheet.
US08904562B2

This invention is a torso-body shaped frame vest-like garment that is designed to function as ballistic armor. This garment contains inserts comprised of unitary panels of pliable ballistic material capable of stopping bullets from most handguns. The use of a torso pattern sloper as a base structure for frame design allows this garment to be adapted for all types of wearable apparel besides vests such as jackets, coats, suits, shirts, etc., and allows for an increased range of movement and level of comfort. Unlike most other types of ballistic armor that is concealed by being worn under normal clothing this garment is designed to be used as outerwear that can complement casual, business, or other professional attire. Its function as fashionable, concealable, and comfortable ballistic armor is achieved by using design methods, sewing techniques, ornamental trim applications, and fabric applications common to high fashion casual and professional attire.
US08910309B2

Techniques and tools for controlling public output devices (e.g., public display devices) with client devices over a network. In some examples, a time-limited proximity code is displayed by a public display device, and a client device can provide the code via a public network to verify that the client device is present within a proximity zone and is allowed to control the public display. Once authorized, the client device can provide control data to control visual content on the public display. A relay service can be used to relay data over a network via communication connections between client devices and public display devices. For example, the relay service can be implemented on a server connected to the network and can use HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) to relay data such as control data via messages from one device to another.
US08910303B2

A method for manipulating security of an integrated circuit layout, comprising: rendering a PCell that is created by an original user for a successive user; providing an open access to the PCell; providing a PCell evaluator to execute evaluating steps of: getting license information from the PCell, and checking the PCell license information; and generating a layout of a sub-master by instantiating a super-master of the PCell if the PCell license information is valid, or leave the sub-master empty in a PCell view if the PCell license information is invalid.
US08910296B2

Techniques are disclosed for hiding sensitive information from a provider of support services. In one embodiment, a first network device determines that network device information includes non-sensitive data and sensitive data. In response to the determining, the first network device generates mapping data that maps dummy information to the sensitive data. The first network device generates output data that comprises the non-sensitive data and the dummy data and sends the output data to a second network device. In other embodiments, the user may select the network parameters that are sensitive. The first network device may also receive first report data from the second network device that identifies a network problem and includes the dummy data and generate second report data by using the mapping data to replace the dummy information with the sensitive data.
US08910285B2

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for reciprocal generation of watch-lists and traffic models characteristic of malicious network activity. In some aspects, the described methods and systems relate to maintaining data for recognition of malicious network activity. In general, the methods include monitoring network traffic; comparing endpoint data from monitored data packets to endpoints in a watch-list of network endpoints and comparing packet data from monitored data packets to traffic models in a catalog of traffic models characterizing malicious network activity; and determining, based on the comparisons, that a set of data packets comprise suspect network activity. The methods include adding a network endpoint to the watch-list when the determination is based on comparing packet data to a traffic model or adding a traffic model to the catalog when the determination is based on comparing endpoint data.
US08910282B2

Provided herein are systems and methods for implementing a more secure network client device in connection with the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). Incoming DHCP Offer packets containing configuration information are temporarily collected. Once all incoming Offers are judged to have been received, offers are scored and a winning offer is selected. The winning offer is used to configure the device's network stack.
US08910273B1

Systems and methods for setting up VPN connection are provided. Method includes facilitating creating gateway connection between client side and server side. Client side comprises multiple client side virtual NICs and server side comprises multiple server side virtual NICs. Method includes facilitating creating data paths for VPN connection between each of at least portion of client side virtual NICs and each of at least portion of server side virtual NICs. Data path of each pair of corresponding client side virtual NICs and corresponding server side virtual NIC is associated with gateway connection and port forward. Method includes facilitating transmitting data, via first data path for VPN connection, between first client computing device communicatively coupled with corresponding client side virtual NIC of first data path and first server computing device communicatively coupled with corresponding server side virtual NIC of first data path.
US08910256B2

In one implementation, form field(s) of a form of a website or application are populated with data obtained using a digital identity, and the populated form field(s) are submitted to the website or application. A form field specification specifying information about the form fields of the form is obtained. A user selects or creates a digital identity. Data is obtained using the digital identity, and the data is used to provide values to the form. The data is submitted to the website or application. In another implementation, a username and password are automatically generated. The username and password that are generated meet parameters that may be specified by the website or application. The username and password are submitted to the website or application for a purpose such as registration or authentication, and stored away for future authentication.
US08910254B2

Systems and methods are provided for providing generating and managing profiles. Such systems and methods may be implemented to control access to a function of a web server or site based on a level of trust associated with a user or device profile. According to one exemplary method, session information associated with a request to access a function of a web server is identified. At least one processor determines whether the request is associated with a trusted device profile based on the at least the session information. Access to the requested function is provided when the request is associated with a trusted device profile.
US08910253B2

In one embodiment, a picture signature password system may use a picture signature password to determine access to a computing device or service. A display screen 172 may display a personalized digital image 310. A user input device 160 may receive a user drawing set executed by a user over the personalized digital image 310. A processor 120 may authenticate access to the user session if the user drawing set matches a library drawing set associated with the user.
US08910244B2

A method for establishing an identity management trust, and an IDentification Provider (IDP) and a Service Provider (SP) are provided in the present disclosure. The method comprises: after receiving an access from a user, an SP determines whether an IDP to which the user attaches is located in a trust domain of the SP (S102); if the IDP to which the user attaches is not located in the trust domain of the SP, the SP inquires of an IDP in a local trust domain about the IDP to which the user attaches (S104); if the SP receives information of the IDP to which the user attaches, wherein the information is returned by an IDP in the local trust domain, the SP adds the IDP to which the user attaches to a temporary trust list to establish a trust for the IDP to which the user attaches (S106). The present disclosure can establish a trust relationship between an SP and any IDP in case of adding or not adding extra devices, ensuring the user to obtain desired services after logging on for one time.
US08910236B2

A method, device and system for enablement of desktop software functionality based on IT policy comprising determining if IT policy settings are associated with a mobile device connected to the desktop software and restricting functionality of the desktop software based on the IT policy settings for the connected mobile device.
US08910235B2

A method for policy based provisioning of shared boot images includes querying a storage name server for boot target that is in an accessible discovery domain. Boot target information about the boot target is received. A login request is sent to the boot target. The login request includes a flag specifying whether the login request is a first login request after a reboot.
US08910234B2

Systems and methods are provided for enforcing a network device provisioning policy. In one embodiment, a method may employ a computer based system to restrict access to data center resources, receive provisioning requests for access to the data center resources, authorize the provisioning requests after compliance with the network provisioning policy and allow the network device to access authorized data center resources. In another embodiment, a system includes interfaces for provisioning policy, request and task status information. The information provided by these interfaces is then used to determine compliance with applicable network device provisioning policies and restrict or allow access to the data center resources according to the provisioning policy.
US08910232B2

An Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system includes a selector module that selects a content item and sends a stream of the content item to a set-top box. The set-top box analyzes content information associated with the content item using a speech interpretation algorithm or a text interpretation algorithm to create an index of the content information and determines to record the content item based upon the index of the content information. A method includes sending a content item from an IPTV network to a set-top box, directing the set-top box to analyze content information associated with the content item using a speech interpretation algorithm or a text interpretation algorithm, and directing the set-top box to record the content item based upon the analysis of the content information.
US08910229B2

A method for providing video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is disclosed, the method comprising: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices, wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.
US08910228B2

Methods, systems, and computer programs are provided for measuring the performance of a remote display. One method includes an operation for embedding in display frames a respective frame identifier and a respective frame picture. The respective frame picture is placed in a respective region that depends of the value of the respective frame identifier. Additionally, the method includes operations for sending the plurality of display frames to a remote client, and for extracting each received frame picture from the respective region of each received display frame at the remote client based on the received frame identifier. The received frame quality is calculated for each received display frame based on the comparison of the extracted received frame picture with the respective frame picture. Further, the method includes an operation for calculating a remote display quality for the remote client based on the calculated received frame quality for the received display frames.
US08910217B2

A device receives, from a network device, information associated with an event, and assigns an event identifier to the event based on the event information. The device also provides the event identifier to a cell control device located at a location associated with the event, and determines a cell capacity of the location to ensure that there is sufficient cell capacity at the location to broadcast the event. The network device instructs a device capturing the event to provide live event data to the cell control device for a predetermined time period.
US08910212B2

A system may process metadata associated with video assets; generate, based on the metadata, a first listing of the video assets, where the first listing is compatible with a first type of user device that corresponds to a set top box; and provide the first listing to the first type of user device. The system may further generate, based on the metadata, a second listing of the video assets, where the second listing is formatted to be compatible with a second type of user device that is a different type than the set top box; and provide the second listing to the second type of user device.
US08910198B2

First video material is transmitted from a video source, over a video content network, to consumer premises equipment, via a hub router. The video source has a source address and there is a first path length between the hub router and the video source. Upon occurrence of a first triggering condition, a short route metric is announced from a supplemental video material server coupled to the hub router. The short route metric causes the hub router to perceive a second path length, between the hub router and the supplemental video material server, as shorter than the first path length. The supplemental video material server has a source address identical to the source address of the video source. Thus, the consumer premises equipment obtains supplemental video material from the supplemental video material server instead of first video material from the video source. Aspects of a system and a supplemental video material server are also disclosed.
US08910189B2

Techniques are disclosed for automatically determining one or more configuration parameters associated with one or more programs executable by a computing system. For example, in a system including at least one application and at least one parameter which affects a behavior of the at least one application, a method for determining a frequency for invoking the at least one application includes the following steps. The method estimates a cost which includes overhead resulting from invoking the at least one application. The method estimates an improvement in the behavior resulting from modifying the at least one parameter based on invoking the at least one application. The method selects the frequency based on the cost and the improvement.
US08910183B2

Various embodiments of systems and methods to provide access to context information in a heterogeneous application environment are described herein. The context information of a source application is received. The context information is based on the execution of the source application. Further, the context information is stored in one or more context vectors of a global context unit, the one or more context vectors corresponding to the source application and one or more target applications. Furthermore, access to the context information of the global context unit is provided for the one or more target applications upon receiving invoking access indication from the one or more target applications. Also, the source application and the one or more target applications are integrated with the global context unit.
US08910173B2

Technologies and implementations for allocating datacenter resources are generally disclosed.
US08910172B2

Registry information systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, an application resource switchover method comprises receiving a switchover indication wherein the switchover indication includes an indication to switchover execution of at least one service of an application running on a primary system resource to running on a secondary system resource; performing a switchover preparation process, wherein the switchover preparation process includes automatically generating a switchover plan including indications of switchover operations for performance of a switchover process; and performing the switchover process in which the at least one of the application services is brought up on the secondary system resource in accordance with the plan of switchover operations. In one embodiment, automatically generating a plan of switchover operations includes analyzing the switchover indication, wherein the analyzing includes determining a type of switchover corresponding to the switchover indication. There can be a variety of switchover types.
US08910169B2

Methods and systems to perform a computer task in a reduced power consumption state, including to virtualize physical resources with respect to an operating environment and service environment, to exit the operating environment and enter the service environment, to place a first set of one or more of the physical resources in a reduced power consumption state, and to perform a task in the service environment utilizing a processor and a second set of one or more of the physical resources. A physical resource may be assigned to an operating environment upon an initialization of the operating environment, and re-assigned to the service environment to be utilized by the service environment while other physical resources are placed in a reduced power consumption state.
US08910167B2

Software development tools and techniques for configuring parallel processing systems to execute software modules implementing processes for solving complex problems, including over-the-counter trading processes and foreign exchange trading processes, to execute quickly and efficiently. The parallel processing system may include low-cost, consumer-grade multicore processing units. A process for solving a complex problem may be divided into software modules, including by evaluating the process to determine discrete processing steps that produce an intermediate result on which later steps of the process depend. The software modules created for a process may form a template processing chain describing multiple processing chains of the process that are to be executed. A software development tool for producing configuration information for multicore processing units may evaluate the software modules and the processing chains to determine whether the modules will execute quickly and efficiently on the multicore processing units of the parallel processing system.
US08910159B2

A computer system including a plurality of physical processors (CPs) having physical processor performances (PCPs), a plurality of logical processors (LCPs), a plurality of logical partitions (LPARs) where each partition includes one or more of the logical processors (LCPs), and a system assist processor having a control element. The control element controls the virtualization of the physical processors (CPs), the logical partitions (LPARs) and the logical processors (LCPs) and allocates the physical processor performances (PCPs) to the logical partitions (LPARs). The control element operates to exclusively bind logical processors (LCPs) to the physical processors (CPs). For a logical processor (LCP) exclusively bound to a physical processor (CP), the logical processor (LCP) has exclusive use of the underlying physical processor (CP) and no other logical processor (LCP) can be dispatched on the underlying physical processor (CP) even if the underlying physical processor (CP) is otherwise available.
US08910158B2

Embodiments of processors, methods, and systems for virtualizing interrupt prioritization and delivery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes instruction hardware and execution hardware. The instruction hardware is to receive a plurality of instructions, including a first instruction to transfer the processor from a root mode to a non-root mode for executing guest software in a virtual machine, wherein the processor is to return to the root mode upon the detection of any of a plurality of virtual machine exit events. The execution hardware is to execute the first instruction, execution of the first instruction to include determining a first virtual processor-priority value and storing the first virtual processor-priority value in a virtual copy of a processor-priority field, where the virtual copy of the processor-priority field is a virtual resource corresponding to a physical resource associated with an interrupt controller.
US08910151B2

A method for installing software components includes: a terminal receives a software component package delivered by a Device Management (DM) server directly or a download address of the component package and a command instructing to download delivered by the DM server, where the software component package contains more than one software component; if the terminal receives the download address and the command instructing to download, the terminal downloads the software component package from the download address; the terminal installs the obtained software component package locally and generates management nodes and subnodes of the management nodes corresponding to the software components under a Deployed subtree of the Software Component Management Object (SCOMO) of the terminal. With the present invention, the process of installing software component is more reasonable. A system and apparatus for installing software components are also provided.
US08910150B2

The invention relates to a method for automatically configuring an application after downloading the same via a website. An example of an area of application of the present invention is enterprise web applications that are installed on a server in a customer network. The proposed “one-touch configuration” method simplifies the initial configuration of the application to be installed, and makes manual entries after installation unnecessary. The method according to the invention is further applicable to obtaining applications from the Internet, wherein a customer has an account with a provider. The customer logs in using the customer login thereof at the website of the company. The company is aware of which applications the customer has purchased, by means of the customer account information, and can proved corresponding supplementary downloads, including a licensing key. The licensing key can then be transmitted to the installed application in a simple manner using the method presented.
US08910144B1

A method for use in managing software environment installation is disclosed. A set of storage systems is identified to be managed via a Flex based data storage management application. It is determined whether the Flex based data storage management application can communicate with every data storage system in the set of data storage systems. Based on the determination, it is determined whether to cause installation of a Java operating environment allowing the Flex based data storage management application to communicate with every data storage system in the set of data storage systems.
US08910135B2

More effective compiler optimizations provide improved cache utilization. The compiler optimizations include a structure layout optimization that leaves the physical layout of the structure fields intact and instead changes the access order to these fields. The compiler optimizations apply to arrays using array remappings analogous to structure layout optimizations in which the array is considered as a structure and the physical layout of the array remains intact and instead the access order to the array changes.
US08910128B2

A computer-implemented method is provided for determining the performance of an application platform. The application platform includes one or more applications associated with a plurality of resources of a computer system. A plurality of synthetic resource consumers are disposed within the application platform. Each synthetic resource consumer is configured to consume at least one of the plurality of resources. A workload profile is provided to the plurality of synthetic resource consumers. The workload profile includes parameters specifying resource consumption by the plurality of synthetic resource consumers. Performance data is acquired based on the impact of the workload profile on the plurality of resources and the plurality of applications.
US08910125B2

Systems, methods and computer program products may provide monitoring of software performance on a computer. A method of monitoring software performance in a computer may include marking at least one of a load request and a store request, the marked request including an effective instruction address and an effective data address, recording the effective instruction and data addresses in a processor core and sending the marked request to a memory subsystem. The method may also include receiving a fabric response for the marked request, recording the fabric response in the core and tying the effective instruction and data addresses and the fabric response together in a sample.
US08910120B2

Software debugging recommendation technique embodiments are presented that generally entails creating a database of characterized software bug descriptions and providing software debugging recommendations from the database in response to a query. This can employ a two-phased approach in the search for similar software bugs. The first is a search phase that takes a query as input and returns a ranked list of software bug descriptions that match the query. These bug descriptions can contain a mix of structured and unstructured data. The second phase is a related-information phase that uses the output of the first phase to retrieve a set of related recommendations such as for people, source files, functions and binaries.
US08910110B2

The invention provides a computer-implemented method for estimating the cost of translating a body of text associated with a software application, wherein the software application is configured to perform one or more tasks. In particular the method comprises: determining one or more content types associated with the body of text, wherein each content type has an average word count per content unit; assigning a number of tasks associated with the software application to each content type, wherein each task has an associated number of content units; generating an estimated word count for each content type based on the number of tasks assigned to each content type and the average word count per unit for each content type; summing the estimated word count for each content type to generate an estimated word count for the body of text; and calculating an estimated translation cost based on the estimated word count.
US08910106B2

A capacitor arrangement assisting method wherein data entered by a user, such as the width w of a power supply wiring, the thickness h of a dielectric between the power supply wiring and a ground plane, the ESLcap of a capacitor, and a target frequency fT and a target impedance ZT of an IC, are received, the maximum allowable wiring length lmax of the power supply wiring is calculated on the basis of the received width w of the power supply wiring, the thickness h of the dielectric, the ESLcap of the capacitor, and the target impedance ZT of the IC at the target frequency fT, and the calculated maximum allowable wiring length lmax is displayed.
US08910097B2

Systems and techniques for creating a netlist abstraction are described. During operation, an embodiment can receive a netlist for a circuit design, wherein circuit elements in the circuit design are organized in a logical hierarchy (LH). Next, the embodiment can receive a set of LH nodes in the LH. The embodiment can then create the netlist abstraction by, for each LH node in the set of LH nodes, replacing a portion of the netlist that is below the LH node by a star netlist, wherein the star netlist includes a center object that is electrically connected to a set of satellite objects, wherein each satellite object corresponds to a port of the LH node.
US08910095B2

Aspects of the invention relate to techniques of layout decomposition for triple patterning lithography. Data of a coloring graph are derived from layout data for a layout design. The coloring graph is simplified through graph reduction and graph partitioning processes. The graph partitioning process comprises separating biconnected components. The graph partitioning process may further comprise separating subgraphs connected by one or two edges. Based on the simplified coloring graph, the layout design is decomposed to generate decomposition information. The decomposition process may comprise applying a heuristic method for coloring if needed. The decomposition information may comprise information of one or more layout regions that cannot be decomposed.
US08910090B2

One illustrative method disclosed herein involves producing an initial circuit layout, prior to decomposing the initial circuit layout, identifying at least one potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern in the initial circuit layout, fixing the at least one potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern so as to produce a double-patterning-compliant (DPT) pattern, producing a modified circuit layout by removing the potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern and adding the double-patterning-compliant (DPT) pattern to the initial circuit layout, and performing design rule checking and double patterning compliance checking on the modified circuit layout.
US08910085B2

A game apparatus as one example of an information processing apparatus includes an LCD, a touch panel provided to the LCD, and a CPU core. The CPU core displays a “Yes” button to which a command of allowing save of temporarily-stored sound data is assigned, on the LCD. When a designating operation of an arbitrary position within the displayed button is performed with a stick or the like, which position within the button is designated is specified through a touch panel, a condition is set to the command on the basis of the specified position, and information processing in relation to the command is executed according to the set condition.
US08910082B2

Provided is a method and system of modifying a digital image rendered on a display screen. The method comprises showing, at the display screen, a category menu shaped as a portion of an annular ring and including a plurality of category options, ones of the plurality of category options being cascadable onto the display screen via a rotational input action received at the processor of the computing device; receiving a first input selecting one of the plurality of category options; displaying, in the portion of the annular ring, a subcategory menu having a plurality of subcategory options associated with the selected category option, ones of the plurality of subcategory options being cascadable onto the display screen via the rotational input action, receiving a second input selecting one of the subcategory options, displaying, in an arched arrangement on the display screen, a plurality of product effect options associated with the selected subcategory option; receiving a third input selecting one of the product effect options; and automatically modifying the digital image by simulating application thereon of a visual effect associated with the selected product effect option.
US08910077B2

An information processing device according to the present invention stores user attribute data and pieces of application attribute data. The information processing device retrieves the user attribute data (Sa1), retrieves application attribute data of running application programs (Sa3), and determine whether there is application attribute data matching the user attribute data (Sa5). If the determination is affirmative, the information processing device identifies an application program corresponding to the application attribute data, and subsequently identifies a window (subject window) corresponding to the identified application program (Sa6). The information processing device sets priority levels for the subject window and windows overlapping the subject window so that the priority level for the subject window is higher than those of the windows (Sa8), and changes a display order of the subject window and the windows in accordance with the priority levels for the subject window and the windows (Sa9).
US08910076B2

A machine-controlled method may include creating a tile profile including multiple tiles, visually presenting the tile profile using a display, and storing the tile profile. The method may further include adding, removing, and editing the tiles and utilizing tile stacks. The method may further include any of a number of tile scrolling mechanisms.
US08910065B2

A secondary output of a user interface created using a presentation framework may be created by making a clone of the user interface, then modifying the cloned user interface by expanding various components. The cloned user interface may also be configured to the output characteristics of the secondary output, which may be a printer or other hardcopy device. The user interface may be created with callbacks or other actions that may be executed when the cloned user interface is configured. The callbacks may cause certain user interface components to be changed on the cloned version of the user interface.
US08910061B2

Embodiments provide for a handheld device with a unified desktop for integrating the functionality of the handheld device with a larger computer system. When connected to a peripheral display and/or a display of the larger computer system, the handheld device provides a unified desktop displayed across the screen(s) of the handheld device and the peripheral display. The unified desktop unifies the functionality provided by the larger computer system and the handheld functionality, e.g., communication applications (e.g., phone, SMS, MMS). A user can seamlessly interact with applications, e.g., open, move, close, receive notifications, on the unified desktop whether the applications are displayed on the screens of the handheld device, or the peripheral display of the larger computer system.
US08910041B1

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining a font substitution hierarchy using unsupervised clustering techniques are provided. A font substitution hierarchy may be determined by identifying a plurality of font request files associated with web-based application documents. Determining an association between a plurality of font requests within the plurality of font request files based on a clustering analysis, and determining a font substitution hierarchy for an individual font request based on the association.
US08910036B1

In a method and a system for an Internet copy protection method, a source document markup file is partitioned into a plurality of subsets of text, one or more graphical representations of at least some of the plurality of subsets are created and those subsets of text in the source document are processed to create a transformed document, location information is also generated, which identifies a position in the transformed documents that is equivalent to the position of the textual content which corresponds to the graphical representation in the source document. The transformed document, graphical representations, and location information may then be transmitted over a network to a client device.
US08910028B1

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for iteratively decoding a codeword. Once a codeword is received, the codeword is processed to generate an incremental hard decision value and a log likelihood ratio amplitude value. These values are generated by processing the codeword using a soft output Viterbi algorithm. A faulty symbol in the codeword is identified. A complete hard decision value is generated using the incremental hard decision value. The LLR amplitude value and complete hard decision value corresponding to the identified faulty symbol are selectively provided to a decoder and the decoder uses these values to decode the codeword.
US08910027B2

A Golay-code generator configured for generating Golay complementary code pairs comprises a sequence of delay elements configured for providing a predetermined set of fixed delays to at least a first input signal and a sequence of adaptable seed vector insertion elements configured for multiplying at least a second input signal by a variable seed vector, wherein each of a plurality of seed vectors corresponds to at least one predetermined piconet. The Golay-code generator may further comprise multiplexers configured for switching inputs and outputs of at least two delay elements in the sequence of delay elements to produce a plurality of compatible delay vectors. The Golay-code generator may further comprise a code-truncation module configured to shorten the Golay complementary code pairs for producing a plurality of daughter codes.
US08910015B2

Systems and methods are presented to improve the performance of a constant bit rate iterative decoder by providing elastic buffering, while utilizing a relatively simple decoder architecture capable of maintaining a fixed number of iterations of a lower value. An LDPC decoder can be designed, for example, to support less than the maximum possible number of iterations, and can, for example, be mated to elastic input and output buffers. If a given code block, or succession of code blocks, requires the maximum number of iterations for decoding, the decoder can, for example, run at such maximum number of iterations and the elastic input buffer can, for example, hold code blocks waiting to be processed so as to maintain a constant input rate. Alternatively, if one or more code blocks requires less than the nominal number of iterations, the output buffer can store those code blocks so as to preserve a constant output rate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08910008B2

A transmitting/receiving system includes a first transmitting/receiving apparatus which includes a first transmitting unit and a first receiving unit, and a second transmitting/receiving apparatus which includes a second receiving unit, a detector, a second generator, and a second transmitting unit. The first transmitting unit transmits data with an error detecting code after a bit-number conversion. The first receiving unit receives a response to the data after a bit-number inverse conversion. The second receiving unit subjects the data to a bit-number inverse conversion. The detector detects an error from the error detecting code. The second generator generates a positive or negative acknowledgement depending on the error detection and uses a code which enables distinguishing between positive and negative acknowledgements when a 1-bit error occurs during transportation. The second transmitting unit transmits the acknowledgement after a bit-number conversion to the first transmitting/receiving apparatus.
US08910005B2

Systems, circuits, devices and/or methods related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for re-processing data sets not successfully processed during standard processing.
US08909995B2

A microcomputer or microcontroller with a watchdog timer-counter also has an external reset signal generator. When the central processing unit of the microcomputer or microcontroller fails to execute its control program correctly, the watchdog timer-counter generates an internal reset signal for a first interval, resetting the central processing unit, and the external reset signal generator generates an external reset signal for a second interval, different from the first interval. The length of the second interval can be set to match the requirements of external peripheral devices to which the external reset signal is supplied.
US08909994B2

A method and system for tracing in a data processing system. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals associated with an operation during execution of the operation. The method also includes, in response to an indication that the operation is a multiphase operation, during execution of the operation, selection logic, during a first phase of the multiphase operation, selecting and outputting as a trace signal a first signal of the plurality of signals, and during a second phase of the multiphase operation, selecting and outputting as the trace signal a second signal of the plurality of signals.
US08909992B2

Dynamic concolic execution of an application. A first hypotheses pertaining to a nature of test payloads that satisfy a specified property, and that are expected to satisfy a condition tested by the application's program code, can be generated. A plurality of first test payloads to test first hypothesis can be synthesized and submitted to the application during respective executions of the application. Whether each of the first test payloads actually satisfy the condition tested by the application's program code can be determined. When at least one of the first test payloads does not actually satisfy the condition tested by the application's program code, a second hypotheses that is expected to satisfy the condition tested by the application's program code can be generated. A plurality of second test payloads to test the second hypothesis can be synthesized and submitted to the application during respective executions of the application.
US08909991B2

The present invention is a fault tree system reliability analysis system, comprising: k/n gate splitting means for splitting a disjunctive k/n gate with inputs of OR gates into disjoint conjunctive k/m gates (m≦n) without input of OR gate.
US08909988B2

An error recovery unit that may include error logic to detect an error in a dispatch port and timestamp logic configured to generate a timestamp for the error. The error recovery unit may also include check logic to determine if an instruction associated with the error has been retired based on the timestamp. If the instruction has been retired, a machine check error logic may be initiated. If the instruction has not been retired, an error correction logic may be initiated to recover the error and to re-execute the instruction. Thus, speculative errors may be recovered without the need for calling the machine check error, which is undesirable because of its catastrophic nature. Therefore, machine check errors may be significantly reduced.
US08909984B2

A storage management apparatus manages a plurality of storage apparatuses in a storage system that disperses and stores data that is made redundant so as to have a predetermined redundancy level. The storage management apparatus includes: a patrol process unit that performs, at a patrol speed, a patrol process of confirming that the plurality of storage apparatuses are being operated normally; a relocating process unit that performs, at a relocating process speed, a relocating process of moving the data between the plurality of storage apparatuses; a recovery process unit that performs, at a recovery process speed, a recovery process of recovering the redundancy level of the data when a fault occurs in the plurality of storage apparatuses; and a processing speed control unit that controls the recovery process speed or a sum of the patrol process speed and the relocating process speed to have a predetermined value.
US08909977B2

One aspect of the present invention provides a system for failover comprising at least one client selectively connectable to one of at least two interconnected server via a network connection. In a normal state, one of the servers is designated a primary server when connected to the client and a remainder of the servers are designated as backup servers when not connected to the client. The at least one client is configured to send messages to the primary server. The servers are configured to process the messages using at least one service that is identical in each of the servers. The services are unaware of whether a server respective to the service is operating as the primary server or the backup server. The servers are further configured to maintain a library, or the like, that indicates whether a server is the primary server or a server is the backup server. The services within each server are to make external calls via its respective library. The library in the primary server is configured to complete the external calls and return results of the external calls to the service in the primary server and to forward results of the external calls to the service in the backup server. The library in the secondary server does not make external calls but simply forwards the results of the external calls, as received from the primary server, to the service in the secondary server when requested to do so by the service in the secondary server.
US08909976B2

Rapid demanding for storage capacity at internet era requires a much flexible and powerful storage infrastructure. Present invention disclosed a type of storage system based a model of centrally controlled distributed scalable virtual machine. In this model, one or more service pools including virtual storage service pool and application service pools can be automatically created to meet the demands for more storage capacity from various applications. Specially this model provide a solid foundation for distributing storage volumes for supporting storage on-demand and sharing with exceptional management capabilities. In addition, this model provides a flexible fault recovery topology beyond the traditional recovery plan.
US08909973B2

A timer unit includes a first selector that receives a fixed value and a first enable signal, a second selector that receives the fixed value and a count cycle signal, a third selector that receives an output of the second selector, the count cycle signal, and a second enable signal, a first counter circuit that starts counting in response to an output of the first selector, and that generates the count cycle signal and a first counter circuit output signal indicating that a count value approaches a predetermined value, a second counter circuit that starts counting in response to an output of the third selector, and that generates a second counter circuit output signal, a first output signal generator that receives the first counter circuit output signal and the second counter circuit output signal to generate a first output signal, and a second output signal generator.
US08909969B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for performing time synchronization on PCIE (PCI Express, peripheral component interconnect express) devices. The method mainly includes: a PCIE device receiving, through a hardware interface, a time synchronization signal sent from a clock source device; parsing, by the PCIE device, the time synchronization signal to obtain clock information carried in the time synchronization signal, and using the clock information as a clock of the PCIE device. The PCIE devices are supported to access a synchronous network, and the PCIE devices are supported to be used as a global clock source.
US08909968B2

A server and a method of recording environment parameters of the server are provided. The server defines an power connection mode and a power on mode. The server includes an environment monitoring system, which monitors an environment of the server in real time. The environment monitoring system includes a control unit and storage unit. The control unit controls power connection information and startup information to store in the storage unit. The power connection information comprises power connection time, a power connection count, and induction information of the server when the server enters the power connection mode. The startup information comprises startup time, a startup count, induction information of the server, and the hardware load information when the server enters the power on mode. The power connection information and the startup information forms the environment parameters of the server.
US08909961B2

Briefly, a method and apparatus adjusts the power consumption level of an integrated circuit by dynamically scaling the clock frequency based on the real-time determined power consumption level. In one example, the method and apparatus changes an actual clock frequency of the integrated circuit to an effective clock frequency based on the maximum clock frequency and the difference between the threshold power consumption level and the actual power consumption level of the integrated circuit in the previous sampling interval. In one example, an effective clock frequency of the integrated circuit in the current sampling interval is determined. In one example, the difference between the maximum and effective clock frequencies in the current sampling interval is proportional to the difference between the threshold and actual power consumption levels in the previous sampling interval. The actual clock frequency of the integrated circuit is changed to the determined effective clock frequency.
US08909956B2

A state machine and an external interface, including its associated input-outputs (IOs), are always powered on and used to manage the chip power modes and power mode transitions. The chip power modes are defined as RUN, HIBERNATE, POWERDOWN, with many more possible with this invention. For example, once the device is in HIBERNATE or POWERDOWN modes, the power supplies to the IC are either reduced, or completely disconnected except for this controller state machine. This invention's state machine and control mechanism, in response to some external “wake up event”, will bring the chip to RUN mode by managing the state of the external power supplies through its control interface. The implementation achieves small die size and extreme low power consumption.
US08909949B2

A method comprises predicting a workload required for decoding a code block using a turbo decoder and selecting a power mode of the turbo decoder, the selection of the power mode depending on the prediction of the workload.
US08909948B2

The present disclosure teaches a power management device for providing one or more voltages and prohibiting the operation until the IC is initialized and voltage stability is achieved. The power management device includes a power regulator block and a masking block. The power regulator block includes one or more of the following elements:- a regulator, a bandgap reference generator, a low voltage detector LVDD, a low voltage detector LVDM, and a plurality of logic gates. In one embodiment, the masking block includes one or more level shifters, a plurality of logic gates, a D flip-flop, and a power on reset circuit (PoR).
US08909938B2

A facial biometric recognition system and method (100) for providing security for an electronic device (101) includes a digital camera (105) having a field of view for providing facial biometric images at a predetermined interval from a user of the electronic device (101). A processor (109) is associated with the electronic device (101) for comparing the facial biometric images to biometric image data stored in a database (107). The facial biometric images are continuously compared (111) to those stored in the database (107) or to facial image tracking (113) for providing substantially continuous authentication when the user physically moves about, the camera's field of view. The invention may be used with devices such as a personal computer (PC), mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or gaming device and provides an efficient means by which to secure information on the device without the need for complex biometric security devices.
US08909937B2

An access control system and an access control method thereof are provided. The access control system comprises a handheld device, an access control server and a terminal recording device. The handheld device has a user identification. The access control server is configured to store a user identification set, connect to the handheld device within a first time interval, determine that the user identification is included in the user identification set, generate a one-time password (OTP) seed set, and transmit the OTP seed set to the handheld device. The terminal recording device connects to the handhold device within a second time interval, and performs a two-way identification certification with the handheld device according to the OTP seed set so that the handheld device performs a data access to the terminal recording device after achieving the two-way identification certification.
US08909929B2

Systems and techniques for performing cryptographic operations based on public key validity registers are described. A described system includes a controller and a memory structure to store one or more public keys. The memory structure includes one or more validity registers that respectively correspond to the one or more public keys. The controller has exclusive write access to the validity register. The controller can be configured to perform an authentication of a public key, write an authentication status value to the corresponding validity register based on a result of the authentication, and perform one or more cryptographic operations using the public key that are conditional on the validity register indicating an authenticated status for the public key.
US08909926B2

The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automation security in a networked-based industrial controller environment. Various components, systems and methodologies are provided to facilitate varying levels of automation security in accordance with security analysis tools, security validation tools and/or security learning systems. The security analysis tool receives abstract factory models or descriptions for input and generates an output that can include security guidelines, components, topologies, procedures, rules, policies, and the like for deployment in an automation security network. The validation tools are operative in the automation security network, wherein the tools perform security checking and/or auditing functions, for example, to determine if security components are in place and/or in suitable working order. The security learning system monitors/learns network traffic patterns during a learning phase, fires alarms or events based upon detected deviations from the learned patterns, and/or causes other automated actions to occur.
US08909924B2

Access to a digital asset by a user may be controlled by encrypting the digital asset, embedding the encrypted digital asset in a file, providing a file viewer to the user, responding to a request by the user to access the digital asset by sending a request from the file viewer to a server, the request including identification information related to the user and the file, processing the request from the file viewer, with information in a database related to authorization of the user to access the digital asset, to produce and send to the viewer an encrypted authorization key and responding to receipt of the encrypted authorization key by the viewer by decrypting the authorization key to permit the requested access to the digital asset via the file viewer.
US08909923B2

A security method in a terminal comprising a chip card offering secure functions, a user interface, a module for interfacing with the chip card and suitable for shutting down or introducing the electrical supply to the chip card. After shutdown of the chip card with the terming being kept on, the interface module introduces the electrical supply to the chip card, encrypts a command for resumption of utilization of the secure functions with a negotiated key stored by the interfacing module, and dispatches the encrypted command to the chip card. The interface module utilizes the secure functions of the chip card when the resumption command decrypted by the chip card is recognized as a resumption command by the chip card.
US08909919B2

The invention relates to digital television authentication system and method. The system includes a digital television having a digital television master chip; an SIM card module with a built-in SIM card, connected to the digital television master chip, and an authentication server wirelessly connected to the SIM card. The SIM card module includes a symmetric key generation unit used for generating a symmetric encryption key CT according to a Session Key (SEK) received by the SIM card and an identity (ID) of the SIM card; and a CW acquisition unit used for decrypting, according to the symmetric encryption key CT, an ECW sent by the authentication server, to obtain a CW. The authentication server includes an SEK generation unit used for randomly generating a string and taking the string as an SEK; and an SEK sending unit used for sending the SEK to the SIM card module.
US08909917B2

Generally described, the disclosed subject matter is directed to improved processes for securely accessing a meter. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for providing a mobile meter reader with an authorization that may be used to establish a secure session with a meter is implemented. In particular, the method includes issuing a request for authorization to access the meter from the mobile meter reader. If the mobile meter reader maintains sufficient rights, an authorization having an encoded digital signature is generated at a host computer system and provided to the mobile meter reader. Then the method formulates and transmits an authorization command to the meter having the encoded digital signature that was generated by the host computing system.
US08909909B2

An example method comprises activating a computer power-on button and releasing the power-on button when the computer begins to energize; reactivating the computer power-on button a second time within a predetermined time period from the first activating step; and sensing the reactivating step with the predetermined time period and initiating a command to enter a BIOS pre-boot routine instead of booting to the computer operating system (OS). The command to enter the BIOS pre-boot routine is initiated before activation of a computer keyboard.
US08909908B2

A pipelined out-of-order execution in-order retire microprocessor includes a branch predictor that predicts a target address of a branch instruction, a fetch unit that fetches instructions at the predicted target address, and an execution unit that: resolves a target address of the branch instruction and detects that the predicted and resolved target addresses are different; determines whether there is an unretired instruction that must be corrected and that is older in program order than the branch instruction, in response to detecting that the predicted and resolved target addresses are different; execute the branch instruction by flushing instructions fetched at the predicted target address and causing the fetch unit to fetch from the resolved target address, if there is not an unretired instruction that must be corrected and that is older in program order than the branch instruction; and otherwise, refrain from executing the branch instruction.
US08909902B2

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for decomposing a sequential program into multiple threads, executing these threads, and reconstructing the sequential execution of the threads are described. A plurality of data cache units (DCUs) store locally retired instructions of speculatively executed threads. A merging level cache (MLC) merges data from the lines of the DCUs. An inter-core memory coherency module (ICMC) globally retire instructions of the speculatively executed threads in the MLC.
US08909901B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes logic to receive a permute instruction, first and second source operands, and control values, and to perform a permute operation based on an operation between at least two of the control values so that selected portions of the first and second source operands or a predetermined value can be stored into elements of a destination. Multiple permute instructions may be combined to perform efficient table lookups. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08909891B2

Method embodiments for facilitating overflow storage of special data sets that reside on a single logical volume are provided. A virtual logical volume is created from unallocated memory units across a plurality of logical volumes in a volume group. The virtual logical volume appears the same as any one of the logical volumes in the volume group to an external client. Upon receipt of a special data set that must reside in a single logical volume, an attempt is first made to allocate the special data set to one of the logical volumes in the volume group. If that allocation attempt fails, the special data set is allocated to the virtual logical volume. The virtual logical volume may be created only upon the failure to allocate the special data set to one of the logical volumes, and may be destroyed if sufficient space in one of the logical volumes is freed up to transfer the special data set. Creation of the virtual logical volume may be reserved for only critical special data sets whose failure would result in a storage system outage.
US08909884B2

The invention relates to apparatus for managing data swap in a migration of virtual memory data of a virtual machine. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a receiving unit configured to receive a migration instruction and the second site information; a copying unit configured to copy memory data to a sub-logical unit in the first storage device; and a notifying unit configured to send a notification to instruct the second host to read the memory data from a mirror logical unit of a sub-logical unit in the second storage device. The apparatus modifies a mirror direction between the first and second storage devices and modifies a path table related to the first and second storage devices. Data of the virtual machine can be migrated and swapped in a metro mirror manner, thereby the virtual machine data can be migrated across sites without affecting system operation.
US08909876B2

One or more snapshots of data stored over a period of time are maintained in a hybrid storage device comprising a magnetic disk and a solid state disk, wherein a selected snapshot stores information that allows recovery of data that is stored in the hybrid storage device at a selected point in time of the period of time. The hybrid storage device receives an input/output (I/O) command from a computational device. A category of a plurality of categories to which the I/O command belongs is determined, wherein the plurality of categories comprise writing to an unused block, writing to a used block, reading from an unused block, and reading from a used block. In response to determining the category to which the I/O command belongs, the I/O command is handled by one of the magnetic disk and the solid state disk based on the determined category.
US08909863B2

A request for application information can be received from an application running in a process. The application information can be requested from an information repository, and received back from the repository in a first format. The application information can be converted to a second format, and passed to the application in the second format. In addition, the application information can be saved in the second format in a cache in the process. Also, when application information has been cached in response to a request for the information for a first user object, and a subsequent request for the application information for a second user object is received, it can be determined whether the second user object is authorized to access the application information. If so, then the application information can be fetched from the cache and returned for use by the second user object.
US08909862B2

Methods and apparatus relating to processing out of order transactions for mirrored subsystems. A first device (that is mirroring data from a second device) includes a cache to track out of order write operations prior to writing data from the write operations to memory. A register may be used to track the state of the cache in response to receipt of a special transaction, which may be a posted transaction or snapshot. The first devise transmits an acknowledgement of commitment of the data to memory once all cache entries, as recorded at a select point by the register, are emptied or otherwise invalidated. Devices may communicate via a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interconnect, and may include a point-to-point or serial link. Various components may be on the same integrated circuit die. An uninterrupted power supply or batteries may supply power in response to a power failure.
US08909860B2

Techniques are described for increasing data access performance for a memory device. In various embodiments, a scheduler/controller is configured to manage data as it read to or written from a memory. Read or write access is increased by partitioning a memory into a group of sub-blocks, associating a parity block with the sub-blocks, and accessing the sub-blocks to read data as needed. Write access is increased by including a latency cache that stores data associated with a read command. Once a read-modify write command is received, the data stored in the data cache is used to update the parity block. In a memory without a parity block, write access is increased by adding one or more spare memory blocks to provide additional memory locations for performing write operations to the same memory block in parallel.
US08909857B2

Incoming data packets are often processed according to their origination or destination port. In order to efficiently determine applicable rules based on port values, ranges are stored in association with corresponding rules in a ternary memory. In order to reduce the amount of required memory to store these ranges, extra unused bits of the ACL that includes the rule can be used. Further, to maximize the storage capability of these limited extra bits, most common ranges can be stored in one or more bit partitions depending on whether they encompass other most common ranges to be stored in the extra bits. Through partitioning and intelligent bit assignment, many ranges can be stored in the limited extra bits, and can each remain individually addressable.
US08909839B2

A desk-top storage solution for portable computing devices is formed as a storage tray. The storage tray has pockets sized to cradle individual portable computing devices. Each pocket includes a wire management system to enable an electrical connector to be provided within the pocket and secured relative to the pocket to enable the portable computing device to be quickly electrically connected to the storage tray. A USB hub is provided within the storage tray which interconnects with the electrical connectors and enables the portable computing devices to be charged while stored in the storage tray and also synchronized with an external computer while contained within the storage tray. The storage tray has a lid that is connected to the base by position control friction hinges which regulate the motion of the lid relative to the base during ascent/descent while the lid is moved between open and closed positions.
US08909838B2

Computing devices are often designed in view of a particular usage scenario, but may be unsuitable for usage in other computing scenarios. For example, a notebook computer with a large display, an integrated keyboard, and a high-performance processor suitable for many computing tasks may be heavy, large, and power-inefficient; and a tablet lacking a keyboard and incorporating a low-powered processor may improve portability but may present inadequate performance for many tasks. Presented herein is a configuration of a computing device featuring a display unit with a resource-conserving processor that may be used independently (e.g., as a tablet), but that may be connected to a base unit featuring a resource-intensive processor. The operating system of the device may accordingly transition between a resource-intensive computing environment and a resource-conserving computing environment based on the connection with the base unit, thereby satisfying the dual roles of workstation and portable tablet device.
US08909835B2

CPU architecture is modified so that content of the interrupt mask register can be changed directly based on a decoding result of an instruction decoder of a CPU. Such modification does not require a great deal of labor in changing a CPU design. In addition, an extended CALL instruction and an extended software interrupt instruction are added to the CPU, and each of the extended CALL instruction and the extended software interrupt instruction additionally has a function of changing the value of the interrupt mask register. Atomicity is achieved by: allowing such a single instruction to concurrently execute a call of a process and a value change of the interrupt mask register; and disabling other interrupts during execution of the single instruction.
US08909827B2

A method for replacing logical path resources, a host is able to replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. Such a system is especially applicable when the condition of “out of resources” has been reached for a port. With this system, a host is guaranteed that it can replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. It is not necessary for a control unit to have reached its maximum number of logical paths per port. A host is able to replace one logical path with a new logical path any time.
US08909819B2

Methods and systems for multi-path video and network channels may comprise a communication device comprising a wideband path (WB) and a narrowband path (NB), wherein the WB may be operable to receive a plurality of channels and the NB may be operable to receive a single channel. Video channels and a network channel may be received in the WB when the device is operating in a first stage. Video channels and a network channel may be received in the WB and the network channel may also be received in the NB when the device is operating in a second stage. The network channel may be received in the NB when the device is operating in a third stage. The reception of the network channel from both the WB and the NB may enable a continuous reception of the network channel in a transition between the first and third stages.
US08909817B2

A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.
US08909805B2

A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of media content are provided. The media content may include a sequence of one or more periods. The metadata may include a start time attribute and/or a duration attribute of each of the periods. The metadata may determine a start time of each of the periods, and a start time of each of segments included in each of the periods. A terminal may access segments included in each of the periods, may decode and render data of media content included in the segments, and may play back the media content.
US08909804B2

A method distributing data in a network is provided. The method comprises measuring the path lengths between a reference clock and a plurality of remote destinations and sending a timing signal from the reference clock to the plurality of remote destinations. The method further comprises measuring the phase between the reference clock and a return signal from each of the plurality of remote destinations and adjusting the phase of the data such that each remote destination receives the data within a skew tolerance.
US08909791B2

To set up a multimedia communication between a visiting user and a visited user who are initially present respectively in different virtual spaces in a virtual environment managed by a server (SC) to which the respective terminals (TC) of the visiting user and the visited user are connected via a packet network (RP), the server sets up a video communication between the visited user and the visiting user, following a virtual movement of the visiting user within a virtual space providing access to the space in which the visited user is present, and sets up an audio communication between the visited user and the visiting user, following a virtual movement of the visiting user into the space in which the visited user is present.
US08909787B2

A method for allocating an address in an IP network includes: receiving, by a server, a request message from a client, where the client is connected to the server through at least one routing device, and the request message received by the server carries a device identifier of a preceding stage routing device of the client; obtaining, by the server, according to the device identifier of the preceding stage routing device, a first address prefix pool that is pre-allocated to the preceding stage routing device, and allocating a second address prefix pool to the client according to the first address prefix pool, where an address range corresponding to the second address prefix pool falls within an address range corresponding to the first address prefix pool; and sending, by the server, the second address prefix pool to the client.
US08909782B2

A dynamic rebalancer operates in a server cluster independently of routers directing traffic to the servers in the cluster. An analysis component uses configuration information and statistics information to determine which session, if any, should be moved. A filter component receives transfer instructions from the analysis component. When the filter component receives transfer instructions from the analysis component, the filter component adds a redirect command to the client request. The filter component continually redirects client requests within the session to the new server until the client receives the redirect command and begins to send client requests to the new server.
US08909772B2

A system for monitoring a number of hard disk drives (HDDs) arranged in a number of servers of a data center. The system includes a number of baseboard management controllers (BMCs) configured to obtain a state of each HDD arranged in a server and output status information corresponding to the state of each HDD, a control module, and a display module. The control module includes an address storage unit storing a number of internet protocol (IP) addresses corresponding to the BMCs, a request unit configured to receive a request of obtaining the status information of each HDD coupled to each BMC, and an analyzing unit configured to obtain the status information outputted by the BMC and analyze the status information to obtain the state of each HDD. The display module is configured to display the state of each HDD.
US08909771B2

A method, apparatus, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, computer system, network, or system, is provided for using location information, 2D and 3D mapping, social media, and user behavior and information to provide alternative a consumer feedback social media analytics platforms for providing analytic measurements data of online consumer feedback for global brand products or services of past, present or future customers, users, and/or target markets, for companies, organizations, government agencies, and the like, by electronically collecting and analyzing, on a networked computer system using a processor, qualitative or quantitative online social media online communications, activity, and online communications and activity relevant to consumer products or services, or promotions thereof, of interest, in order to provide targeted, location based, 2D or 3D mapped, or impressions to generate online location information data or promotions to provide improved or desired customer perception or sentiment regarding a company's products, services or promotions thereof.
US08909767B2

Various methods, devices, and systems are described for cloud federation in a cloud computing network including bridging computing resources between an enterprise and a cloud or among multiple clouds. These techniques involve generating an image of the host system and decoupling it from its underlying computing resources so that it can be migrated across disparate computing resources in a seamless manner. In one embodiment, an enterprise workload can be bridged with cloud resources to receive software as a service. In other embodiments, bridging is performed across multiple public or private clouds, each potentially having disparate computing resources. In addition, users can access and use these cloud services through a web browser or other network interface anywhere in the cloud computing network as if the services were installed locally on their own computer.
US08909766B1

Systems and methods involve receiving a connectivity subscription request for one or more connections, such as a virtual private network (VPN) connection. A connectivity subscription request may be received through an application programming interface (API) call and the connectivity subscription request may indicate that a user associated with a connection wants to receive a notification when a connectivity event occurs. A connectivity event can occur when changes to the connection are detected, such as when the connection becomes active, when the connection becomes inactive, or when one or more tunnel connections related to the connection becomes disconnected. A potential problem associated with the connectivity event may be detected and a potential solution to the problem may be determined. The potential solution can be sent to a user associated with the connectivity event.
US08909765B2

A method, system and computer program product for web access analytics. Date related to the users' access to page elements is received. The page elements accessed by the users which are capable of being mapped to a defined webpage focal region are determined. The users' access to the webpage focal region is analyzed based on the determined page elements capable of being mapped to the webpage focal region.
US08909750B2

A method for a multi-host system to exit from the network includes receiving a G-MS exit network instruction. The context information relating to the host connected to the G-MS is obtained. A host exit network instruction is sent to the host network management entity according to the ID of the host network management entity. The host is triggered to exit from the network. The obtained host context information includes the ID of the host connected to the G-MS and the ID of the host network management entity. The exit network instruction carries the host ID.
US08909747B2

A multi-layer peer-to-peer (P2P) capability is provided. A multi-layer P2P system includes a plurality of P2P networks associated with a plurality of hierarchical layers. For example, a first hierarchical layer may include a first P2P network including all peer nodes of the P2P system, and a second hierarchical layer may include a plurality of second P2P networks where the second P2P networks of the second hierarchical layer include respective subsets of the peer nodes of the first P2P network. The second P2P networks of the second hierarchical layer may be organized based on one or more characteristics (e.g., the geographic locations of the peer nodes, the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with which the peer nodes are associated, and the like). A node participating in the P2P system joins the first P2P network of the P2P system and one of the second P2P networks of the P2P system. The node may then interact with the first P2P network and/or the second P2P network for performing various functions within the P2P system.
US08909745B2

Programmable hardware devices are re-programmed without system downtime. To re-program the device, the device is quiesced, state associated with the device is saved, updates are loaded, the state is restored and operations are resumed, all transparent to the system, except for a possible delay in the system.
US08909715B2

A computer-implemented method for managing messages. Responsive to receiving a message at a data processing system, wherein the message comprises only a number of message identifiers and metadata identifying the message as pointing to a number of messages in a message history stored in the data processing system, the number of messages in the message history on the data processing system is identified to form an identified number of messages. A presence of the identified number of messages in the message history is displayed on a display in the data processing system.
US08909713B2

A system and method is provided for filtering text messages to determine which of the messages, if any, contains undesirable or unsuitable content. The method includes receiving a message containing at least one text character. The text is manipulated to generate a plurality of tokens that are compared with data contained in a plurality of databases. As a result, a plurality of probabilities are generated related to the suitability of the message. The probabilities are weighted to generate an overall probability related to the suitability of the message. The overall probability is then compared to a threshold value to rate the suitability of the message. Further, the rating associated with the message is displayed on a computer display screen or the like.
US08909699B2

A domain to be published to an enterprise ECDN is associated with a set of one or more enterprise zones configurable in a hierarchy. When a DNS query arrives for a hostname known to be associated with given content within the control of the ECDN, a DNS server responds by handing back an IP address, by executing a zone referral to a next (lower) level name server in a zone hierarchy, or by CNAMing to another hostname, thereby restarting the lookup procedure. At any level in the zone hierarchy, there is an associated zone server that executes logic that applies the requested hostname against a map. A name query to ECDN-managed content may be serviced in coordination with various sources of distributed network intelligence.
US08909683B1

A process and system are directed to generating a medium without user involvement in supplying the content. A user makes a series of increasingly granular selections to specify the type of medium to be built, such as a webpage. A query-reply communications protocol is used to identify relevant content for building the webpage from network resources. A resource is queried to determine whether the resource contains any relevant content. The response from the resource, if affirmative, includes the requested content. The query communications are formulated to conduct a keyword type search of the resource. The resource response includes the search results.
US08909682B2

Media bundles that can be submitted, distributed and utilized to facilitate media presentations at client devices. Each media presentation is typically associated with a digital media asset. The media bundles can include or identify various digital media assets for use in the media presentations and can provide computer instructions for controlling the media presentations. The resulting media presentations can provide multimedia experiences for users of client devices.
US08909677B1

To access data, a distributed balanced tree having nodes distributed across plural servers is accessed. Version information is associated with the nodes of the distributed balanced tree. During an operation that accesses the distributed balanced tree, the version information is checked to determine whether content of one or more nodes of the distributed balanced tree has changed during the operation.
US08909676B1

A codeset database for a universal remote control device includes a device index table, a key index table, protocol tables, and a set of keycode data structures. A keycode data structure includes a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs) and one or more optional keycodes. In a star linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by pointing to those keycode data structures using multiple KDSPs. In a cluster linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by being pointed by those keycode data structures. A keycode data structure may not contain any actual keycodes, but a plurality of keycode data structure pointers and other information. A special value inside the keycode data structure is used to indicate whether and how keycode data structures are linked together.
US08909671B2

It is presented a method for notifying at least a first condition in an industrial system by means of a monitoring system in order to draw the attention of an operator monitoring the industrial system to the at least one condition. The method comprises displaying (S1) the first condition in a first portion of a display screen of the monitoring system, determining (S2) by means of eye tracking an area where a user focuses on the display screen, the area where the user focuses differing from the first portion, and alerting (S3) the user of the first condition in order to allow the user to be notified of the first condition in the industrial system. A monitoring system is also presented herein.
US08909669B2

A system for document retrieval in a network environment is provided where documents are stored with corresponding privacy codes. A query server computer is in communication with the network and is programmed to generate a privacy index of all documents available on the network indexed by their corresponding privacy codes. The privacy codes define document access permissions that are securely associated with the documents and are assigned by document custodians. A search engine in communication with the network is configured to receive a query from a requester and generate a list of documents from the privacy index which match search parameters of the query and privacy codes of the requester.
US08909663B2

A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for searching for data. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising identifying a query and a search scope including a set of specified entities; and for each of these entities, estimating a number of documents that would be identified in a search through the entity to answer the query. On the basis of this estimating, a subset of the entities is formed. The query and this subset of entities are sent to a search engine to search the subset of entities to answer the query. In one embodiment, the estimating includes collecting statistical information from queries to build up a historical cache using heuristics or machine learning techniques, wherein the query includes a key word and a scope, and the historical cache contains a maximum number of returned results for an entity given the queries executed.
US08909660B2

A computer-implemented system is used for implementing an improved personal health record enrollment process. The system includes an electronic medical record system configured to generate configured to generate an index file, the index file associated with patient medical data including the clinical records of the patient, wherein the index file is augmented with encrypted metadata generated based on the patient medical data and configured to include patient authentication information. The system further includes a personal health record web portal configured to implement a patient enrollment process including the steps of receiving patient authentication input, authenticating the patient authentication input based on the received patient authentication input and the encrypted metadata in the index file, and generating a patient enrollment account for the patient based at least in part on the patient authentication information.
US08909654B2

An information search apparatus is provided. The information search apparatus includes: a character string input unit configured to obtain a character string from a client; a character string information search unit configured to obtain information that includes the character string from an index DB; a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate degree of similarity between the character string and searched information; and an output unit configured to output the searched information in descending order of the degree of similarity. In the information search apparatus, the character string information search unit includes a unit configured to, when the input character string contains a plurality of words, search an index DB, based on each word, that stores words and occurrence position information of the words to obtain a distance between occurrence positions of the words, and the similarity calculation unit includes a unit configured to calculate the degree of similarity based on the distance between occurrence positions of the words.
US08909653B1

Embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods facilitate knowledge dissemination and promote knowledge acquisition, in part, by automatically presenting elements of an interlinked knowledge base to optimize learning efficiency. In some embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) facilitates user interaction with subject items, ordered arrangements of subject items, and display of subject items and their interconnections in the knowledge base. For example, the GUI facilitates operations such as the determination and display of: subject items with the same subject tag, and subject items with similar connectivity. Other operations facilitate simplification and modification of the displayed knowledge graph comprising the subject items.
US08909651B2

Methods for optimizing social media are disclosed. Such methods may include identifying at least one keyword utilized for at least one webpage, identifying social media correspondence referencing the at least one keyword, analyzing content collected from the social media to determine a frequency of references to the at least one keyword and generating at least one report including information based on the analysis. The report may include recommendations for optimizing social media by, for example, increasing visibility by using high-performing keywords. Systems for performing the methods are also disclosed.
US08909647B2

A system and method for providing classification suggestions using document injection is provided. Clusters of uncoded documents are accessed. A set of reference documents is obtained. Each reference document is associated with a classification code. A set of the uncoded documents selected from one or more of the clusters is identified and compared with the set of reference documents. Those reference documents that are similar to the set of uncoded documents are identified and injected into one or more of the clusters from which the set of uncoded documents is selected. The clusters and a visual suggestion for classification of at least one of the uncoded documents within one of the clusters are displayed.
US08909639B2

A process is described for assessing the suitability of particular keyword phrases for use in serving contextually relevant content for display on pages of network-accessible sites. In one embodiment, the process involves scoring the key phrases based in part on collected user behavioral data, such as view counts of associated social media content items. A process is also disclosed in which selected keyword phrases on a page are transformed into links that can be selected by a user to view bundled content that is related to such keyword phrases.
US08909632B2

A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for maintaining persistent links to information stored on a network. Information elements are tagged and their original network location is saved as a hyperlink. The tagged information elements are then acquired at the original network location by a search engine crawler, indexed by a search engine, and stored in an information location index. The tagged information elements are periodically submitted to the search engine to generate search results. Comparison operations are performed to determine the search results comprising the closest-matching information elements and their current network location. The network location stored in the hyperlink is replaced with the current network location if it is not the same.
US08909615B2

A search system can maintain a search index of metadata and text for objects in a repository, repositories or distributed across a network. The search index can be divided into partitions with a partition assigned a first capacity utilization threshold and a second capacity utilization threshold. If the capacity utilization of the partition is below the first threshold, the system can add, update and delete information in the partition. If the capacity utilization of the partition is above the first threshold, the system can update and delete information in the partition, but cannot add information for new objects to the partition. If the capacity utilization of the partition is above the second threshold, the system can enter a rebalancing mode in which it seeks to rebalance capacity utilization between partitions. The behavior of the system can change depending upon the size of a partition relative to its configurable thresholds.
US08909613B2

A computer system and method for identifying and pairing devices. The system includes a plurality of remote user interface computers, each having a display device and a user input device and each connected to a first network via a first respective data communication link. The system also includes a plurality of medical devices each having a medical device user interface and a second data communication link adapted to exchange data with the remote user interface computers. The system also includes a database adapted to communicate with the remote user interface computers via a connection to the first network or via a direct connection to one of the remote user interface computers, the database being adapted to store patient medical information including a treatment prescription that includes use of one of the medical devices.
US08909602B2

A snapshot of an inventory of a virtualized computer system is produced and a user-editable code is generated therefrom, so that the inventory can be reconstructed entirely or partially. The snapshot includes identifying data for items in the virtualized computer system, and relationship data that indicate hierarchical and non-hierarchical relationships between the items. The items in the inventory of the virtualized computer system include virtual machines, servers on which the virtual machines are running, one or more data centers in which the servers reside, and logical containers such as folders for virtual machines, resource pools that each contain one or more virtual machines, and server clusters that each contain one or more servers.
US08909597B2

A workflow application allows users to store, manage, and perform tasks related to workflows comprised of ordered sets of documents. The application provides an interface for creating and managing a workflow. Each document added to the workflow is assigned to a particular position in the workflow. Via the interface, the user saves data defining the workflow. In this manner, the workflow may be shared or preserved for subsequent re-use. The application allows a user to perform various tasks with respect to the workflow. Via an interface control presented by the application, the user instigates such tasks. In response, the application causes the task to be performed for each document in the workflow in an order corresponding to the arrangement of the documents within the workflow. For example, the application may render and print each document in the workflow. Or, the application may generate a combined workflow report.
US08909582B2

A hierarchical latent structure setting unit 81 sets a hierarchical latent structure that is a structure in which latent variables are represented by a tree structure and components representing probability models are located at nodes of a lowest level of the tree structure. A variational probability computation unit 82 computes a variational probability of a path latent variable that is a latent variable included in a path linking a root node to a target node in the hierarchical latent structure. A component optimization unit 83 optimizes each of the components for the computed variational probability. A gating function optimization unit 84 optimizes a gating function model that is a model for determining a branch direction according to the multivariate data in a node of the hierarchical latent structure, on the basis of the variational probability of the latent variable in the node.
US08909577B2

A neuromorphic data processing device comprising a plurality of spiking neurons, with each of these neurons comprising: an integrator designed to receive successive analog pulses each having a certain value, and accumulate the values of the pulses received in a recorded value, referred to as accumulation value, and a discharger designed to emit a pulse, referred to as discharge pulse, according to the accumulation value, and a silicon support having two surfaces, the neurons being carried out on at least one of the two surfaces, the integrator of each neuron comprising a metal via of the TSV type between the two surfaces of the silicon support, the metal via of the TSV type forming a capacitor with the silicon support and having an electric potential forming the accumulation value wherein the values of the pulses received are accumulated and according to which the discharge pulse is emitted.
US08909563B1

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for annotating of an image are disclosed. These include scoring the image using a plurality of trained classifiers, wherein each of the trained classifiers corresponds to at least one of a plurality of image groups clustered based upon image similarity, and wherein each image group is associated with a set of weighted labels; selecting one or more of the image groups based upon the scoring; aggregating one or more sets of weighted labels associated with the selected one or more image groups; and annotating the image using the aggregated one or more sets of weighted labels.
US08909553B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for payment card terminals for mobile phones. In general, data characterizing a payment card and a settlement amount for a transaction may be received, where the data is user-generated input and is received at a mobile phone associated with a mobile phone number. Wireless transmission of data characterizing a request to provide a payment card settlement service of a merchant account of a merchant account provider for the transaction may be initiated, where the wireless transmission is to be from the mobile phone over a carrier data network to an application server. Data characterizing authorization of settlement of the transaction with the payment card may be wirelessly received by the mobile phone from the application server.
US08909542B2

A system for tracking brand interactions is provided. The system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to receive information defining a plurality of brand interactions, receive a first indication of a first interaction defined within the plurality of brand interactions from a first source system, receive a second indication of a second interaction defined within the plurality of brand interactions from a second source system different from the first source system, and record an association between the brand, the first interaction, the second interaction and the brand enthusiast.
US08909531B2

A method and a device for displaying multimedia data are provided. According to the method, the device can operate in a music priority mode and a picture priority mode to simultaneously play music and display pictures according to human emotional feelings. Analyzing pictures to obtain at least one feature value which comprises of a shutter speed value. In the music priority mode, a display effect and a display speed for displaying pictures matches with a played type of music. In the picture priority mode, a display effect and a display speed for displaying pictures match with picture content, and a played type of music matching with the picture content is selected and played while the pictures are being displayed.
US08909512B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for predicting the stability of speech recognition results. In one aspect, a method includes determining a length of time, or a number of occasions, in which a word has remained in an incremental speech recognizer's top hypothesis, and assigning a stability metric to the word based on the length of time or number of occasions.
US08909509B2

Systems and methods that efficiently simulate controlled systems are presented. A simulation management component (SMC) controls simulation of a controlled system by controlling a desired number of nodes, each comprising a controller (e.g., soft controller) and a simulated component or process, which are part of the controlled system. The simulation can be performed in a step-wise manner, wherein the simulation can comprise a desired number of steps of respectively desired lengths of time. For each step, the SMC dynamically selects a desired clock (e.g., currently identified slowest clock) as a master clock for the next step. The SMC predicts a length of time of the next step to facilitate setting a desired length of time for the next step based in part on the predicted length of time. As part of each step, components can synchronously exchange data via intra-node or inter-node connections to facilitate simulation.
US08909499B2

A data processor and method for processing position-related input data from a rotational machine whose angular speed is variable and providing output data at an output data rate. The processor comprises a time-based over-sampler for over-sampling the input data at an over-sampling rate greater than the output data rate, and a down-sampler for extracting samples of over-sampled data from the over-sampler at the output data rate so as to provide the output data. The down-sampler is responsive to an angular timing signal related to an angular position of the machine for selecting the samples of over-sampled data to extract based on the angular position. Application to a rotational machine whose angular speed is variable, in particular to an internal combustion engine to control engine operating parameters as a function of cylinder pressure.
US08909495B2

A particle radiation monitoring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a detecting unit to detect radioactive ray information of braking radiation from electrons undergoing action of particle beams incident on an irradiation body in accordance with a positional relation with the irradiation body and a calculating unit to calculate information on behaviors of the particle beams in the irradiation body from the radioactive ray information of the braking radiation corresponding to the positional relation that is detected by the detecting unit.
US08909494B2

A home site fuel monitor device in conjunction with a remote central site system to provide accurate fuel usage data used in planning fuel deliveries. The fuel monitor device is an internet based, compact, and low cost home heating site monitor device that is easily installed in the home heating site without modification to the home site's heating system. The monitor device includes a microprocessor which measures heating system run times using real time clock values. The microprocessor computes heating system fuel usage and the rate of fuel usage using heating system run times and heating burner parameters down loaded from the remote central site system. The monitor device continuously adjusts or recalibrates the rate of fuel usage defined as a burn coefficient value to coincide with the latest delivery information received from the central site system which results in increased accuracy over time.
US08909488B2

Usage of a utility in a multi-unit building is apportioned to a single unit by measuring the total usage of the utility using a meter unit to produce a total usage measurement, then positioning at least one sensor unit in a single unit of the multi-unit building and monitoring usage of the utility by the single unit using the at least one sensor unit to produce monitoring data. Then a processor unit receives the total usage measurement and the monitoring data and correlates them to generate correlated data. Finally, the processor unit apportions the total usage measurement to the single unit based on the correlated data.
US08909479B2

The present invention is directed toward a method and an apparatus to investigate and quantify a leakage rate for a fluid between a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe being surrounded by at least a portion of the second pipe, where the pipes are arranged in a well in a ground and where a measuring arrangement including a flow meter and a pressure meter is put into fluid communication with an annulus defined by the first pipe and the second pipe, where fluid in the gaseous phase is conveyed through the measuring arrangement, as the annulus is used as a separation chamber for gas and liquid.
US08909478B2

A method and a tool that implements a method which includes measuring the viscosity and flow rates of formation fluids and obtaining the ratio of relative permeabilities of the formation fluids and wettability of the formation using the same.
US08909477B2

A method automatically starts a wind turbine after an outage of an electrical supply grid. In the method, at least one measurement value is acquired as to a climatic variable in the wind turbine during the outage of the electrical supply grid. At least one acquired measurement value is recorded and a warning signal is generated prior to a starting of the wind turbine when the at least one recorded measurement value exceeds a predetermined maximum value or drops below a predetermined minimum value.
US08909476B2

An approach for recommending one or more content items for consumption during travel based on one or more travel times associated with one or more travel routes is described. A content item recommendation platform determines one or more travel routes associated with at least one device, at least one user of the at least one device, or a combination thereof. The content item recommendation platform further causes, at least in part, a recommendation of one or more content items based, at least in part, on one or more travel times associated with the one or more travel routes.
US08909468B2

The described method and system provide for utilizing portals during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation in problem areas. The method and system are described in the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle. If the route calculated by the GPS unit includes certain problem areas such as tunnels and stacked bridges, the GPS unit may utilize portals to process GPS navigation through those areas. When a user enters a portal, normal GPS navigation is suspended and certain features are disabled. For example, the user will not longer receive Turn-by-Turn (TBT) directions, off-route notifications, error notifications, and route recalculation notifications, until the GPS unit determines that the user has arrived at a second portal or until the user manually re-enables those features. The portals should be preferably located at the inlets and outlets to the problem areas. Thus, while the user is in a problem area, errant GPS information may be discarded or ignored, and the provision of unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculations to the user may be avoided.
US08909459B2

A knock control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a knock signal normalization portion that normalizes a knock signal using base statistics calculated on the basis of the knock signal. The knock signal normalization portion calculates base statistics on the basis of a last value and a current value of the knock signal and normalizes the knock signal using a base statistic interpolated according to an operating state.
US08909454B2

A compression system includes a compressor with adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGVs) and variable stator vanes (VSVs) that are adjustable independently of each other. IGV and VSV control units produce respective IGV and VSV reference commands responsive to respective first and second inputs that may be responsive to measured properties of the compression system. The second input may be provided by a model of the compressor or of the compression system responsive to measured properties. The second input may particularly be an estimate of a property not directly observable, such as stall margin or efficiency.
US08909450B2

A motion control device for a vehicle includes a braking means for applying a brake torque to each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, an avoidance control means for calculating a first target quantity, used for an avoidance control for applying the brake torque to each wheel via the braking means in order to avoid an emergency state of the vehicle, a stabilization control means for determining a target wheel, to which the brake torque is applied, out of the wheels and calculating a second target quantity used for a stabilization control for applying the brake torque to the target wheel in order to ensure a vehicle stability, and a brake control means for controlling the brake torque applied to a non-target wheel based on the first target quantity and controlling the brake torque applied to the target wheel based on the first and second target quantities.
US08909446B2

A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an ATM control unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator and a shift pedal P for carrying out shifting request to the ATM control unit. When a shifting request by the shift pedal P is issued, the ATM control unit drives the shift actuator to change over the shift stage to a next stage gear irrespective of an operational amount of a clutch lever L and then causes the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) to correspond to a clutch capacity corresponding to the next stage gear using an operational amount of the clutch lever L that exceeds a predetermined value as a trigger. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the clutch lever L is not operated, then the shifting request is an erroneous operation and the shift stage is returned to an original gear.
US08909439B2

An excavation control system includes a working unit having a bucket, a designed landform data storage part storing designed landform data, a bucket position data generation part that generates bucket position data, a designed surface data generation part, and an excavation limit control part. The designed surface data generation part generates superior and subordinate designed surface data based on the designed landform and bucket position data. The superior designed surface data indicates a superior designed surface corresponding to a prescribed position on the bucket. The subordinate designed surface data indicates a plurality of subordinate designed surfaces linked to the superior designed surface. The designed surface data generation part generates shape data based on the superior and subordinate designed surface data. The shape data indicates shapes of the superior designed surface and the plurality of subordinate designed surfaces. The excavation limit control part automatically adjusts position of the bucket.
US08909438B2

A swing control system for a hybrid construction machine includes a swing operation lever, a hydraulic pump, an electric swing motor that makes an upper swing structure swing against a lower driving structure in accordance with an electric control signal corresponding to an operation amount of the swing operation lever, a swing parking brake released in accordance with an operation signal of the swing operation lever to drive the swing motor, a control valve which drives a hydraulic cylinder for the swing parking brake by hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to release the swing parking brake if the control valve is shifted by an input of the operation signal from the swing operation lever, and a controller that controls the swing parking brake through shifting of the control valve or controls driving of the swing motor in accordance with the operation signal from the swing operation lever.
US08909432B2

A vehicular illuminating device includes a first illuminating part configured to illuminate in a traveling direction of a vehicle, a second illuminating part configured to be able to emit light by using an illumination pattern different from that of the first illuminating part, and a control part configured to control the second illuminating part so that the second illuminating part can illuminate in a direction of a recommended route by using the illumination pattern different from that of the first illuminating part if a route guiding part is guiding the vehicle to a destination along the recommended route.
US08909430B2

An active door lock system allows a user to confirm a state of a child in a vehicle before opening a door by partially opening a window of the door in the case of sensing unlock of door lock from an outer side of the door in the state in which a child lock is set.
US08909415B1

A portable multi-modal physics and environmental based signature information collection, analysis, and alerting apparatus, device and method capable of operating independently of vehicle diagnostic or alerting systems. Device uses algorithms and models to calculate, determine, and detect signature anomalies from accelerometer and other imbedded sensors for anomaly response to individual situations within the Automotive Global Information Grid. Wireless infrastructure provisioning of uniquely identified publisher and subscriber Automotive Network Centric Enterprise Services host subscriber and device holder as a persistent publisher presenting signature information on operational and environmental status and conditions. Onboard signature collection and anomaly detection device supports ISO MME and manufacture defined data formats, standard crash analysis algorithms based on ISO, SAE, FMVSS, CMVSS, EuoNCAP. Communications infrastructure is multi-modal providing auto alert capabilities. Machine to machine interface employs W3C standard telematics, event mark-up language, and the wireless communications utilizes cell phone, satellite, and other communications platforms.
US08909412B2

An apparatus and a method for processing sensor data for a vehicle using an unified data format eXtensible Markup Language in process of data communication between various vehicle sensors and a vehicle application system, which facilitates transmit and receive data processing in terms of a vehicle network of the sensors and the application system are provided. The apparatus for processing the sensor data for the vehicle using the XML includes a plurality of vehicle sensors installed inside the vehicle for detecting a change of physical quantity and providing a detection signal; a sensor transducer for converting the detection signal of the vehicle sensors to an electrical analog signal; a signal conditioning unit for amplifying the electrical analog signal to a measurable signal; an Analog/Digital Converter (ADC) for converting the amplified analog signal to sensor data of a digital signal; a frame generator for generating and providing the sensor data converted to the digital signal per frame; and a sensor data converter comprising a Dynamic data Exchange Channel (DEC) for batch-processing the sensor data input from the frame generator per frame, in an XML format. The DEC of the sensor data converter defines a structure of the sensor data using a schema of the XML and converts the sensor data format to the XML format at the same time.
US08909389B2

A sensor for monitoring a plant population in front of a harvester and a transfer process of the crop from the harvester to a transport vehicle is arranged on an unmanned aircraft. The aircraft moves in the vicinity of the harvester in the harvesting mode and communicates in a wireless fashion with a control unit that controls an actuator for influencing an operating parameter of the harvester and/or the transport vehicle (in real time based on signals of the sensor in the harvesting mode.
US08909386B2

In a vehicle control system, an index used to set a running characteristic of a vehicle is obtained based on a running condition of the vehicle. A change of the index that makes behavior of the vehicle crisper is more likely to occur than a change of the index that makes the behavior of the vehicle milder. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a turning condition, the change of the index or a change of the miming characteristic based on the index is less likely to occur than when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the turning condition.
US08909382B1

An occupancy detection system includes a motion detector, one or more sound detectors and a lighting controller configured to turn on and off one or more lighting devices in a defined area based on detected occupancy states. Lighting control circuitry determines occupancy states based on motion detector output signals and sound detector output signals, and further controls associated lighting devices to be turned ON or OFF in accordance with determined occupancy states and an automatically adaptable timeout period. The timeout period is automatically adjusted in accordance with newly recorded time stamps for lighting status changes, based on a second order occupancy distribution analysis such as a Gaussian probability distribution function, with an occupancy curve adjusted for each newly recorded set of time stamps and the timeout period being adjusted according to the mean and variance of the occupancy curve.
US08909380B2

Methods, systems and apparatuses for controlling and managing a plurality of luminaires are disclosed. One method includes sensing, by a sensor of each of the plurality of luminaires, light received by the sensor, communicating, by a device, with the plurality of luminaires by a device through light pulses, commissioning and calibrating, by the device, the plurality of luminaires using the communication, and placing, by the device, at least one of the plurality of luminaires on a floor plan through the communication with light pulses, wherein the at least one of the plurality of luminaires identifies itself over a network.
US08909379B2

A control system is provided for a group of winches in a system. Each motorized winch in the system can have a control board that can process and generate control commands for operation of the winch. The control board can receive inputs from an automation control system and/or the other control boards to be used in the generation of the control commands for the winch.
US08909375B2

A single-scanning system for a robot can include a base and a nodding mechanism that pivotably attached to the base. A single-scan sensor such as a lidar or laser sensor can be fixed to the nodding mechanism, and a controller can be connected to the single-scan sensor and motor via a gear arrangement. The controller can manipulate nodding characteristics such as nodding range and nodding angular velocity dynamically, during operation of the robot, either in response to a command from a remote user, robot autonomy system, or according to written instructions included in the controller. An encoder disk can interconnect the nodding mechanism to the controller. With this configuration, the encoder disk can receive sensor data from the single-scan sensor, for further transmission to said controller. A transceiver can route sensor data to the remote user, and can also receive commands from the remote user.
US08909370B2

An interactive system for interacting with a sentient being. The system includes a robotic companion of which the sentient being may be a user and an entity which employs the robot as a participant in an activity involving the user. The robotic companion responds to inputs from an environment that includes the user during the activity. The robotic companion is capable of social and affective behavior either under control of the entity or in response to the environment. The entity may provide an interface by which an operator may control the robotic companion. Example applications for the interactive system include as a system for communicating with patients that have difficulties communicating verbally, a system for teaching remotely-located students or students with communication difficulties, a system for facilitating social interaction between a remotely-located relative and a child, and systems in which the user and the robot interact with an entity such as a smart book. Also disclosed are control interfaces for the robotic companion, techniques for rendering the robotic companion sensitive to touch and responding to those touches, and techniques for providing quiet, back-drivable motion to components of the robotic companion.
US08909369B2

A transport device is configured to transport different kinds of articles which have different lengths from the held portion or a position corresponding to the held portion to one end portion along the fore and aft direction. There are provided an article detection device for detecting an article, end detection device for detecting the one end portion, along the fore and aft direction, of the article detected by the article detecting device, and a determination device for determining the kind of the article based on detected information from the article detecting device and detected information from the end detection device.
US08909358B2

An infrastructure assessment system integrates with a smart grid infrastructure at all layers of the infrastructure. Data may be collected across layers. Performance metrics may be monitored and simulations may be performed. Action items may be decided upon based on actual behavior of the infrastructure determined from the collected data and on predicted behavior from simulations of the infrastructure. The action items may then be dispatched to be performed on the infrastructure. The effect of the management actions can then be “acquired” by the system via detailed monitoring and can be used, for example, to measure the effectiveness of the decisions or recalibration of the whole system.
US08909354B2

First contacts are disposed along a distal end portion or a proximal end portion of a lead body of an electrical stimulation lead. A contact assembly is disposed along the other of the distal end portion or the proximal end portion of the lead body. The contact assembly includes a tubular-shaped composite structure formed from multiple layered elements mechanically coupled together and rolled together into a tube. Each of the layered elements includes a first electrically-nonconductive substrate, a second electrically-nonconductive substrate, and micro-circuits laminated therebetween. Second contacts are disposed over the composite structure and electrically coupled to a first end portion of at least one of the micro-circuits. Lead-body conductors electrically couple the first contacts to the second contacts. Each of each of the lead-body conductors is attached to a second end portion of at least one of the micro-circuits.
US08909349B2

A device, system and method for inserting a pre-curved electrode array (100) held in a substantially straight configuration by a straightening member (101) into a cochlea of a subject. As the electrode array (100) is inserted into the cochlea by the device, the straightening member (101) is held by the device such that the electrode array (100) advances off the straightening member (101) such that it is free to take on its pre-curved configuration in the cochlea of the subject.
US08909348B2

A stabilizer is disclosed for use with a cochlear implant receiver stimulator having a body portion and an electrode portion implanted subcutaneously adjacent to a body tissue. The stabilizer is provided for stabilizing the position of the implant receiver relative to the body tissue. The stabilizer has a tissue engaging portion for grippingly engaging the body tissue to fixedly position the stabilizer with respect to the body tissue. The stabilizer also includes a coupler portion for fixedly positioning the stabilizer with respect to the receiver stimulator. The tissue engaging portion and coupler portion cooperatively interact with the receiver stimulator and the body tissue to fix the relative position of the body tissue and receiver stimulator.
US08909346B2

Protocols are provided for the use of frequency specific microcurrent in conjunction with dental or orthodontic procedures to treat or prevent inflammation induced complications. Specific protocols are disclosed for use in conjunction with gingival surgery and chronic periodontitis, implant/osseous periodontal surgery, general post operative trauma, pulpal trauma, pulpal inflammation, root canal post op, chronic osteonecrosis, osteonecrosis surgery post op, orthodontic pain prevention, and orthodontic mid-adjustment procedures.
US08909340B2

Methods and devices treating an autonomic nervous system associated disease condition in a subject are provided. Aspects of the invention include inducing one or more physiological response selected from the group consisting of sweating, gastric emptying, enhanced heart rate variability and enhanced quantitative sensory test responsiveness in a manner sufficient to modify the autonomic nervous system so as to treat the subject for the disease condition. The methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. in the treatment of subjects suffering from conditions arising from disorders of the autonomic nervous system.
US08909337B2

Various aspects of the present subject matter provide devices and methods to treat AV-conducted ventricular tachyarrhythmia (AVCVT). According to various embodiments of the method, an AVCVT is sensed, an IVC-LA fat pad is stimulated when the AVCVT is sensed to block AV conduction, and bradycardia support pacing is provided while the IVC-LA fat pad is stimulated. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08909336B2

An external defibrillator includes patient electrodes (20) for obtaining the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) and for applying a shock to the patient. A microprocessor (24) analyses the patient's ECG using a diagnostic algorithm to detect if the patient's heart is in a shockable rhythm, and shock delivery circuitry (10) is enabled when a shockable rhythm is detected by the diagnostic algorithm. The patient electrodes also allow obtaining a signal (Z) which is a measure of the patient's transthoracic impedance and the microprocessor is responsive to Z to detect conditions likely to cause the diagnostic algorithm to generate a false detection of a shockable rhythm. If such detection is made, the microprocessor prevents detection of a shockable rhythm by the diagnostic algorithm, at least for a period of time.
US08909335B2

A system and method to deliver a therapeutic quantity of energy to a patient. The system includes a capacitor having a rated energy storage capacity substantially equal to the therapeutic quantity of energy, a boost converter coupled with the capacitor and constructed to release energy from the capacitor at a substantially constant current for a time interval, and an H-bridge circuit coupled with the boost converter and constructed to apply the substantially constant current in a biphasic voltage waveform to the patient. The method includes storing a quantity of energy substantially equal to the therapeutic quantity of energy in a capacitor, releasing the quantity of energy at a relatively constant current during a time interval using a boost converter coupled with the capacitor, and delivering a portion of the quantity energy in a direction to the patient using an H-bridge circuit coupled with the boost converter.
US08909332B2

A method estimates morphological features of heart beats from an ECG signal. Peaks of the R wave of the ECG are detected and classified using a parallel filtering structure. The first branch implements a bandpass filtering with cut off frequencies of about 10 Hz and 35 Hz, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the QRS complex. The second branch estimates morphological features of the heart beat from an alternating current (AC) replica of the ECG signal, that may be used to classify the beat and potentially detect arrhythmias.
US08909320B2

The disclosure describes cable management systems that provide adjustable lengths of cables that connect to various electronic medical or surgical tools. The systems can reduce the lengths of loose or hanging cables and define routes that preventing cross-over, looping and/or bunching of loose lengths of long cables.
US08909313B2

The invention relates to a device for diagnosis and/or therapy of a selected portion of a body by optical reflectance or optical transmission. The device according to the invention has a laminar body (12) containing a tissue-facing surface (13). The laminar body (12) integrally forms a transmitter opening destined to accommodate a transmitter fiber terminal (24) and a receiver opening destined to accommodate a receiver fiber terminal (38a, 38b). Furthermore, it contains annular light shielding means for shielding said transmitter fiber terminal (24) and receiver fiber terminal (38a, 38b) from ambient light sources. Thereby, said annular transmitter and receiver light shielding means are formed as an annular transmitter light shielding bulge (46) and an annular receiver light shielding bulge (48a, 48b), respectively, which are firmly arranged with respect to said laminar body (12), whereby their free ends are protruding with respect to said tissue-facing surface (13) of said laminar body (12).
US08909311B2

Apparatus, systems and methods employing a contact lens having a pulse oximetry sensor to detect information indicative of a blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens, are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes a substrate that forms at least part of a body of the contact lens and a pulse oximetry sensor located on or within the substrate that detects information associated with at least one of blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens. The pulse oximetry sensor comprises one or more light emitting diodes that illuminate a blood vessel of at least one of a region of an eye or an eyelid and a detector that receives light reflected from the blood vessel and generates the information.
US08909305B2

A system for running an application on a mobile device may include a mobile device having an application associated with a service provider, a computing device in communication with the mobile device and a computer readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer readable storage medium may have one or more programming instructions for determining an inactive time associated with the mobile device, determining whether the inactive time is equal to or greater than a threshold value and in response to the inactive time being equal to or greater than the threshold value, sending a message to the mobile device. The inactive time may represent a length of a period of inactivity associated with the mobile device, and the message may include one or more instructions to activate the application.
US08909298B2

An apparatus and method for displaying screens on a mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display unit for displaying one of a plurality of screens, the screens arranged as a grid having at least two columns and at least two rows, an input unit for receiving a movement command from a user, and a controller for controlling the display unit to display a next screen based on a currently displayed screen and the movement command.
US08909297B2

Methods, computing devices and computer-readable media for access management are disclosed. A method of passcode authentication includes: maintaining a count for failed authentication attempts, displaying a visual representation of a current count for failed authentication attempts on an authentication interface. An additional method of passcode authentication is also disclosed which includes: maintaining a count for failed authentication attempts; determining a current authentication request invalid; determining a delay time based on the count for failed authentication attempts; and delaying submission of a second authentication attempt until after the delay time has expired, wherein the delaying submission manifests in a delayed visual feedback of user input, in a delayed processing of user input, or in an inability to enter user input for during the delay time.
US08909286B2

A method and apparatus that applies medium access control (MAC) transmission opportunity (TXOP) protection for multiple mode operation in a WLAN system. In particular, MAC mechanisms are defined to support multiple mode CTS frames, and multiple mode CF-End frames sent by the AP, each in a format appropriate for the corresponding mode which may also apply to a single mode. MAC mechanisms permit truncation of TXOP duration for releasing the unused portion of the TXOP when no further data for transmission is available. Release of unused protected TXOP is possible for both protected AP transmissions and STA transmissions.
US08909285B2

A mobile terminal device includes a first processor and a second processor. The first processor executes a first process for communication using a first wireless scheme and outputs line setting information for the communication using the first wireless scheme before performing reset process when an interrupt request that triggers the reset process occurs in the first processor during the communication using the first wireless scheme. The second processor executes a second process for communication using a second wireless scheme and outputs a connection request for the communication using the second wireless scheme when the second processor acquires the line setting information from the first processor.
US08909269B2

Controlling interference towards a first access node from uplink transmissions made by a user device to a second access node, wherein said controlling is carried out on the basis of an indication of the pathloss between said first and second access nodes without using any measurement of pathloss between said user device and said first access node.
US08909261B1

A wireless communications device dynamically determines a number of wireless network parameters prior to data transfer to increase network efficiency and decrease delays during the transmission of a multimedia messaging service message. Before sending a multimedia messaging service message, a number of wireless network parameters are dynamically determined by the wireless communications device. Based upon these determined wireless network parameters, the wireless communications device determines an optimal file transmission size. The multimedia messaging service message may then be divided into one or more file chunks having a file size equal to the optimal file transmission size by the wireless communications device. The file chunks are transmitted by the wireless communication device to another wireless user.
US08909258B2

A system and method for determining locations of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal sources. The method includes receiving RF signals from the RF signal sources, and determining locations of the RF signal sources based on the received RF signals. The method also includes determining an anchor having an absolute location identified by map data, and then adjusting the determined locations of the RF signal sources based on the anchor.
US08909257B2

Techniques for selecting positioning protocols consistent with the capabilities of the location server in a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) based service are described. The SUPL Location Platform (SLP) transmits the service capabilities of the SLP, such as the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. The SLP transmits its capabilities of the SLP in an initiation message to the SUPL enabled terminal (SET) or after receiving an initiation message from the SET. The SET may transmit a positioning initiation message and the SLP and SET communicate to determine one or more position estimates for the SET. The SET may include in the positioning initiation message a positioning protocol positioning message that is consistent with the SLP service capabilities.
US08909254B2

Disclosed is a method, and a system to perform the method, comprising receiving venue infrastructure information at an entity hosted on a mobile station, and selectively providing a portion of the venue infrastructure information to one or more other entities hosted on the mobile station based, at least in part, on a privilege level attributed to the mobile station or a user associated with the mobile station.
US08909245B2

The invention features a method of estimating an expected error of a position estimate for use in a WLAN positioning system that estimates the position of a WLAN-enabled device. The WLAN-enabled device receives signals transmitted by a WLAN access point in range of the WLAN-enabled device. The method estimates the position of the WLAN-enabled device based on the received signals from the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device. The method also estimates an expected error of the position estimate based on characteristics of the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device, wherein the expected error predicts a relative accuracy of the position estimate.
US08909238B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a device and a base station for utilizing cell edge frequency band resources, and are related to the field of mobile communications. The method includes: receiving a message transmitted from another cell, wherein the message is used for indicating information of an edge frequency band resource block used by the another cell; acquiring information of a remaining available resource block; and according to the acquired information of the remaining available resource block, utilizing the remaining available resource block according to a set probability that a current cell utilizes each remaining available resource block.
US08909237B2

An apparatus and method for estimating a carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR) in a mobile communication system based on a fractional frequency reuse are provided. The method includes receiving a report on CINR information on a common zone from a mobile station (MS) allocated a restricted zone, calculating a received signal power value using a CINR value and an interference level value for the common zone of the MS, and estimating a CINR value for a restricted zone using the received signal power value of the MS and an interference level for the restricted zone.
US08909236B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate provisioning cell information to mobile devices via provisioning mechanisms. The cell information relates to cell characteristics within a wireless communication network. The cell information can be stored on the mobile devices and employed to detect the cell characteristics and adjust the handoff behavior based at least in part on characteristics of signals received from one or more base stations.
US08909232B2

A mobile unit includes a handset and a removable storage module having a unique storage module identity, for storing information specific to a user, including an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Additional information regarding a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) which uniquely identifies the subscriber is also stored in the removable storage module. Upon successfully camping on a cell of a mobile network, the IP address is forwarded to an IP-based network capable of communicating with the mobile unit. In an alternate embodiment, the mobile unit has multi-network capabilities which allow it to communicate with an IP-based network and a cellular network at the same time. In another embodiment, existing cellular network services for the mobile unit having multi-network capabilities are routed through the IP-based network.
US08909230B2

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods. A network controller for wireless communication is configured to transfer data via a first user plane connection in a first radio access network and initiate a handover procedure of transmitting the user equipment to a second user plane connection in a second radio access network.
US08909229B2

A user equipment UE determines that a neighbor cell is higher priority than a serving cell, measures neighbor cell signal strength in n>1 iterations, and analyzes them for reselecting from the serving cell to the neighbor cell. Each measurement iteration is spaced from one another by a time interval (e.g., 1 DRX) that is specific for the neighbor cell being higher priority. In various embodiments, the UE measures while in a Cell-PCH, URA-PCH or idle state/mode and the first iteration is taken at the first available measurement opportunity after transitioning to that state/mode. The UE reselects to the neighbor cell based on the analyzed signal strengths; in one embodiment the decision to reselect is without regard to signal quality of the serving cell; and in another the decision is without regard to whether a reselection condition remains satisfied for a specified time period Treselection.
US08909225B2

A user equipment (UE) provides a device identifier to a server device, and receives, based on one of the device identifier or a location of the device, carrier pricing information from the server device. The UE provides the carrier pricing information for display, and receives a selection of a particular carrier from the displayed carrier pricing information. The UE provides an indication of the particular carrier to the server device, initializes a connection with the particular carrier, and performs one or more communication operations via the connection with the particular carrier.
US08909204B2

A portable electronic device includes a communication request receiving unit which receives a communication request from another communication device, a display unit which displays an image based on image data, an input unit which is provided to overlap with the display unit and detects an input of a user, a determination unit which determines whether the image is being displayed on the display unit when the communication request receiving unit receives the communication request, an input determination unit which determines whether a predetermined input is detected by the input unit when the determination unit determines that the image is being displayed, and a display control unit which displays information for starting a communication with the other communication device on the display unit when the predetermined input is detected by the input unit.
US08909188B2

A frequency shifter configured to shift the frequency of a signal, the frequency shifter comprising: a resonant structure configured to mechanically resonate at a first frequency; and a plurality of capacitors, each capacitor having a variable plate separation distance, wherein the resonant structure is configured to cause the plate separation distance of each capacitor to oscillate so as to cause the frequency of the signal to shift by the first frequency.
US08909187B2

Receiver architectures and methods of processing harmonic rich input signals employing harmonic suppression mixers are disclosed herein. The disclosed receivers, mixers, and methods enable a receiver to achieve the advantages of switching mixers while greatly reducing the mixer response to the undesired harmonics. A harmonic mixer can include a plurality of mixers coupled to an input signal. A plurality of phases of a local oscillator signal can be generated from a single local oscillator output. Each of the phases can be used to drive an input of one of the mixers. The mixer outputs can be combined to generate a frequency converted output that has harmonic rejection.
US08909178B2

A method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers includes: calculating a transmit power, according to RF parameters delivered by a baseband board, determining a power amplifier voltage according to the transmit power and a corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage, and adjusting a supply voltage of the power amplifier, according to the determined power amplifier voltage, so as to adjust an output power of the power amplifier. A RF module includes a conversion module that converts a baseband board signal into a RF signal, an antenna linear device, a storage module, a power amplifier module, an adjustable power module, and a power control module. A test method is employed to determine the relationship between a transmit power and a power amplifier voltage.
US08909176B2

A radio transmission system comprising: a first Volterra Engine (VE) linearizer; a second VE linearizer coupled to the first VE linearizer; and a power amplifier (PA) coupled to at least one of the VE linearizers. Each VE linearizer compensates for a different distortion or nonlinearity aspect of an output signal from the PA.
US08909174B2

A transmitting entity performs spatial processing on data symbols for each subband with an eigenmode matrix, a steering matrix, or an identity matrix to obtain spatially processed symbols for the subband. The data symbols may be sent on orthogonal spatial channels with the eigenmode matrix, on different spatial channels with the steering matrix, or from different transmit antennas with the identity matrix. The transmitting entity further performs beamforming on the spatially processed symbols, in the frequency domain or time domain, prior to transmission from the multiple transmit antennas. A receiving entity performs the complementary processing to recover the data symbols sent by the transmitting entity. The receiving entity may derive a spatial filter matrix for each subband based on a MIMO channel response matrix for that subband and perform receiver spatial processing for the subband with the spatial filter matrix.
US08909171B2

The present invention relates to an RF antenna switch circuit, a high frequency antenna component, and a mobile communication device. According to the present invention, an RF antenna switch circuit including: an antenna; an input/output terminal including at least one transmitting terminal and at least one receiving terminal; at least one transmitting switch block disposed on a transmitting path(s) between the at least one transmitting terminal and a common node; at least one receiving switch block disposed on a receiving path(s) between the at least one receiving terminal and the common node; and a common switch block sharing a switching device and turned on by synchronizing with each of transmitting and receiving operations on transceiving the signal through the antenna is provided. When one of the transmitting and receiving operations is turned on, the other is turned off.
US08909170B2

A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers.
US08909165B2

Isolation techniques for multiple co-located radio modules are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may include an antenna, a first transceiver to communicate wirelessly across a first link, a second transceiver to communicate wirelessly across a second link, a shared antenna structure operative to allow the first transceiver and the second transceiver to share the antenna for simultaneous operations, and an active signal canceller operative to generate a cancellation signal to cancel an interference signal for a radio-frequency coupling channel between the first and second transceivers. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08909162B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a system has an audio amplifier configured to be coupled to a speaker coil port via a parallel resonant circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) amplifier configured to transmit a RF signal at a first RF transmission frequency. The speaker coil port is configured to be coupled to a speaker coil, and the parallel resonant circuit has a resonance frequency of about the first RF transmission frequency.
US08909161B2

A transceiver front-end for a communication device comprises a transmit frequency blocking arrangement and a receive frequency blocking arrangement. The transmit frequency blocking arrangement has a blocking frequency interval associated with the transmit frequency and a non-blocking frequency interval associated with the receive frequency, and is configured to block passage of transmit frequency signals between the signal transmission and reception arrangement and the receiver. The receive frequency blocking arrangement has a blocking frequency interval associated with the receive frequency and a non-blocking frequency interval associated with the transmit frequency, and is configured to block passage of receive frequency signals between the signal transmission and reception arrangement and the transmitter. One of the frequency blocking arrangements comprises a network of passive components including at least one transformer and a filter arrangement with a higher impedance at the blocking frequency interval than at the non-blocking frequency interval.
US08909160B2

A method and a communications system are provided. The system includes a base station and a RNC. The base station does not report the RNC whether the base station supports an E-DPCCH power boost capability. The RNC is also informed whether a UE supports and E-DPCCH power boost capability. If the UE supports E-DPCCH power boost function, the RCE designates by default that the base station also supports the E-DPCCH power boost function even though the base station does not report whether it supports or not, and configures resources for the base station to perform channel estimation by using the E-DPCCH power boost feature for the UE. Through the solution of the system, the accuracy of channel estimation can be improved and thus a bit error rate in high-speed data transmission can be reduced.
US08909159B2

Embodiments of a system and methodology are disclosed for aperiodic (i.e., non-periodic) feedback of channel-side information, such as channel rank information, to a base station by having the receiver/UE initiate the feedback instead of using a scheduled feedback approach. The autonomous feedback of channel-side information may use one of several different types of physical channel structures for uplink scheduling requests, such as those being discussed for inclusion in the emerging LTE platform standard.
US08909156B2

The present disclosure provides for an improved application of signal strength weightings in an SDMA sectored cellular network. The improved signal strength weightings application is conducted through the improved selection of weightings from a new codebook subset or by the selection of weightings from a larger codebook subset. In a further embodiment, an antenna beam index or bit map can be used to select the best beam(s) in an SDMA sectored cellular network. In another embodiment, a field or factor in an uplink or downlink transmission packet can designate which directional transmission beam is best suited for the transmission or when the directional transmission beam should be activated.
US08909151B2

A system and method are provided to facilitate establishing WiGig communications links between WiGig-enabled wireless devices and WiGig PBSS Control Points and Access Points (PCP/AP). The PCP/AP transmits beacons that are intended to assist the wireless devices in locating the PCP/AP. Based on the directional nature of WiGig communications, the beacons are transmitted directionally in a number of sectors in multiple directions simultaneously or in sequence. When devices, such as wireless devices, attempting to connect via a PCP/AP, are positioned very close to the PCP/AP, the devices may be incapable of receiving the transmitted beacons because the low noise amplifier (LNA) located in the individual wireless device receiver may become saturated. The disclosed systems and methods broadcast the beacons at lower power according to different schemes at certain intervals to avoid saturating the LNAs.
US08909148B2

An apparatus for generating and/or transmitting communications signals, the apparatus including a system for generating signals at a first frequency, a system for mixing the frequency of the generated signals from the first frequency down to a second frequency and a near field antenna for receiving the signals at the second frequency and being provided sufficiently near to a wire transmission line so as to wirelessly couple thereto.
US08909145B2

A torque measurement system that includes a rotor device and a stator device can perform automatic tuning to improve the initial tuning performed during design and assembly. The stator device can include a variable capacitive element and a micro-controller configured to adjust a capacitance value of the variable capacitive element. Additionally or alternatively, the rotor device can include a variable capacitive element and a micro-controller configured to adjust a capacitance value of the variable capacitive element. The adjustment of the capacitive elements can be based on the quality of signal detected at either the rotor device or stator device.
US08909141B2

Security in inductively coupled communications systems, such as near field communications (NFC), may be improved by restricting signals carrying user data to an authorized data transmission region. Security may be particularly important when the NFC carries financial transaction information or authorization credentials. Scramble signals may be transmitted along with data signals carrying the user data and designed to overshadow the data signals outside of the authorized data transmission region. The scramble signal transceiver may be designed to have a slower decay rate with distance from the transceiver than the data signal. By adjusting the power levels of the scramble signal and the data signal, the authorized data transmission region may be adjusted. Scramble signals may not be required if the data signal strength outside the authorized data transmission region is below the minimum threshold value required by eavesdropping receivers.
US08909135B2

An electronic device may include a dielectric substrate, an electronic circuit supported by the substrate, for processing data, and a communication unit having an antenna. The communication unit may be mounted to the substrate in communication with the electronic circuit for converting between a first EHF electromagnetic signal containing digital information and a data signal conducted by the electronic circuit. The electromagnetic signal may be transmitted or received along a signal path by the antenna. An electromagnetic signal guide assembly may include a dielectric element made of a dielectric material disposed proximate the antenna in the signal path. The electromagnetic signal guide may have sides extending along the signal path. A sleeve element may extend around the dielectric element along sides of the dielectric element. The sleeve element may impede transmission of the electromagnetic signal through the sides of the dielectric element.
US08909126B2

A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit that folds a sheet, a sheet storing unit that stores the sheet folded by the folding unit, a post-processing unit that performs a non-fold process on the sheet transported from the folding unit, a path select unit that switches the sheet destination to the sheet storing unit or the post-processing unit, and a control unit that detects whether there is a fold process command and/or a non-fold process command, and controls the path select unit according to the detecting result. The control unit controls the path select unit to switch the sheet destination to the post-processing unit when there is a non-fold process command, regardless of a fold process command.
US08909124B2

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit which feeds a sheet to an image forming unit forming an image on the sheet, a re-transport roller which reverses the sheet with a toner image fixed on the sheet and re-transports the sheet to the image forming unit, and a control unit which controls a sheet feed operation of the sheet feed unit for feeding the sheet. As the temperature of the re-transport roller sensed by the temperature sensing unit is decreased, the control unit retards the timing at which the sheet feed unit starts the sheet feed operation when a duplex image formation in which the image is formed on both sides of the sheet is performed after a one-side image formation is completed.
US08909122B2

A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member; a housing case; a pushing mechanism that includes a pair of swing members supported swingably in the housing case and a biasing unit urging the pair of swing members to swing; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes: first detection members provided at respective positions different from respective sliding areas of the member on which the swing members slide, on which sliding areas the respective swing members slide, and second detection members attached to the respective swing members such that the second detection members abut or face the respective first detection members when swing postures of the respective swing members reach respective swing postures corresponding to that the remaining amount of the lubricant is the predetermined amount.
US08909104B2

According to a representative configuration of the developing device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the developing device includes: a developing sleeve which bears developer and conveys the developer to a developing region; a developing chamber which supplies the developer to the developing sleeve; an agitating chamber which forms a circulation path with the developing chamber and collects the developer from the developing sleeve; and a conveying unit (a first conveying screw and a second conveying screw) which circulates and conveys the developer in the circulation path. A spiral groove is formed on a surface of the developing sleeve so as to apply a conveying force to the developer in a rotation axis direction of the developing sleeve opposite to a developer conveying direction of the agitating chamber.
US08909101B2

An image forming apparatus includes a belt member; a toner image forming portion for forming a toner image on the belt member; a transfer portion where the toner image formed on the belt member is to be transferred onto a recording material; a recording material supplying portion for supplying the recording material to the transfer portion; a steering portion for adjusting a widthwise position of the belt member by being tilted; and an adjusting portion for adjusting a conveyance direction of the recording material supplied by the recording material supplying portion so that a conveyance direction of the belt member when the steering portion is tilted is the same as the conveyance direction of the recording material supplied by the recording material supplying portion.
US08909098B2

In a developing device, a developing roller has: a first rotational shaft extending in a first direction; and a first roller body covering the first rotational shaft and configured to carry developer. A supply roller has: a second rotational shaft extending in the first direction; and a second roller body covering the second rotational shaft and configured to supply the developer to the developing roller. A housing accommodates the developing roller, the supply roller, and the developer. The housing includes a first wall and a second wall opposed with each other in the first direction. The first wall is formed with a first cutout. The second wall being formed with a second cutout. The first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft are positioned in both the first cutout and the second cutout when projected in the first direction.
US08909096B2

A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a first frame for supporting the developer regulating member; a fixing member for fixing the developer regulating member to the first frame; a second frame mounted to the first frame; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted resin material into a space defined by the first and second frames. The molded resin portion is engaged with a first limiting portion provided as a part of the fixing member and projected into the space and is engaged with a second limiting portion provided as a part of the second frame to connect the first and second frame.
US08909093B2

A toner container which includes a main body for storing toner, an opening for dispensing toner, and a mechanism for sealing the opening. The mechanism for sealing the opening includes a slidable shutter which includes a cover and an extension, connected to the cover part, including a pushing surface and a blocking surface. The mechanism for sealing further includes a restriction which contacts the blocking surface to prevent the slidable shutter from sliding.
US08909071B2

An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.
US08909069B2

A method and system for a estimating a most likely location of a periodic SYNC burst within an optical signal received through an optical communications system. A cross-correlation is calculated between a multi-bit digital signal derived from the optical signal and a known symbol sequence of the SYNC burst. The cross-correlation is processed in at least one sub-block to identify a candidate sub-block in which the SYNC burst is most likely located. The candidate sub-block is then further analyzed to estimate a location of the SYCN burst.
US08909058B2

An optical transceiver system includes a transmitter transmitting out a first light beam with a first wavelength, a receiver receiving a second light beam with a second wavelength; an optical fiber transmitting the first light beam and the second light beam; and a light guide member. The light guide member includes a lens block having a first side surface facing toward both the transmitter and the receiver, and a second side surface facing toward the optical fiber. A first lens portion and a second lens portion formed on the first side surface for optically coupling the respective transmitter and receiver, a third lens portion formed on the second side surface for optically coupling the optical fiber, and a wavelength divisional multiplexer embedded in the lens block. The wavelength divisional multiplexer receives and divides the first light beam and the second light beam.
US08909057B2

A system for transporting a plurality of digital signals (i.e. “n” digital signals) over an optical fiber includes a plurality of modems for modulating each digital signal on a respective analog signal. Each resulting RF signal is processed by a corresponding up-convertor, which includes a mixer and local oscillator, to produce a frequency band which can be a double sideband or single sideband of the modulated signal. The resulting frequency bands output by the up-convertors are non-overlapping and are spaced apart within a single sub-octave. An RF combiner combines the frequency bands and the combined RF signal is converted into an optical signal by an optical transmitter that outputs to an optical fiber. An optical receiver converts the optical signal from the fiber to an RF signal that is directed to an RF splitter. Signal fractions from the splitter are filtered, down-converted and demodulated to recover the initial digital signals.
US08909049B2

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include determining individual spectrum requirements for each of a plurality of signals to be communicated in an optical network, wherein a first signal of the plurality of signals has a first spectrum requirement and a second signal of the plurality of signals has a second spectrum requirement. The method may also include calculating a minimum spectrum granularity based on the individual spectrum requirements. The method may further include assigning each particular signal a channel spectrum equal to an integer multiple of the minimum spectrum granularity.
US08909038B2

A method and apparatus for determining if an optical input signals has been interrupted and responsively replacing an interrupted optical input signal with a replacement optical signal having a similar optical profile (e.g., such as a loopback between OADMs within a backbone network), thereby insuring that transient-induced high speed optical amplifier adjustments are avoided.
US08909032B2

Systems and methods for advanced recording options in interactive media guidance applications pertaining to whether a program includes commercials, has a particular aspect ratio, is a director's cut, or is unrated. The interactive media guidance application receives a user input to search for and record a program with one or more recording attributes, including an input designating that an attribute be required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies. In one method, the interactive media guidance application retrieves media guidance information data for the program from memory, determines if the program has the desired recording attribute, and if so, records the program. In another method, the interactive media guidance application records the first available program which has all required recording attributes, and then continues to search for and record more-preferred versions.
US08909023B2

An electronic device includes display control logic for adjusting video settings of the electronic device in order to improve the display of portable media player files on the electronic device. The video settings may include picture settings for a display subsystem of the electronic device, video processing methods stored within a processor of the electronic device, and expansion ratios for images received from the portable media player. A method of operating the electronic device may include acquiring media file data, such as the expansion ratio and file type, from the portable media player and using the data to determine the video settings.
US08909020B2

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode spaced apart with a gap therebetween, a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first and second subpixel electrodes include a plurality of branches, and each of the first and second subpixel electrodes includes a plurality of subregions. The branches extend in different directions in different subregions.
US08909017B2

A mode filter for eliminating the propagation of higher-order modes along a section of optical multimode fiber comprises a graded index (GRIN) lens, preferably of a quarter-pitch length, and a pinhole element in the form of a small core fiber. This configuration creates a Fourier spatial filter assembly that removes higher order modes propagating along an optical fiber while capturing the fundamental mode of the optical signal. A section of GRIN fiber is preferably used as the lens, with the small core fiber disposed at the output of the GRIN fiber lens to collect substantially only the on-axis fundamental mode of the optical signal. Since the higher order modes are shifted away from the origin by the GRIN fiber lens, only the fundamental mode signal is captured by the small core fiber.
US08909011B2

Cables are constructed with embedded discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of polymer material coextruded in the cable jacket.
US08909007B2

A circuit switched optical device includes a first array of intersecting hollow waveguides formed in a first plane of a substrate. A second array of intersecting hollow waveguides is formed in a second plane of the substrate, and the second plane is positioned parallel to the first plane. An optical element within the first array selectively redirects an optical signal from the first array to the second array.
US08908993B2

An image analysis method includes acquiring images of spatially different analysis regions. Each of the images of the analysis regions is constituted by pixels including a plurality of data acquired simultaneously or time-serially. The method further includes obtaining a cross-correlation between two analysis regions by using data of pixels of images of the analysis regions.
US08908986B1

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a method, system, and computer-readable medium for choosing ink colors for a screen printing process. An image to be reproduced with the screen printing process is obtained, and sample pixels within the image are selected. For each sample pixel, if the color of the sample pixel is not similar to an already chosen ink color, neighboring pixels around the sample pixel are identified. When the colors of the sample pixel and its neighboring pixels are similar, an ink color is chosen to be a representative color of the sample pixel and its neighboring pixels.
US08908983B2

A method of predicting a motion vector for a current block in a current picture includes obtaining, by a moving picture decoding device, a direction of a reference picture of the current picture, based on a display order of the reference picture and a display order of the current picture, obtaining, by the moving picture decoding device, at least three forward motion vectors for at least three blocks other than the current block based on the direction of the reference picture, wherein the at least three forward motion vectors correspond to the at least three other blocks, respectively, predicting, by the moving picture decoding device, a forward motion vector for the current block by using a median operation of the at least three forward motion vectors and decoding the current block in the current picture using the predicted forward motion vector for the current block.
US08908979B2

An apparatus includes a video/image encoder configured to design a two-dimensional star-shaped spatial filter and encode image/video information using the X-shaped spatial filter. The star-shaped spatial filter includes a first linear arrangement of coefficients that extend outwardly in a first diagonal direction from a center pixel coefficient, a second linear arrangement of coefficients that extend outwardly in a second diagonal direction, and two linear arrangements of coefficients that extend outwardly in horizontal and vertical directions from the center pixel coefficient from the center pixel coefficient. The second diagonal direction is oriented in a different direction relative to the first diagonal direction.
US08908974B2

An image capturing device capable of simplifying characteristic value sets of captured images and a control method thereof. The image capturing device comprises a characteristic conversion module, a data storage module, a characteristic simplification module, a template storage module and a recognition module. The characteristic conversion module converts an image captured by the image capturing device into a characteristic image, and the characteristic image includes a group of first characteristic value sets. The data storage module stores a lookup table which comprises second characteristic value sets. The characteristic simplification module performs a simplification process according to the lookup table to produce a simplified group of characteristic value sets. Finally, compares the simplified group of characteristic value sets with the plurality of templates stored in the template storage module to recognize a specific object in the image.
US08908972B2

An electronic device capable of displaying correct characters in place of garbled characters includes a storage unit, a control unit, and a display unit. The storage unit stores a number of garbled characters and identifiable characters associated with the garbled characters, and the identifiable characters are translated from original characters corresponding to the garbled characters. The control unit obtains any garbled character displayed on the display unit, determines whether the obtained garbled character matches a garbled character stored in the storage unit, if so, then the control unit controls the display unit to display an identifiable character in place of the garbled character.
US08908968B1

Identifying and ensuring object authenticity can occur by identifying an object by acquiring an image of the object, identifying flaws present in or on the object, associating the flaws with respective locations or regions in the image, determining a quality score indicating a condition of the object based at least upon an analysis of the identified flaws, and generating and storing a data record with all of this identifying information. A tag which provides an identifier that links the object to the data record is placed on the object. When authenticity of the object needs to be verified at a later time, the tag identifier is retrieved and used to retrieve the data record. The identifying information can then be compared with the object as it currently appears. If the object as it currently appears corresponds with the identifying information, authenticity is verified. Otherwise, fraud can be suspected.
US08908967B2

An image processing method of separating an input image into a foreground image and a background image, the method including determining a pixel of the input image as a pixel of the foreground image if a foreground probability value of the pixel of the foreground image determined by using the Gaussian mixture model or the pixel determined to be included in a motion region is greater than a setting threshold.
US08908962B2

An apparatus and method to facilitate finding recommendations for a query image are disclosed herein. A color histogram is determined corresponding to the query image. Determining at least one of a visual pattern included in the query image, a dominant color of the query image, or an orientation histogram corresponding to the query image. Performing comparison of a first image attribute of the query image to a second image attribute of an inventory image corresponding to an inventory item, wherein the first image attribute used in the comparison is selected from among the color histogram, the dominant color, and the orientation histogram. The selection of the first image attribute is based on a confidence score associated with the visual pattern, the dominant color, or a directionality present in the query image.
US08908940B1

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for generating a seed plan for use in radiation therapy. The system includes an image database, the image database comprising image slices and a seed template database comprising seed templates. A contour engine is configured to generate target contour data to identify one or more objects within each image slice. A reslicer engine is configured to rotate the contoured image about an angle of rotation to produce a resliced contoured image, such that the resliced contoured image is resampled at an angle perpendicular to the angle of rotation and intersecting an isocenter. The system also includes a seed grid engine configured to generate a seed grid perpendicular to the angle of rotation.
US08908929B2

Method, apparatus and computer program product compare biometrics in an anonymous manner. A first collection of biometrics is transformed using a first cancelable non-invertible biometric transform to create a first collection of transformed biometrics. A second collection of biometrics is transformed using the first cancelable non-invertible biometric transform to create a second collection of transformed biometrics. The first and second collection of transformed biometrics are then compared in the transformed domain to determine if any of the transformed biometrics from the first collection match any of the transformed biometrics from the second collection. If a match is found, the parties respectively maintaining the first and second collections of biometrics exchange information confidential nature of the biometrics are maintained by the entities responsible for the collections, since the biometrics are not compared in an untransformed state.
US08908920B2

Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good at the good's origin. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image of the good to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system; and is configured to store the information therein. The authentication center is configured to analyze the field image with respect to the information stored in the database to determine whether the unique signature in the field image is a match to the captured image stored in the database.
US08908916B2

The present invention relates to a control apparatus, a control method, and a program in which, when performing automatic image-recording, the frequency with which image-recording is performed can be changed so that the recording frequency can be suitably changed in accordance with, for example, a user's intention or the state of an imaging apparatus.In the imaging apparatus, the recording frequency can be changed and set in accordance with, for example, a user operation. In accordance with this, a predetermined parameter related to automatic image-recording is changed and set internally, so that an operation reflecting the recording frequency can be obtained as actual automatic image-recording.
US08908912B2

A method for tracking an object in a video data, comprises the steps of determining a plurality of particles for estimating a location of the object in the video data, determining a weight for each of the plurality of the particles, wherein the weights of two or more particles are determined substantially in parallel, and estimating the location of the object in the video data based upon the determined particle weights.
US08908911B2

Systems and methods are described herein for identifying and filtering redundant database entries associated with a visual search system. An example of a method of managing a database associated with a mobile device described herein includes identifying a captured image; obtaining an external database record from an external database corresponding to an object identified from the captured image; comparing the external database record to a locally stored database record; and locally discarding one of the external database record or the locally stored database record if the comparing indicates overlap between the external database record and the locally stored database record.
US08908909B2

A method of digital watermark decoding in which watermark signal components, which are embedded with different levels of redundancy in a host content signal, are selectively accumulated. In the process of decoding embedded data, components embedded with more redundancy are weighted appropriately to improve recovery of embedded data. Components embedded with less redundancy may be more reliably recovered as well by leveraging knowledge of related components encoded more robustly. Missing, weak or error prone components may be recovered based on relationship with more reliable components, and in particular, based on relationship with components embedded with higher redundancy and decoded with higher reliability. These techniques are exploited through error correction coding schemes, including convolutional codes, and explicit and implicit weighted repetition coding schemes.
US08908889B2

A buzzer includes a piezoelectric diaphragm and a housing enclosing the diaphragm and defining a resonating chamber. The chamber includes a sound port and has an optimal resonating frequency fHt at a temperature T defined by fHt=(vt/2π)(√(A/voL)) were vt is the velocity of sound waves in air at a temperature T, A is the effective area of the sound port, vo is the volume of the resonating chamber, and L is the effective length of the sound port. A temperature compensating member moves in response to changes in temperature to change the value of √(A/voL) at a rate and in a manner that balances the change in 1/vt across that same temperature range, thereby reducing changes in the product (vt/2π)(√(A/voL)) and consequently reducing any changes that would otherwise occur in fHt across that temperature range, thereby holding the value of fH substantially constant across the temperature range.
US08908879B2

Systems and methods are provided for playback of audio content in an “audition mode.” A system may be providing audio content to be rendered by a group of playback devices, when receiving a request to audition a second audio content with at least one playback device from the group of playback devices. The system may then suspend rendering of the first audio content at the at least one playback device, and provide the second audio content to be rendered by the at least one playback device for a duration of time. Upon exiting audition mode, either by completion of the second audio content, expiration of the duration of time, or request to exit audition mode, the system may resume rendering of the first audio content by the at least one playback device.
US08908875B2

Electronic devices having digital reverberators are disclosed, together with a method of reproducing sound for a user with the digital reverberator. The digital reverberator uses digital surface absorption filters positioned in the reverberator to simulate absorption of energy as digital audio data samples are reflected from virtual surfaces. The position of the digital surface absorption filters enables known frequency-dependent surface absorption characteristics of real materials to be directly implemented using the filter coefficients of each digital surface absorption filter. This enables virtual acoustic spaces to be designed quickly without the need for the digital reverberator to be manually tuned for each space.
US08908874B2

A method and apparatus processes multi-channel audio by encoding, transmitting or recording “dry” audio tracks or “stems” in synchronous relationship with time-variable metadata controlled by a content producer and representing a desired degree and quality of diffusion. Audio tracks are compressed and transmitted in connection with synchronized metadata representing diffusion and preferably also mix and delay parameters. The separation of audio stems from diffusion metadata facilitates the customization of playback at the receiver, taking into account the characteristics of local playback environment.
US08908873B2

An input multi-channel representation is converted into a different output multi-channel representation of a spatial audio signal, in that an intermediate representation of the spatial audio signal is derived, the intermediate representation having direction parameters indicating a direction of origin of a portion of the spatial audio signal; and in that the output multi-channel representation of the spatial audio signal is generated using the intermediate representation of the spatial audio signal.
US08908872B2

The disclosed BTSC encoder includes a left high pass filter means for receiving a digital left channel audio signal and for digitally high pass filtering the digital left channel audio signal and thereby generating a digital left filtered signal; a right high pass filter means for receiving a digital right channel audio signal and for digitally high pass filtering the digital right channel audio signal and thereby generating a digital right filtered signal; a matrix means for receiving the digital left and digital right filtered signals, and including means for summing the digital left and digital right filtered signals and thereby generating a digital sum signal, and including means for subtracting one of the digital left and digital right filtered signals from the other of the digital left and digital right filtered signals and thereby generating a digital difference signal; a difference channel processing means for digitally processing the digital difference signal; and a sum channel processing means for digitally processing the digital sum signal.
US08908871B2

The AAA server generates and delivers a new HA-RK before expiry of the old HA-RK, thus eliminating the time gap between expiry of the old HA-RK and obtaining of the new HA-RK and making the MIP registration seamless. In the system, if the remaining lifetime of the old HA-RK is less than or equal to the lifecycle of the MSK in the EAP process, a new HA-RK is delivered; otherwise, no new HA-RK needs to be delivered. If both a new HA-RK and an old HA-RK are valid on the network entity at a time, then only the old HA-RK applies and the new HA-RK is not active until expiry of the old HA-RK. Alternatively, both the new HA-RK and the old HA-RK are active concurrently, and are differentiated by an SPI.
US08908869B2

Digital rights management (DRM) can be implemented through use of an anchor point based digital rights management system. In one embodiment, a device may comprise an anchor point circuit including a memory and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a title key from a digital content provider, the title key used to encrypt a digital property to produce an encrypted digital property. The processor may be further configured to generate a binding key, encrypt the title key with the binding key to produce a title pre-key, and store the binding key in the memory. In another embodiment a system may comprise an interface configured to communicate with a content provider, and an anchor point circuit configured to bind a digital property received from the content provider to the anchor point circuit such that the digital property can only be used in conjunction with the anchor point circuit.
US08908866B2

A method and apparatus to provide a cryptographic protocol for secure authentication, privacy, and anonymity. The protocol, in one embodiment, is designed to be implemented in a small number of logic gates, executed quickly on simple devices, and provide military grade security.
US08908849B2

An approach is provided for overriding a call blocking feature. A request to establish a voice call over a wireless network to a called party is intercepted. A call blocking feature is detected as being enabled for the called party. The calling party is prompted for a passcode in response to the detected call blocking feature. The passcode is received from the calling party to override the call blocking feature.
US08908848B1

The present invention is related to telecommunications. A call processing system receives a first call from a caller intended for a first person. A notification regarding the first call is transmitted over a network to a terminal associated with the first person. A user interface is displayed on the terminal via which the first person can indicate that a callback message is to be transmitted to the caller. The callback message is transmitted to the caller, wherein the callback message includes an identification of the first person, a callback control, and text indicating that the caller is to activate the control to initiate another call to the first person. At least partly in response to the caller activating the control, A second call to be placed via which the first person and caller are connected.
US08908847B2

An independent communications system (ICS) is used in a transaction between a waiting party and a queuing party, with the queuing party having a interactive voice response (IVR). The IVR includes multiple nodes and the ICS is adapted to connect to a particular node in the IVR.
US08908833B2

Provided is an X-ray generator comprising a cathode for generating electrons; a rotating anode having a cylindrical electron impingement surface, an X-ray focal point being formed by a region in which the electrons impinge upon the electron impingement surface; and a Wehnelt electrode for imparting an electric field to the electrons emitted from the cathode. The Wehnelt electrode has a field formation surface for forming the electric field, and an electron passage aperture formed by the field formation surface. The field formation surface of the Wehnelt electrode is inclined with respect to a plane tangent to an outer circumferential surface of the rotating anode at the center of the X-ray focal point. The center of the cathode is in a plane orthogonal to the field formation surface and aligned with the center of the electron passage aperture.
US08908828B2

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for contactless control of a medical imaging system. A medical image can be acquired and displayed, and an aspect of the image can be altered based on a tracked position of a user body part. The user can be sensed by a sensing device, and the user body part tracked by a tracking unit in a first processing unit. A second processing unit can be coupled to the first processing unit and can have a control unit for controlling the medical imaging system.
US08908826B2

A method for stereoscopic x-ray imaging by a stereoscopic x-ray tube and by an x-ray radiation detector is provided. The x-ray radiation detector has a buffer. The stereoscopic x-ray tube has two x-ray beam sources disposed a short distance from one another. 2D image datasets are acquired at relatively short intervals one after the other, which have good quality.
US08908824B2

An imaging apparatus includes, a diffraction grating that diffracts an electromagnetic wave emitted from an electromagnetic wave source, a shield grating including a shield portion that prevents transmission of the electromagnetic wave and a plurality of transmission portions that allows the electromagnetic wave to transmit therethrough, and a detector that detects the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission portions of the shield grating. The diffraction grating forms an interference pattern in a grid pattern by diffracting the electromagnetic wave; the shield grating has the plurality of transmission portions arranged two-dimensionally; and a ratio of an area of the transmission portion to the area of a unit pattern composed of a portion of the shield portion and one transmission portion of the plurality of transmission portions is larger than 0.25.
US08908823B2

A digital period divider has a first counter with R least significant bits (LSB) and P most significant bits (MSB) having a count input and a reset input, wherein the count input receives a first clock signal and the reset input receives a second clock signal; a latch having P bits and being coupled with the P bits of the first counter; a second counter having P bits and a count input and a reset input, wherein the count input receives the first clock signal; and a first comparator operable to compare the P bits of the latch with the P bits of the second counter and generating an output signal, wherein the output signal is also fed to the reset input of the second counter.
US08908818B2

A channel estimation method, comprising when it is determined that in-band SRSs are required to be transmitted, acquiring the number of transmitting antenna ports and the number of layers of the currently transmitted DMRSs; calculating the difference of the number of the transmitting antenna ports and the number of layers of the currently transmitted DMRSs, and using the difference as the number of in-band SRSs that are required to be transmitted; transmitting in-band SRSs to a receiving-end device according to the number of in-band SRSs that are required to be transmitted, to enable the receiving-end device to perform channel estimation according to the currently transmitted DMRSs and the received in-band SRSs.
US08908814B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with iterative decoders are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a set of decoders that are configured to receive data to be decoded. The apparatus may also include a controller configured to separately control each decoder to initiate a decoding sequence based on an occurrence of a transition point. The transition point is a global transition that occurs iteratively for the set of decoders and is based on iterations in a decoding sequence.
US08908806B2

A signal received via a fading channel is decoded in radio frequency receiver by first demodulating the signal to a baseband signal, and serial to parallel converting the baseband signal to a precoded signal. Then, a channel matrix is estimated from the precoded signal, and symbols are detected in the precoded signal using the channel matrix. The decoding uses probabilistic data association. The detecting initializes a probability distribution for each symbol, and selects an ordering in which to update the probability distributions. The probability distribution for each symbol are updated according to the ordering, until a termination condition is reached, and then demapped and parallel to serial converted to estimate a sequence of bits used to generate the signal.
US08908795B2

A transmit apparatus having a supply modulator is provided. The apparatus includes a detector and the supply modulator. In the method, the detector detects an output signal of the supply modulator. Also, the supply modulator receives the detected output signal of the supply modulator from the detector and calibrates a modulation characteristic of the supply modulator. The transmit apparatus having a supply modulator includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) and the supply modulator. The modem provides a calibration signal for calibrating a modulation characteristic of the supply modulator, to the supply modulator. The supply modulator outputs a modulated signal in accordance with the calibrated modulation characteristic of the supply modulator based on the calibration signal from the modem.
US08908794B2

A wireless sending apparatus with a change judging means to judge whether changing an interference causing avoiding transmission means on the basis of predetermined change judging information, and to output the judgment as a change judgment result; a signal separating means to separate the sending signal into each the group on the basis of the change judgment result; a first interference causing avoiding transmission means to input the sending signal which is separated into each the group, and to reduce leak power by a time-domain process; a second interference causing avoiding transmission means to input the sending signal which is separated into each the group, and to reduce the leak power by a frequency-domain process; and a synthesizing means to synthesize the sending signals which the first interference causing avoiding transmission means and the second interference causing avoiding transmission means carry out the interference causing avoiding process.
US08908792B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transmitter operable to communicate in a wireless network and adapted to use an efficient Golay correlator running at 1.5 times a sampling rate.
US08908790B2

A method and apparatus for processing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives downlink control information including WTRU-specific MIMO and transport format information and MIMO information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same resource. The WTRU processes received MIMO data based on the downlink control information. The downlink control information may also include transport format information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same RB. The downlink control information may be transmitted via WTRU-specific control signaling. All WTRUs' MIMO and/or transport format information may be transmitted via resource-specific common control signaling. The downlink control signaling format may include at least one of a number of streams for the WTRU, a number of active WTRUs assigned to the same resource, a spatial channel identity for the WTRU, a MIMO mode, a precoding matrix index and a precoding vector index.
US08908780B2

According to one embodiment, a protective relay performs the following steps. A/D converter 11 acquires an electric current of a power transmission line 4 via a CT 5. A computing part 12 performs various protection computations such as current differential computation using a current data measured at the end of itself and a current data measured at the opposite end. A transmitting and receiving circuit 13 transmits the current data of itself to the other protective relay 1 at the opposite end via a transmission path 3. A received level detection part 14 detects the received level of the transmission data that has been transmitted from the opposite end and received by the transmitting and receiving circuit 13. A transmission level control part 15, based on the difference between the received level that has been detected within a definite time t1 after the establishment of data transmission to the other protective relay 1 and a predetermined received level, performs transmission level reduction control after the passage of the definite time t1.
US08908779B2

A method and interface for serial communication is provided. The interface includes a differential input/output having a first node and a second node. There are several input/output nodes arranged to receive serial interface signals. The interface includes a transmitter configured to drive a twisted pair cable at the differential input/output. There is a receiver coupled to the differential input/output that includes a window comparator. A serial port control unit provides serial data to the transmitter and receives serial data from the receiver. The serial communications interface transmits serial data to and receives serial data from a second serial communications interface independent of a reference clock and is galvanically isolated from the second serial communications interface.
US08908777B2

A picture processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a memory; and a decoding circuit configured to decode encoded picture data; wherein the memory holds first and second fields of the decoded picture in different areas while holding field planes of a plurality of reference planes in different areas; the decoding circuit includes a motion compensation circuit configured to effect motion-compensating prediction by dividing into a plurality of divisions each of macro blocks making up the picture data in order to perform motion compensation in accordance with the motion-compensating prediction; and, upon transferring the decoded picture held in the memory during a motion compensation process, the compensation circuit rearranges transfer requests to at least either the same reference plane or the same field plane within a divided macro block on the basis of macro block division information and reference picture information, before transferring the rearranged transfer requests consecutively to the memory.
US08908769B2

A motion vector coding unit executes processing including a neighboring block specification step of specifying a neighboring block which is located in the neighborhood of a current block; a judgment step of judging whether or not the neighboring block has been coded using a motion vector of another block; a prediction step of deriving a predictive motion vector of the current block using a motion vector calculated from the motion vector of the other block as a motion vector of the neighboring block; and a coding step of coding the motion vector of the current block using the predictive motion vector.
US08908767B1

Taught herein are techniques to incorporate temporal motion vector prediction in encoding and decoding a video stream. Motion vectors are temporally predicted for blocks of a frame. An extrapolated position for at least one block of a first frame is predicted in a second frame using a respective motion vector of the at least one block. A temporal motion vector for a block of the second frame is calculated as a combination of respective motion vectors of blocks overlapping the block of the second frame if at least one of the overlapping blocks is an extrapolated block at the extrapolated position. The temporal motion vector is used in a motion estimation algorithm to select a motion vector for the block, and the block is encoded using the selected motion vector.
US08908764B2

A video system for coding a stream of video data that includes a stream of video frames divides each video frame into a matrix of a plurality of subblocks, wherein each subblock includes a plurality of pixels. The video system operates in accordance with nine prediction modes. Each prediction mode determines a prediction mode according to which a present subblock is to be coded. One of the nine prediction modes is selected to encode the present subblock, wherein the selected prediction mode provides for a minimum error value in the present subblock.
US08908761B2

A method comprising: encoding a video image at each of a plurality of frames, including by using inter frame encoding to encode at least portions of some of the frames, thereby generating an encoded video stream; transmitting the encoded video stream over a lossy channel to be decoded at a receiver to produce decoded video; and performing a recovery operation to refresh the encoding of the video image, cutting off error propagation that has occurred in the decoded video due to an effect of inter prediction in presence of loss over said channel; wherein the recovery operation is triggered by a report fed back from the receiver indicative of loss; and wherein the recovery operation is performed over a plural number of frames, refreshing the encoding of different partial frame regions at different respective frames.
US08908747B2

A mobile terminal can receive N or less different data streams transmitted in parallel over N antennas. The number of different data streams actually transmitted in parallel to the mobile terminal corresponds to transmission rank. If the speed of the mobile terminal does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the mobile terminal utilizes a full-size codebook containing precoder elements for all N transmission ranks to determine a recommended transmission rank and precoder matrix for use in transmitting data to the mobile terminal. Otherwise, the mobile terminal utilizes a reduced-size codebook which excludes the precoder elements for at least transmission rank-N to determine the recommended transmission rank and precoder matrix where transmission rank-N corresponds to N different data streams being transmitted in parallel over the N antennas. The mobile terminal transmits an indication of the recommended transmission rank and precoder matrix to the network.
US08908740B2

A light emitting device, comprises: a light source that emits excitation light; a light guide that propagates the excitation light, and in which the refractive index of the center part (core) of a cross section is higher than the refractive index of the peripheral part (cladding); a wavelength conversion member that absorbs the excitation light propagated by the light guide and converts the wavelength thereof, and releases light of a predetermined wavelength band; and a shielding member that blocks the wavelength of at least part of the excitation light and the light emitted from the wavelength conversion member.
US08908737B2

A laser includes a Ti:sapphire gain-medium in the form of a thin-disk. The thin-disk gain-medium is optically pumped by pump-radiation pulses having a wavelength in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The pump-radiation pulses have a duration less than twice the excited-state lifetime of the gain-medium.
US08908734B2

In an embodiment, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser includes a gain section and a passive section. The gain section includes an active region, an upper separate confinement heterostructure (SCH), and a lower SCH. The upper SCH is above the active region and has a thickness of at least 60 nanometers (nm). The lower SCH is below the active region and has a thickness of at least 60 nm. The passive section is coupled to the gain section, the passive section having a DBR in optical communication with the active region.
US08908733B2

In at least one embodiment of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip (1), the latter is based on a nitride material system and comprises at least one active quantum well (2). The at least one active quantum well (2) is designed to generate electromagnetic radiation when in operation. Furthermore, the at least one active quantum well (2) comprises N successive zones (A) in a direction parallel to a growth direction z of the semiconductor chip (1), N being a natural number greater than or equal to 2. At least two of the zones (A) of the active quantum well (2) have mutually different average indium contents c. Furthermore the at least one active quantum well (2) fulfills the condition: 40≦∫c(z)dz−2.5N−1.5∫dz≦80.
US08908729B2

Semiconductor laser diodes, particularly broad area single emitter (BASE) laser diodes of high light output powers are commonly used in opto-electronics. Light output power and stability of such laser diodes are of crucial interest and any degradation during normal use is a significant disadvantage. The present invention concerns an improved design of such laser diodes, the improvement in particular significantly minimizing or avoiding (front) end section degradation at very high light output powers by controlling the current flow in the laser diode in a defined way. This is achieved by controlling the carrier injection, i.e. the injection current, into the laser diode in a novel way by creating single current injection points along the laser diode's longitudinal extension, e.g. along the waveguide. Further, the supply current/voltage of each single or group of current injection point(s) may be separately regulated, further enhancing controllability of the carrier injection.
US08908725B2

The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser. The laser comprises an extracavity collimating lens arranged outside a laser cavity, and a laser output mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator and a tunable optical filter all arranged sequentially inside the laser cavity. The laser further comprises an active polarization rotator arranged behind the tunable optical filter, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon and a first total reflection mirror arranged in the direction vertical to the optic axis of a laser cavity output lens, a second etalon and a second total reflection mirror arranged in the direction of the optic axis of the laser cavity output lens, and a laser drive and control circuit. The invention is compact with high performance and low cost for volume production and easy installation, achieves high spectral density, narrow spectral bandwidth and tunable stable laser output within a wide spectrum range, and significantly reduces the difficulty in manufacturing the tunable optical filter and the etalons.
US08908722B2

Techniques are disclosed for improving pump absorption and efficiency for fiber lasers and amplifiers, for instance. In some embodiments, the techniques are implemented by applying a partially reflective coating on a fiber end-face to double-pass any unabsorbed or otherwise excess pump light in the cladding of a fiber. While being reflective to pump wavelengths, the coating can be non-reflective at the lasing wavelength, so as to avoid unwanted feedback into the system. The benefits of this approach include that excess pump power can be effectively utilized to add more power to the laser output. In addition, the double-pass technique allows for the use of a shorter fiber length, which in turn allows for more compact system designs, saves on material costs, and facilitates manufacturability.
US08908719B2

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrates a clock rate control method. Firstly, a usage of a first input first output (FIFO) buffer in an electronic device is detected. Then, whether the usage falls within a first specific interval is determined, wherein the first specific interval has a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value. When the usage is larger than the first upper limit value, a clock rate of the inner device of the electronic device is increased; when the usage is less than the first lower limit value, the clock rate is decreased.
US08908712B2

An access device, a system and a method for implementing service configuration are disclosed. The method includes: identifying, by an access device AN, an operation mode of a CPE according to a result of a handshake negotiation performed between the line port of the access device CN and the CPE, and selecting a corresponding preset service template according to the operation mode of the CPE, and then configuring the line port according to the service template selected, thereby implementing the self adaptation of the ATM mode and PTM mode of the CPE. With the technical solution of the invention, when VDSL2 service is provided, the service may automatically access subscribers of ADSL ATM mode and subscribers of VDSL PTM mode simultaneously, and an automatic configuration and management may be realized for all the service configurations in different modes, and thus the operation complexity may be simplified, and the operation cost may be lowered.
US08908705B2

A method for data transmission disclosed is applied to an access point for use in a wireless local area network. The access point has multiple antennas. The method comprises in response to transmitting a first message successfully to a station, determining a maximum transmitting rate at which a message can be transmitted successfully using a current antenna group by increasing the transmitting rate and transmitting a message repeatedly; and, transmitting further messages to the station at the determined maximum transmitting rate.
US08908704B2

Communication apparatus includes a switch, which includes switching logic, multiple ports for connection to a network, and a management port, and which is configured to assign both a first link-layer address and a second link-layer address to the management port. A host processor includes a memory and a central processing unit (CPU), which is configured to run software implementing a management agent for managing functions of the switch. A network interface controller (NIC) is connected to the management port and is configured to convey incoming management packets, which are directed by the switch to the first link-layer address, to the CPU for processing by the management agent, and to write directly to the memory data contained in incoming remote direct memory access (RDMA) packets, which are directed by the switch to the second link-layer address.
US08908695B2

Provided is a wireless communication device including a communication unit, a storage unit that stores information of one wireless communication device forming a same communication group as the wireless communication device, received by the communication unit, and a control unit that discloses the information of the one wireless communication device during an information disclosure period initiated based on user operation for connecting the one wireless communication device forming the communication group and another wireless communication device and does not disclose the information of the one wireless communication device during another period.
US08908686B1

In general, techniques are described in which packet replicators of a network device cooperate to generate a distributed hierarchical forwarding structure that the packet replicators then use to replicate and forward multicast packets to multiple output interfaces. For example, packet forwarding engines (PFEs) of a router each receive a new list of interfaces for a multicast packet stream. The PFEs individually construct a hierarchical forwarding structure based on the interface list. The hierarchical forwarding structure specifies interrelationships among the PFEs, which occupy nodes within the hierarchy. Each child PFE determines from the hierarchical forwarding structure the identity of a parent PFE and issues a token, constituting forwarding state for the distributed hierarchical forwarding structure, to the parent PFE. The parent PFE uses the token to identify packets of the multicast traffic to the child PFE during replication and forwarding of multicast packets proceeding according to the hierarchical forwarding structure.
US08908685B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for routing using global address pairs. Embodiments of the invention use publicly routable Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses to represent sites rather than individual hosts. Hosts can be represented by a global address pair, including site public IP address and a node private IP address. Nodes route packets to address processing modules using IP-in-IP encapsulation. An outer header contains a site public IP address and is destined to a site on inter-site links. An inner header contains a node private IP address and is destined to a private endpoint in intra-site links. In some embodiments, a site public IPv4 address and a node private IPv4 address are encoded into an IPv6 address. Use of an IPv6 address makes encoding of the two IPv4 address transparent to IPv6 applications.
US08908683B2

For a fiber channel forwarder fabric login sequence in a fiber channel switch environment, where a Fiber Channel Forwarder (cFCF) is separated from a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), at a Fiber Channel Login (FLOGI) to a target device from an initiator device, a node address acceptance notification is held from reaching the initiator device until each of the zoning distributions have been considered to have been completed.
US08908682B2

A distributed fabric system comprises a plurality of independent network elements interconnected by inter-switch links and assigned to a same group. Each network element includes one or more switching chips, a processor, and memory storing program code that is executed by the processor. The program code of each network element includes a switch discovery protocol (SDP) module. The SDP module of each network element, when executed, periodically multicasts SDP data units (SDPDUs) using one of a plurality of transmission rates. The plurality of transmission rates includes a fast transmission rate and a slow transmission rate. The transmission rate used by the SDP module of each network element is the fast transmission rate until the SDP module of that network element determines a criterion is met, in response to which the transmission rate used by the SDP module of that network element changes to the slow transmission rate.
US08908681B1

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating call continuity when transferring calls between mobile access networks to voice over internet protocol networks. The method includes recognizing availability of a voice over internet protocol network during a voice call established via a wireless access network. Thereafter, a data connection between a user device and the voice over internet protocol network is established. A transfer of the voice call from the wireless access network to the voice over internet protocol network is initiated by initiating a three-way call. Such a three-way call includes a first portion routed to a destination device via a public switch telephone network and a second portion routed to the user device via the voice over internet protocol network.
US08908675B2

A network comprises a plurality of nodes; and a plurality of links communicatively coupling each of the plurality of nodes to at least one respective adjacent node of the plurality of nodes via a first communication channel and to another respective adjacent node of the plurality of nodes via a second communication channel. At least one of the plurality of nodes is a source node configured to source data. The source node is configured to form a virtual self-checking pair with one of the respective adjacent node on the first communication channel or the respective adjacent node on the second communication channel to achieve a consistent broadcast of data on the first and second communication channels. Data exchanged between the source node and the respective adjacent node in the virtual self-checking pair is only sourced by the source node.
US08908669B2

Time division multiplexed input signals (i.e., separated into time slots) are spread in each time slot with a destination code. This spreading is applied for destination identification as opposed to signal information modulation. Each spreading signal is associated with a particular destination for a particular time slot. These spread signals are then combined on a code division bus. Output signals for retransmission to the destinations are recovered from the bus by application of despreading codes. Each despread signal has a destination code which appears in its individual time slot. In a variant code division multiplexed signals are directed to a destination by use of time slot interchanger to achieve time division switching to route the CDMA multiplexed channels.
US08908656B2

In a user equipment (UE) with multiple radio access technologies (RATs), communications of one RAT engaged in connection setup may be protected from communications of other RATs. Techniques for protecting such connection setups include performing power backoff on a potentially interfering RAT or implementing a time division multiplexing (TDM) solution alternating when certain RATs are active.
US08908648B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose techniques for enhancing a measurement gap for TD-SCDMA measurement. Certain aspects provide a method that generally includes receiving, from a base station (BS) of a first radio access technology (RAT), a message indicating a measurement gap in which a user equipment (UE) is to take a measurement in a second RAT, the message comprising an indication of a start position of the measurement gap and a duration of the measurement gap; and taking a measurement during the measurement gap.
US08908647B2

A mobile communication system has a plurality of communication areas being connection destinations of a mobile terminal. When a radio wave transmitted from a communication area to the mobile terminal connected to the communication area becomes an interference wave in another communication area different from the communication area, a handover target where an interference quantity may be reduced by handover is determined from at least one handover target candidates with respect to the communication area, and the mobile terminal executes forcible handover to the handover target.
US08908645B2

The present disclosure discloses a method for processing a measurement task in a carrier aggregation system, which includes: deleting all measurement tasks related to a source Secondary Cell (Scell); or deleting a measurement task related to an Scell in a deleted source Scell; or doing not delete a measurement task related to the source Scell when a source Scell is reassigned to another frequency having a measurement object, and modifying a measurement object corresponding to the measurement task related to the source Scell to a measurement object of the reassigned frequency. When a source Pcell and a target Pcell are on different frequencies and the measurement object corresponding to the measurement task is a frequency on which there is the source Pcell when the frequency on which there is the target Pcell is the measurement object, the measurement object is modified to a measurement object of the frequency on which there is the target Pcell; and when the measurement object corresponding to the measurement task is the frequency on which there is the target Pcell, the measurement object is modified to a measurement object of the frequency on which there is the source Primary Cell (Pcell). The present disclosure further discloses a system for processing a measurement task in a carrier aggregation system. The present disclosure effectively decreases a configuration signaling of a measurement task and increases a utilization rate of the air interface resource.
US08908641B2

A method, a system, a network element, and a gateway for processing access point name restriction information are disclosed. The method includes: a second mobility management element receives first access point name restriction information from a first mobility management element; the second mobility management element obtains maximum access point name restriction information according to the first access point name restriction information, so that a packet data network gateway determines to or refuses to establish a new packet data network gateway connection. With the present invention, the second mobility management element may obtain the maximum access point name restriction information according to the received access point name restriction information. In this way, the packet data network gateway can determine to or refuse to establish a new packet data network gateway connection, therefore improving the security of private packet data network gateways.
US08908640B2

The present invention relates to the radio communication field and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for handover between multi-carrier cells, so that a user equipment (UE) can be handed over to carriers of different cells on multiple target evolved NodeBs (eNBs). The handover method includes: after performing handover request acknowledge, receiving serial numbers (SNs) of data to be transferred and identifier information of target eNBs of other carriers to which the UE is handed over sent by a source eNB; and transferring scheduling information to the target eNBs of other carriers to which the UE is handed over.
US08908634B2

A method and terminal for controlling Voice Call Continuity (VCC) functions initiated by a network, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes receiving, by a terminal, a VCC function notification message, the VCC function notification message including VCC enabling information indicating whether a VCC function of the terminal is to be enabled or disabled; and enabling or disabling the VCC function of the terminal based on the VCC function notification message.
US08908619B2

A scheme for Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) signaling includes the steps of receiving, from a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device, a random access preamble; sending, to the MTC device, a random access response that includes a MAC PDU having a MAC header that includes information for MTC support; receiving, from the MTC device, a scheduled transmission; and performing contention resolution with the MTC device. The information for MTC support can be achieved by: (1) the MAC PDU structure being modified to include a new section used for MTC devices to identify the congestion status of MTC family; (2) providing the backoff control (BOC) with a new sequence of a large-scale backoff interval (BI); (3) changing the random access (RA) procedure for MTC devices; or (4) performing toggling or switching between access class barring (ACB) and backoff control (BOC).
US08908614B2

The invention makes it possible to manage, even if some of wireless terminals leave a wireless communication network to be managed, the wireless terminals which have left. The invention provides a management apparatus which is connected to an AP and manages each wireless terminal communicating with the AP by using a management table, including a unit for determining based on the management table, when a wireless terminal leaves the first wireless communication network to newly form the second wireless communication network, the SSID of the second wireless communication network, a unit for updating the management table with the determined SSID, and a unit for transmitting the determined SSID to the wireless terminal which is to form the second wireless communication network.
US08908612B2

Apparatus, methods and computer program products in a wireless communications system provide an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) for use by user equipment operating in the wireless communications system for use in conjunction with the random access procedure. The user equipment has circuitry to request a HS random access channel and, in response to receiving an assignment from a Node B of a dedicated mode channel for use as the random access channel, to send uplink data in a random access fashion over the assigned dedicated mode channel while receiving feedback from the Node B over at least one downlink L1 feedback channel. The Node B has circuitry to assign to the UE the dedicated mode channel for use as the random access channel, to receive uplink data in a random access fashion over the assigned dedicated mode channel, and to send feedback information to the UE over at least one downlink L1 feedback channel.
US08908603B2

A method for a mobility management entity (MME) is disclosed. In some embodiments the method includes: establishing a UE context for a UE; selecting a back-up MME for holding a duplicate context of the user entity; informing a SGW of the selected back-up MME; and transmitting a the duplicate context to the selected back-up MME.
US08908602B2

A mobile communication system of the present invention includes a plurality of remote radio heads configured to transmit a signal to user equipment and configure an antenna network and a centralized baseband pool configured to be connected to the antenna network. The centralized baseband pool performs clustering with respect to the plurality of remote radio heads so as to dynamically vary the number of the remote radio heads each included in a plurality of clusters.
US08908600B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for generating a unified format of channel state information (CSI) feedback for Very High Throughput (VHT) wireless systems. One example method generally includes generating, at a first apparatus, a frame comprising information relating to SNR if a second apparatus is communicating with the first apparatus using single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) or multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) and transmitting a signal based on the generated frame to the second apparatus. Another example method generally includes generating, at an apparatus, a structure comprising CSI, wherein the CSI includes one of a first matrix with estimates of a channel associated with the apparatus or a second matrix obtained based on singular value decomposition (SVD) of the first matrix and wherein the structure further comprises an indication of which of the first and second matrices is included in the CSI; and transmitting the structure over the channel.
US08908597B2

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a node of a communications network that is configured to provide an IP Multimedia Subsystem Access Transfer Control Function. The method comprises storing information regarding IMS Service Continuity features that are supported by Mobile Switching Center servers within the network. Upon receipt of a message requesting IMS registration of a user equipment using the information to determine the IMS Service Continuity features that may be available to the user equipment, and, for any IMS Service Continuity features that may be available, including an indication that the IMS Service Continuity feature may be available in the message, and forwarding the message towards a Service Centralization and Continuity Application Server.
US08908592B2

In various embodiments, a system and method for providing uplink (UL) power control for a wireless mobile station (MS) includes, after transmission of an unanswered bandwidth request by the MS, incrementally boosting an UL transmit power of one or more subsequent bandwidth requests by the MS to a boosted UL power level at which UL bandwidth is allocated to the MS by the BS; selectively reporting the boosted UL power level to the BS immediately after the UL transmit power has been boosted; and selectively controlling the boosted UL power level by the BS responsive to the boosted UL power level reported to the BS. A MS is configured to carry out the UL power control method and a BS is configured to generate MS UL power control commands based, at least in part, upon the UL power level reported to the BS.
US08908586B2

The present invention relates generally to methods and arrangements for positioning in a wireless communications system, such as LTE. In particular, the present invention relates to improving positioning accuracy. The invention provides methods and arrangements for scheduling positioning subframes, i.e. low interference subframes, for allowing aligning of positioning subframes across a number of cells in order to reduce the interference from data symbols of cells in the neighborhood of a cell serving the UE that is performing positioning measurements. A time instance during which transmission of the positioning subframes is to occur in a wireless communications network is selected. The base stations in the wireless communications network are informed about the selected time instance, whereupon the base stations schedule and transmit the positioning subframes based on the selected time instance, whereby the positioning subframes are aligned throughout the network.
US08908585B2

Methods and devices for mitigating power consumption in CDMA slotted mode are aspects of the present disclosure. A method for controlling an access terminal includes entering an awake state of a slotted idle mode, adjusting a reacquisition time for acquiring a pilot signal from a first cell in accordance with a pilot signal quality from the first cell recorded in a prior awake state, and acquiring the pilot signal. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08908576B2

A communication system, comprising a first node, a second node, a serial communication link between the first node and the second node, configured to transmit digital video data from the first node to the second node over one or more video channels of the link. The communication system further including a hybrid link between the first node and the second node, wherein the first node and the second node are configured to transmit at least one stream of data to the other through a hybrid channel over the hybrid link. In the communication system, the bandwidth of the serial communication link is scaled according to a video pixel frequency. Further, the initial locking of the serial communication link is aided by clock information delivered over the hybrid link.
US08908575B2

A frequency-division duplexing (FDD) transceiver includes a first mixer to up-convert a transmit signal and a first switch, coupled to the first mixer, to selectively provide a transmit local oscillator signal or a receive local oscillator signal to the first mixer. The transmit local oscillator signal has a first frequency and the receive local oscillator signal has a second frequency distinct from the first frequency. The FDD transceiver also includes a second mixer to down-convert a receive signal and a second switch, coupled to the second mixer, to selectively provide the transmit local oscillator signal or the receive local oscillator signal to the second mixer.
US08908571B2

Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating interference between from a first wireless time division duplex (TDD) communications device and a second wireless TDD communications device includes processing quality-indicator reports received from the first TDD device to determine if reception at the first TDD device has experienced interference from the second TDD device. Such interference at the first TDD device may indicate that the first TDD device may also cause interference to reception at the second TDD device. Accordingly, to mitigate the possible interference from the first TDD device, an uplink configuration of the first TDD base station may be adjusted. The adjustment of the uplink configuration may include configuring reception of data packets at the first TDD base station from the first TDD device in accordance with an interference-free time interval, an unprotected time interval, or a specific portion of an associated frequency band.
US08908570B2

A user equipment (UE) including a processor configured to transmit control plane data irrespective of on-duration/off-duration status.
US08908555B2

A technique for performing channel estimation based on a received signal comprising a first signal part and a second signal part in the presence of an unknown phase discontinuity between the first signal part and the second signal part is presented. A method implementation of this technique comprises providing a first channel parameter that is based on the first signal part, determining a second channel parameter based on the second signal part, estimating the phase discontinuity from the first channel parameter and the second channel parameter, updating the first channel parameter based on the estimated phase discontinuity, and determining a channel estimate based on the second signal part including performing channel estimation filtering using the updated first channel parameter as filter state information.
US08908554B2

Aggregates are calculated from a data stream in which data is sent in a sequence of tuples, in which each tuple comprises an item identifier and a timestamp indicating when the tuple was transmitted. The tuples may arrive out-of-order, that is, the sequence in which the tuples arrive are not necessarily in the sequence of their corresponding timestamps. In calculating aggregates, more recent data may be given more weight by multiplying each tuple by a decay function which is a function of the timestamp associated with the tuple and the current time. The tuples are recorded in a quantile-digest data structure. Aggregates are calculated from the data stored in the quantile-digest data structure.
US08908552B2

A method and apparatus are provided for locating the positions of sensors of a network of sensors suitable for communicating with one another by radio connection. The method is suitable for receiving, from sensors of the network of sensors, measurements of relative distances between sensors of the network; for calculating a topology for the network of sensors from the received distance measurements, the topology comprising nodes representative of sensors of the network of sensors; and for determining absolute positions for the sensors by anchoring the calculated topology in an absolute frame of reference on the basis of constraints associated with an environment plan of the network of sensors. The invention also provides a locating device implementing the management method.
US08908551B2

The invention provides a self-adaptive downlink power control scheme for OFDMA-based wireless cellular networks suitable for noise-limited environments. Downlink power levels are assigned in a distributed manner in the absence of any requirement for coordination or cooperation between cells. Distributed assignment allows for more optimal usage of the available transmit power at the base stations and more complete exploitation of the flexibility of frequency domain scheduling. In one embodiment, base stations in a cellular network service mobile user equipment within the respective base station coverage areas, and categorize the user equipment in a plurality of power levels according to certain criteria in accordance with such factors as channel experience and quality. A load-balancing self-adjustment mechanism allows automatic balancing of the load between different power levels.
US08908542B2

A portion of a voice call is forked by copying packets associated with voice call at a device providing an interface between two networks. The packets to be copied are identified based on address and port information associated with the voice call. The portion of the voice call is analyzed to determine the source of any voice quality issues associated with the call.
US08908531B2

Transfer of data between at least one supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) device and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) device via a wireless communication network is facilitated. The data is used for monitoring and/or controlling the AMI device. A protocol conversion of the data is performed to facilitate transfer of the data between the SCADA device and the AMI device as data packets via a packet data network gateway and a wireless communications network.
US08908530B2

A system and method for optimizing the efficiency of data sharing among a set of radio nodes in a radio environment is provided. The technique includes identifying a data unit and assigning it a class, identifying a connectivity type, computing a significance factor based on connectivity type and assigned class, mapping the significance factor to a priority factor, and scheduling output of the data unit based on the priority factor. A scheduler algorithm can be used for scheduling output. The class can be assigned based on which nodes of the set of radio nodes possess copies of the data unit at a given time. An arbitration process can be used to determine the priority factor. A significance factor weighting algorithm, based on how many nodes will be receiving the data and on how much a node needs the data, can be used to determine the significance factor.
US08908522B2

A method may include monitoring data packets at a data transmission channel. The data packets may be identified as nonconforming or as conforming data packets. Data packets may be identified as nonconforming if a data transmission rate would exceed a data rate threshold if the data packets were allowed to continue along the data transmission channel. Data packets may be identified as conforming if a data transmission rate would not exceed the data rate threshold if the data packets were allowed to continue along the data transmission channel. The nonconforming data packets may be retained as retained data packets. The retained data packets may again be identified as nonconforming data packets or conforming data packets after a retaining time. Data packets identified as conforming data packets may be released.
US08908520B2

A method of regulating traffic flow to customer premises devices (CPDs) reachable via outside plant units (OPUs). The method comprises receiving first packets in a first traffic category via a first interface, the first packets being destined for respective CPDs; receiving second packets in a second traffic category via a second interface, the second packets being destined for respective CPDs; determining a destination OPU for each of the first and second packets. For each particular OPU that is the destination OPU for one or more packets, the packets are buffered and transmitted via an OPU interface for the particular OPU. The destination OPU for a particular packet is determined by identifying the OPU via which the CPD for which the particular packet is destined is reachable. Packet flow via the OPU interface is regulated by prioritizing transmission of first packets over transmission of second packets.
US08908518B1

Systems and methods can operable to provide a service class identifier field for packets transmitted over a network. Systems can include an interface, a control device and a transmitter. The interface can receive a data packet comprising a packet header and payload, and the packet header can include a differentiated services code point field. The control device can identify one or more network traffic parameters of a data stream associated with the received data packet and modify the data packet to include one or more service class identifier codes associated with the data packet. The transmitter can forward the modified data packet to a network device suited to interpret the service class identifier codes through one or more intermediate routers.
US08908514B2

A method for supporting handover mechanisms, in particular Media Independent Handover (MIH) mechanism according to the IEEE 802.21 standard, wherein a user equipment (UE) attaches to an access network (AN) via points of attachment (PoAs), wherein signalling messages are exchanged between the entities participating in the handover process, in particular between the user equipment and the points of attachment, and wherein the handover mechanism supports changing the network connection of the user equipment from one of the points of attachment—current point of attachment (PoA)—to another one of the points of attachment—target point of attachment—while maintaining all ongoing communication of the user equipment, is characterized in that information about the user equipment's ongoing communication is added to the signalling messages exchanged in the handover process, wherein the information is employed to treat individual traffic flows of the user equipment's ongoing communication selectively during the handover process.
US08908510B2

A method for communication includes transmitting a data packet from a first port to a second port over a communication link. After transmission of a first portion of the data packet, the transmission is temporarily suspended, a flow-control message is sent from the first port to the second port over the communication link while the transmission is temporarily suspended, and then the transmission is resumed so as to transmit a second portion of the data packet.
US08908505B2

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling router pairs, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.
US08908504B2

A method of wireless communication is provided. The method includes transmitting a message to notify a base station of a radio link failure on a current channel, retuning to a pre-agreed channel, and setting a time period to synchronize with the base station on the pre-agreed channel.
US08908498B2

Disclosed are a buffer space allocation method and a device. The solution of the present invention enables the division of the buffer space in the buffer resource of a terminal equipment according to the currently configured carrier aggregation mode of the terminal equipment, so that the number of buffer spaces in the buffer can be adjusted according to the number of aggregated carriers, thereby improving the utilization rate of the buffer resource. The method is simple, easy to implement, and applicable to both FDD and TDD systems.
US08908496B2

For an incremental redundancy (IR) transmission in a MIMO system, a transmitter processes (e.g., encodes, partitions, interleaves, and modulates) a data packet based on a selected rate to obtain multiple data symbol blocks. The transmitter transmits one data symbol block at a time until a receiver correctly recovers the data packet or all blocks are transmitted. Whenever a data symbol block is received from the transmitter, the receiver detects a received symbol block to obtain a detected symbol block, processes (e.g., demodulates, deinterleaves, re-assembles, and decodes) all detected symbol blocks obtained for the data packet, and provides a decoded packet. If the decoded packet is in error, then the receiver repeats the processing when another data symbol block is received for the data packet. The receiver may also perform iterative detection and decoding on the received symbol blocks for the data packet multiple times to obtain the decoded packet.
US08908483B1

A method, apparatus, and system for implementing contact sensing are provided using a near field transducer (NFT) and in-drive NFT characterization diagnostics for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drives (HDDs). NFT resistance is monitored and used to determine head to disk contact and spacing. NFT resistance is used to detect NFT head wear.
US08908479B2

An electronic wrist watch having wireless charging function is provided. The watch includes a body, a watch strap portion, at least one chargeable battery and a wireless charging module. The watch strap portion includes two watch straps respectively connected to opposite ends portions of the body, and used to wear the electronic wrist watch on wrist. The rechargeable battery and the wireless charging module are arranged in the watch-strap portion, and the wireless charging module is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The wireless charging module is configured to wirelessly collect external energy to charge the rechargeable battery. With such a configuration of the rechargeable battery and the wireless charging module arranged in the watch-strap portion, capacity of the rechargeable battery can be effectively expanded, and charging process of the rechargeable battery can be effectively simplified, without changing the size of the electronic wrist watch.
US08908474B2

The invention is a method for inferring the saturation and pressure change of a reservoir by combining the information from 4D (time-lapse) seismic and time lag data volumes (7) derived from the 4D seismic, well logs (4), and reservoir simulation results (when simulator results are available) and featuring one or more 4D well ties (1) for a quantitative 4D interpretation. The inventive method uses model-based inversion incorporating rock physics (2) at well locations (5), and is statistical-based (6) away from wells. The method thus allows integration (8) of rock physics model and reservoir simulation and honors 4D seismic change.
US08908473B2

A method of subsurface imaging is disclosed, the method involving using input data relating to the geometry of a fracture in a subsurface medium, mechanical properties of the medium and in-situ stress states in the medium, to model the behavior of the fracture and obtain predicted information relating to deformation of the fracture. The predicted information is then used to constrain the interpretation of measured microseismic data caused by movement of the fracture to determine characteristics of the movement and/or failure of the fracture.
US08908470B2

An apparatus includes a streamer cable having one or more seismic devices disposed within a polymer body and about a core. The polymer body includes a channel defined therein for receiving one or more wires connecting the seismic devices. The wires include slack for withstanding the tensional forces experienced by the streamer cable during deployment and operation. Associated methods are also described.
US08908458B2

A sense amplifier circuit for a nonvolatile memory that includes a first amplifier to perform a switching operation to output a first signal on a sense amplifier based logic (SABL) node depending on the state of a sensing enable signal, a second amplifier to perform a switching operation to output a second signal on the SABL node depending on the state of the sensing enable signal, a current mirror that sinks current on the SABL node depending on the sensing enable signal and a bit line signal, and an inverter arranged to output the signal on the SABL node as a data signal.
US08908448B2

A semiconductor memory apparatus according to the embodiment includes: an external connection terminal configured to supply an external voltage; a fuse unit configured to perform a fuse rupture operation; and an interruption circuit unit configured to respond to a test signal to determine whether the external connection terminal is connected to the fuse unit.
US08908445B2

A memory includes a plurality of blocks in which each block includes a plurality of memory cells. The memory includes a set of charge pumps which apply voltages to the plurality of blocks. A method includes selecting a block of the plurality of memory blocks; determining an array size of the selected block; determining a set of program/erase voltages based on the array size and temperature from a temperature sensor; and programming/erasing the selected block, wherein the set of program/erase voltages are applied by the set of charge pumps during the programming/erasing of the selected block.
US08908441B1

Memory cells which have read noise are identified during a programming pass and an amount of programming is increased for noisy memory cells compared to non-noisy cells. The read noise is indicated by a decrease in the threshold voltage of a cell when the cell is repeatedly read. In one approach, during the programming pass, a cell enters a temporary lockout state when it passes a first verify test and is subject to one or more additional verify tests. Data is stored to identify the cell as a noisy cell or a non-noisy cell based on the one or more additional verify tests. Or, the cells are subject to the one or more additional verify tests at the end of the programming pass. In a subsequent programming pass, the noisy cell is programmed using a stricter verify condition. Or, the noisy cell is kept in an erased state.
US08908439B2

A word line driver circuit includes a first transistor having its gate coupled to a first node configured to receive a word line select signal. A second transistor has its gate coupled to the first node and a drain coupled to a drain of the first transistor at a second node that is coupled to a word line. A word line assist control circuit is coupled to the first node, to the word line, and to a gate of a third transistor. The word line assist control circuit is configured to turn on or turn off the third transistor to adjust a voltage of the word line.
US08908438B1

Flash memory devices and systems are provided. One flash memory device includes an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (nMOSFET), a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide silicon (SONOS) transistor coupled to the nMOSFET, and an isolated p-well coupled to the nMOSFET and the SONOS transistor. A flash memory system includes an array of memory devices divided into a plurality of paired sectors, a global bit line (GBL) configured to provide high voltage to each respective sector during erase and program operations coupled to each of the plurality of sectors, and a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled between a respective pair of sectors. Methods for operating a flash memory are also provided. One method includes providing high voltage, via the GBL, to the paired sectors during erase and program operations and providing low voltage, via a local bit line, to each memory device during read operations.
US08908436B2

A method (and device) includes producing first data in a page region of a memory, the first data including a first number of memory sets, each of the memory sets having a second number of bits, where the first number is a positive number more than one and the second number is a positive number more than three. After the producing the first data in the page region of the memory, second data is produced in response to the produced first data, the second data having the first number of bits, each of the bits of the second data having a logic value that is determined by a majority of the bits included in a corresponding one of the memory sets.
US08908434B2

A FLASH memory cell includes a control gate over a floating gate over a substrate. A wall line and an erase gate each is disposed adjacent to a respective sidewall of the control gate. A first source/drain (S/D) region is disposed in the substrate and adjacent to a sidewall of the wall line. A second S/D region is disposed in the substrate and adjacent to the sidewall of the floating gate. A method of operating the FLASH memory cell includes applying a first voltage level to the control gate. A second voltage level is applied to the word line. The second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level. A third voltage level is applied to the first S/D region. A fourth voltage level is applied to the second S/D region. The fourth voltage level is higher than the third voltage level. The erase gate is electrically floating.
US08908427B1

Methods and systems for time-based cell decoding for PCM memory. Generally, the higher the PCM element resistance, the longer it takes for a read output to change state. PCM memory output is determined using differentiated timings of read outputs changing state, rather than differentiated values of read outputs. In some single-bit single-ended sensing embodiments, a reference, with resistance between the resistances corresponding to a pair of adjacent logical states, is stored in multiple reference cells; a “vote” unit emits a clock signal when a majority of the reference cell read outputs transition at the vote unit. Timing units produce different binary outputs depending on whether a data read output or the clock signal changes state first at the timing unit. Time-based decoding provides advantages including improved temperature and drift resilience, improved state discrimination, improved reliability of multibit PCM, and fast and reliable sensing.
US08908423B2

A magnetoresistive effect element includes: a magnetization free layer having an invertible magnetization; an insulating layer being adjacent to the magnetization free layer; and a magnetization fixed layer being adjacent to the insulation layer and in an opposite side of the insulation layer to the magnetization free layer. The magnetization free layer includes: a first magnetization free layer being adjacent to the insulating layer and comprising Fe or Co; and a second magnetization free layer being adjacent to the first magnetization layer and comprising NiFeB.
US08908422B2

A magnetoelectric memory element includes a magnetic element having an easy magnetization axis aligned along a first axis, means for applying to the magnetic element a magnetic polarization field aligned along a second axis not parallel to the first axis, a piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate mechanically coupled with the magnetic element, and first and second electrodes arranged to apply an electrical field to the substrate so that the substrate exerts, on said magnetic element, a non-isotropic mechanical stress of a main direction generally oriented along a distinct third axis coplanar with the first and second axes. The magnetic element exhibits, by a combined effect of the magnetic polarization field and the easy magnetization axis, two distinct states of stable equilibrium of magnetization, corresponding to two not mutually opposed magnetization directions. The non-isotropic mechanical stress is sufficiently intense to induce a switchover between the two distinct states.
US08908415B2

A resistive memory cell includes a switch and a resistive switching device. The switch includes a first terminal connected to a select line and a gate terminal connected to a word line. The resistive switching device is connected between a second terminal of the switch and a bit line. The resistive switching device is resettable by having a positive bias applied to the word line and a negative bias applied to the bit line.
US08908404B2

In a light power generation system, a control device, a control method, and a program, efficient power can be supplied. The maximum power detection unit operates a MOSFET in a power converter circuit and open-circuits both ends of a solar cell panel in the maximum power detection mode. After that, the maximum power detection unit short-circuits both ends of the solar cell panel, detects a maximum power by monitoring the output power of the solar cell panel during a period from the open state to the short-circuited state, and defines the voltage of the solar cell panel as an optimal voltage when detecting the maximum power. In a tracking operation mode, the control unit performs PWM control with respect to the MOSFET by defining the optimal voltage to be a reference signal. Operations are repeated between the maximum power detection mode and the tracking operation mode.
US08908403B2

The present disclosure relates generally to a light emitting diode (LED) luminaire. In one embodiment, the LED luminaire includes a base, a heat sink coupled to the base, a power supply coupled to an interior volume of the heat sink, one or more LEDs coupled to the power supply, wherein the one or more LEDs are coupled to a circuit configured to provide a constant input impedance and a lens coupled to the heat sink and enclosing the one or more LEDs.
US08908401B2

A high-frequency DC to DC converter comprising n transient converter circuits (1, 2 . . . n) operating in parallel. The converter has constant transfer characteristics, and the transient converter circuits are operated phase-shifted by 360°/n and with interleaved duty cycles, which results in a continuous energy transfer through the circuit. The circuit is also soft-switched, with very low switching losses. In particular, the active semiconductors only switch off a relatively small magnetization current, during a recovery phase which can last as long as (n−1)/n of the switching phase period.
US08908390B2

A switching converter system includes a feedback path with at least one comparator arranged to provide a digital error signal in response to a comparison of an output voltage to a reference voltage. A first isolation channel can be configured to isolatably transport a clock signal to digitally gate the error signal, and a second isolation channel can be configured to isolatably transport the error signal. A controller can be coupled to the first and second isolation channels and configured to control a duty cycle in response to the error signal. A transformer is preferably inserted into the first and second isolation channels to enhance isolation and the first and second isolation channels respectively can include first and second digital gates that each have an output port coupled to an input port of the other.
US08908388B2

A motherboard sliding mechanism adapted for removing a motherboard out from a housing of an electronic device includes a bracket, a connecting member, and a sliding assembly. The bracket includes a supporting board and a sidewall perpendicularly extending from an edge of the supporting board, the supporting board defines a guiding groove. The connecting member slidably passes through the guiding groove, and is capable of detachably fixing the bracket to the housing of the electronic device. The sliding assembly is rotatably assembled on the bracket and detachably connected to the connecting member. The sliding assembly is capable of being rotated to lock or unlock the connecting member to drive the connecting member lock or unlock with the bracket, and the motherboard sliding mechanism with the motherboard can be conveniently slid out of the housing of the electronic device or firmly fixed in the housing of the electronic device.
US08908387B2

A wiring board includes a substrate having an opening portion, electronic components positioned in the opening portion of the substrate and including first and second electronic components, and an insulation layer formed over the substrate and the first and second components. The first component has first and second electrodes having side portions on side surfaces of the first component, the second component has first and second electrodes having side portions on side surfaces of the second component, the first electrode of the first component and the first electrode of the second component are set to have substantially the same electric potential, and the first component and the second component are positioned in the opening portion of the substrate such that the side portion of the first electrode of the first component is beside the side portion of the first electrode of the second component.
US08908374B2

This electronic device includes a filter circuit including a coil, a resistor, and a condenser, and a heat radiating member radiating heat generated from the coil and the resistor, arranged in proximity to the coil and the resistor of the filter circuit.
US08908361B2

An electronic apparatus includes: a casing that is formed by press molding and that has positioning holes; a first assembly having positioning projections that are inserted into the positioning holes and at whose distal ends are provided buffer portions that project-out from the positioning holes, the first assembly being assembled to an inner side of the casing in a positioned state due to the positioning projections being inserted into the positioning holes; and a second assembly having engaging portions, and being assembled to the inner side of the casing in a state of being positioned at the first assembly, due to the engaging portions being engaged with engaged portions that are formed at the first assembly.
US08908355B2

A combination emergency panelboard includes a relay section and a circuit-breaker section. The relay section includes automatic load control relays and the circuit-breaker section includes emergency circuit breakers. A dielectric barrier is positioned between the relay and circuit-breaker sections to separate them. A busbar is positioned in the circuit-breaker section for distributing a phase of emergency current to a plurality of emergency circuit breakers coupled thereto. A plurality of automatic load control relays is positioned in the relay section. Each of the relays is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of emergency circuit breakers for distributing the phase of emergency current to a respective load.
US08908353B2

A laminated ceramic capacitor has multiple layered dielectric ceramic layers of a dielectric ceramic constituted by primary phase grains whose primary component is BaTiO3, secondary phase grains containing at least Re (Re represents at least one of Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Y), Ba, and Ti, and grain boundary phase containing at least one of B and Li or both; and internal electrodes which are made of Cu or Cu alloy. When a thickness of the dielectric ceramic layer is given by t, and when grain sizes at cumulative 20%, cumulative 50%, and cumulative 95% points of a cumulative count distribution of the primary phase grains are given by D20, D50, and D95, respectively, D20≦D50×70%, D50≦t/4, D95≦t/2, and CV value ((standard deviation between D20 and D95)/D50)<40% are satisfied.
US08908344B2

There is provided an overheating protection circuit, including a temperature-variable voltage generating unit generating a temperature-variable voltage by adding a temperature-proportional voltage increasing with an increase in temperature and a first turn-on voltage decreasing with an increase in temperature; and an overheating prevention signal generating unit comparing the temperature-variable voltage and a second turn-on voltage decreasing with an increase in temperature to generate an overheating prevention signal, wherein the first turn-on voltage and the second turn-on voltage have the same distribution.
US08908339B2

A device is provided for use with an AC power system having a line conductor, a neutral conductor and a transformer, the line conductor and the neutral conductor are coupled between a source and a load, and the transformer includes a first primary winding coupled in series with the line conductor, a second primary winding coupled in series with the neutral conductor, and a secondary winding. The device includes a first circuit coupled to the secondary winding, providing a first detection signal if a current from the line conductor to ground exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and a second circuit coupled to the secondary winding, having a source that provides an AC signal at a specified amplitude and a specified frequency to the secondary winding. The second circuit provides a second detection signal if an impedance between the neutral conductor and ground is less than a second predetermined threshold.
US08908328B2

A perpendicular magnetic write head includes: a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface, and extending in a height direction perpendicular to the air bearing surface; a first yoke having an end surface exposed on the air bearing surface, and facing a forward section of the magnetic pole with a gap layer in between; a second yoke located behind the first yoke with an insulating layer in between in the height direction, and connected to a backward section of the magnetic pole; a shield connecting the first yoke to the second yoke; and an additional magnetic layer located behind a boundary between the first yoke and the insulating layer, and in contact with the first yoke.
US08908326B1

A system for storing data includes two or more drive mechanical modules configured to store data, one or more drive control modules coupled to the drive mechanical modules, and a data control module. The drive control modules control mechanical operations in the drive mechanical modules. The data control modules access data on the drive mechanical modules.
US08908324B1

A motor includes a base portion including a plurality of base through holes passing there through and a stator arranged on an upper side of the base portion. A plurality of coils of the stator include three coil groups including one or more of the coils defined by a single conducting wire. A joint portion where at least two of three common wires are joined together to define a single common wire is provided on the upper side of the base portion. Each common wire is one end portion of the conducting wire defining a separate one of the three coil groups. Each of the common wire elements and lead wire elements passes through a separate one of the base through holes. Each base through hole includes a circular sealing portion between an inner circumference and an entire circumferential extent of a corresponding one of the wire elements.
US08908322B1

There are provided a spindle motor and a hard disk drive including the same. The spindle motor includes: a shaft; a sleeve rotatably supporting the shaft by fluid dynamic pressure; a stator core installed on an outer surface of the sleeve; a base member fixed to the sleeve, wherein at least a portion of an inner edge of the base member in a radial direction is inserted into a fixing portion formed in a circumferential direction in an outer surface of the sleeve in the radial direction, and the sleeve includes a first sleeve supporting the shaft and a second sleeve provided outwardly of the sleeve and having the stator core installed on an outer surface thereof.
US08908319B1

A disk drive includes a disk drive enclosure and a disk rotatably mounted to and within the disk drive enclosure. A desiccant canister is in fluid communication with the disk drive enclosure. The desiccant canister includes a canister housing and a desiccant material within the canister housing. The desiccant canister includes a water absorption restriction that limits a steady-state hourly water absorption rate of the desiccant to not exceed 2% of the desiccant's total capacity for water absorption.
US08908318B2

There is provided a base plate including: a base body; and a component receiving part penetrating through the base body so as to receive a circuit component mounted on a substrate therein at the time of coupling the substrate and the base body, wherein the component receiving part includes a step part formed in an outer edge thereof so that a sealing member is seated on the step part to seal the component receiving part.
US08908303B1

According to one embodiment, in a method for servo demodulation, a first demodulated signal and a second demodulated signal, which are calculated from amplitude values of burst signal patterns of a first area and a second area, are generated in order to generate a position error signal of a reader, based on a servo pattern read from a disk by the reader. Further, in the method for servo demodulation, a square-root of sum of squares of the first and the second demodulated signals is calculated, and an optimal compensation coefficient of a linearity correction function to be used in linearity compensation of the position error signal is calculated based on a maximum value and a minimum value of the square-root of sum of squares.
US08908302B2

An exposure method for color filter substrate is provided. As shown in FIG. 7(a), exposure is performed while a substrate 20 to which a photoresist has been applied is being transported in the Y direction, to simultaneously form first layers 81 and layers 91 in first non-display regions 51 (regions indicated by hatching sloping upward to the right) and the display region, respectively, on the substrate 20. Next, as shown in (b), the substrate 20 is rotated by 90 degrees, and exposure is performed while the substrate 20 is being transported in the X direction, to form second layers 82 in second non-display regions 52 (regions indicated by hatching sloping upward to the right). Thus, dummy PSs 71 and dummy PSs 72 arranged with desired pitches and having desired shapes can be formed in the first non-display regions 51 and the second non-display regions 52, respectively.
US08908301B2

Disclosed is a vibration actuator which can be arranged in a limited space, and which has excellent drive performance. Also disclosed are a lens barrel and a camera, which are provided therewith. Specifically disclosed is a vibration actuator which includes: a piezoelectric body which has a first surface, and which is excited by an electrical signal; a vibration body which is joined to the first surface, and which has a second surface on which vibration waves are generated by the excitation; and a moving body which is brought into pressure contact with the second surface, and which moves relatively to the vibration body, wherein the thickness of the piezoelectric body is different in the direction of the relative movement of the moving body.
US08908299B2

A method of tuning a mold for an optical component, the method comprising: (a) molding an optical component comprising at least: (i) a body portion defining a first face; (ii) at least one optical element on the first face, the optical element having a certain geometry; (iii) at least one alignment element on the first face selected from one of an alignment hole or an alignment pin; and (iv) at least one inspection element in a position fixed relative to the at least one alignment element on the first face; (b) measuring the location of the inspection element on the front face relative to the optical element; (c) comparing the location to a standard to determine a difference; and (d) if the difference is significant, adjusting a component of the mold to change the location of the alignment element relative to the optical element and reiterating steps (a)-(c).
US08908297B2

A fixed focus lens comprising, sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power. The first lens group includes an aperture stop. The second lens group is configured by a single lens element. During focusing, the second lens group moves along an optical axis and the first lens group and the third lens group are fixed with respect to an imaging plane.
US08908296B2

A four element lens system for use with an imaging sensor includes first, second, third, and fourth lens elements and an optical filter that are arranged sequentially in order from an object side to an imaging side. The lens elements are coated with an anti-reflective film. The lens system further includes an optical filter that is disposed at a distance from the imaging sensor. The lens elements are relatively positioned to each other to satisfy specific conditions. The lens elements further include thickness to diameters ratios that satisfy specific conditions.
US08908293B2

A photosensitive resin composition which can form a pattern attaining high resolution and having a high refractive index and a high transmittance is provided. The photosensitive resin composition includes a dispersion composition including (A) titanium dioxide particles having an average primary particle diameter of from 1 nm to 100 nm, (B) a graft copolymer that has a graft chain having a number of atoms other than hydrogen atoms in a range of from 40 to 10,000 and (C) a solvent, and (D) a polymerizable compound, and (E) a polymerization initiator.
US08908290B1

An optical imaging lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein both of the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein both of the surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces thereof has at least one inflection point. The optical imaging lens system has a total of six lens elements with refractive power.
US08908287B2

A six-piece optical lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a stop; a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface; a third lens element with a negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a fourth lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface; a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface; a sixth lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface, each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth lens elements has at least one aspheric surface. Thereby, such a system can be applied to a high resolution mobile phone, and has a wide field of view, big stop, high pixel, high resolution and low height.
US08908268B2

An infrared optical lens system including: a first lens which comprises a crystalline material; and a second lens which comprises an amorphous material and is formed by using molding processing, wherein a refractive index of the first lens is greater than that of the second lens, and the first lens and the second lens are disposed in the order from an object to an image.
US08908260B2

A focusing mechanism for focusing a lens module includes a base seat, a movable platform, a positioning assembly, a support bracket and a plurality of arms. The positioning assembly is fixed to the base seat and passes through a center of the movable platform, a lens of the lens module is detachably mounted on the positioning assembly. The support bracket is fixed to the movable platform. A sensor of the lens module is detachably mounted on the support bracket. Each of the plurality of arms rotatably interconnects the movable platform and the base seat, the movable platform drives the support bracket to rotate relative to the positioning assembly to enable the lens to rotate relative to the sensor via a drive of the arms.
US08908241B2

A document reading device includes: a document reading device main body; and an opening/closing body with one end supported rotatably with respect to the document reading device main body while another end openably/closably provided, the other end of the opening/closing body being provided with a handgrip having a depression sloped toward inside of the opening/closing body in accordance with approach of the opening/closing body to the document reading device main body in a closed status with respect to the document reading device main body.
US08908239B2

Since a light emitting surface in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a light guide is formed to have a smaller width than a reflecting surface, light of an LED, which is incident from an end surface of the light guide and is scattered throughout the entirety of the longitudinal direction in the reflecting surface, is condensed toward the light emitting surface, and is then emitted in the form of a band toward a document from the light emitting surface. Therefore, it is possible to provide a CIS module including an illumination unit having a new configuration capable of illuminating a portion where the document and an optical axis of the lens array included in the lens unit intersect, in the form of a band with high efficiency using the illumination unit.
US08908235B2

An image reading apparatus includes: a partial pre-scanning device configured to convey a reading unit in an edge detection area and causes the reading unit to execute a reading operation in the edge detection area, the edge detection area being a partial area within a scannable area on a platen, and a detecting device configured to detect a plurality of edge pixels on a basis of image data, the plurality of edge pixels representing a side of a document, the image data being outputted by the reading unit that reads the edge detection area through execution of the reading operation by the partial pre-scanning device. Upon the plurality of edge pixels not detected on the basis of the image data, the partial pre-scanning device moves the edge detection area in a conveying direction of the reading unit and causes the reading unit to execute the reading operation.
US08908233B2

An image processing apparatus includes a cover configured to be movable between a first position, in which the top of the main body is covered, and a second position, in which the top of the main body is exposed; a supporting member configured to vertically move with respect to the main body so that the rotation center of the cover is moved between an ascent position and a descent position; a cam configured to rotate together with the cover such that a cam surface abuts on the main body, thereby vertically moving the supporting member, wherein the cam has a shape to displace the rotation center to the descent position when then the cover rotates to the first position and to displace the rotation center to the ascent position when the cover rotates to the second position so that interference of the cover is suppressed.
US08908230B2

Provided is a control apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus including an inline sensor. The control apparatus includes: a data analyzing section configured to extract color information contained in an image of a target page positioned a predetermined number of pages after a certain page, where the predetermined number of pages are pages to be printed during at least a period from print processing for the certain page to measurement of color information on the printed image of the certain page; a color patch creating section configured to create a color patch corresponding to the color information contained in the image of the target page and arrange the color patch in the certain page; and a control section configured to send image data of the certain page to the image forming apparatus so as to make the image forming apparatus perform print processing and measuring color information.
US08908221B2

A tape printing apparatus, comprising a port for connecting to external apparatus; a first memory for storing label data defining at least one label; and a second memory comprising program information.
US08908219B2

An image forming apparatus is provided that automatically performs preview display of a document image data before printing if a print condition set by a user includes a preset print condition. When an instruction for print execution is given, a preview display control portion automatically performs preview display of document image data if a print condition set by a user includes a print condition for automatic preview display stored in an automatic preview display print condition storage portion.
US08908216B2

A network scanner, communication protocols, and client and server programs and are provided which provide an improved way to transmit legally binding documents, obviating the need for outmoded, legacy fax transmissions. Using the network scanner, a document may be scanned and transferred directly into any shared folder inbox residing on any computer attached to the Internet. Enhanced server systems and network communications and messaging protocols are provided that are more practical to use than email for sending documents such as executed legal documents or other documents requiring robust integrity and authenticatability. Similarly, the inventive network scanner, server systems and communication protocols provide improved ways to perform large file transfers and to manage bandwidth to minimize problems associated with uploading/downloading large files as attachments to/from email servers and for enabling user control over VoIP quality during file transmission sessions.
US08908213B2

A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
US08908202B2

An image recording device is provided with a first memory which is a volatile memory, a second memory, an input unit through which authentication information is input, an authentication judging unit. The recording unit is controlled to print an image on the printing sheet based on the drive data, which is converted from the image data stored in the first memory or the second memory and is stored in the first memory or the second memory. The drive data or the image data is stored in each of the first memory and the second memory is transmitted therebetween. The image recording device further includes a restricting unit capable of restricting power supply to the converting unit and the first memory in a sleep mode.
US08908200B2

A method and apparatus to generate XHTML data in a terminal, the method and apparatus including setting printing-related parameters to determine contents to be printed from among the contents of one or more standard data items desired to be printed, generating XHTML extension data that can be inserted into XHTML basic data prepared in advance, corresponding to the set contents, and generating the XHTML data by inserting the generated XHTML extension data into the XHTML basic data.
US08908198B2

A system and method for automatically rendering labeling service prints with print engine parameters. An auto-labeling application can be configured in association with a print engine controller for labeling the service prints with the print engine parameters via a built-in marker integrated with a fault multi-function device. A portable inline marker can also be separately attached to a baffle assembly of the fault device and connected to the print engine controller via a connector in order to receive the print engine parameters from the print engine controller. A setup routine configured with the auto-labeling application can be employed to customize the service print labels in a modular format and the parameters can be appended to each other based on the information required to troubleshoot the fault multi-function device. Such an approach effectively provides labeling of the service prints with enhanced service proficiency and customer satisfaction and reduces service time with respect to the fault multi-function device.
US08908196B2

A print control device including a sheet-base printing speed table that indicates a sheet-base printing speed for each printer; a printing time calculation unit that calculates a printing time associated with a print job based on a printing speed corresponding to a sheet used for the print job by referencing the sheet-base printing speed table; and a first display control unit that displays the print job in a predetermined display mode that has a length proportional to the printing time that is calculated.
US08908194B2

A measuring machine includes a mobile unit to move a measurement sensor in a measurement volume. The mobile unit includes at least one member mobile along an axis under the thrust of driving means and being subjected to dynamic deformations. A laser sensor is provided with a laser emitter fixed to a first portion of the mobile member and a target fixed to a second portion of the mobile member and designed to receive a laser beam generated by the emitter. Means are provided for compensating for measurement errors of the machine resulting from the dynamic deformations of the mobile unit and in response to displacement of a point of incidence of the laser beam on the target with respect to a reference position in undeformed conditions, the displacement of the point resulting from the relative displacement of the first and second portions of the mobile member.
US08908191B2

A method for zero-contact measurement of the topography of a spherically or aspherically curved air-glass surface of an optical lens or lens combination, distinguished in that the surface (S1) to be measured is sampled on its glass rear side with an optical measurement beam through the air-glass surface (S2) lying before it in the measurement direction. A device for carrying out the method is characterized in that a) the optical lens (2) or the lens system is fastened on the end side of a rotatably mounted hollow shaft (1) such that the optical axis of the lens or lens system is at least approximately aligned with the rotation axis (3) of the hollow shaft (1), b) focusing optics (6) for an optical measurement beam (10) are arranged inside the hollow shaft, c) the measurement unit (7) for generating the measurement beam (10) is arranged so as to be displaceable perpendicularly to the rotation axis (3) of the hollow shaft (1), d) at least one beam splitter (11) for separating a partial beam and forwarding it onto at least one optical sensor (12) is inserted into the measurement beam (10), and e) an optoelectronic transducer and evaluation electronics are assigned to the sensor (12).
US08908185B2

The present invention provides a prism. The prism includes a lower surface, an upper surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface are disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The first side surface and the second side surface of the prism are one-dimensional parabolic surfaces. The lower surface is used to receive light. The first side surface is used to reflect the light from the lower surface to the upper surface. The second side surface is used to reflect the light from the upper surface to the lower surface for further analysis in the process unit afterwards.
US08908179B2

A cuvette comprising a cuvette wall for limiting a sample reception space for receiving a fluid sample is disclosed. The cuvette wall is adapted to allow a traversal of measurement radiation through the fluid sample situated within the sample reception space. An information presenter is fixed at the cuvette wall. The information presenter wirelessly provides data to be transferred to an external data reception module. The data to be transferred relates to the cuvette. Further, an optical measurement apparatus is described.
US08908177B2

Embodiments described herein correct errors in spectrometer outputs due to the presence of second-order light. Embodiments determine a relationship between first-order light and second-order light of the spectrometer output. The relationship is a function of wavelength and an output of the spectrometer due to the first-order light. The relationship is used to determine an estimated contribution of the second-order light to the output. Spectrometer errors introduced by the second-order light are corrected by adjusting the spectrometer output according to the estimated contribution of the second-order light.
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