US08967087B2
An animal leash such as, for example, for dogs, may include an elongated flexible sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the sleeve is configured to be held by a hand of a user and includes an opening for accessing an interior pocket of the sleeve. A rigid rod may be removably received within the interior pocket of the flexible sleeve through the opening to optionally make the animal leash rigid for training and/or controlling an animal (e.g., a dog) releasably attached to the leash. An attachment portion may be coupled at or near the distal end of the sleeve and may be configured to be releasably attached to a collar or harness on the animal.
US08967082B2
A plasma processing apparatus 31 includes a processing chamber 32; a gas supply unit 33 for supplying a plasma processing gas into a processing chamber 32; a mounting table 34 configured to hold the target substrate W thereon; a plasma generating device 39 configured to generate plasma within the processing chamber 32; and a gas supply device 61. The gas supply device 61 includes a head unit 62 configured to move between a first position above the mounting table 34 and a second position different from the first position and to supply a gas, and the head unit 62 is configured to supply a film forming gas to a small-volume region formed between the mounting table 34 and the head unit 62 when the head unit 62 is positioned at the first position and to adsorb the film forming gas on the target substrate W.
US08967081B2
Device for treating substrates, comprising a changer having controlled pressure and temperature, a substrate support which is provided in the chamber, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for carrying out a vapor phase deposition, and an upper wall of the chamber provided with a plurality of first channels connected to a first inlet and a plurality of second channels connected to a second inlet, the first and second channels opening into the chamber and being regularly distributed in the upper wall, a heating element provided above the upper wall and a gas discharge ring provided between the upper wall and the substrate support, the upper wall begin electrically conductive and insulated relative to the substrate support so as to be able to apply a voltage between the upper wall and the substrate support.
US08967077B2
A system and method for photo-grafting a coating polymer onto the surface of a medical device are provided. The system comprises a plurality of stations including a novel grafting station. The system and method of the invention are both time- and resource-efficient. The system includes several stations, each station including a dipping tank. The system allows for the automated, semi-automated, or manual dipping of medical devices into the dipping tanks in a specified order, as desired, wherein at least one of the stations is a grafting station for photo-grafting the coating polymer onto the surface of the medical device. The system is modular, which allows for modification of the process as required, depending on the needs of the user. The system may comprise stations for incorporating an antimicrobial agent into the coating, and/or for rendering the coating lubricious.
US08967074B2
The present disclosure provides a device for preventing the fouling of a liquid dispensing nozzle. The end of the dispensing nozzle is placed In a hollow interior of a band carrying the same solvents that are dispensed by the nozzle. The solvent on the band evaporates into a gap between the ring and the dispensing nozzle, thus providing a vapor sheath or environment that helps to prevent the fouling of the dispensing nozzle.
US08967072B2
A retractable flagpole assembly includes a retractable flagpole, a top pivot holder rotatably capped on the top rod of the retractable flagpole and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner top end of a flag, an end block spaced below the lower pivot holder and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner bottom end of the flag, a link coupled between the top pivot holder and the end block, and a lower pivot holder rotatably sleeved onto the retractable flagpole and axially movable along the link and lockable to the end block.
US08967068B2
The disclosure reduces vertical movement of a floating offshore platform by including a centralized open keel plate coupled to the hull that allows water below and above the keel plate. As the floating platform moves vertically, the keel plate separates the water and causes drag on the platform. The water moving vertically with the plate also increases the dynamic mass. The drag results in less vertical movement of the offshore platform without the need to extend legs of the platform to gain an equivalent reduction in vertical movement. The added dynamic mass increases the natural period of the vertical motion away from the wave excitation period to minimize the wave driven motion. The keel plate generally is above or at the same level of the keel, and therefore would not reduce the clearance between the seabed and the keel of the hull at the quayside.
US08967060B2
A sewing machine includes a frame portion, a lid member, and a control portion. The lid member is attached to the frame portion such that the lid member can open and close. The control portion is configured to control a movement speed of the lid member depending on an aperture of the lid member.
US08967059B2
An emissions recycling system is used on a vehicle towing an agricultural implement to enrich the fertility of the soil. The system includes an exhaust collector for collecting exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine of the towing vehicle and an exhaust distribution system for injecting at least a portion of the exhaust emissions collected by the exhaust collector into the ground worked by the ground working tools of the agricultural implement. Fertility of the soil is enriched by bioactivity within the soil's micro flora which consumes the greenhouse gas and emissions.
US08967051B2
Aspects of the invention provide a transport system powered by short block Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs). The use of short blocks allows vehicles to move under precise control even when they are in close proximity to each other. The design allows the vehicles to be propelled and guided while negotiating sharp turns and negotiating merge and diverge switches. A coreless LSM can be used to create propulsive force without attractive force so as to allow a relatively high drag vehicle suspension, such as a vehicle sliding on a smooth surface. Further aspects of the invention provide a switching member that is selectively moveable relative to a guideway in order to change a magnetic force acting on the vehicle transverse to a direction of motion of the vehicle.
US08967042B2
A printing apparatus for manufacturing a spacer includes a printing plate and a printing roller. The printing plate has a plurality of receiving recesses formed thereon. The receiving recess has a generally elliptical shape. The receiving recesses are infiltrated with a plurality of beads. The printing roller transfers the beads onto its outer surface by rolling over the receiving recesses, and transfers the beads from its outer surface onto an external substrate. Thus, the spacers may maintain a distance between the first and second substrates stably, so that press characteristics may be enhanced and smear defects occurring when the display panel is pressed may be prevented.
US08967041B2
The invention relates to a device for aligning containers (1) comprising at least one detection system (7). In order to be able to apply identically orientated and aligned labels even to containers without embossings, the invention proposes that at least one detection system (7) is configured as a cover detection system (7) and is disposed so that a closure element (4) disposed on the container (1) can be detected.
US08967028B2
A sheet cutting device includes a cutter holder, a moving unit, and a guide member. The cutter holder accommodates a cutter. The cutter has opposed blades opposing each other to cut a sheet of recording media fed along a sheet feed path of a feed guide plate unit. The moving unit holds the cutter holder and is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet feed direction in which the sheet is fed along the sheet feed path. The guide member is disposed along the sheet width direction to guide the moving unit in the sheet width direction. The cutter holder partially overlaps with the feed guide plate unit in a thickness direction of the sheet perpendicular to both the sheet width direction and the sheet feed direction.
US08967027B2
A table tool includes a table which carries a power tool. The table includes table base and a table top. The table top includes a central table top portion fixed to the table base. The central table top portion of the table top includes a left perimeter, a right perimeter, and a rear perimeter. A first table top extension is configured to be selectively coupled to the table on the left perimeter, and the right perimeter of the central table top portion with the first table top extension slideable relative to the central table top portion. A second table top extension is configured to be selectively coupled to the left perimeter, the right perimeter, and the rear perimeter of the central table top portion with the second table top extension fixed relative to the central table top portion.
US08967025B2
An optical fiber feeding mechanism of a scrap collector includes a lower roller and an upper roller for advancing an optical fiber scrap cut out by an optical fiber cutter into a scrap receptacle, and further includes a roller holding member. In a state in which the lower roller and the upper roller are not actuated, the roller holding member forms a clearance enough to keep the lower roller and the upper roller from holding an optical fiber therebetween. After the optical fiber cutter cuts the optical fiber, the roller holding member lowers the upper roller toward the lower roller in accordance with the rotation of the upper roller so that the optical fiber may be held by and between the lower roller and the upper roller.
US08967019B2
A control knob has a body and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism acts as a safety mechanism or safeguard by biasing the knob in a locked position, thereby preventing the knob from engaging a control stem or other structure on, for example, an appliance. This prevents the knob from inadvertent rotation which may power-on an appliance, or cause a change in a current setting of an appliance which, in certain instances, may have dangerous repercussions.
US08967014B2
A manual control device includes an actuation member which is supported on a switching rod for pivoting about at least one actuation member pivot axis which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the switching rod. Furthermore, the switching rod is movably supported relative to a base member of the manual control device about or along a plurality of switching rod movement axes, there being provided restoring means, by means of which the actuation member which has been redirected out of a rest position about the actuation member pivot axis can be restored to the rest position. The restoring means have at least two resilient elements which are active counter to redirection of the actuation member from the rest position about the actuation member pivot axis and which are arranged radially opposite each other relative to the longitudinal axis of the switching rod.
US08967011B2
A gear structure is configured to support vertical motion of an electric pop-up monitor. More specifically, a double rack gear structure is configured to support a pop-up monitor. The rack gear structure includes an outer gear and an inner gear. The outer gear is coupled at a side of the monitor frame to operate integrally with the monitor frame, and enables the vertical motion of the monitor frame with an ascending or descending motion. The inner gear is received inside the outer gear. The inner gear performs an ascending or descending motion simultaneously with the outer gear, and supports forward and rearward or right and left shaking, which occurs in the outer gear, by maximizing a portion overlapping with the outer gear when the outer gear has ascended to the maximum.
US08967004B2
An engine starter includes a gear assembly including a pinion gear. The engine starter further comprises an electric motor including an armature coupled to the gear assembly and configured to drive the gear assembly and the pinion gear. The armature includes a core member defining a central cavity extending in an axial direction within the core member. An armature shaft extends from the central cavity. A clutch arrangement is positioned in the central cavity. The clutch arrangement is configured to releasably couple the core member and the armature shaft.
US08967002B2
A sensor (200) includes a sensor element (10), a tubular metallic shell (138), and a tubular mounting member (180) rotatable relative to the metallic shell. The metallic shell has a body (138a) and a flange (138f) provided forward of the mounting member and projecting radially outward beyond the radially inner surface of the mounting member. Further, the radially outer surface of the body and the rearward-oriented surface of the flange are connected by a slant surface (138t). The mounting member is such that a forward-oriented surface (180a) and a radially inner surface (180b) meet at a corner (180e). When a threaded portion (180s) of the mounting member is threadingly engaged with a mounting hole (300h) of a mount body (300), a forward-oriented surface (138f1) of the flange comes into contact with a mounting surface (300r) of the mount body, and the corner comes into contact with the slant surface.
US08966999B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for generating a linearized pressure sensor pattern for a pressure sensor. Force may be applied to a pressure sensor sample, comprising the pressure sensor without conductors. A patch, comprising an area of contact between a top and bottom surface of the sensor sample, can be measured, which corresponds to the applied force. Patch measurements can be made for respective applied force intervals, resulting in one or more indications of applied force, respectively corresponding to an indication of a patch measurement. The linearized pressure sensor pattern can be generated using the one or more force indications and corresponding patch measurement indications.
US08966995B2
Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
US08966990B2
A micro electro mechanical system device has a first subassembly having sensor element including a coupler, and a second subassembly including a comb drive. The comb drive having stator plates and rotor plates and the coupler configured to displace the rotor plates relative to the stator plates providing a variable capacitance dependent on the displacement of the rotor plate.
US08966988B2
Ultra-miniature surface-mountable optical pressure sensor is constructed on an optical fiber. The sensor design utilizes an angled fiber tip which steers the optical axis of the optic fiber by 90°. The optical cavity is formed on the sidewall of the optic fiber. The optical cavity may be covered with a polymer-metal composite diaphragm to operate as a pressure transducer, Alternatively, a polymer-filled cavity may be constructed which does not need a reflective diaphragm. The sensor exhibits a sufficient linearity over the broad pressure range with a high sensitivity. The sensitivity of the sensor may he tuned by controlling the thickness of the diaphragm. Methods of batch production of uniform device-to-device optical pressure sensors of co-axial and cross-axial configurations are presented.
US08966984B2
An apparatus testing axle shafts including i) at least one ultrasonic probe to analyze, in a selected angular sector, selected portions of a wall exhibiting known variable internal and external radius profiles of a tubular axle shaft and thus acquire analysis data, ii) a controller to determine, as a function of the profiles and possible loading and environment of the shaft, at least one first and at least one second selected site on the external or internal surface of the wall where each probe is to be placed manually, to analyze at least one first and at least one second selected portion of the wall respectively in at least one first and at least one second selected angular sector oriented in first and second opposing longitudinal or transverse directions, and thus acquiring analysis data for various relative angular positions of the shaft in relation to the probe, and iii) a processor to create from these acquired analysis data maps representing the transverse or longitudinal orientations and the positions of indications of echoes within the wall.
US08966979B2
A method of measuring the thickness of any deposit of material (28) on an inner wall (12) of a structure (14). The method comprises: (a) causing vibrations in the structure; (b) detecting said vibrations in the structure; (c) determining a resonance frequency of the structure based on the detected vibrations; and (d) determining the thickness of any deposit of material on the inner wall of the structure based on the determined resonance frequency.
US08966975B2
A crash sensor assembly including a printed circuit board and a crash sensor mounted on the printed circuit board, At least one connector pin is mounted to the printed circuit board so as to permit external electrical communication with the crash sensor. A first insert molded soft inner layer of material partially covers the printed circuit board and covers the crash sensor, and a second overmolded hard outer layer of material covers the first soft inner layer of material and bonded thereto and rigidly contacts the printed circuit board.
US08966971B2
The present disclosure relates to a fluid measuring system for use in a vehicle engine. The engine includes a fluid return channel through which a tube is inserted. The fluid measuring system also includes a dipstick that can be inserted in the tube. One end of the dipstick is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir and is configured to indicate the fluid level of the engine. The tube can be composed of an elastic material.
US08966963B2
A glow plug includes: a heater power-conduction shaft that supplies power to a heater; a pressure detection element that is provided in an axial-direction end portion of the heater power-conduction shaft and converts pressure that the heater power-conduction shaft receives in the axial direction into an electrical signal; a first insulation member that surrounds an outer periphery of the pressure detection element with respect to the axis, and allows a signal output terminal of the pressure detection element to protrude toward an outer peripheral side of the axis; a power supply wire that is provided on an outer peripheral side of the first insulation member with respect to the axis, and is connected to the heater power-conduction shaft to supply power to the heater; a signal processing circuit that is provided on an outer peripheral side of the power supply wire with respect to the axis, and is connected to the signal output terminal to process an electrical signal of the pressure detection element; and a second insulation member that is provided between the power supply wire and the signal processing circuit, and insulates the signal processing circuit from the power supply wire.
US08966962B2
As a measurement table (10), an object provided with a flat surface (11) having an area on which all wheels of a vehicle can be mounted at the same time and a front wheel mounting table (12) which is disposed in front of the flat surface (11) and is lifted by a step of a predetermined height is used, a wheel position detector (8) which is capable of detecting a front wheel position and a rear wheel position of a vehicle to be measured is provided, a computation processing device (3) is provided with anterior-posterior displacement calculation means, an inter-axle distance calculation means (21), a vehicle inclination calculation means (22), a front wheel axle load calculation means (23A), a rear wheel axle load calculation means (23B), an anterior-posterior gravity center position calculation means (24), a storage means (32), an anterior-posterior gravity center displacement calculation means (25), and a vehicle gravity center height position calculation means (26), and from a gravity center displacement which is calculated from anterior-posterior gravity center position information calculated on the flat surface (11) and anterior-posterior gravity center position information in the state in which front wheels are mounted on the front wheel mounting table (12) and a vehicle inclination which is calculated by the vehicle inclination calculation means (22), the position of the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle to be measured is calculated.
US08966950B2
A method of reinforcing a part formed from a sheet metal panel that has a predetermined area that requires reinforcement by forming a grid pattern of V-shaped channels in the predetermined area. The grid pattern may be formed by wire electrodes in an electro-hydraulic forming tool having a one-sided die. Alternatively, the grid pattern may be formed by a plurality of electrodes that are arranged in an array that is aligned in at least two directions on the opposite side of the part from the one-sided die.
US08966942B2
An electronic transducer comprises a knitted structure extendible in two dimensions defined by its courses and wales. An electro-conductive yarn (4) defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns (2), and is to be part of a circuit providing an indication of an electrical characteristic of the yarn. When unextended in either direction, successive loops of the stitches including the electro-conductive yarn are in engagement. Extension of the structure in the course direction separate loops forming the stitches, and extension in the wale direction urges the loops together. The structure can be used in methods of registering extension of the structure in either or both of the course and wale directions.
US08966937B2
A process and to an apparatus for the generation and separation of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is provided.
US08966934B2
A refrigeration system using CO2 as a refrigerant includes a receiver having a liquid outlet connected to expansion valves, which are connected to evaporators, which are connected to the suction side of the compressor. The receiver includes a second gas outlet connected to a second pressure reduction device, to reduce the energy consumption in CO2 cooling systems and to protect the compressors against liquid CO2 by heating the suction gas. The second pressure reduction device is connected by tubing to a first heat exchanging device, which is integrated in the receiver, so that gas that is evaporated in the top of a receiver can be used for cooling the liquid part of the same receiver.
US08966931B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes: an icemaker case on a door; an icemaker door on the icemaker case, the icemaker door being rotatable; a holding part on the icemaker case; and a lever assembly. The lever assembly is coupled to the icemaker door to be rotatable in order to engage or disengage with the holding part.
US08966927B2
An output unit of a refrigeration device having a niche with a rear wall, which is provided with a cover, and a method of installing the output unit. The cover includes a dish-shaped section, which is curved inward into the niche and bounded by opposite edge sections, which are connected with a niche frame. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the edge sections at front supporting surfaces of the niche frame are held in contact in an installation end position, wherein the dish-shaped section is pulled by fastening means against the rear wall of the niche. By these means, it is ensured that the narrowest or most uniform gap possible between the cover and the place of installation is guaranteed and, in addition, fastening means are not visible to the user.
US08966922B2
A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic subsystem of an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes a local cooling station, which has a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and ducting for directing a cooling airflow across the heat exchanger. A cooling subsystem is associated with the electronic subsystem of the rack, and includes either a housing facilitating immersion cooling of electronic components of the electronic subsystem, or one or more liquid-cooled structures providing conductive cooling to the electronic components of the electronic subsystem. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronic subsystem and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station to the cooling airflow passing across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the cooling airflow is outdoor air.
US08966911B2
A turbofan gas turbine engine is provided having a unique power off-take shaft and gear system. Other gas turbine engine types are also contemplated herein. Two power off-takes are provided, one each for the low pressure spool and high pressure spool. The power off-takes extend across a core flow path of the turbofan engine between the low and high pressure shafts to a fan frame of the turbofan. A drive gear is provided near the front end of the high pressure shaft, and another drive gear is provided on the low pressure shaft near the drive gear for the high pressure shaft. Both gears are located in a sump of the gas turbine engine. The power off-take shafts are coupled to the drive gears. Two power devices are coupled to the power off-take shafts and are located in the fan frame. The power devices can be electric generators or motors.
US08966897B2
An internal combustion engine having an air intake section (2) which has an air intake line (3), having an exhaust section (4) which has an exhaust line (5), and having at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger (6) which has a compressor (7) in the air intake line (3) and a turbine (8) arranged in the exhaust line (5), characterized by a controllable bypass arrangement (9) which has an air supply line (10) which, as viewed in the flow direction (R) of the intake air, opens into the air intake line (3) down-stream of the compressor (7).
US08966893B2
Methods of applying sensible coatings with at least one spatially-varying characteristic to shape memory alloy actuators, particularly actuators comprising linear elements such as wires strips or cables, are disclosed. Such coatings enable the positions of the linear shape memory alloy elements to be sensed using magnetic, capacitive and optical sensors and so, in conjunction with a controller, enable operation of such actuators under proportional control.
US08966889B2
A hydraulic actuator includes an energy recuperation device which harvests the energy generated from the stroking of a shock absorber. The energy recuperation device can function in a passive energy recovery mode for the shock absorber or an active mode for the shock absorber. The energy that is generated by the energy recuperation device can be stored as fluid pressure or it can be converted to another form of energy such as electrical energy.
US08966886B2
An exhaust apparatus for an internal combustion engine wherein an on-off gate valve and a driving source therefor are not required for each bypass pipe. The exhaust apparatus includes a plurality of exhaust pipes extending independently from each other individually from a plurality of exhaust ports. Bypass paths communicate the exhaust pipes with each other in a region wherein the exhaust pipes are independent of each other. The bypass paths are opened or closed to control an exhaust characteristic. A plurality of bypass paths are provided and a bypass joining section at which the bypass paths are joined so as to be positioned in parallel to and in the neighborhood with each other is provided. At the bypass joining section, a single on-off valve that opens and closes the bypass paths simultaneously, and a single actuator for driving the on-off valve to open and close are provided.
US08966882B2
A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system having a particulate filter which removes soot from the exhaust stream, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor measures instantaneous differential pressure across the filter. The controller executes a method to selectively enable or disable execution of an efficiency diagnostic of the filter as a function of a learned differential pressure offset value. The controller may also compare the differential pressure to a calibrated threshold and execute a control action when the differential pressure falls within an allowable range of the threshold. This may include applying the differential pressure offset value and enabling execution of the diagnostic using measurements from the zeroed sensor. Another control action may be executed when the measured differential pressure is not within the allowable range of the threshold, including disabling the execution of the diagnostic and setting a diagnostic code indicating that the sensor may be faulty.
US08966879B1
An acoustic resonance igniter uses gas expanding through a nozzle to form a sonic, or under-expanded supersonic, jet directed against the opening of a blind resonance cavity in a central body, setting up a high-frequency sonic resonance which heats the gas within the cavity. A pintle extends coaxially with the nozzle and injects liquid propellant into the jet. The liquid propellant ignites with the heated gas within the resonance cavity forming combustion gases. The combustion gases flow through openings in a flange which supports the resonance cavity into a combustion chamber in the same direction as the gas jet flows. The liquid propellant is injected from within the support flange in the direction of combustion gas flow to film cool the combustion chamber wall and the flange and the central body supported by the flange. The acoustic resonance igniter may form a rocket engine ignition torch or a RCS thruster.
US08966878B2
A compressor compresses air to produce compressed air. A mixture of fuel and the compressed air is combusted in a combustor to produce combustion gas. The combustion gas is supplied to a turbine to obtain rotational power. High-temperature gas accumulated in a space partitioned by an exhaust-side bearing portion that rotatably supports a turbine shaft and an exhaust diffuser is discharged through an exhaust gas passage. The high-temperature gas is sucked into the exhaust gas passage by exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust diffuser.
US08966877B2
An annular combustor and a method for operating a gas turbine engine over a power demand range facilitate combustion in a lean direct ignition (LDI) mode over an extended range of operating fuel air ratios. The flow primary combustion air admitted into the primary combustion zone is varied in response to power demand from a maximum air flow rate of high power demand to a minimum flow air rate of low power demand, while the flow of dilution air into a quench zone downstream of the primary combustion zone is increased from a minimum air flow rate at high power demand to a maximum air flow rate at low power demand.
US08966873B2
A yarn-producing apparatus for an air spinning machine, which is used for producing a yarn from a fiber strand with the assistance of an air flow, has a spinning tip with an inlet opening surrounded by the outer surface of the spinning tip, in the area of which a yarn is able to be produced with the assistance of the air flow. The yarn-producing apparatus has an internal inset with a draw-off conduit adjacent to the inlet opening for the yarn and several air outlets branching off on the side from the draw-off conduit, such that an air flow introduced counter to the direction of spinning (S) in the draw-off conduit can escape in part through the air outlets and in part through the inlet opening. In addition, a spinning unit with a corresponding yarn-producing apparatus is provided.
US08966870B2
A vehicle such as a riding lawn mower may have at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors. According to some embodiments, a method of controlling the vehicle may include: operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed; monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor; comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.
US08966857B2
A saddle hanger for connecting at least one bracing member to a truss chord includes a base having a first end portion for receiving a bracing member and an adjacent portion for receiving a truss chord. A projecting element extends from a transverse edge of the base portion, and has a width narrower than the transverse dimension of the hanger base. A plurality of flanges extends upward from side edges of the base and defines with the base a channel for receiving one of the truss chord and bracing member. The saddle hanger can be formed from a stamped metal blank, with portions of the saddle hanger being nested in side-by-side relation to minimize the amount of material used.
US08966856B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members wherein each of the structural members has opposed first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a rigid member being sized to extend between the first edge of a first structural member and the second edge of an adjacent second structural member. The apparatus further comprising first and second sockets connected to first and second ends of the rigid member each sized to receive and edge of one of the structural members therein. The method comprises engaging the first socket around the first edge of the first structural member and locating a second structural member with the second edge of the second structural member within a second socket. The method may also comprise rotating the rigid member between the first and second structural members until the first and second sockets are engaged around diagonally opposed edges the structural members.
US08966853B2
A fastening system for floor panels, which has profiles on small faces of the panels. Opposite retaining profiles match so that similar panels can be interlinked. The panels have opposite first retaining profiles configured so on a panel in first line, a new panel can be locked in second line by attaching the new panel to the installed panel at an angle relative to the installed panel and then swiveling it down into the plane of the installed panel. The panel has opposite second retaining elements that have corresponding hook elements. A hook connection can be established by a hook element of the new panel and hook element of a panel already installed in second line by swiveling the new panel. Every hook connection is associated with an additional locking element that prevents the release of the hook connection in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the installed panels.
US08966846B1
A reinforced mine ventilation seal anchored with steel dowels into the strata of a mine passageway. The seal has a pair of metal mats formed of vertical and horizontal elongated reinforcing members that are sandwiched between a row of dowels set into the floor and ceiling of the passageway and extending into the passageway. The metal mats and the dowels are encased in a structural material such as concrete to form a seal which is capable of bidirectionally withstanding an overpressure due to an explosion. The dowels provide shear reinforcement and the metal mats provide flexural strength.
US08966843B2
The wall serves for separating the inside of a building from the outside. According to a first aspect, the wall has a water vapor diffusion resistance of at most 20 meters, wherein the heat transfer coefficient amounts to at most 1.5 W/(m2·K), and the moisture storage capacity amounts to at least 2 kg/m2. According to a second aspect, the wall has a bearing layer (10) as well as an outer layer (9) and an inner layer (11), which include moisture-buffering materials.
US08966838B2
The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic systems for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck. The photovoltaic roofing system includes one or more photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements defining a photovoltaic area; a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges; side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck, and the flange facing away from the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck.
US08966832B1
A protective shelter includes an enclosure having at least a floor, at least one sidewall coupled to the floor, a protected opening in the at least one sidewall, and a roof coupled to the at least one sidewall. The protective shelter includes a plurality of attachment fixtures each coupled to at least one of a set including the sidewall and the roof and a plurality of recesses at the at least one sidewall. Each of the plurality of recesses is sized to receive therein an anchoring assembly coupled to one of the plurality of attachment fixtures and couplable to a respective anchoring device on an underlying substrate.
US08966828B1
A shed with a wall assembly movable along a path defined by a pair of floor rail assemblies cooperatively aligned with a deployable outer rail assembly to provide access to the items stored in the shed. A pair of wheel assemblies is interiorly mounted to the side walls of the wall assembly to support the latter. A handle is provided to pull shed housing. Legs mounted to the underside of a floor assembly keep the latter at a spaced apart relationship with respect to a supporting surface.
US08966826B2
The door handle device of a vehicle is provided with: a handle base disposed along the rear surface of a door panel; and an operation handle that is coupled to the handle base. The handle base has hook-shaped pressing portions that ride on a protruding portion provided to the oppossed side edges along the sliding direction of a mounting opening provided to the door panel accompanying a sliding operation along the door panel; a panel-abutting portion that sandwiches the door panel in cooperation with the hook-shaped pressing portions; and an elastic locking piece that restricts the rearwards motion of the handle base by resilient locking to the center of a rear end edge of the mounting opening, and restricts removal of the hook-shaped pressing portions from the protruding portion.
US08966819B1
A vertical planter having an exterior fastener allowing the planter to be hung on a wall. The planter may be free standing or may be stacked one atop another. The planter comprises front and back mateable portions, base receptacle and top plate. The front portion has a plurality of tangently projecting plant receptacles and a pair of spaced apart sides terminating in a rail-like edge. The back portion extends into a pair of sides terminating in channels for seating respective front portion side edges. The base receptacle forms a seat for the front and back portions. The base receptacle back wall is folded forming a catch that matingly engages a back portion transverse crossbar. The top plate has a plurality of apertures, enabling water to pass into the vertical planter cavity with the plate positioned on a ledge of the front and back portions forming a support when stacking planters.
US08966815B1
The present invention is a method for growing and distributing living food crops to an intended recipient prior to harvesting that includes the utilization of a production unit to grow the food crops and a transportation cart to efficiently deliver the production units. This method prevents critical losses of nutritional content resulting from extended periods of non-consumption subsequent to harvesting. Additionally, the foods created and distributed by this method have increased aesthetic appeal to the consumer and enhanced natural taste. The novel method includes planting and growing the desired food crops in production units, transporting the production units, using a novel transportation cart, to an intended recipient once the crop reaches a predetermined ripeness, and mounting the production units at a recipient desired location. The food crops remain in the production units until ready for use, purchase, or consumption, at which point the food crops are harvested.
US08966812B2
A climb-up pitfall trap for attracting and capturing bed bugs and the like comprises a rough exterior surface, a precipice, a smooth interior surface and sensory lures. The sensory lures include heat, carbon dioxide and/or a lure composition. The lure composition comprises a combination of (a) L-lactic acid, and (b) a fatty acid from the group consisting of (1) propionic acid, (2) butyric acid, and (3) valeric acid. The lure composition may also comprise (c) octenol. A method for attracting and capturing bed bugs and the like uses the climb-up pitfall trap in a bed bug infested environment.
US08966810B2
Fish lure includes a flexible body having a forward body having maximum width and weight tapering to an aft body having reduced width and height; and a swimming tail portion flexibly connected to the aft body, wherein the swimming tail is flared, wherein the tail increases in width and height toward a tail tip as compared with the aft body portion, and a central channel groove generally parallel to a long axis of the lure, the long axis being normal to both width and height of the lure, the channel groove extending to the tail tip and maintaining a smaller width dimension as compared to adjacent flared portions of the tail, wherein water flow across the tail is guided through the channel groove and across the flared portions of the tail to provide vertically-balanced water flow across the tail and to produce a uniform horizontal swimming movement of the tail.
US08966802B1
A trigger assembly has a sear with a stop surface engageable with a reciprocating component for holding the reciprocating component in a cocked configuration. The sear also has a sear cam engageable with a lever movably mounted within the assembly. A trigger is movable into and out of engagement with the lever. Pulling the trigger moves it out of engagement with the lever and releases the sear. A trigger return pendulum has a trigger cam engageable with the trigger, a lever cam engageable with the lever, and a head cam follower engageable with the reciprocating component. Motion of the reciprocating component acting through the head cam follower of the trigger return pendulum forces the lever cam into engagement with the lever and the trigger cam into engagement with the trigger to return the lever and the trigger to a configuration of engagement between the trigger and the lever.
US08966801B1
A modular shotgun magazine including an upper portion and a lower portion that are interchangeable with other upper and lower portions. The upper portion includes a first interior, and upper opening, a lower opening, and a lower flange. The lower portion includes a second interior with an upper opening and an upper flange. The upper flange of the lower portion is connected to the lower flange of the upper portion so that the first and second interiors form a cavity. A fastening mechanism selectively connects the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion of the modular magazine may be connected to various lower portions having different shell capacities. The lower portion of the modular magazine may be connected to different upper portions that are configured to mate with a receiver of different shotguns.
US08966797B2
A firearm safety system and method is described herein. The system may include a tracking system, a smart firearm and/or a smart magazine, and a smart tracking unit. The tracking system is in communication with satellites that monitor specific locations, a smart firearm and a portable electronic device. The tracking system includes an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations. The smart firearm includes a microprocessor and a receiver. The motor operates in response to a signal received, which may indicate that the firearm is approaching a no gun safety zone, whereby the signal causes the microprocessor to operate the automatic safety lock to prevent the apparatus from operating. The receiver monitors signals and receives location data from the satellites. The method of operating a smart firearm includes receiving a signal at the at least one receiver and responding to the signal by locking the automatic safety lock.
US08966794B2
A tray unit having a tray that is open at the top and a card holder mounted to the outer peripheral face of the tray. The tray has a bottom face, an outer peripheral wall that rises upward from the outer peripheral part of the bottom face, and a flange extending from the upper face side of the outer peripheral wall in the outer peripheral direction. The card holder has a card insertion portion along the outer peripheral wall of the tray and to the outside of the outer peripheral wall, and to which a card is removably inserted, and a guide portion that is provided at the upper part of the card insertion portion and has formed thereon a sloped face that increases in height from the outer peripheral wall of the tray in the outer peripheral direction of the tray.
US08966788B2
A set of podiatric articles each of which is placeable into a respective one of a pair of shoes. Each article includes: an arch area with a cross-sectional profile; and a heel area having a depth D and a concave shape that provides a round recess that is adapted to accept a heel. The arch areas of the respective articles of the set share a same cross-sectional profile. The heel areas of the respective articles of the set have different depths D so that the heel is differently suspended from a bottom of the heel area. The arch area and the heel area are adapted, configured and cooperate to suspend the heel within the heel area so that the heel is not in contact with the article and a calcaneal spur of the heel is spacedly disposed from a bottom of the recess of the heel area.
US08966778B2
A removable reusable attachment tool having at least one magnetic component; an adhesive coating at least one surface of said at least one magnetic component, and a reusable writing component having a first surface securely affixed to said at least one surface of said at least one magnetic component by using said adhesive coating and a writing surface.
US08966773B2
A power tool includes a tool operable to work on a workpiece, a drive mechanism coupled to the tool and operable to move the tool, and a housing defining an interior. The drive mechanism is disposed within the interior. A handle has a first end and a second end. The first end is fixed to the housing and the second end is spaced apart from the housing to define a gap therebetween. An insert is fixedly attached to the housing and the second end to fill the gap. The insert is more flexible then the handle and the housing.
US08966770B2
A cutting apparatus includes a handle frame, a cutting blade, and a blade rotation arrangement. The cutting blade has a first blade portion and a second blade portion. The blade rotation arrangement includes a pivot, a securing frame and an actuation member. The cutting blade is arranged to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the first blade portion is extended out of the receiving cavity while the second blade portion is received in the receiving cavity, wherein in the second position, the second blade portion is extended out of the receiving cavity while the first blade portion is received in the receiving cavity. The securing frame is mounted in the receiving cavity for reinforcing the cutting blade when the cutting blade move between and at the first position and the second position.
US08966765B2
The present invention is directed to a medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet, as well as a method of manufacturing and using the same. The boom includes a stationary base that is configured to be installed into an operating room and one or more boom arms supported by the stationary base and configured to extend over an operating table in the operating room. The structural base includes one or more bays configured to receive a modular rack of electrical equipment. In various embodiments, the structural base cabinet further incorporates wiring to connect the equipment installed in the modular racks to video monitors and other equipment mounted on the articulated booms. The modular racks are preconfigured with a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, video processors and the like. The modular racks are installed in the base cabinet subsequent to the cabinet's structural installation in the operating room and may be readily removed or replaced at a later time.
US08966754B2
Methods for reducing stress on composite structures involving providing a primary composite structure having a circumference, providing at least one mounting flange operably connected to the primary composite structure about the circumference to form a joint, and providing a secondary structure operably connected to the primary composite structure at the mounting flange such that when stresses on the primary composite structure exceed a maximum capacity level delamination or separation of the mounting flange from the primary structure occurs at the joint, and the secondary structure remains operably connected to the mounting flange.
US08966753B2
A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. An orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires, which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement, are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight.
US08966751B2
An MMC cylinder liner comprises an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion. The inner tubular portion includes a metal matrix composite formed of a compact impregnated with an Al—Si alloy wherein the compact is made of a reinforcing material. The outer tubular portion is formed of the Al—Si alloy. The Si concentration of the Al—Si alloy impregnated into the compact of the inner tubular portion is different from the Si concentration of the Al—Si alloy of the outer tubular portion.
US08966743B2
A device for changing the electrode of an electrode-holder tool of a welding device, with a first part configured to house an electrode-holder tool and including means to prevent the electrode-holder tool from moving, and a second part installed around the first part and covering the part of the electrode protruding outside the first part, where the second part can be separated from the first part by sliding along the electrode, and is able to rotate relative to the fixed part when it surrounds it, and where the second part is configured to tighten or untighten the mandrel and to attach the electrode and the second part, enabling it to be removed from the mandrel when the first part and the second part are separated.
US08966742B2
A method of producing a stator winding for a stator of an electrical machine includes positioning a phase winding segment of the stator winding in a same plane in a serpentine manner in a first direction (X) and in a shape of a wave in a second direction (Y) transverse to the first direction. The method includes bending regions (A, B, C) of the phase winding segment toward one another along a folding line to form a lap winding including positioning regions (C) parallel to each other connected by regions (B) where the regions (B) cross the at least one folding line (108). The phase winding is formed with a continuous wire.
US08966738B2
A screw assembly for operatively connecting a first component to a second component is provided such that the first and the second components are separated by a clearance when operatively connected by the assembly. The assembly includes a screw member defining a screw opening and a linking member defining a link opening. A fastener is configured to transfer a driving torque to the linking member when the fastener is rotatably driven into the link opening. A threaded portion of the fastener is configured to engage with the link opening. The linking member is configured to transfer the driving torque to the screw member, thereby moving the screw member until a second screw end of the screw member contacts a mounting face of the second component. The fastener may be configured to pass through the linking member and enter a second cavity in the second component.
US08966734B2
Methods of joining a magnesium substrate to a second substrate are provided. A region of the magnesium substrate and a region of the second substrate are aligned to provide an overlap. A region of the overlap is deformed to provide a joint. A polymeric material is disposed in the joint to secure together the magnesium substrate and the second substrate. The joining of the magnesium substrate and the second substrate is facilitated by using a die in various aspects.
US08966728B2
A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs.
US08966717B2
A safety cord connector for a window blind includes a first half shell and a second half shell combined with the first half shell in such a way that a positioning protrusion extending from an inner surface of the second half shell is inserted into a positioning notch formed on an inner surface of the first half shell so as hold the first and second half shells together. When an external force exceeding the engaging force between the positioning protrusion and the positioning notch exerts between the first and second half shells, the positioning protrusion will separate away from the positioning notch to enable the combined first and second half shells to be split from each other so as to enhance safety in use.
US08966712B1
A door operator includes an installation box, an operating mechanism, a pneumatic apparatus and a moveable sleeve. The installation box has a housing and a lid. The housing has an assembling space and an opening communicating with the assembling space; the lid is mounted in the opening and covers the assembling space. The operating mechanism is rotatably mounted in the installation box and has a gear. The pneumatic apparatus is installed in the assembling space and has a cylinder and a piston rod. The moveable sleeve is movably mounted on the cylinder and connected with the piston rod and engaged with the gear of the operating mechanism. Because a rotation axis of the gear and a central axis of the moveable sleeve are perpendicular to each other, the volume of the installation box can be reduced.
US08966711B2
A cleaner head for a surface treating appliance includes a main body, a front conduit, and a rear conduit. The front conduit includes a front section connected to the main body for rotation relative thereto about a first axis extending rearwardly from the main body and centrally through the front section, a rear elbow section and at least one first connector. The rear conduit includes a front elbow section into which the rear elbow section of the front conduit is inserted, a rear section and at least one second connector connected to said at least one first connector to enable the rear conduit to pivot relative to the front conduit about a second axis which is orthogonal to the first axis and which lies outside a fluid flow path passing through the front conduit and the rear conduit.
US08966703B1
An improved shock absorbing tool utilizing a push and pull action to absorb the reciprocation movement of the tool. A forward blade member has a wedge head and a shaft connected to a proximal end of the head. An insert is press-fitted within a handgrip, wherein the insert receives the shaft of the forward blade member. A rear blade member has a sleeve with a wedge blade and connected to a proximal end of the sleeve and extends downwardly away from the sleeve. The sleeve surrounds a portion of the shaft of the forward blade member. The coil spring surrounds a portion of the shaft of the forward blade member and located between the proximal end of the head and rests within the sleeve for absorbing the impact force of the reciprocation movement the forward blade member and the rear blade member. The O-ring is placed between the proximal end of the head and the upper end of the coil spring to further absorbs the impact force of the forward and rear blade members.
US08966702B1
A sponge cleaning apparatus for cleaning sharp-edged objects, such as the blades of knives and other cutlery apparatus. The present invention is a sponge cleaning device of an essentially unitary structure having an overall parabolic U shape, and having a protective, armored layer, wherein the protective armored layer has a varying thickness which provides varying rigidity for facilitating a gripping hold on the cutlery while being cleaned. The present sponge apparatus can readily receive the sharp edge of an item of cutlery in a substantially enclosing manner due to the more flexible distal ends, while simultaneously providing safety from any sharp edges of cutlery due to increased rigidity, so as to effectively provide cleaning of said sharp edged surfaces while being frictionally slid in a generally translational motion. The present invention further provides enhanced ergonomic features providing finger guides as well as an array of gripping members for facilitating safety and frictional engagement of the sponge apparatus when in use.
US08966694B2
There is provided an electric toothbrush with which teeth can be brushed in a relaxed pose while imperfect brushing is suppressed.In an electric toothbrush including: a body portion that is gripped by a hand during toothbrushing; and a brush component serving as an intraoral insertion portion inserted in a mouth cavity during the toothbrushing, the brush component including a brush at a leading end thereof, the brush component is inclined onto a rear surface side of the brush from the leading end toward the body portion, and a leading end portion of the brush component is located in a vicinity of an extended line (alternate long and short dash line) of a virtual line that connects centroids of sectional shapes perpendicular to a longitudinal direction in the body portion.
US08966693B2
A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element and a fluid collection assembly for pooling and retaining cleaning fluids proximate to the at least one cleaning element. A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a cleaning fluid dispersion apparatus and a cleaning fluid collection assembly for efficiently dispensing fluid on a surface for cleaning the surface, and collecting the dispensed fluid to maximize the cleaning capacity of the fluid and extend the time of a cleaning cycle.
US08966678B2
A lift apparatus used for lifting and moving a person or object. The apparatus has a frame, wheels, a lift mechanism, a lift rod, an overhead support arm movable to a laterally extended position on a selected side of the apparatus, a rotatable head, a collar that is vertically movable along the head, an outrigger support with a bar pivotably affixed to the base frame and rotatable to the selected side of the apparatus, and an locking mechanism for retaining the bar on the side of the apparatus. A hanger on the overhead arm supports a load. A control system controls the lift mechanism. When the bar extends onto the selected side of the apparatus and the collar is in a predetermined vertical position along the head, the control system activates the lift mechanism and the overhead support arm is rotatable only to the selected side of the lift apparatus.
US08966676B2
According to an aspect of the invention, a toilet apparatus includes a toilet, a bowl configured to receive solid waste being formed in the toilet, the bowl being hydrophilic; a spray unit configured to spray at least one selected from water and hypochlorous acid water onto a surface of the bowl; a detection unit configured to detect a state of use of the toilet; and a control unit configured to spray at least one selected from the water and the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit before the use and to spray the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit after the use. The cleanliness of the bowl surface of a toilet can be maintained by suppressing the affixation of solid waste and the propagation of bacteria caused by oil.
US08966672B2
A low profile protective helmet having an outer shell and an interior surface that is immediately adjacent the top of the wearer's head while the helmet is being worn. The interior surface includes a plurality of fasteners that are connectable to a prior art suspension liner. Each of the fasteners is disposed between first and second rib members. Each rib member is a raised ridge in the interior surface that restricts the side-to-side movement of the suspension liner's integral head straps by the retaining action of the rib members as the integral head straps are attached to each fastener.
US08966668B2
Lightweight and flexible personal protective padding systems for the protection of joints, bones and muscles, where one embodiment includes a hard outer shell structure as shielding, a gas filled compartment or bladder to stabilize the system and absorb and disperse impact energy and/or a web structure suspended across opposed peripheral edges of the outer shell and between the shell and user's body to absorb energy and to provide ventilation. Hybrid structures include both the bladder and web structure.
US08966665B2
A bib and corresponding mounting clip are disclosed. A bib body may include one or more of an upper reinforcement member, a plurality of body reinforcement members, and a plurality of pocket reinforcement members. The upper reinforcement facilitates having the bib body be suspended from the mounting clip at a single location or region. The plurality of body reinforcement members allows the bib body to be shaped to “funnel” food particles and the like, for instance into a pocket incorporated by the bib body. The plurality of pocket reinforcement members may be used to retain such a pocket in an open configuration.
US08966663B2
A protective sports glove including a vent opening and an arched panel extending upward and over the vent opening. The glove can include a breathable material that extends across the vent opening to provide improved air flow to and from the interior of the glove. The arched panel can arch above the vent opening, and optional breathable material, so as to form a void under the panel, thereby providing impact protection to the wearer's hand while still enabling air to circulate through the vent opening to the wearer's hand. The arched panel can be configured to flex or bend when the hand is brought back toward the wearer's wrist or forearm, yet provide resistance to that backward movement to eliminate and/or reduce the overextension of the hand and wrist.
US08966662B2
An apparatus comprises a gauze layer comprising a gauze material, a first area, a gauze first side and a gauze second side. The gauze first side is configured to at least contact and cover a user's eyelid area where the gauze material mitigates irritation of the user's skin. A paper layer comprises a paper material, a paper first side and a paper second side. The paper first side comprises an adhesive area being configured to extend beyond the first area for removably joining to the user's skin. A tape layer comprises an opaque flexible material, a third area, a tape first side and a tape second side. The tape first side comprises an adhesive. The third area is at least as large as the first area. The gauze layer, the paper layer and the tape layer are combined to form a sleep mask.
US08973159B2
An audio-video display device can download from a third party server a licensable component on which a royalty is to be paid. Various methods are disclosed for accounting for royalties associated with downloading the licensable component to the client device between the third party server and a client device manufacturer server.
US08973156B2
Embodiments of the present application relate to a multi-user limited resource allocation processing method, a multi-user limited resource allocation processing system, and a computer program product for allocating a limited resource among a plurality of users. A multi-user limited resource allocation processing method is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of participation requests for a limited resource from a plurality of users and determining the number of the plurality of users sending the plurality of participation requests. In response to the number of the plurality of users reaching a predetermined value, revising data corresponding to the limited resource according to a revision rule and allocating the limited resource to the plurality of users sending the participation request using the revised data.
US08973153B2
A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program publish an audio annotation of a media signal. A media player plays a media signal. The media player then records an audio annotation to the media signal. Responsive to recording the audio annotation to the media signal, the media player records an identifier to be associated with the media signal. The audio annotation is then published to a social networking host.
US08973151B2
Disclosed a portable personal security device and methods for secure communication. In one example, the personal security device may wirelessly connect to a user device and collect information about the user device. The personal security device may then assess security characteristics of the user device based on the collected information. When the user device is determined to be unsecure, the personal security devices may instruct the user to use a secure internet application of the personal security device instead of an unsecure internet application of the user device. In addition, the personal security device may instruct the user to use a secure data input device of the personal security device instead of an unsecure data input device of the user device. The personal security device then receives via the secure data input device a user input data for the secure internet application, and transmit it to the user device.
US08973148B2
A method and system for performing garbage collection involving sensitive information on a mobile device. Secure information is received at a mobile device over a wireless network. The sensitive information is extracted from the secure information. A software program operating on the mobile device uses an object to access the sensitive information. Secure garbage collection is performed upon the object after the object becomes unreachable.
US08973144B2
A method includes creating a soft whitelist having an entry corresponding to a first guest kernel page in a guest operating system (OS) in a hypervisor environment including a hypervisor. The method also includes receiving an access attempt to a second guest kernel page, and generating a page fault when the access attempt is made to the second guest kernel page. In addition, the method includes determining that the second guest kernel page does not correspond to the entry in the soft whitelist, and denying an execution of the second guest kernel page if the second guest kernel page does not correspond to the entry in the soft whitelist.
US08973139B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for detecting an altered application are disclosed. Network traffic data is obtained for a number of endpoint devices to determine a network traffic signature for a first application. The signature comprises a set of flows within a time window. Network traffic data is monitored to determine a network traffic signature for a second application. The signature for the second application comprises the network traffic signature of the first application plus a flow to an additional address. The method determines a ratio of endpoint devices having network traffic data that matches the signature for the second application as compared to a percentage of endpoint devices having network traffic data that matches the signature for the first application. When the percentage satisfies a threshold, the method determines that the second application is the altered application comprising an altered version of the first application.
US08973137B1
A computer-implemented method for detecting illegitimate out-of-band authentication attempts may include 1) identifying a text message that includes a confirmation code for an out-of-band authentication procedure, 2) detecting an attempt to access the text message, 3) determining that the attempt to access the text message was configured to avoid user participation, and 4) performing, in response to determining that the attempt to access the text message was configured to avoid user participation, a remediation action that addresses an illegitimate out-of-band authentication attempt that includes the attempt to access the text message. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08973135B2
Techniques are described herein that are capable of selectively scanning objects for infection by malware (i.e., to determine whether one or more of the objects are infected by malware). For instance, metadata that is associated with the objects may be reviewed to determine whether update(s) have been made with regard to the objects since a determination was made that the objects were not infected by malware. An update may involve increasing a number of the objects, modifying one of the objects, etc. Objects that have been updated (e.g., added and/or modified) since the determination may be scanned. Objects that have not been updated since the determination need not necessarily be scanned. For instance, an allowance may be made to perform operations with respect to the objects that have not been updated since the determination without first scanning the objects for infection by malware.
US08973132B2
Pluggable network security modules provide a collaborative response across plural networks by allowing modules associated with detection and neutralization of a network security threat to plug into a network security platform of other networks. Plugging the security modules in provides an automated insertion of detection and neutralization tools into the network security platform to respond to potential threats based upon proven successful responses at other networks.
US08973125B2
In a communication network, assume a first computing device is an end user device, a second computing device is a gateway server, and a third computing device is an application server. A method comprises the following steps. The second computing device authenticates one or more packets received from the first computing device. The second computing device marks the one or more packets with a first-layer identity before routing the one or more packets toward the third computing device such that the third computing device is able to authenticate the one or more packets from the first computing device by confirming an association between the first-layer identity and a second-layer identity. For example, the first-layer identity may comprise a link layer identity assigned to the first computing device and the second-layer identity may comprise an application layer identity assigned to the first computing device.
US08973122B2
A two-factor network authentication system uses “something you know” in the form of a password/Pin and “something you have” in the form of a key token. The password is encrypted in a secure area of the USB device and is protected from brute force attacks. The key token includes authentication credentials. Users cannot authenticate without the key token. Four distinct authentication elements that the must be present. The first element is a global unique identifier that is unique to each key. The second is a private credential generated from the online service provider that is stored in a secure area of the USB device. The third element is a connection profile that is generated from the online service provider. The fourth element is a credential that is securely stored with the online service provider. The first two elements create a unique user identity. The second two elements create mutual authentication.
US08973119B2
A method and apparatus for exchanging digital content between a scanning appliance and a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: transferring digital content via a network to a remotely accessible data storage server, the digital content being generated from a document; receiving, in response to user input via a first graphical user interface, a phone number; sending a first text message to a first device after validating the phone number, the first text message including a code; receiving, in response to user input via a second graphical user interface, the code being input by a user; sending a second text message to the first device, the second text message including an address of the digital content in the network; monitoring whether the digital content has been accessed; receiving a request for the digital content from the first device, the request including the address retrieved from the second text message; and sending, in response to the request, the digital content and an indication of a type of the digital content to the first device, the type information for use by a browser in determining software on the first device capable of rendering the digital content on a display of the first device.
US08973117B2
Various methods and systems for propagating identity information in a composite application are presented. State data of a composite application, as executed for a particular entity, may be transferred to and stored by a computer-readable storage medium. The state data may include a portion of a set of subject information linked with the entity. A security attribute of the subject may not be present in the portion of the set of subject information in the state data transferred to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. After a period of time, such as an hour or a day, the state data of the composite application as executed for the entity may be retrieved and the security attribute of the set of subject information linked with the entity may be determined The composite application may then continue to be executed for the entity.
US08973116B2
A password evaluation system is provided for determining the password strength of a password. A password is provided for evaluation. The password is parsed and substrings are identified from the password. Each substring is associated with a pattern that can generate the substring. The substrings are scored to determine a substring strength measure for the substring. The substrings are combined to identify non-overlapping substring combinations, which together make up the password. The combinations are assigned a combination strength score based in part on the substring strength of the substrings contained in the substring combinations. The substring combination with the lowest combination strength measure is identified and the associated combination strength measure is used as the password strength measure for the password.
US08973110B2
An electronic receipt system includes a terminal device, a first memory unit which a first user has, and a second memory unit which a second user who is a trading partner of the first user has. The terminal device includes biometric authentication obtaining means to obtain biometric authentication information of the first user and biometric authentication information of the second user; electronic tally generating means to generate electronic tallies based on the biometric authentication information of the both users; electronic receipt generating means to generate electronic receipts including transaction information of the first user and the second user, the electronic receipts including a first electronic receipt having one of the electronic tallies and a second electronic receipt having another of the relevant electronic tallies; means to store the first electronic receipt in the first memory unit; and means to make the second electronic receipt to be stored in the second memory unit.
US08973105B2
Computers can be authenticated using automatically combined images. During an authentication process, a server transmits an image to a client. The transmitted image is combined with a stored image using a randomly selected logical operator to generate a combined image. The combined image is transmitted back to the server. The server has a copy of the transmitted image and the stored image and generates a series of template combined images using different logical operators selected from a set of logical operators to determine whether any of the template combined images match the received combined image. If the received combined image matches one of the template combined images, the user is authenticated.
US08973104B2
An electronic device (100) includes a control circuit (208) and one or more modules (210) operable with the control circuit. An application usage module (211) is operable with the control circuit to define one or more applications (104,105,106,107), operable with the control circuit and otherwise available for use by a user (101) when the electronic device is in an unlocked state, that are precluded from use by an authorized person when the electronic device is operably connected to a predefined peripheral accessory (300) when unlocked.
US08973100B2
A social networking system determines whether a user is a real public figure or is the correct “public persona” of an individual who is famous within a particular domain. The system selects one or more trusted agents. A trusted agent is a user who has been confirmed or is otherwise trusted within the system. The system traverses the social graph of the trusted agent to score and identify additional users who have a sufficient connection to the trusted agent to authenticate them as other confirmed public personas/figures. The system computes confidence scores of the connections of the trusted agent, considering the strength of the connections and other relevant factors. The system provides confidence scores for one or more target users in the social network based on the confidence scores of the friends or connections connecting the trusted agent and the target user.
US08973092B2
The present invention refers to a method for adapting security policies of an information system infrastructure as a function of attacks on the system by storing potential attacks, their associated risks and curative security policies in a data repository, monitoring entering contents representing data streams of the information system, detecting at least one attack in the information system, assessing a success probability parameter of the at least one detected attack and its associated cost impact parameter, assessing an activation impact parameter of at least one curative security policy in response to the at least one detected attack and its associated cost impact parameter, deciding to activate or deactivate a curative security policy based on the success probability parameter of a detected attack, the activation impact parameter of associated curative security policies and the cost impact parameters of both an attack and associated curative security policies.
US08973090B1
A computer-implemented method for protecting platform-as-a-service platforms may include 1) identifying a platform-as-a-service platform that is configured to allow installations of third-party application packages, 2) intercepting a third-party application package in transit to the platform-as-a-service platform for installation, 3) extracting metadata from the third-party application package, and 4) applying a compliance policy to the third-party application package to determine whether to allow an installation of the third-party application package on the platform-as-a-service platform based on the metadata. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08973087B2
A method to generate a role-based user interface to be presented to a user includes processing a security-relevant portion of user interface code associated with an application, determining a permission by processing application role information pertaining to the user and security policy information, wherein the security policy information is distinct from the user interface code, and associated with the security-relevant portion of the user interface code and with permissions relating to the application, and generating the role-based user interface associated with the application to selectively include a user interface element based upon the determined permission.
US08973086B2
A mobile equipment having television function, which renders a user to watch a television program, characterized in that said mobile equipment comprises: a data storing section for storing image data and voice data transmitted through digital broadcast wave; and a display control section for conducting a display with a predetermined timing for confirming whether said user hopes to watch the television continuously or said user hopes that the television program being watched is stored, in a case that start of an application program preventing said user from continuing to watch said television program is indicated by said user.
US08973085B2
A descrambling apparatus includes a descrambling module and a one-time programmable module. The descrambling module descrambles an input data stream. When the one-time programmable module is in a first status, the descrambling module descrambles the input data stream by a first mode. When the one-time programmable module is in a second status, the descrambling module descrambles the input data stream by a second mode.
US08973079B2
A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a signal at the set-top box device from an external power interface. The signal indicates that a low power state has been detected at a power outlet of the external power interface, the power outlet associated with the display device. Further, the method includes sending a signal to a source of the content stream in response to receiving the signal indicating the low power state. The signal indicates that the source is to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box device.
US08973077B2
The invention relates to a method of streaming video content from a server to a client over a channel via a network. Video content is offered as a set of consecutive fragments, each fragment of said set of consecutive fragments being offered in a plurality of quality levels corresponding to respective encoded data rates. The method comprises a session of transmitting one or more of requests for fragments and receiving via the network one or more replies to the requests containing fragments with target quality levels at said client. These fragments are displayed at said client. At a capture node requests and/or replies to the requests of the session are captured. The captured data is used to reconstruct at least part of the session as experienced (QoE) at the client.
US08973063B2
A system and method for synchronizing digital media playback at multiple digital media playback devices interconnected on a network is provided. A digital media playback device comprising a processor, a synchronization component, a timekeeper component and a digital media source performs synchronization processes to arrange for other players to begin playback at a predetermined position and time in the digital media signal. Synchronization is accomplished by processes which approximate the arrival time of a packet containing audio and/or video digital content across the network and instruct the playback devices as to when playback is to begin, and at what point in the streaming media content signal to begin playback. One method uses a time-stamp packet on the network to synchronize all players. Other methods utilize reiterative processes to narrow approximations of packet arrival time at each playback device.
US08973049B2
Content recommendations may be provided. First, in response to a received input and concurrent with a shrunken programming content, a media guide may be displayed. The media guide may comprise a first card, a second card, and a third card. The first card may comprise a plurality of recommendation types. The second card may comprise a plurality of subcategories corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of recommendation types. The third card may comprise a plurality of content program names corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of subcategories. The plurality of content program names may be in an order. Next, in response to a selection of a one of the plurality of content program names, an action card maybe displayed. Then a selected one of the plurality of actions may be executed.
US08973041B2
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08973038B2
Arrangements for providing available playback options for missed portions of broadcast content may be presented. A request to present an electronic programming guide that comprises indications of a plurality of television programs currently being broadcast may be received. A missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may have already been broadcast. For each television program of the plurality of television programs, a plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may be retrievable may be analyzed. A first source from the plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of a television program is retrievable may be identified. The electronic programming guide may be configured and output to comprise an indication of availability of the missed portion of the television program.
US08973029B2
A method for video insertion using backpropagation may include determining a first camera model from a first frame of the sequence. The method may also include determining a transition location. The method may further include generating a transform model based on an analysis of the first frame and a second frame that occurs earlier in the video sequence and applying the transform model to the first camera model to generate a second camera model for the second frame. The method then includes inserting an insertion into one or more frames earlier in the sequence between the second frame and the transition location based on the second camera model, wherein the inserting is performed before displaying the frames. A system for video insertion using backpropagation includes search, transition, track and insertion subsystems.
US08973024B2
Whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary is determined and managed for each device connected to an HDMI port. In selector control, when switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that requires HDCP authentication, DDC access is turned off by setting an HPD signal to Low. Communication is then resumed after a predetermined amount of time has passed by setting the HPD signal to High and thereby turning the DDC access back on. When switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that does not require HDCP authentication, the HPD signal is kept at High, and video and audio data is output without resuming the DDC access.
US08973019B1
A method and system for emulation of super speed external devices in a virtual machine (VM), including checking the ability of the VM Guest OS to support the super speed external device. If the super speed device is not supported by the Guest OS, device metadata is substituted by the metadata of the devices supported by the Guest OS. The method replaces the metadata of a new external device by the metadata of an older or different (supported) device. A VM acquires a descriptor of the external device configuration and “patches” the device by replacing device version data from a new device version to an older (or different) device.
US08973008B2
Combining different resource types into a single logical resource can provide a perspective more suitable for managing a given computer program. Resources of different types that have similar characteristics are combined as a single resource type. Resource management policies are applied against the different resource types via the single combination resource type, wherein on a single computer or applied against a cluster of computers.
US08973006B2
A circuit arrangement and method for a data processing system for executing a plurality of tasks with a central processing unit having a processing capacity allocated to the processing unit; the circuit arrangement being configured to allocate the processing unit to the specific tasks in a time-staggered manner for processing, so that the tasks are processed in an order to be selected and tasks not having a current processing request are skipped over in the order during the processing; the circuit arrangement including a prioritization order control unit to determine the order in which the tasks are executed; and in response to each selection of a task for processing, the order of the tasks being redetermined and the selection being controlled so that for a number N of tasks, a maximum of N time units elapse until an active task is once more allocated processing capacity by the processing unit.
US08973003B2
Even when an error has occurred in a device that is executing an activity, the workflow is continued as much as possible. When an error has occurred in an activity that is in progress in a device X, a server notifies the device X of an alternative device. The name of the alternative device (device Y) is displayed on the device X. The operator can send a job catalog request from the device Y to the server and select an aborted job from the provided job catalog. The server is notified of the selected job. When password authentication has succeeded, the device Y is permitted to continue the activity.
US08972990B2
A method, system and computer program product for providing a seamless transition for resizing virtual machines from a development environment to a production environment. An administrative server receives an instruction from a customer to resize a virtual machine running on a cloud computing node, where the resized virtual machine requires physical resources (e.g., twenty physical processor cores) to be utilized in the production environment. Instead of the administrative server utilizing the same number of physical resources in the development environment that need to be utilized in the production environment, the administrative server utilizes a fewer number of physical resources by also utilizing virtual resources (e.g., twenty virtual processor cores and only two physical processor cores) so as to provide a development environment with the same resource capacity as the production environment but with fewer physical resources thereby more efficiently utilizing the physical resources on the cloud computing node.
US08972986B2
Computing resource allocation for map-reduce job execution comprises determining the volume of input data to the map-phase and the reduce-phase of a map-reduce job prior to execution. Based on said determination, data blocks and virtual machines (VMs) are selectively placed for locality aware map-reduce job execution on a cluster of computing nodes in a network. Selectively placing data blocks and VMs comprises integrally placing the data and the VMs at selected nodes to lower data transfer network hops for a map-phase and a shuffle-phase of the map-reduce job upon execution by the VMs.
US08972984B2
The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for virtualizing audio hardware for one or more virtual machines. A control virtual machine (VM) may translate a first stream of audio functions calls from a first VM hosted by a hypervisor. The translated first stream of audio function calls may be destined for a sound card of the computing device executing the hypervisor. The control VM may detect a second stream of audio functions calls from a second VM hosted by the hypervisor. The control VM may translate the second stream of audio functions calls from the second VM. The control VM may further merge the translated first stream of audio function calls and the translated second stream of the audio function calls in response to the detected second stream. The control VM may transmit the merged stream of audio function calls to the sound card.
US08972976B2
Provided are a device and method for automatic driver installation. The device comprises: a remoter server, a client host and an information security device. The remote server stores driver and interface protocol program downloading service for the client host. The client host is in communication connection with the remote server, receives data information inputted by the information security device, and downloads the driver or interface protocol program from the remote server according to the data information and install or load the driver or interface protocol program. The information security device is in communication connection with the client host and feedbacks data information according to instruction issued by the client host. The present scheme can effectively reduce the number of times user account control (UAC) window pops up and ensure operating system security while installing and deploying middleware, thus simplifying user operation.
US08972974B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for handling multiple invocation points in a software build task sequence are described. A computer may receive a task sequence. The task sequence may include instructions for combining a first image and a second image to form a third image, installing a first software stack on the computer from a fourth image, and installing a software component to a second software stack already installed on the computer. The computer may receive an indication of a start point to begin executing the task sequence, and may execute the task sequence beginning at the start point.
US08972972B2
A method for upgrading software having steps (A) to (D) is disclosed. Step (A) may deny a first server access to read from and write to a database controlled by a second server while second software in the second server is being upgraded. The second software as upgraded may be incompatible with first software running in the first server. Step (B) may generate data in the first server in response to a current operation of the first software while the second software is being upgraded. Step (C) may update the database by transferring the data from the first server to the database through the second server after the upgrade of the second software has finished. The first server generally remains denied to read from the database. Step (D) may upgrade the first software to be compatible with the second software in response to finishing the current operation.
US08972966B2
Systems, methods and products directed toward facilitating firmware updates in a hybrid computing environment. One aspect includes providing a primary operating environment and a secondary operating environment in an information handling device; downloading one or more firmware update packages appropriate for the secondary operating environment to the primary operating environment; and executing a firmware update tool from the primary operating environment, the firmware update tool being configured to install the one or more firmware update packages on the secondary operating environment. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08972964B2
Systems and methods for updating firmware executing on a computing system are disclosed. One method includes building an initial stack for use by an updated firmware module, and quiescing I/O operations occurring on the computing system. The method also includes halting all but a remaining firmware module from among one or more firmware modules to be updated and that are executing on the computing system, and, with the remaining firmware module executing on the computing system, indicating to perform a firmware update. The method further includes halting execution of a partition including the remaining firmware module. The method also includes updating the remaining firmware module executing on the computing system with the updated firmware module, and initiating execution of the updated firmware module using the initial stack.
US08972960B2
Optimizing an application to reduce local memory usage. At least one executable class file of the application can be instrumented with analysis code, the executable class file including bytecode. The class file can be executed on a virtual machine, wherein during execution the analysis code generates data related to the application's use of local memory. The data related to the application's use of the local memory can be analyzed to generate a memory profile analysis. Based on the memory profile analysis, at least one portion of the bytecode can be automatically revised to reduce an amount of the local memory used by the application.
US08972954B2
Debugging method using program inspectors to debug programs developed using frameworks and libraries
A debugging method for use with computer programs that may include a number of program components such as objects within a software framework. The debugging method includes providing a debugging environment with a debugger that generates debugging information, including runtime state information, for each of the program components. The method includes identifying one of the program components for inspection within the debugging environment. The method includes using an inspector selection module to select a set of program inspectors to perform the inspection of the identified program component, e.g., by first determining the type of object or program component that has been identified or based upon a type of issue being debugged. The method includes performing the inspection with these program inspectors or scripts that each define a particular potential user error or nonstandard usage of an object, and outputting a report of the programming issues identified by the program inspectors.
US08972952B2
A method and an apparatus that generate tracer data randomly and infrequently for origins and destinations of values created during runtime of a compiled code of a source code is described. A tracer graph may be updated to record the origins and destinations of the values during the runtime. The compiled code may be optimized to reduce processing resources between the origins and the destinations of the values according to the tracer graph. The optimized compiled code may be executed for at least a portion of the source code.
US08972951B2
Computer systems, methods and program products can facilitate embedding performance monitoring into a mashup application that is being created in a mashup application development environment. A mashup application analyzer identifies mashup application performance monitors that are applicable to a mashup application that is being created in a mashup application development environment. An instructor is provided to instruct the mashup application development environment to embed selected ones up of the performance monitors into the mashup application that is being created in the mashup application development environment, responsive to a selection from the performance monitors. A provisioner instructs the mashup application development environment how to provision the selected ones of the mashup application performance monitors in the mashup application that is being created in the mashup application development environment, responsive to a selection of provisioning options for the selected ones of the mashup application performance monitors.
US08972950B2
A method is provided for translating sets of constraint declarations to imperative code sequences based on defining an instantiatable object per set, inserting calls to a notification callback mechanism on state modification and defining calls in the constraint context as imperative code sequences that, in response to these callbacks, take actions to maintain these constraints. This notification and callback mechanism can also be employed in connection with external events, thereby providing for efficient implementation of event-sequenced imperative procedures in a constraint programming language.
US08972944B2
A simulation environment, in one embodiment, includes a debugger server, one or more debuggers, and one or more debugger adapters. Each debugger adapter couples a corresponding debugger to the debugger server. The debugger server coordinates the run mode of the debugger adapters. Each debugger adapter controls the run mode of its corresponding debugger.
US08972920B1
Re-budgeting connections includes detecting a budget event for a circuit design and, responsive to detecting the budget event, calculating, using a processor, a delta for a selected combinatorial circuit element of the circuit design using an incoming slack and an outgoing slack of the selected combinatorial circuit element. Using the processor, a delay budget for a connection of the selected combinatorial circuit element is adjusted using the delta responsive to detecting the budget event.
US08972901B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for fast mouse pointer location. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for fast mouse pointer location includes determining a contemporaneous location of a mouse pointer in a GUI of a host computer, dimensioning in memory of the host computer different shapes and arranging the shapes to proximately meet at a point of intersection, overlaying the shapes in the GUI at a position proximate to the contemporaneous location of the mouse pointer, displaying the shapes in the GUI for a brief period of time before hiding the shapes from view in the GUI and repeating the determining, dimensioning, overlaying and displaying for different movements of the mouse pointer in the GUI.
US08972900B2
A computer-implemented method for displaying a filterable hierarchy includes: receiving, in an application, a user input that requests at least part of a hierarchy to be displayed; generating a request based on the user input, and forwarding the request to a server for performing a query on non-hierarchical information in a database; receiving, in the application, a response by the server to the request; identifying, in the response, at least one selectable node in the hierarchy and at least one non-selectable visible node in the hierarchy; and presenting, using the application, a view in which the selectable node and the non-selectable visible node are structured according to the hierarchy.
US08972896B2
A system is disclosed including a first display control section 218 for selectively displaying, in a first display area, a second predetermined number of first objects among first objects, corresponding to a first predetermined number of game programs, for which an order is set, a second display control section for displaying a position designation image at a position corresponding to a position, of subject software, in an order set for the first predetermined number of pieces of software; a display change section for designating a first object to be displayed in the first display area, based on an operation input received by using the position designation image; and an activation execution section for activating software corresponding to one first object which is selected from among the second predetermined number of first objects displayed in the first display area, based on the operation input.
US08972895B2
A web site user interface for an e-commerce retail company allows a user to easily browse or purchase products or services offered by the company. The web site user interface can include a dual horizontal navigation bar including a main navigation bar and subordinate navigation bar. The subordinate navigation bar can be actively and passively customized. Further, the subordinate navigation bar can include product shipment information in a user specific notification pane. The web site user interface can also include a drop-down logo from the dual parent navigation bar where the web page continues to include the drop-down logo as the user scrolls down to focus on web page content. Alternatively, the web site user interface can include a main navigation bar and secondary navigation bar where the main navigation bar includes fewer subcategories of products than the secondary navigation bar.
US08972892B2
A notification framework delivers notifications in a manner that is appropriate for a user's current experience. An API is implemented in the notification framework and provided to developers to develop applications utilizing such API to communicate with the framework. A display mode of an active application is determined by the framework. A notification generated by an alerting application is captured by the framework. The framework determines a mode of delivery based on the display mode and the notification, and delivers the notification accordingly.
US08972882B2
Computer interfaces are provided for exploring dental anatomy, for accessing information related to dental conditions, for learning oral hygiene and for cataloguing events. Some of the learning interfaces provide interactive elements for practicing the flossing and brushing of teeth.
US08972877B2
A control panel image generation unit generates a control panel image displayed to control an application. An application execution unit executes the application based on user control information input while the control panel image is being displayed. An information image generation unit generates an information image including information related to the application. An image switching unit switches an image displayed on a display from the control panel image to the information image. The information image generation unit uses image data stored in a storage device and generates the information image including a thumbnail image corresponding to the control panel image.
US08972870B2
An invention for automatically reducing a load on a server functioning with a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, there is an alternative representation tool, including a detection component configured to detect a load on a server, and a determination component configured to determine whether the load on the server exceeds a predefined threshold. The alternative representation tool further comprises a rendering component configured to provide an alternative representation of a virtual content renderable in the virtual universe to reduce the load on the server in the case that the load on the server exceeds the predefined threshold.
US08972866B2
A system may include a communications device configured to select a contact from an address book, the contact including information descriptive of a user and including at least one address of the user. The communications device may be further configured to associate an outbound hunt group with the contact, the outbound hunt group configured to provide a list of addresses to be called in sequence to locate the user.
US08972850B2
A system for managing tags on a web page is disclosed. Tags are managed by implementing primary and secondary tags. The secondary tags are aggregated to provide network and tag management efficiency.
US08972844B2
A field attraction module attracts/detracts interaction to/from particular fields of a digital document. The module detects interaction in the digital document corresponding to a plurality of fields of the digital document is detected. The module determines field attraction weights associated with the plurality of fields. The field attraction weights represent a degree to which presentation of the digital document is modified for selectively attracting interaction to at least one of the plurality of fields. The module determines that a first of the plurality of fields is associated with a greatest of the field attraction weights. The module modifies presentation of the digital document to attract interaction to the first field in the digital document in accordance with the greatest of the field attraction weights.
US08972843B2
To communicate a modular document from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the first electronic device determines which one or more component documents of the modular document are already available at the second electronic device. The modular document is composed of plural component documents. The first electronic device sends to the second electronic device a subset of the plural component documents of the modular document, where the subset of the plural component documents is other than the one or more component documents already available at the second electronic device.
US08972842B2
According to one embodiment, a method of processing data for an information processing apparatus includes extracting, displaying, transmitting and updating. The extracting extracts keywords from a Web page being displayed by a browser. The displaying displays the extracted keywords. The transmitting transmits a keyword and attribute data associate with the keyword to a retrieval site, if the keyword is selected from the displayed keywords. The updating updates the displayed keywords if the browser acquires the Web page.
US08972838B2
Data transmission detecting device, data transmission detecting method and electronic device thereof
A data transmission detecting device including a detecting module and a detection value calculating module is provided. The detecting module has a plurality of receiving terminals and receives a first data and a second data during a first period. The detecting module calculates a total detection value according to the first data and the second data, and performs an error check comparison by comparing the total detection value with an error check code. When the detecting module again receives the first data during a second period, the detection value calculating module transmits an auxiliary detection value to the detecting module, so that the detecting module calculates a corresponding total detection value according to the auxiliary detection value, and performs the error check comparison by comparing the total detection value with the error check code. The first period and the second period are two successive periods adjacent to each other.
US08972835B1
An encoder block to receive input data has a KR-Matrix block. The KR-Matrix block is configured to: exclusively OR combinations of subsets of data bits of the input data to generate (n−1) parity bits for n a positive integer greater than zero; and exclusively OR a combination of all of the data bits and all the (n−1) parity bits to generate an (n) parity bit.
US08972834B2
The present invention provides a low density parity check (LDPC) code system and method of using such a system. A transmitted LDPC code block size may be chosen such that the minimum transmitted block size is minimized. Further, the system provides for intermediate LDPC code block size support. Finally, a common decoder architecture may be used to decode different LDPC code rates and block sizes.
US08972832B2
Computer-implemented methods and systems may perform one or more operations including, but not limited to: receiving input data from a source; applying an interleaving protocol to the input data to generate at least one component codeword; decoding the at least one component codeword; determining a first convergence value of at least one decoded component codeword; computing extrinsic data associated with the at least one component codeword according to the bit error count and the first convergence of at least one component codeword; determining a second convergence value associated with the at least one component codeword according to the extrinsic data associated with the at least one component codeword.
US08972831B2
A processor includes a first memory module for storing a first set of storage values each representing a respective input, and a second memory module for storing a second set of storage values in analog form. An analog module is coupled to the first and the second memory modules. The analog module is configured to, in each operation cycle of at least one iteration, update at least some of the second set of storage values based on the first and the second sets of storage values. An output module is for generating a set of outputs from at least some of the second set of storage values.
US08972825B2
A device (20) for an adaptive modulation communication system is provided. The device (20) comprises an input device (21) adapted to receive, from a communication channel, data encoded through a FEC code. A FEC decoder (23) connected downstream of the input device (21) is also provided for FEC decoding the received encoded data and providing error information determined by the FEC decoding. The device according to the invention further comprises means for measuring first error information of the encoded data before FEC decoding the received encoded data, and means for measuring second error information determined by the FEC decoder (23). Means (25) for estimating a condition of the communication channel based on both the first error information and the second error information are also provided.
US08972821B2
An electronic circuit includes a microcontroller processor (410), a peripheral (420) coupled with the processor, an endian circuit (470) coupled with the processor and the peripheral to selectively provide different endianess modes of operation, and a detection circuit (140) to detect a failure to select a given endianess, whereby inadvertent switch of endianess due to faults is avoided. Other circuits, devices, systems, methods of operation and processes of manufacture are also disclosed.
US08972816B2
The disclosure is related to systems and methods for servo Gray code error detection and correction. A device may include a circuit configured to 1) selectively implement a quality-based error correction system to determine an error in the servo Gray code and correct the error; 2) selectively implement a trajectory-based error correction system to determine an error in the servo Gray code and correct the error; or 3) implement any combination of a quality-based error correction system and a trajectory-based error correction system to determine an error in the servo Gray code and correct the error.
US08972814B2
A system and method for permuting known and unknown message bits before encoding to provide a beneficial rearrangement of bits. Such a method can improve distance properties in the resulting subcode. In various embodiments, the structure of a beneficial rearrangement is dependent on the parameters of how known and unknown bits are grouped and on the specific type of code being used. Given these two parameters, the message bits can be rearranged to more efficiently leverage any apriori knowledge.
US08972809B2
The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for using a device's power and ground terminals as a test and/or debug interface for the device. According to the present disclosure, messages are modulated over DC voltages applied to the power terminals of a device to input test/debug messages to the device and output test/debug messages from the device. The present disclosure advantageously allows a device to be tested and/or debugged without the device having any shared or dedicated test or debug interface terminals.
US08972808B2
A technique for controlling scan access of multiple scan devices (including or more slave scan devices and a master scan device) to a scan chain includes sending, by a requesting slave scan device included in the one or more slave scan devices, a first request for access to the scan chain to the master scan device. The master scan device and the one or more slave scan devices are connected to the scan chain. The technique also includes receiving, at the requesting slave scan device, an evaluation result from the master scan device and accessing, by the requesting slave scan device, the scan chain in response to the evaluation result indicating access granted. Finally, the technique includes sending, by the requesting slave scan device, one or more second requests for access to the scan chain to the master scan device in response to the evaluation result indicating access denied.
US08972806B2
Providing for testing of digital sequencing components of an integrated chip is described herein. By way of example, self-test procedures are provided for unidirectional integrated chips that have different sequence generation (e.g., transmission) and sequence monitoring (e.g., receiving) frequencies. A test logic component(s) can be added to an integrated chip to match the sequence generation frequency to the sequence monitoring frequency. This can facilitate self-testing of unidirectional sequence generating components, by modifying a generated sequence at a first datarate to be receivable at a second datarate, and directing the modified sequence to sequence monitoring components of the integrated chip configured to operate at the second datarate.
US08972797B2
A system includes a client system comprising a memory and a processor configured to execute a debugging tool. The debugging tool is communicatively coupled to an OPC Unified Architecture (UA) server. Furthermore, the debugging tool is configured to monitor and control, from the client system, debugging of an application executing on the OPC UA server.
US08972795B2
In order to enable the optimization of a processor system without relying upon knowhow or manual labor, an apparatus includes: information obtainment unit for reading, from memory, trace information of the processor system and performance information corresponding to the trace information; information analysis unit for analyzing the trace information and the performance information so as to obtain a performance factor such as an idle time, a processing completion time of a task, or the number of interprocessor communications as a result of the analysis; and optimization method output unit for displaying and outputting a method of optimizing the system in response to a result of the analysis.
US08972790B2
A controller section outputs a first signal and a second signal holding a phase relationship with the first signal. The second signal is received by a memory I/F section via a FIFO memory of an error detecting section. The memory I/F section performs timing adjustment for the first and second signals, outputs the first and second signals after the timing adjustment to a memory, and loops back the second signal. A data comparator compares the looped-back second signal with the original second signal outputted from the FIFO memory and corresponding to the looped-back signal.
US08972782B2
An aspect includes providing rollback support in an exposed-pipeline processing element. A method for providing rollback support in an exposed-pipeline processing element includes detecting, by rollback support logic, an error associated with execution of an instruction in the exposed-pipeline processing element. The rollback support logic determines whether the exposed-pipeline processing element supports replay of the instruction for a predetermined number of cycles. Based on determining that the exposed-pipeline processing element supports replay of the instruction, a rollback action is performed in the exposed-pipeline processing element to attempt recovery from the error.
US08972779B2
Disclosed is a method of calculating parity. The method dividing, by a client system, a file which is to be stored into chunks of a preset size and distributively storing the chunks in a plurality of data servers; sending, by the client system, a data write complete notification message to a metadata server; storing, by the metadata server, a file sent through the data write complete notification message in a recovery queue; and sending, by the metadata server, a random data server a parity calculation request for the file stored in the recovery queue.
US08972769B2
A data processing apparatus includes: a plurality of processing units adapted to process data according to input operation clocks; and a control unit adapted to measure response times of the plurality of processing units when the operation clocks of a common frequency are supplied to the plurality of processing units, and to control a frequency of the operation clocks to be supplied to at least one of the plurality of processing units so that a plurality of measured response times become closer to each other.
US08972767B2
Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for synchronizing at least one newly activated processor with at least one previously running processor. Each processor is configured to generate a heartbeat and operate according to a STICK. When a previously deactivated processor is added, the heartbeat of each active processor is reset and the current STICK is transmitted to the newly activated processor on the next heartbeat. The newly activated processor may then add the heartbeat period to the acquired STICK and begin incrementing the STICK and normal operation after the next heartbeat.
US08972764B2
A novel information processing apparatus maintains file system information in a secondary storage device during power saving mode. The information processing apparatus keeps storing file information and mounting information in the secondary storage device without releasing it in shutdown process 303 when it transitions to power saving mode, and uses the saved file information 401 and mounting information 402 in reinitializing process 304 when it returns from power saving mode. User program 201 does not need to execute file initializing process. Also, since mounting information 402 is kept, the information processing apparatus can access the file system in the secondary storage device immediately if the power of the secondary storage device is on and the secondary storage device is available.
US08972762B2
Computing devices and methods for resetting an inactivity timer of each of a first and second computing device are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a communication channel between the first computing device and the second computing device, receiving activity input responsive to a user interaction at the first computing device, resetting the inactivity timer of the first computing device, and transmitting a notification via the communication channel to the second computing device that the activity input was received at the first computing device, the inactivity timer of the second computing device being reset in response to receipt of the notification.
US08972761B2
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for power governance in a data processing system. In one particular case, a system is disclosed that includes a first data processing circuit operable to apply a data detection algorithm to a data input synchronous to a first clock, and a second data processing circuit operable to apply a subsequent data processing algorithm to an output derived from the first data processing circuit synchronous to a second clock, and an idle time enforcement circuit operable to modify an average frequency of at least one of the first clock and the second clock.
US08972758B2
A mechanism is provided for efficiently recycling a charge from a power domain that is discharging. A side of a discharging power domain normally coupled to a voltage supply is disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is currently disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is connected to a side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply. A side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the ground is disconnected from ground. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to ground is connected to the voltage supply, thereby precharging the precharging power domain with the charge from the discharging power domain that would normally he lost due to leakage.
US08972752B2
System and method for providing modular and scalable power infrastructure outside of usable it space
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for providing scalable and modular power infrastructure outside of usable rack space is described. The system may include a chassis configured to mount on the side of a rack. A power cable interface box (PCIB) may be disposed within the chassis, and the PCIB may receive alternating current (AC) power. The system may further include at least one power supply unit disposed within a slot of the chassis, with the at least one power supply unit receiving AC power from the PCIB and outputting direct current (DC) power to a busbar. The system may also include a battery back-up unit (BBU) element disposed within the chassis. The BBU element may charge from and discharge to the busbar.
US08972751B2
A system may include a database configured to store information including characteristics of a plurality of components. The system may further include a server in communication with the database and configured to receive design parameters indicative of a plurality of loads of a multiple-load device; determine a plurality of power supply architectures that may be used to provide power supply solutions satisfying the plurality of loads, each power supply architecture including at least one position requiring a component configured to satisfy a load requirement; for each one of at least a subset of the plurality of power supply architectures, determine, based on the characteristics of the plurality of components, at least one component configured to satisfy the corresponding load requirement for each position of the one of the power supply architectures; and generate at least one power supply design in accordance with the power supply architectures and the determined components.
US08972748B2
A medical imaging system capable of acquiring medical imaging data of a patient includes a console coupled to the system, the console comprising a computer programmed to enable a first user to perform a first task on the system via the console, and enable a second user to perform a second task simultaneously with the first task via a remote device.
US08972739B1
Systems and methods for securely entering pass-sets in input/output (I/O) devices. An exemplary I/O device includes an authentication application, an output interface and a user-controls interface. The authentication application is configured to generate aural, visual, audiovisual or tactile messages containing one or more pass-set entry menus, in response to a request to access a pass-set protected resource by a user of the I/O device. The output interface is configured to securely present the generated messages for the user. For example, the headphone of a headset can securely present an aural message to a wearer. The user-controls interface is configured to assist the user in making a selection from the menus or choices presented to the user. For example, a variety of controls, switches and buttons on a headset can facilitate user input. The user selection is then assembled into a user entered pass-set for authenticating the user's identity by an authenticator.
US08972737B2
A data processing device for playing back a digital work reduces the processing load involved in verification by using only a predetermined number of encrypted units selected randomly from multiple encrypted units constituting encrypted contents recorded on a DVD. In addition, the data processing device improves the accuracy of detecting unauthorized contents by randomly selecting a predetermined number of encrypted units every time the verification is performed.
US08972735B2
Methods and apparatus to certify digital signatures are disclosed. An example method includes retrieving, from a first database, a first geographical location associated with an identification number associated with a network device and identified in a request to certify a digital signature, comparing the first geographical location associated with the identification number to a second geographical location to verify the second geographical location, determining that the first geographical location matches the second geographical location, and certifying the digital signature to indicate an authenticity of the digital signature based on the verification of the second geographical location and a comparison of (a) biometric information associated with a user associated with the request and (b) stored biometric information.
US08972734B2
A symmetric dynamic authentication and key exchange system and a method thereof are provided. A client and a server obtain initial authentication information at the same time, the client generates first one-time temporary authentication information, a conference key and a standby identity identifier according to the initial authentication information, and transmits them to the server, and the server performs a dynamic authentication program. The server compares the initial authentication information of the client with the conference key to confirm an identity of the client, and then updates the initial authentication information of the server according to the first one-time temporary authentication information, and the server is enabled to have the first one-time temporary authentication information the same as that of the client, and then to generate second one-time temporary authentication information including the standby identity identifier according to the first one-time temporary authentication information and the initial authentication information.
US08972729B2
A first network device is configured to receive a request for content from a user device, determine that the user device is not authenticated, and send information to the user device that the user device requires authentication. The first network device is configured further to receive a notification that the user device is authorized to receive content from multiple content providers. The first network device is configured further to generate a secret key and authenticate the user device by using the secret key. The first network device is further configured to send the content to the user device.
US08972720B2
An information processing system including a medium where a content to be played is stored; and a playing apparatus for playing contents stored in the medium; with the playing apparatus being configured to discriminate the content type of a content selected as an object to be played, to selectively obtain a device certificate correlated with the discriminated content type from a storage unit, and to transmit the selectively obtained device certificate to the medium; with the device certificate being a device certificate for content types in which content type information where the device certificate is available is recorded; and with the medium determining whether or not an encryption key with reading being requested from the playing apparatus is an encryption key for decrypting an encrypted content matching an available content type recorded in the device certificate, and permitting readout of the encryption key only in the case of matching.
US08972712B2
A reprogramming device is used for reprogramming embedded systems. The reprogramming device comprises a microprocessor, a memory programmed with software to accomplish the reprogramming of distinctly different embedded systems architectures, and one or more hardware devices that facilitate communication over multiple protocols contained in a portable package designed for both one-time and multi-occurrence use scenarios. In some embodiments, the reprogramming device is able to be used to enhance one or more attributes of performance of existing embedded systems through the reconfiguration of internally stored parameters. In some embodiments, the reprogramming device is also to be used to extract and receive information and instruction from existing embedded systems and enable useful presentation of this information. As a result, the reprogramming device is able to be used to adjust and/or monitor the parameters of the on-board diagnostics computer of a vehicle to ensure peak performance and detect errors.
US08972702B2
Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program products providing a power management technique for an HPC cluster with performance improvements for parallel applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, power usage of an HPC cluster is reduced by boosting the performance of one or more select nodes within the cluster so that the one or more nodes take less time to complete. Embodiments of the invention accomplish this by selectively identifying the appropriate node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)) in the cluster and increasing the computing capacity of the selected node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)).
US08972700B2
An instruction unit provides instructions for execution by a processor. A decode unit decodes instructions received from the instruction unit. Queues are coupled to receive instructions from the decode unit. Each instruction in a same queue is executed in order by a corresponding execution unit. An arbiter is coupled to each queue and to the execution unit that executes instructions of a first instruction type. The arbiter selects a next instruction of the first instruction type from a bottom entry of the queue for execution by the first execution unit.
US08972693B2
A system and method is provided for improving efficiency, power, and bandwidth consumption in parallel processing. Rather than using memory polling to ensure that enough space is available in memory locations for, for example, write instructions, the techniques disclosed herein provide a system and method to automate this evaluation mechanism in environments such as data-parallel processing to efficiently check available space in memory locations before instructions such as write threads are allowed. These operations are handled efficiently in hardware, but are flexible enough to be implemented in all manner of programming models.
US08972681B2
A method for increasing the efficiency of a “copy-on-write” operation performed on an SSD to extend the life of the SSD is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a first logical address specifying a logical location where new data should be written to an SSD. The first logical address maps to a first physical location, storing original data, on the SSD. The method further receives a second logical address specifying a logical location where the original data should be available on the SSD. The second logical address maps to a second physical location on the SSD. To efficiently perform the copy-on-write operation, the method writes the new data to a new physical location on the SSD, maps the first logical address to the new physical location, and maps the second logical address to the first physical location. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.
US08972676B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for assigning device adaptors and background tasks to use to copy source extents to target extents in a copy relationship. A relation is provided of a plurality of source extents in source ranks to copy to a plurality of target extents in target ranks in the storage system. One target rank in the relation is used to determine an order in which the target ranks in the relation are selected to register for copying. For each selected target rank in the relation selected according to the determined order, an iteration of a registration operation is performed to register the selected target rank and a selected source rank copied to the selected target rank in the relation. The registration operation comprises indicating in a device adaptor assignment data structure a source device adaptor and target device adaptor to use to copy the selected rank to the selected target rank and adding an entry to a priority queue for the relation for the selected target rank. The selected source rank is copied to the selected target rank using as the source and target device adaptors indicated in the device adaptor assignment data structure for the selected target rank in response to processing the entry in the priority queue added to the priority queue for the selected target rank.
US08972666B2
A computer program product for mitigating conflicts for shared cache lines between an owning core currently owning a cache line and a requestor core. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes determining whether the owning core is operating in a transactional or non-transactional mode and setting a hardware-based reject threshold at a first or second value with the owning core determined to be operating in the transactional or non-transactional mode, respectively. The method further includes taking first or second actions to encourage cache line sharing between the owning core and the requestor core in response to a number of rejections of requests by the requestor core reaching the reject threshold set at the first or second value, respectively.
US08972660B2
A disk subsystem and a data restoration method with which the rise time when the disk subsystem is restored can be shortened.A disk subsystem and data restoration method whereby, when the power of the disk subsystem is shut off, the shared memory management table is saved to non-volatile memory together with the cache data and, when the power of the disk subsystem is restored, the shared memory management table is referenced and the duplex data is assigned by two non-volatile memories and restored to each of two shared memories.
US08972650B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for increasing efficiency of read operations by selectively adding pages from a pagelist to a batch, such that when the batch is executed as a read operation, each page in the batch can be concurrently accessed. The pagelist can include all the pages associated a read command received, for example, from a file system. Although the pages associated with the read command may have an original read order sequence, embodiments according to this invention re-order this original read order sequence by selectively adding pages to a batch. A page is added to the batch if it does not collide with any other page already added to the batch. A page collides with another page if neither page can be accessed simultaneously. One or more batches can be constructed in this manner until the pagelist is empty.
US08972649B2
A generator matrix is provided to generate codewords from messages of write operations. Rather than generate a codeword using the entire generator matrix, some number of bits of the codeword are determined to be, or designated as, stuck bits. One or more submatrices of the generator matrix are determined based on the columns of the generator matrix that correspond to the stuck bits. The submatrices are used to generate the codeword from the message, and only the bits of the codeword that are not the stuck bits are written to a memory block. By designating one or more bits as stuck bits, the operating life of the bits is increased. Some of the submatrices of the generator matrix may be pre-computed for different stuck bit combinations. The pre-computed submatrices may be used to generate the codewords, thereby increasing the performance of write operations.
US08972646B2
An interface for low power, high bandwidth communications between units in a device in provided herein. The interface comprises a USB 3.0 system interface and a SuperSpeed inter-chip (SSIC) protocol adaptor configured to facilitate communications between the USB 3.0 system interface and an M-PHY interface.
US08972644B2
The timing controller determines the number of data lanes (11, 12, 13), which are used to transfer data, based on information in relation to an amount of data to be transferred during a predetermined time period. Out of the plurality of data lanes (11, 12, 13), the determined number of data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) are used to transfer data. Further, a data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) which is not used in the data transfer is deactivated.
US08972640B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a first field of a first link capabilities register of a first device having a protocol stack including a transaction layer and a link layer according to a first communication protocol and a physical layer of the protocol stack having a physical unit of a second communication protocol, using the first field as a pointer value to a location in a second link capabilities register of the first device, and using information from the location in the second link capabilities register to perform a configuration operation for a physical link coupled to the device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08972637B1
A computer program product, system, and computer implemented method comprising intercepting, by an interceptor, IO send on an IO path to a storage array; sending a copy of the IO and metadata to a message bus, and enabling a consumer to register with the message bus to consume events sent to the message bus.
US08972635B2
A processor includes a first transmitting unit that transmits, when receiving from a second processor a transmission request indicating transmission of target data which is read from a main storage unit and stored in the first processor, a transfer instruction to the first processor, the transfer instruction indicating transfer of the target data and state information to the second processor, the state information indicating a state of the target data used when the second processor reads and stores the target data. The processor includes a second transmitting unit that transmits acquisition information indicating acquisition of the target data to the second processor before receiving a response to the transfer instruction transmitted by the first transmitting unit from the first processor.
US08972631B2
The defined architecture allows for format-efficient data storage on bit-patterned media, while allowing for typical variations in the drive, such as reader to writer gap variations. The defined BPM architecture relaxes some timing requirements on real-time signaling from the formatter to the channel, while enabling bit-accurate alignment between data accesses and the media.
US08972628B2
An expandable wireless storage device is provided that includes an interface slot, internal memory, a wireless interface and an aggregated file system view providing component. An external memory, which stores a first subset of multi-media files, can be physically coupled with the expandable wireless storage device using the interface slot. A second subset of multi-media files can be stored on the internal memory. A multi-media file of the multi-media files can be streamed to a playing device using the wireless interface. The internal memory is used as a buffer when the multi-media file resides on the external memory. An aggregated file system view providing component provides an aggregated file system view of the multi-media files.
US08972622B2
A method of processing communications includes: receiving transmission data over a selected time interval for each of a plurality of communication paths between a host processor and a control unit configured to control at least one I/O device; calculating an average round-trip transmission time for each of the communication paths over the time interval; comparing an average round-trip transmission time for a communication path having the highest average round-trip transmission time to a threshold value and to a multiple of an average round-trip transmission time for a communication path having the lowest average round-trip transmission time; and determining, based on comparing the highest round-trip transmission time to the threshold value and to a multiple of the lowest round-trip transmission time, whether the time period indicates a delay in communication between the I/O subsystem and the control unit requiring at least one of a monitoring action and a recovery action.
US08972604B1
A network-based services platform is configured to dynamically allocate network addresses to requesting machine instances. When a particular address becomes unassigned, it may be retained, and not allowed to be reassigned, during a period of time in which it is expected that the unassigned address may continue to be the target of outdated DNS records.
US08972595B2
A software communication unit executes a plurality of application communications executed in parallel in a network according to a TCP/IP control by a software. A hardware communication unit executes the application communications according to a TCP/IP control by a TCP/IP offload engine (TOE). A communication allocating unit executes an allocation processing for allocating a hardware communication by the hardware communication unit and a software communication by the software communication unit based on reference information on each of the application communications, for application communications that are simultaneously executed.
US08972592B1
A method of extending an ID to a computer system comprises detecting, by a mobile communication device operating an ID, a computer system, wherein the IDs comprise an auto-installation routine and at least one of an application, a media file, and a widget; establishing a communication link between the mobile communication device and the computer system; and loading and activating the ID on the computer system.
US08972578B2
An application provides cloud computing master data management. The application determines a rank associated with received server information from a server. The source rank is adjusted according to evaluation of server information against naming convention standards. The source rank is used in determining a category matching the server information. An assigned category includes instructions to configure assets of a server. The application assembles configuration information from the assigned category and provides the configuration information to the server.
US08972568B2
A method is implemented in a network element to generate quality of experience (QoE) metrics for hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) sessions over a network between a user device and an HTTP server. The QoE metrics are based on detecting premature termination of a download process that indicate low QoE. This QoE metric data can then be utilized by network administrators or service providers to adjust network characteristics to improve the QoE or to offer changes in services to a customer that would improve the QoE.
US08972564B1
In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for a reliability estimate associated with an ad hoc application. In response to the request, one or more components associated with the ad hoc application and upon which the ad hoc application relies are identified. The method also includes generating a directed graph. The directed graph identifies one or more dependency relationships among the identified components. The method also includes calculating, based at least in part on the directed graph, a reliability estimate for the ad hoc application.
US08972556B2
A method and apparatus for maintaining a communication link through a NAT or other boundary device. Keep-alive messages (keep-alives) are transmitted and received by the boundary device to maintain the link therethrough. Address information of a keep-alive purports that keep-alive has traversed or is to traverse a predetermined portion of the communication link, such as a wireless “over the air” portion. However, the keep-alive is inhibited from traversing the predetermined portion. This may be accomplished by one or more of: spoofing the origin of the keep-alive such that it only appears to have traversed the predetermined portion; and causing the keep-alive to be discarded before traversal of the predetermined portion. Discard may be facilitated by configuration of the TTL field of the keep-alive or by use of a filtering device.
US08972553B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate handling failures in policy rule installation and/or related bearer modification procedures. A set of modified policy rules can be provided to a gateway for enforcement thereof and/or correlation with a bearer of a device. The gateway can attempt to install the modified rules and can utilize a credit control request (CCR)/credit control answer (CCA) exchange to notify of a status of the modified rule installation and/or related bearer modification. A policy charging and rules function (PCRF) can, thus, determine the status based on the CCR/CCA exchange. If the status indicates failure, the PCRF can revert to previous policy rules. In addition, an application function can be notified of the status.
US08972550B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to transport media data between a service provider network and one or more end user devices associated with the gateway, and transmit connection signals to a second gateway for establishing communications between the service provider network and the gateway and for establishing a plurality of queues at the second gateway, where the queues are dedicated to each of femtocell, internet and VoIP services associated with the gateway. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08972543B1
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for managing a plurality of clients. A controller may be programmed to receive a first request message from a first client. The request message may be formatted as a request according to a transport layer protocol and may comprise information describing the first client. The controller may also select a command to be executed by the first client and send a response message to the first client, where the response message is formatted according to the transport layer protocol as a response. The response message may comprise information describing the command to be executed by the first client. The controller may additionally receive a second request message from the first client. The second request message may comprise information describing a result of the command indicated by the response message.
US08972542B2
Techniques are described for providing a backup DHCP server using a DHCP relay agent. Embodiments retrieve DHCP server configuration information specifying a configuration of one or more DHCP servers. Additionally, embodiments monitor, at a DHCP relay agent, DHCP lease traffic between the one or more DHCP servers and one or more DHCP clients passing through the DHCP relay agent. Upon determining that the one or more DHCP servers have failed, DHCP server services are provided at the DHCP relay agent, based on the received DHCP server configuration information and the monitored DHCP lease traffic.
US08972539B2
A method of automatic hostname configuration includes receiving a request from a client device. A location detection module may be utilized for determining a location identifier representing a location at which the client device is located. A hostname is formed including at least the location identifier, and a control server assigns the hostname to the client device by sending an acknowledgement including the hostname to the client device. The request and acknowledgement may be communicated using DHCP. Simple network management protocol messages may be sent to one or more switches to query for a MAC address of the client device to determine the source switch and port from which the request originated. The switch-port-to-location table may include several ports that map to a same location identifier. The hostname may further be formed by including a device type identifier associated with the client device.
US08972531B2
Retrieving seismic data by a data server. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: retrieving a seismic data slice from a seismic data volume, the datums logically organized in parallel layers, the retrieving by: sending a request for the seismic data slice from a client computer to a data sever over a network connection, the request spans at least a quarter of the layers in the seismic data volume, and the data server is remote from the client computer; extracting data values associated with the seismic data slice from the seismic data volume by the data server; sending, by the data server, datums residing within the seismic data slice, the sending such that at least some cache lines of a processor of the client computer filled responsive to the request comprise datums that span more than one layer; and then rendering the seismic data slice on a display device.
US08972519B2
Predetermined multimedia services are provided to a plurality of users through a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A request is received at a placement server of a multimedia service by at least one user, and the placement server retrieves on a presence server information about the at least one user. The placement server identifies application servers including a multimedia application capable of providing the requested multimedia service, and the placement server selects an application server that is located a minimum average distance from at least one user. In response to the minimum average distance being greater than a predetermined threshold, a local application server is selected with an average distance from the user that is less than the predetermined threshold. A virtual image of the multimedia application is created on the selected local application server, and a connection is established between the user and the selected local application server.
US08972516B2
Managing information related to an entity. The method includes storing a cache of data particular to an entity. The cache of data is related to the entity and controlled by the entity. The data in the cache of data is organized into a number of distinct subject matters. Access is provided to a portion of the data to a third party. Access is provided based on the third party being a service provider providing services related to the one of the distinct subject matters. Access is provided while restricting access to other portions of the data to the third party. Additional data is received from the third party. The additional data is added from the third party to the cache of data and the additional data is organized into the one of the distinct subject matters such that the additional data is also related to and controlled by the entity.
US08972512B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for handling large numbers of messages of one or more message types. In embodiments, the scalable messaging system reads from lists of recipient addresses and template messages, mergers them into messages, removes known blacklisted addresses, facilitates the rapid delivery of these messages via a dynamic queuing and dynamic message server deployment, and stores errors and other statistics. In embodiments, the scalable messaging system may include messaging system instances at different locations.
US08972510B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting unauthorized bulk forwarding of sensitive data over a network. A bulk forwarding of email from a first network environment is automatically detected by determining an arrival rate for internal emails received from within the first network environment into one or more user accounts; determining a sending rate for external emails sent from the one or more user accounts to a second network environment; and detecting the bulk forwarding of email from a given user account by comparing the arrival rate for internal emails and the sending rate for external emails. The bulk forwarding of email from a given user account can be detected by determining whether statistical models of the arrival rate for internal emails and of the sending rate for external emails are correlated in time.
US08972500B2
A data process apparatus for sharing shared data among plural data process apparatuses participating in an event. The data process apparatus includes a participation notification reception unit configured to receive a participation notification from each of the plural data process apparatus including first and second data process apparatuses in the event, a notifying unit configured to notify the second data process apparatus to the first data process apparatus as a data obtain target from which the shared data is to be obtained. The second data process apparatus is a data process apparatus from which the participation notification has already been received by the participation notification reception unit.
US08972499B2
A slide presentation file created by a web conference client device at an initial presentation quality using one version of an application is uploaded to a web conference server device that implements a state sharing mechanism for web conference slide presentation quality improvement during a web conference among a group of web conference client devices. The web conference server device is requested to begin rendering and distribution of presentation slides as part of the web conference among the group of web conference client devices using the state sharing mechanism. A rendered web conference presentation slide of the slide presentation file is received from the web conference server device. A determination is made that the rendered web conference presentation slide of the slide presentation file is rendered at a presentation quality different from the initial presentation quality of the uploaded slide presentation file.
US08972490B1
Information processing techniques for managing user discovery requests in a computing system such as a socially-aware data storage system. In one example, a method comprises the following steps. A user discovery request is sent from a first client to a socially-aware data storage system. The user discovery request comprises a social score computed for the first client. A list of other clients associated with the socially-aware data storage system is received at the first client from the socially-aware data storage system. The list of other clients is based on the social score computed for the first client.
US08972482B2
A remote site downloading system is disclosed in which a local computer establishes a session with a content server, and a content file and geographic destination drive are selected. The local computer is typically on a first access network and the user wishes to have the file downloaded to a geographic drive, i.e., a remote site computer whose location and other properties are mapped in a mapping file on the local computer. The geographic drive is usually on a different access network in a dynamic location such as a hotspot or a fixed location such as broadband cable or DSL. The local computer is specially programmed to allow selection of the geographic target drive, pack information comprising cookies and a URL, and sends it to the remote geographic drive computer, where it may act as a proxy to cause downloading from the content server to the geographic drive on the remote site computer.
US08972481B2
A method and system for playlist generation is disclosed. In one aspect, the system may include at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an unknown work and generating a corresponding representation thereof, and at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the analysis modules and determining the identity of the unknown work.
US08972475B2
Secure communications are provided over a network in a distributed workload environment having target hosts which are accessed through a distribution processor by a common network address. Secure communications are provided by routing both inbound and outbound communications with target hosts which are associated with a secure network communication through the distribution processor. Both inbound and outbound secure network communications are processed at the distribution processor so as to provide network security processing of communications from the target host and network security processing of communications to the target host.
US08972474B2
A logarithmic conversion circuit comprises: an operation amplifier; an input resistor connected at a preceding stage of an inverting input terminal, of the operation amplifier, to which a current signal is inputted; and a logarithmic conversion device and a current feedback device connected in series between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operation amplifier, and an inverse-logarithmic conversion circuit comprises: a current/voltage conversion circuit which, after the current signal having passed through the current feedback device is inputted, converts the inputted current signal to a voltage value corresponding thereto; and a subtraction circuit outputting the difference between an output voltage of the current/voltage conversion circuit and a predetermined reference voltage, a circuit constant of the subtraction circuit being set such that the difference output of the subtraction circuit has a linearity proportional to the current signal.
US08972469B2
A system and method for efficiently rotating data in a processor for multiple operand sizes. A processor comprises a rotator configured to support multiple operand sizes. The rotator receives a rotate amount and an input operand with a size less than a maximum operand size supported by the processor. The rotator generates a mask with a same size as the received input operand. The mask comprises a number of asserted most-significant bits equal to the rotate amount. The remaining bits in the mask are deasserted. For a given rotation result bit position with an associated asserted mask bit, the rotator selects a value in the input operand at a bit position with a distance from the given result bit position equal to the rotate amount plus a difference between the maximum operand size supported by the processor and the input operand size.
US08972467B2
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for selecting a data set from a plurality of data sets by means of a multi-touch input device, the data sets being connected with each other according to a topology of a graph, the input device comprising: a multi-touch screen, a motion sensing unit, and an acceleration sensing unit, the method comprising: displaying a view by the multi-touch screen, the view comprising a plurality of GUI elements, each GUI element representing one of the data sets, whereby one of the GUI elements is used as current GUI element; detecting, by the motion sensing unit, one or more first tilting motions; determining at least one candidate GUI element in dependence on the one or more first tilting motions; highlighting the at least one candidate GUI element; detecting a first shaking motion; automatically selecting, upon the detection of the first shaking motion, the data set represented by the highlighted GUI element.
US08972455B2
System and method for traffic surge control. A control message may be received for registering or managing a device in a network. A measure of a number of current control messages already being processed in the network may be retrieved. A condition may be retrieved, from among a plurality of conditions, that corresponds to the retrieved measure of current control messages, each condition defining different rules for discarding a control message of the same type and corresponding to one of a plurality of measures of current control messages. Based on whether or not the retrieved condition is met, the control message may be processed to register or manage the device or discarded.
US08972453B2
A method for determining a location of a requested resource, comprising receiving a request for a resource, wherein the resource is identified by a hierarchically structured name, decomposing the hierarchically structured name into a plurality of segments, comparing each of the plurality of segments to parent nodes of a plurality of two-level treelets, wherein the comparing of at least two of the plurality of segments to parent nodes of the plurality of two-level treelets is performed in a parallel manner, wherein combinations of two-level treelets comprise a hierarchical name of a network resource, and determining a longest prefix match of the hierarchically structured name.
US08972451B2
The present invention provides a system and a method for delivering an event from an event publisher to an event subscriber via an event broker. The event broker performs several functions such as receiving an event published by an event publisher of a first domain, assigning a priority based on a second domain to a plurality of subscribers of the second domain, processing the event based on a rule and the priority, and further delivering the event published by the event publisher of the first domain to the plurality of event subscribers of the second domain in accordance with the priority.
US08972446B2
In a system and method for order-independent stream query processing, one or more input streams of data are received, and the one or more input streams are analyzed to determine data which is older than an already emitted progress indicator. The data which is older than the already emitted progress indicator is partitioned into one or more partitions, and each of the one or more partitions are independently processed using out-of-order processing techniques. A query is received, rewritten and decomposed into one or more sub-queries that produce partial results for each of the one or more partitions, where each of the one or more sub-queries correspond to a partition. A view is also produced that consolidates the partial results for each partition. The partial results are consolidated at a consolidation time specified by the query to produce final results, and the final results are provided.
US08972444B2
A computer-implemented method of providing text entry assistance data includes receiving at a system location information associated with a user, receiving at the system information indicative of predictive textual outcomes, generating dictionary data using the location information, and providing the dictionary data to a remote device.
US08972443B2
The present disclosure describes an apparatus and methods for performing data analysis, in particular network analysis. Specifically it provides a framework and user interface whereby raw data may be imported into a data model with entities, attributes, and relationships between the entities and multiple data analysis algorithms may be pipelined into a larger data analysis model and applied to the data model. Offline and online data visualization and data exploration techniques, may be applied to the results of the data analysis enabling real-time and near real-time interactive online analysis. Extensibility models and market transaction models are also provided.
US08972438B2
A database may be accessed by creating a virtualized environment on a computer system and instantiating a driver for a database within the virtualized environment. A first execution thread within the virtualized environment is created and a first unique identifier is associated with the first execution thread within the driver for the database. A first connection to the database is then opened from within the first execution thread using the first unique identifier. A first native program containing embedded structured query language (SQL) statements is executed within the first execution thread and the first native program is provided with access to said database using the first connection to said database.
US08972437B2
Automatically generating and/or populating a table is described. In some embodiments, in response to receiving an indication to include data from a set of documents in a table, each of at least a subset of documents included in the set of documents is parsed to identify a set of one or more common elements, a table with a structure derived from at least a subset of the set of common elements is generated, and an entry for each of one or more documents in the set of documents included in the table is populated with data values extracted from the content of that document.
US08972436B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for matching sets of text to objects are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a set of text is obtained. For instance, the set of text may include a review. A numerical value is determined for each of a plurality of objects, where the numerical value indicates a likelihood that the corresponding one of the plurality of objects is a subject of the set of text. Each of the plurality of objects has an object type defined by a set of one or more attributes, each of the set of one or more attributes having associated therewith a corresponding set of one or more parameters, wherein the numerical value is determined using the set of text and a value of each of the set of one or more parameters for each of the set of one or more attributes. One of the plurality of objects that is most likely to be the subject of the set of text is identified based upon the numerical value that has been determined for each of the plurality of objects.
US08972433B2
Computer-based systems and methods for programmatically generating code, such as Structure Query Language (SQL) code to perform an operation on a database. A code generation engine, referred to herein as an Alchemy engine, receives a request in a first language, such as an XML-based language, and translates the request into a second language, such as an SQL-based language. The translation process utilizes information stored in a metadata database.
US08972423B2
A system, method, and computer program for parsing a schema across a system to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network, comprising the steps of communicating a plurality of data in a data defining mark-up language file by a transport protocol stack; parsing said data defining mark-up language to determine at least one opaque schema element; and translating said at least one opaque schema element to a mark-up language string element and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
US08972422B2
A method for managing log messages in a system includes identifying a log message having a data value, filtering a first data value from a historical log record for a first interval, predicting whether any particular system events should occur when the first data value is filtered from a received log record and identifying the corresponding system events, initiating a second interval while filtering the first data value from a received log record, determining whether any non-predicted system events have occurred, and removing the filter for the first data value responsive to determining that a non-predicted system event has occurred.
US08972421B2
A user can define a filter to applied be to one or more datasets. The filter includes a specification of a field to filter. Upon applying the filter to a dataset, if the specified field cannot be found in the dataset, a field in the dataset is selected as a default field to filter. Selecting what field in the dataset should be the default field is based on evaluating a set of rules. The default field is then filtered according to the filter criteria.
US08972418B2
Various embodiments dynamically generate relevant items for a user based on a user's location and an item's popularity. In at least some embodiments, a probability component generates a ranked list of items that are relevant to users at a particular location using probability data associated with the list of items and the particular location. The probability data is based on user selections of items in the list of items.
US08972416B1
Disclosed are various embodiments of a content management application that facilitates a content management system. Content items that can include audio and/or video can be stored in the content management system. A transcript is generated that corresponds to spoken words within the content. Content can be tagged based upon the transcript. Content anomalies can also be detected as well as editing functionality provided.
US08972413B2
Methods and comment association systems for associating one or more comments with one or more primary electronic documents are described. In one aspect, the method comprises: identifying, at a comment association system, one or more key terms from at least a portion of the one or more primary electronic documents; identifying, at the comment association system, one or more comments associated with the identified key terms; determining, at the comment association system, whether an identified comment is sufficiently related to the one or more primary electronic documents by calculating one or more relation score for that identified comment and comparing the relation score to one or more threshold; and if the identified comment is sufficiently related to the one or more primary electronic documents, then associating the identified comment with the one or more primary electronic documents at the comment association system.
US08972406B2
A method, computer program product, and system generating epigenetic cohorts for a specific time period through clustering of epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time comprising. receiving a phenotypic and/or demographic parameter and a cluster characteristics input from a user; searching the epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time for the parameter and storing matches in a repository; generating a cluster comprising a centroid for each parameter by populating the cluster based on the matches of the parameter with the epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time period; determining at least two epigenetic cohorts for a specific time period from the cluster for each parameter and based on the input from the user; and if the cohorts do not match the input of the user, reporting the cohorts determined to the user and returning to the step of receiving a parameter and characteristic input from a user.
US08972399B2
Various technologies described herein pertain to using social activity data to personalize ranking of results returned by a computing operation for a user. For each of the results returned by the computing operation, a respective first affinity of the user to a corresponding result and a respective second affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated and used for ranking the results. The respective first affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated based on correlations between social activity data of the user and social activity data of a first group of historical users that clicked the corresponding result. Moreover, the respective second affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated based on correlations between the social activity data of the user and social activity data of a second group of historical users that skipped the corresponding results.
US08972394B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying one or more second documents related to one or more first documents. Strength of relationship scores between candidate documents in a group of candidate documents and each first document are determined by aggregating user selection data for users, the user selection data indicating, for each user, whether the user viewed the candidate document during a window of time after the first document is presented to the user on a search results web page in response to a query. An aggregate strength of relationship score is calculated for each candidate document from the strength of relationship scores for the candidate document. Second documents are selected from the candidate documents according to the aggregate strength of relationship scores for the candidate documents.
US08972393B1
A meaning of a term is determined using the contents of a corpus of books through use of metadata about the books within the corpus, terms in the same work which provide context, and so forth. Users may query to determine the meaning of a term. Users may also build vocabulary skills by testing as well. A changing meaning of a term over time may be determined and utilized as well. Searches are facilitated by the enhanced ability to determine meaning of the terms, particularly in context. Feedback from the searches may also be used to refine future searches.
US08972389B2
Embodiments are provided for displaying ontology data. An ontology is displayed for a selected item. The ontology presents representational elements associated with the selected item, a combination of the representational elements defining and/or establishing a context for the selected item. The representational elements are categorized on a hierarchical path, the elements ordered by scope size. The ontology can be navigated in multiple directions with the directions including items broader in scope, and items narrower in scope. Navigating in one of these directions includes a displayed representational element from the ontology having a scope size reflecting the navigated direction.
US08972388B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus are described that include receiving a sequence of one or more characters representing a first partial query entered into a search field on a computing device. A first list of query completions for the first partial query is provided for display on the computing device. One or more additional characters are then entered into the search field, where the sequence of characters and the additional characters cumulatively represent a second partial query. A second list of query completions are then obtained for the second partial query, and one or more query completions appearing in the first and the second lists are identified. Demotion scores for the identified query completions are then calculated which are used to demote the identified query completions to a lesser position within the second list, thereby forming a refined second list for display on the computing device.
US08972380B2
A method (and structure) for monitoring continual range queries against events includes decomposing each range query with one or more predefined virtual constructs, building a query index, and using the query index to match an event with the range queries.
US08972374B2
A system is provided which solves content acquisition issues by providing an automated method to acquire content in mass and maintain an association between available meta-data and the actual content, e.g., video file. The system includes a first component configured to log network traffic. The system also includes a second component configured to correlate downloaded content of the logged network traffic with an XML stream of URLs and respective content descriptions.
US08972373B2
A querying system in a computer apparatus may be customized by connection of a removable storage medium device to a storage medium interface of the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus detects whether, in the storage medium thereof, there is stored customisation data that indicates a change to the query engine data identifying locations where query messages are sent. If so, the query engine data in the computer apparatus is changed accordingly.
US08972363B2
A system includes a unit to generate a set of free itemsets with a frequency in a database greater than or equal to a threshold value, a unit to generate a rule candidate with, a conditional part set to the free itemset α, and a consequent part set to an item x not sharing an attribute with the free itemset, and finds a set of attributes of an antecedent part of the rule by depth first search, the attribute not included in neither α nor x, a unit to collate the rule to the database to judge validity of the rule, and a unit to check for minimality of the rule decided to be valid to output the rule when the rule is minimal.
US08972358B2
A file storage apparatus comprises: duplication determination unit that determines whether file supplied from client apparatus and file stored in storage unit coincide with each other in same format, and stores the file supplied from client apparatus in the storage unit if the files do not coincide in the same format; and storage management unit that associates, if duplication determination unit determines that the files coincide in the same format, format of the file supplied from the client apparatus with the file stored in the storage unit, reads file stored in the storage unit in response to file read request from client apparatus, converts, if format associated with the read file exists, the read file into the format, and provides the converted file.
US08972353B1
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for backing up data. In some embodiments, this includes a backup server locating one or more instances of data associated with a list of identifiers, wherein each instance of data comprises one or more target volumes and associated journal volume; the enablement of replication; and replication.
US08972342B2
A metadata management architecture. The architecture includes a property component that lists one or more properties related to a file, and a viewing component that present files having one or more of the related properties. A synchronization component provides immediate synchronization between property editing fields of the property component and a view in the property-based browser component, providing both instantaneous feedback on property changes and an ability to manipulate properties graphically. Thus, a change in the property pane is immediately reflected in the view component, and a change in the view component is immediately reflected in the property pane.
US08972340B1
A method is used in managing properties collection. Storage objects for which properties information is to be refreshed are determined. A bulk request for properties information from file systems corresponding to the storage objects is generated and is issued to the file systems. Based on a response to the bulk request, a blocking transaction is used to update a model of the storage objects that is made available to management software.
US08972331B2
A method and system for deciding an optimal action in consideration of risk. The method includes the steps of: generating sequentially, by way of a Markov decision process based on a Monte Carlo method, a series of data having states on a memory of a computer; computing a risk measure of a present data by tracking generated data from opposite order to generation order, where the risk measure is calculated from a value at risk or an exceedance probability that is derived from risk measures of a plurality of states transitionable from a state of the present data; and executing the step of computing the risk measure while tracking back to starting data, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device.
US08972326B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a request for content form a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user. One or more rules are retrieved for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, and user profile rules. The one or more retrieved rules are applied to the request for content to identify a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered and the request for content is delivered to the identified content server.
US08972323B2
In a mobile device, the text entered by users is analyzed to determine a set of responses commonly entered by users into text applications such as SMS applications in response to received messages. This set of responses is used to provide suggested responses to a user for a currently received message in a soft input panel based on the text of the currently received message. The suggested responses are provided before any characters are provided by the user. After the user provides one or more characters, the suggested responses in the soft input panel are updated. The number of suggested responses displayed to the user in the soft input panel is limited to a total confidence value to reduce user distraction and to allow for easier selection. An undo feature for inadvertent selections of suggested responses is also provided.
US08972304B2
A system, computer-implemented method, and software for automatically planning and scheduling ocean-going vessels for oil distribution is provided. The scheduling of the vessels is based on a filtered beam search and greedy heuristic. A server can be used for receiving a schedule request and one or more constraints for scheduling one or more vessels from one or more users. An optimization engine can be used for generating a schedule based at least in part on the one or more constraints using a beam search algorithm.
US08972303B2
A method for using a secondary PAN is disclosed. The method includes providing a secondary PAN associated with a primary PAN, where the secondary PAN has at least one end portion that is the same as the primary PAN, but has a middle portion of that is different than the primary PAN.
US08972277B2
A method of manufacturing a layered image assembly and a marketing method are provided including a passive consumer behavior tracking method without requiring an “opt-in” process. The layered image assembly includes a base layer and a top layer with an inner area formed between. An opening is provided within a perimeter of the base layer to provide access to the inner layer. The inner layer is provided with a media that may comprise coupons, offers, advertisements, collapsible springs, animated collapsible springs having an image, etc. The media may include one or more symbols for conveying information. The layered image assembly may be attached to an item, such as a substrate, envelope, package, magazine, etc. The customer information relating to the item may be associated, or merged, with the information from the one or more symbols from the media. This merging of information may be used to track customer purchases, customer information, and the like.
US08972273B1
A method for providing information to a market participant about a power generating unit based on thermal image data comprises the steps of: acquiring thermal data from a smokestack of a power generating unit; recording one or more images of the acquired thermal data; transmitting the recorded images to a central processing facility; analyzing the recorded images to determine the operational status of the power generating unit; and communicating information about the operational status of the power generating unit to the market participant.
US08972272B1
A room-based terminal near the patient's bedside is used to supplement the operation of a patient care computing device to improve contemporaneous data capture and information accessibility during a healthcare provider's rounds. The particular benefits of the stationary terminal and patient care computing device augment each other in providing superior workflow.
US08972249B2
The present invention relates to a decoding apparatus, a decoding method, an encoding apparatus, an encoding method, and programs that can shorten the delay time caused by the band extension at the time of decoding, and restrain increases in resources on the decoding side.A higher frequency component generating unit (73) generates a pseudo higher frequency spectrum by using a lower frequency spectrum (SP-L) and a higher frequency envelope (ENV-H). A phase randomizing unit (74) randomizes the phase of the pseudo higher frequency spectrum, based on a random flag (RND). An inverse MDCT unit (75) denormalizes the lower frequency spectrum (SP-L) by using a lower frequency envelope (ENV-L), and combines the pseudo higher frequency spectrum supplied from the phase randomizing unit (74) with the denormalized lower frequency spectrum (SP-L). The combination result is used as the spectrum of the entire band. The present invention can be applied to a decoding apparatus that performs band extension decoding, for example.
US08972244B2
Rejection sampling is performed to acquire at least one target language translation for a source language string s in accordance with a phrase-based statistical translation model p(x)=p(t, a|s) where t is a candidate translation, a is a candidate alignment comprising a biphrase sequence generating the candidate translation t, and x is a sequence representing the candidate alignment a. The rejection sampling uses a proposal distribution comprising a weighted finite state automaton (WFSA) q(n) that is refined responsive to rejection of a sample x* obtained in a current iteration of the rejection sampling to generate a refined WFSA q(n+1) for use in a next iteration of the rejection sampling. The refined WFSA q(n+1) is selected to satisfy the criteria p(x)≦q(n+1)(x)≦q(n)(x) for all x∈X and q(n+1)(x*)
US08972238B2
An improved mobile electronic device enables the inputting of text in one alphabet, Traditional Chinese in the present example, by transliteration of inputs in another alphabet, BoPoMoFo in the present example. Since some of the inputs can be ambiguous, transliteration of an ambiguous input is delayed until a detection of a finalization event, thus avoiding the outputting of unnecessary transliteration results, and thus advantageously avoiding a distraction to the user.
US08972237B2
A state (i.e., ket) of a set of qubits may be simulated via a classical computer. Ordering characteristics of the ket (i.e., the “current” permutation associated with the state) may be determined. An operator (which may be associated with a certain operation to perform on the ket) may be defined and simulated. Ordering characteristics of the operator (i.e., the “current” permutation associated with operator) may be determined. If the current permutations of the state and operator match, then the operation may be performed to generate a new ket. Alternatively, the operator may be permuted to match the permutation of the current state. Or the state may be permuted to match the current operator permutation. The operation may then be performed, and the state and permutation remembered for the next operation. The process may be repeated for each operation in the series.
US08972229B2
Computer-readable medium and methods for photolithographic simulation of scattering. A design layout comprising a layout polygon is received. A skeleton representation of a mask shape that is created responsive to e-beam writing of the layout polygon is generated. The skeleton representation is defined by a plurality of skeleton points. Individual scattering patterns for the skeleton points are selected from a lookup table of pre-determined scattering patterns. Each of the individual scattering patterns representing an amount of optical scattering for a corresponding one of the skeleton points. A simulated wafer image is produced responsive to the individual scattering patterns.
US08972224B2
A computer system for data management arranged to provide at least four components: a generator component, a solver component, a simulation component and a visualization component, wherein the simulation component is arranged to simulate stochastic processes and output simulation data of the simulated process to the generator component; the generator component is arranged to process a model input thereto and to generate a Dynamic Stochastic Program (DSP) therefrom and also to process the simulation data received from the simulation component and output the DSP together with the processed simulation data to the solver component; the solver component being arranged to receive the DSP and the processed simulation data and to process the DSP together with the simulation data; and the visualization component being arranged to allow the data being processed by the solver to be visualized.
US08972223B2
Pursuant to some embodiments, a platform matching system, method, apparatus and means are provided which include identifying at least a first benchmark test procedure to evaluate at least a first and a second target platform for use with an application, the at least first benchmark test procedure including at least a first unit test; receiving test result data from tests performed on the at least first and second target platform using the at least first benchmark test procedure; and performing a matching analysis to determine which of the at least first and second target platform is a best fit for the application.
US08972222B2
A system includes a measured value storing device in which a product measured value acquired periodically and a manufacturing condition measured value are stored, a product threshold value setting device that sets a product threshold value for determining whether a product is normal or not, an abnormality accumulating device that acquires a product abnormality cumulative frequency where the product abnormality measured value exceeds the product threshold value, a product threshold value changing device that changes the product threshold value, a condition threshold value setting device that sets a condition threshold value to be compared with a manufacturing condition measured value, a condition abnormality accumulating device that acquires a condition cumulative frequency, a condition threshold value changing device that changes a condition threshold value, and a cause identifying device that identifies a cause of abnormality based on the distribution of the product abnormality cumulative frequency and a manufacturing condition cumulative frequency.
US08972219B2
Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of monitoring electrical brushes in electrical rotating machinery. One embodiment of the method comprises continuously measuring at least one parameter associated with an electrical brush; and determining, using the at least one continuously measured parameter associated with the electrical brush, maintenance for the electrical brush.
US08972218B2
According to various embodiments, package evaluation systems and methods are provided for evaluating the sustainability of packaging used in the shipment of goods. In particular, the package evaluation systems and methods are configured for performing package evaluations and managing and providing access to data resulting from package evaluations. The package evaluations are designed to assess, among other things, the ability of sample packages to prevent damage to their contents, the volumetric efficiency of sample packages, and the sustainability of the materials used to construct sample packages. In addition, the systems and methods are further configured for assigning a certification to an entity associated with the evaluated packages based on the results of the evaluation.
US08972217B2
A system and method for evaluating equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, and a power draw value for each of the equipment racks, storing the received data, determining air flow between the at least one cooling provider and each of the equipment racks, determining inlet and exit air temperature for the at least one cooling provider based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow, and for each equipment rack, determining inlet and exit air temperature based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow.
US08972216B2
Methods and apparatus for a power regulator according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a sensor adapted to generate a measurement of a voltage or a current. A memory may store a correction parameter that corresponds to the measurement, and a correction system may be adapted to adjust the measurement according to the correction parameter.
US08972212B2
An instrument (1) for measuring the loss factor of an electrical apparatus (2) having an axially extending elongate geometry, in particular a medium voltage cable, comprises: at least a first and a second sensor (3A, 3B) connectable to the apparatus (2) in a first and a second measuring section (4A, 4B) axially spaced along the apparatus (2) by a predetermined quantity, respectively, and designed to measure respective values of the magnetic field generated outside the apparatus (2) by a load current flowing axially through the apparatus; a processing unit (5) designed to receive the magnetic field values measured by the sensors (3A, 3B) and programmed to derive from them a load loss value as a function of the difference between the measured magnetic field values.
US08972205B2
The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of characterizing a small molecule organic material, e.g., a drug or a drug product. This method includes subjecting the solid small molecule organic material to x-ray total scattering analysis at a short wavelength, collecting data generated thereby, and mathematically transforming the data to provide a refined set of data.
US08972202B2
Embodiments of this invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists from a biological sample obtained from a pregnant female. Nucleic acid molecules of the biological sample are sequenced, such that a fraction of the genome is sequenced. Respective amounts of a clinically-relevant chromosome and of background chromosomes are determined from results of the sequencing. A parameter derived from these amounts (e.g. a ratio) is compared to one or more cutoff values, thereby determining a classification of whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists.
US08972196B2
Disclosed are embodiments that relate to algorithms and methods for calibrating an analyte sensor, and more particularly, to algorithms for calibrating an optical glucose sensor comprising an equilibrium fluorescent chemical indicator system. In particular, a method of detecting an analyte concentration is disclosed where a modified Michaelis-Menten equation comprising Michaelis-Menten parameters is used to characterize the signal generated by the analyte sensor.
US08972191B2
Phase sensitive X-ray imaging methods provide substantially increased contrast over conventional absorption based imaging, and therefore new and otherwise inaccessible information. The use of gratings as optical elements in hard X-ray phase imaging overcomes some of the problems impairing the wider use of phase contrast in X-ray radiography and tomography. To separate the phase information from other contributions detected with a grating interferometer, a phase-stepping approach has been considered, which implies the acquisition of multiple radiographic projections. Here, an innovative, highly sensitive X-ray tomographic phase contrast imaging approach is presented based on grating interferometry, which extracts the phase contrast signal without the need of phase stepping. Compared to the existing phase step approach, the main advantage of this new method dubbed “reverse projection” is the significantly reduced delivered dose, without degradation of the image quality.
US08972190B1
Systems and methods for generating transit trips between an origin and a destination are provided. Searches can be undertaken to identify optimal departure times from a source station and/or one or more intermediate stations while maintaining a lowest cost arrival time at a destination station. In this manner, public transportation journey schedules for routes can be determined and recommendations can be provided even if different journey schedules show identical costs.
US08972189B2
Methods and system are provided for enhancing consumer shopping. The methods and systems allow consumers to more readily purchase products of interest to them. The consumers' ability to shop effectively and efficiently is enhanced while a payment provider, such as PayPal, Inc., and/or an online seller, such as eBay, is given a mechanism for recruiting new users. For example, a user's online searches and/or stored shopping list can be used to determine which products the user is interested in purchasing and the availability of at least some of these products can be provided to the user, along with directions to the nearest POS brick-and-mortar stores where the products can be purchased.
US08972177B2
A system logs life experiences using geographic cues. The system variously provides a comprehensive life-logging tool for recording a plurality of different types of life events. In one implementation, the system receives a user's GPS log files and multimedia content at a website. The system segments the GPS log files into geographic routes corresponding to user trips, and tags the multimedia content with geographic cues from the GPS log files. Then, the system indexes the geographic routes so that users can retrieve the geographic routes by browsing or by search techniques. The system displays animations of selected routes on a map, and displays the multimedia content at corresponding locations along the map route, as the route is replayed. The system also provides browsing and spatial and temporal techniques to search a person's travels and can provide graphical displays of the person's activity statistics.
US08972172B2
A mobile sensor receives a mobile sensor location and destination. The mobile sensor determines, from a repository of road segments, a plurality of routes having a first endpoint corresponding to the mobile sensor location, and a second endpoint corresponding to the destination. The mobile sensor receives transit data from a plurality of peer mobile sensors, wherein each transit data comprises a peer mobile sensor's velocity and a peer mobile sensor's location. The mobile sensor stores at least one transit data based on the peer mobile sensor's velocity and peer mobile sensor's location corresponding to at least one of the plurality of routes, thereby forming at least one stored transit data. The mobile sensor determines that a sampling period has expired. The mobile sensor reports a route corresponding to a stored transit route having best transit data or no transit data, wherein the route is among the plurality of routes.
US08972166B2
Methods and devices for navigation and/or guidance. A device may be configured to predict an uncertainty of positioning data in the area, the prediction being based at least in part on a dynamic navigation model. The device may further be configured to guide the mobile entity based at least in part on the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data in the area. By predicting and guiding while the mobile entity is outside the area, the device may proactively mitigate an impact of the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data by initiating rerouting of the mobile entity, updating an inertial navigation system, and/or issuing an alert regarding the predicted uncertainty to of the positioning data to an operator of the mobile entity. The dynamic navigation model may comprise at least one of an environment model, a cost model, one or more positioning system models, and an excursion route model.
US08972163B2
Approaches for indicating vehicle fuel efficiency for vehicle usage patterns are provided. Patterns of inefficient operation are detected and conveyed to a user to inform the user of the impact of his/her inefficient operation. In these embodiments, a fuel efficiency tool provides this capability. The fuel efficiency tool comprises: an analysis component configured to analyze usage patterns of a vehicle; a calculation component configured to calculate a vehicle fuel efficiency for each of the usage patterns; and a notification component configured to: provide a real-time notification to a user of the vehicle indicating each of the following via a feedback device within the vehicle: a numerical representation of the vehicle fuel efficiency calculated for each of the plurality of recurring driver habits; and a monetary value indicating an amount of money sacrificed by at least one vehicle usage pattern that is contributing to inefficient vehicle fuel consumption.
US08972160B2
A navigation device apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a fuel consumption determination unit that determines a fuel consumption during a travel of a vehicle. Also included is a fuel consumption information storage unit that stores point information identifying a departing point and a destination in the travel of the vehicle and fuel consumption information identifying the fuel consumption during a previous travel A display unit is included that acquires previous fuel consumption information identifying the fuel consumption during the previous travel corresponding to the departing point and the destination during a current travel of the vehicle, and controls the display of the fuel consumption during the previous travel based on the acquired previous fuel consumption information and the fuel consumption during the current travel determined by the fuel consumption determination unit.
US08972144B2
A method for controlling an antislip-regulated friction brake system of a rail vehicle or rail vehicle train having a number of braked axles which subjects at least two selected axles to a braking pressure exceeding the braking pressure required for braking; measures at least one variable representing the maximum transmittable frictional force in each case between the wheels of the selected axles and the rail; prepares a list associating the selected axles with the respectively transmittable brake friction force; identifies at least one brake-slipping axle from the selected axles in which a brake slip exceeding a predetermined extent occurs; calculates lost braking work; identifies from the list at least one axle in which brake-slipping does not occur or occurs to a permissible extent; and applies the brakes on at least one axle.
US08972135B2
A control device of an FR hybrid vehicle is provided with: a drive source that contains at least an engine (Eng); and a second brake (B2) that is fastened when a D range is selected. In the range of starting of fastening control of the second brake (B2), when the parameters (rate of input rotational frequency change and amount of motor torque change) that change along with the rotational fluctuation of the engine (Eng) become at least a predetermined threshold, it is judged that the second brake (B2) has started fastening. When in a state wherein the rotational fluctuations of the engine (Eng) can be determined to be large, the absolute value of the predetermined threshold is set to a value that is larger than when in a state wherein the rotational fluctuations of the engine (Eng) can be determined to be small.
US08972133B2
A method for detecting the clutch condition in engine-powered vehicles. To ensure a reliable detection of the clutch condition even in extreme driving situations, the engine torque of at least one vehicle engine is increased or reduced automatically by pulses and the response of the engine to the torque pulse is evaluated.
US08972132B2
A method of controlling a transmission includes detecting an occurrence of a downshift in the transmission from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio. A determination is made whether the vehicle is operating within a freeway speed range, and whether an accelerator pedal is depressed at least a minimum percentage of a fully depressed position. When the downshift from the high gear ratio to the low gear ratio is detected, the vehicle is operating within the freeway speed range, and the accelerator pedal is depressed at least the minimum percentage of the fully depressed position, a countdown timer is started to count down from a pre-defined time to zero. An upshift of the transmission from the second gear ratio to the first gear ratio is restricted while the countdown timer defines a time that is greater than zero.
US08972131B2
A control system for a transmission includes an actuator module, a timer module, and a pulse module. The actuator module engages N hydraulic clutches and disengages M hydraulic clutches to operate the transmission in a gear ratio, wherein N and M are integers greater than zero. The timer module determines a first period starting when the transmission begins operating in the gear ratio. The pulse module selectively supplies a pressure pulse to P of the M hydraulic clutches based on the first period, wherein P is an integer greater than zero. A method for controlling a transmission is also provided.
US08972128B2
A vehicle includes a brake pedal, engine, transmission, and controller. The transmission includes an input member and an input clutch responsive to position control signals. The controller has multiple control modules, each outputting a corresponding torque command. One module is a creep control module which outputs a calibrated creep torque. Intervention logic independently monitors the torque commands during a creep maneuver, with control actions executed when predetermined conditions are present. The torque command from the creep controller determines the position control signals of the input clutch during the creep maneuver, and creep torque is set to zero whenever the brake pedal is sufficiently applied. A transmission assembly includes the input member, input clutch, and controller. A method includes outputting torque commands from each control module, including the creep torque, monitoring the torque commands during the creep maneuver, and executing the control actions when the predetermined conditions are present.
US08972127B2
The control system for an automatic transmission may include, a detecting portion of driving information adapted to detect the driving information including a temperature of an engine coolant, temperature of a transmission oil, a positional change of an accelerator pedal, a current shift-speed, and driving speed. a control portion adapted to determine a virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal based on an actual positional change of the accelerator pedal and a tip-in speed transmitted from the detecting portion of driving information, to determine a target shift-speed according to the actual positional change of the accelerator pedal or the virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal and the driving speed, and to control a shift to the target shift-speed. an actuator adapted to engage the target shift-speed according to a control signal received from the control portion.
US08972125B1
A system for controlling manual input device damping, and a related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise a manual input device mounted on a machine, a sensor that transmits to a controller an input signal indicative of the motion, acceleration, and/or deceleration of the machine, a variable damper that selectively alters the resistance of the input device to displacement based on a command signal transmitted by the controller, and a controller configured to adjust the resistance of the input device by adjusting the damping provided by the variable damper based on filtering of a historical trend of oscillation amplitudes at a frequency of concern.
US08972116B2
A sensor assembly for a motor vehicle adapted for sensing impacts including pedestrian impacts. The sensor assembly integrates functions of pressure based sensors used in one embodiment with a compressible tube extending laterally across the front surface of the vehicle and the outboard front boundary areas of the front end of the vehicle. Both acceleration and pressure based sensors are mounted into an integrated sensor housing which is mounted in a desired position at the vehicle front fascia front boundary areas. The system optimizes pressure based sensing while providing acceleration based sensing at the lateral boundary areas where supporting structure does not enable pressure based sensing. The invention further including sensor arrangements including discrete pressure and acceleration sensors deployed for detecting pedestrian impacts at the center and front boundary areas of the vehicle front end.
US08972113B2
Provided is an electric power steering system that prevents the oscillation of the steering wheel at each steering stroke end. If the steering stroke end flag Fse is 1 or if the determination result is Yes in step S8, the EPS-ECU (21) determines if the right steering flag (Fdrc) is 1 in step S10. If the determination result is Yes, it is then determined if the steering torque difference base value (Dtsb) is positive in step S11. If the determination result of step S11 is Yes, the EPS-ECU (21) uses the steering torque difference base value (Dtsb) as the steering torque difference (Dts) in step S12. If the determination result is No, the steering torque difference (Dts) is given by a value 0 in step S13, and the control process is concluded.
US08972111B2
An articulated vehicle with a controllable wheel route includes a first vehicle body, a first pair of wheels, which are individually suspended on both sides of the first vehicle body, and can travel on the ground, a second vehicle body hingedly connected to the first vehicle body, a second pair of wheels, which are individually suspended on both sides of the second vehicle body, and can travel on the ground, a regulator, which regulates a relative steering angle between the first vehicle body and the second vehicle body, a mode selector, which is configured to select a first mode and a second mode, and a controller, which receives the first mode signal or the second mode signal from the mode selector and controls the regulator according to the received signal. The route of a second pair of wheels is regulated to be identical to the route of a first pair of wheels in the first mode, and the route of a second pair of wheels is regulated to be different from the route of a first pair of wheels in the second mode.
US08972107B2
A vehicle-mounted communication device includes wireless units 3a and 3b that switch a frequency that performs wireless communication with antennas 2a and 2b between a frequency for wireless communication for ITS and a frequency for wireless LAN communication, a parking determination unit 6 that determines whether or not a vehicle is parked, a parking position storage unit 6a that stores as a parking position a position where it is determined that the vehicle is parked by the parking determination unit 6, and a wireless control unit 4 that controls the wireless units 3a and 3b to perform the wireless communication for ITS with the antennas 2a and 2b when the vehicle is running, and switch the wireless communication for ITS or the wireless LAN communication to be performed with the antennas 2a and 2b on the basis of the parking position stored in the parking position storage unit 6a when the vehicle is parked.
US08972095B2
An automatic guided vehicle and a method for drive control enable driving of the vehicle with a coordinate system, while using designation of a movement position by address. The automatic guided vehicle measures a surrounding state by a laser, performs matching between map data and measurement data obtained by the measuring to obtain the current position, and runs, following preset route data, based on the obtained current position. The vehicle includes a data memory that stores correspondence information between addresses of certain positions in a drive area where the vehicle runs and coordinates that are set in the drive area, and a processing section that, when a movement target position is designated by address from a host computer, transforms the designated address into coordinates, based on the correspondence information between addresses and coordinates, and drives the vehicle, following the route data to the coordinates corresponding to the address.
US08972093B2
A system, device, and methods for autonomous navigation using lane-based localization. Once example computer-implemented method includes receiving, from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle, data representing a road surface proximate to the vehicle and removing the data falling below an adaptive threshold from the data representing the road surface to isolate data representing boundaries on the road surface. The method further includes generating detected lanes based on the data representing boundaries on the road surface by applying one or more filters, generating expected lanes proximate to the vehicle using data included in a route network definition file, comparing the detected lanes to the expected lanes, and generating a localized vehicle position based on the comparison between the detected lanes and the expected lanes.
US08972090B2
A method and powertrain apparatus that predicts a route of travel for a vehicle and uses historical powertrain loads and speeds for the predicted route of travel to optimize at least one powertrain operation for the vehicle.
US08972083B2
A technique for identifying, projecting, displaying, and enhancing the thermal capacity for an aircraft is disclosed wherein the thermal capacity is defined as the amount of time or range the aircraft can continue until a thermal limit is exceeded.
US08972077B2
A method for detecting a lane change by a moving vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, it is detected that a first heading of a moving vehicle has met a parameter defining a stable heading. It is then detected that a second heading of the moving vehicle has subsequently met a parameter defining an unstable heading. It is then detected that a third heading of the moving vehicle has subsequently met a parameter defining a stable heading within a pre-determined time parameter and that the third heading equals the first heading within a pre-defined margin. An indication is then generated that the moving vehicle has performed a lane change.
US08972060B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a control method of a cleaning robot with a non-omnidirectional light detector. The method includes the steps of: detecting a light beam via the non-omnidirectional light detector; stopping the cleaning robot and spinning the non-omnidirectional light detector when the non-omnidirectional light detector detects the light beam; stopping the spinning of the non-omnidirectional light detector and estimating a first spin angle when the non-omnidirectional light detector does not detect the light beam; and adjusting a moving direction of the cleaning robot according to the first spin angle.
US08972053B2
Robotic payloads are abstracted to provide a plug-and-play system in which mission specific capabilities are easily configured on a wide variety of robotic platforms. A robotic payload architecture is presented in which robotic functionalities are bifurcated into intrinsic capabilities, managed by a core module, and mission specific capabilities, addressed by mission payload module(s). By doing so the core modules manages a particular robotic platform's intrinsic functionalities while mission specific tasks are left to mission payloads. A mission specific robotic configuration can be compiled by adding multiple mission payload modules to the same platform managed by the same core module. In each case the mission payload module communicates with the core module for information about the platform on which it is being associated.
US08972050B2
A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a frame having first and second opposed sides, a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills, a first touch screen display on the frame first side, and a second touch screen display on the frame second side. The pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a processor and memory coupled thereto. A computer program resides in the memory and is executable by the processor for displaying a cell inventory graphical user interface (GUI) within the first touch screen display, and a prescription order processing GUI within the second touch screen display that include status information about a prescription order at a respective stage of completion by the pharmaceutical dispensing system.
US08972034B2
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosis system for detecting a state of emergency during assembly of a fuselage (101) of an airplane is provided, which is adapted for detecting an emergency event and outputting information relating to the actual position of the emergency event. This may provide for a fast error identification during airplane assembly.
US08972025B2
An implantable medical lead has a distal lead portion with a tubular header and a fixation helix provided in a lumen of the tubular header. The fixation helix is connected to a shaft attached to a conductor coil. A tubular coupling is connected to the tubular header and is coaxially arranged relative the shaft, with the shaft in its lumen. Rotation of the conductor coil causes rotation of the shaft and the fixation helix and longitudinal movement of the fixation helix out of the implantable medical lead by a rotation-to-translation transforming element. A friction device is arranged between the shaft and the tubular coupling or between the tubular header to oppose rotation of the shaft relative the tubular header and the tubular coupling.
US08972022B2
A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.
US08972019B2
Methods and devices are provided for OA treatment of an affected area or joint. In one embodiment, the method may involve identifying a treatment site of the joint, and providing at least one transducer module at the treatment site. The at least one transducer module may be in operative communication with a signal generator module, and may include transducer(s) for delivering stimulative signals (e.g., electromagnetic signals and/or ultrasound signals). The method may also involve stimulating (a) bone remodeling, (b) bone cells and associated precursors, and/or (c) pericytes with the stimulative signals delivered to the treatment site.
US08972015B2
An intravascular electrode system includes an expandable anchor and a flexible substrate which carries at least one electrode. The anchor is positioned in a blood vessel and expanded to an expanded position to bias the electrode in contact with the vessel wall. The flexible substrate may be longitudinally withdrawn from its position between the anchor and the vessel wall without removing the anchor from the blood vessel. A second flexible substrate may be longitudinally inserted into position between the anchor and vessel wall as replacement for the first substrate.
US08972009B2
Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices such as pacemakers for optimizing interventricular (VV) pacing delays for use with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In one example, ventricular electrical depolarization events are detected within a patient in which the device is implanted. The onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction is also detected based on cardiomechanical signals detected by the device, such as cardiogenic impedance (Z) signals, S1 heart sounds or left atrial pressure (LAP) signals. Then, an electromechanical time delay (T_QtoVC) between ventricular electrical depolarization and the onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction is determined. VV pacing delays are set to minimize the time delay to the onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction. Various techniques for identifying the onset of isovolumic ventricular contraction based on Z, S1 or LAP or other cardiomechanical signals are described. In some examples, CRT nonresponders are specifically identified and/or heart failure progression is tracked.
US08972006B2
A method of operating a cardiac therapy system to deliver cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing that includes pacing both ventricles or pacing only the left ventricle is described. Delivery of the CRT pacing to one or both ventricles is scheduled for a cardiac cycle. If an intrinsic depolarization of a ventricle is detected during a pacing delay of the ventricle, then the scheduled CRT pacing to the ventricle is inhibited for the cycle. The intrinsic interval of the ventricle, such as the intrinsic atrioventricular interval concluded by the intrinsic depolarization, is measured. During a subsequent cardiac cycle, the pacing delay of the ventricle is decreased to be less than or equal to the measured intrinsic interval. Capture of the ventricle is verified after pacing is delivered during the subsequent cardiac cycle.
US08972001B2
A method and system for displaying data is disclosed herein. A plurality of epochs are stitched together with an overlapping section in order to present a continuous EEG recording. Artifact reduction is performed on the epochs and then the epochs are combined together with overlapping sections of preferably two to four seconds.
US08971996B2
A medical imaging method and associated device for generating an image data record of a recording region of a patient, which region is influenced by a cyclical cardiac motion, in which an EKG signal is used to derive a series of recording pulses matched to the cardiac motion, by which pulses the imaging is actuated in a pulsed fashion. In at least one embodiment, a time window of a future recording pulse is calculated taking into account at least one dispersion parameter characterizing the variation in the cycle duration and a location parameter characterizing the expected value of the cycle duration, wherein the dispersion parameter is included into the calculation of the time window using a weighting determined on the basis of the location parameter. Taking into account the dispersion parameter depending on the location parameter allows a reduction in the applied X-ray dose in the situations with irregular heart rates when a low mean heart rate is present at the same time, without significantly reducing the image quality of the generated image data record.
US08971991B2
Supplemental transmission information is used in PET imaging with a hybrid PET/MR system. The magnetic field of the MR portion is used to direct positrons from one or more sources outside or inside the PET field of view to within the PET field of view. An oblique target or targets create an annihilation source within the PET field of view from the positron beam or beams. The resulting radiation may be detected. In combination with measurements made with the sources shielded (e.g., no positron beam-target annihilation sources), the attenuation or other characteristics outside the uniform region of the MR field of view is determined, such as calculating attenuation of arms of a patient for attenuation correction in PET imaging.
US08971987B2
A subject information acquiring apparatus includes a subject-holding member which holds a subject and a probe unit having a transducer which receives acoustic waves from the subject through the subject-holding member, a housing which accommodates the transducer, and a matching liquid-holding member configured to hold a matching liquid between the transducer and the subject-holding member, the probe unit being allowed to move relative to the subject-holding member. The probe unit has a guide which introduces the matching liquid to the subject-holding member, the matching liquid having been spilled from a space defined by the matching liquid-holding member, the transducer, and the subject-holding member onto the upper surface of the hosing and then flowed from the upper surface of the housing.
US08971986B2
A medical imaging system (10) comprises one or more displays (66). A viewer device (86) generates an interactive user interface screen (80) on the display (66), which viewer device (86) enables a user to simultaneously inspect selected image data of multiple patients or multiple images.
US08971980B2
An analyte test device is constructed as an integrated, single-use, disposable cartridge which can be releasably installed into a compatible analyte test monitor. In use, the device can be used in conjunction with the monitor to lance the skin of a patient to create a blood sample and, in turn, calculate the concentration of a particular analyte in the expressed blood sample. In one embodiment, the device includes a base and a cover which are affixed together to create a test cartridge which has a substantially flat and low profile design. A lancet carrier is disposed between the base and the cover and includes a anchor fixedly mounted on the base and a lancet support member which is slidably mounted on the base, the anchor and the lancet support member being connected by a spring. A lancet is removably mounted on the lancet support member is disposed directly beneath an analyte test strip which secured to the underside of the cover. In another embodiment, the device includes a cylindrical housing with an open top end and an open bottom end. A spring biased lancet is slidably mounted within the cylindrical housing. An analyte test strip is fixedly mounted within the cylindrical housing and is disposed at an acute angle relative to the lancet.
US08971974B2
A cover for a hand-held device, which has a device body and a speaker, includes a cover body configured for covering a portion the device body and for covering the speaker and a channel for positioning adjacent the device body. The channel is configured to form a sound duct when mounted adjacent the back side of the device body and to be in communication with the speaker when the cover is mounted to the hand-held device for redirecting at least a portion of the sound waves emitted from the speaker to a location remote from the speaker.
US08971967B2
[PROBLEMS] To improve user's convenience by cordoning off both of a screen for input and that for output, of which size and resolution is sufficiently large, in mobile information processing apparatus comprising a touch panel device. This is achieved only by additionally providing an interface device between the external unit and further additionally providing some functions to a signal processing and control device originally belonging to the mobile information processing apparatus.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Mobile information processing apparatus comprising a touch panel device; wherein an interface device is provided which sends an external display signal to the external unit equipped with a display device; and wherein a signal processing and control device can select control mode 1, in which it generates one digital display signal, and sends it to a touch panel device, and control mode 2, in which it generates two digital display signals and sends one to a touch panel device, and the other to an external output interface device.
US08971963B2
An electronic device includes a transparent substrate, an antenna, a first chip, and a second chip. The antenna is disposed above the transparent substrate. The first chip includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect whether the antenna has received a wireless signal or not. The second chip is coupled to the first chip, and operates in a power-saving mode. When the antenna receives the wireless signal, the first chip wakes up the second chip such that the second chip switches from the power-saving mode to a work mode, and the first chip transmits the wireless signal to the second chip.
US08971957B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the provisioning of a single and multi-line virtual private branch exchange (PBX) including automated call distribution via a mobile device are described. In some implementations, the provisioning of the single and multi-line virtual PBX can be achieved using one or more unique provisioning interfaces. The unique provisioning interfaces can enable the setup and configuration of a virtual PBX service account instantaneously from any geographical location at any time. Changes made to the virtual PBX service account can be immediately reflected back (e.g., in real-time) to the system providing the core operating environment.
US08971954B2
The present invention discloses a mobile device including a motor module, a heat dissipation module, a vibration module and an electric brush module. The motor module has a rotating shaft driven by the motor module and two ends of which stick out from the motor module. The heat dissipation module includes a fan unit fixed on one end of the rotating shaft. The vibration module includes a vibration cam and an electromagnetic coil disposed on the vibration cam. The vibration cam is loosely fitted and disposed on the other end of the rotating shaft. The electric brush module is disposed inside the mobile device corresponding to the electromagnetic coil. When electrified, the electric brush module excites the electromagnetic coil generating a magnetic force to adhere and rotate with the rotating shaft synchronously. Herewith the effects of effective heat dissipation and saving interior space of the mobile device are achieved.
US08971951B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for resource configuration. The method includes: determining an extra resource block existing in a wireless resource, where the extra resource block is a resource that cannot be identified by a long term evolution system; configuring transmission power of a resource element in the extra resource block according to a power configuration rule; and sending a signal on the resource element in the extra resource block according to configured transmission power. With the preceding technical solution, an extra resource block can be used for transmitting a signal, so that a resource utilization rate may be improved.
US08971949B2
Embodiments provide an apparatus, method, product and storage medium for controlling or setting a transmit power of a femto cell depending on a received power of at least one neighboring macro cell.
US08971946B2
In one embodiment, a computer program product for suppressing incoming audio in a Push-To-Talk (PTT) session includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured for receiving a request sent from an originator communication device to initiate a PTT session at a receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for establishing the PTT session between the originator communication device and the receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for notifying a user at the receiver communication device that the PTT session has been established, computer readable program code configured for determining whether to suppress or audibilize incoming audio based on a privacy setting on the receiver communication device, and computer readable program code configured for suppressing or audibilizing the incoming audio according to the privacy setting.
US08971944B2
The present invention provides a method and system for communicating physical cell identifier information to mobile stations. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a need to change a physical cell identifier associated with a cell in a telecommunication network used for serving the mobile station. The method also includes communicating physical cell identifier information to the mobile station based on the detected need to change the physical cell identifier. The method includes employing another physical cell identifier associated with the cell based on the communicated physical cell identifier information. The physical cell identifier information is communicated in one or more modification periods such that said another physical cell identifier is employed by the base station and the mobile station at a boundary of one of the modification periods. Moreover, the method includes continue serving the mobile station based on the employed said another physical cell identifier.
US08971939B2
A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a communication system are provided that allow a reduction in a frame loss due to interference caused by use of the same channel. A transmitting apparatus disposed in a base station includes a GPS receiver for receiving a GPS signal, a timing generator for controlling respective function blocks in accordance with the GPS signal and an inter-base-station control signal so as to precisely synchronize the timing of frame transmission among base stations, the front-end transmission processing unit including for converting transmission information into transmission time slots, a frame generator for generating a frame including a plurality of time slots and one frame guard, and a back-end transmission processing unit for transmitting the generated frame as a radio signal.
US08971938B2
A non-interfering multipath communication technique establishes a base transmit and receive period for a variety of spaced apart transceiver devices of a base station and communicates between at least one field station and the base station through those transceiver devices; a period of the base station is allocated amongst the transceiver devices to maintain the non-interfering multipath communication between the at least one field station and the base station.
US08971937B2
A system and method for synchronizing the operation of a wireless mobile station (102) and a base station (104) includes receiving a message at the base station (104) indicating a state of operation of the wireless mobile station (102). A determination is made as to whether the base station (104) and the mobile station (102) are in synchronization based upon comparing the state of operation of the mobile station (102) and a state of operation of the base station (104).
US08971933B2
Techniques for determining a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle used to receive paging are described. A user equipment (UE) may have (i) a first DRX cycle used by a first network (e.g., a core network) to page the UE and (ii) a second DRX cycle used by a second network (e.g., a RAN) to page the UE. In an aspect, the UE may use the longer DRX cycle and ignore the shorter DRX cycle, when allowed, to extend battery life. In one design, the UE may receive an indication of whether the second DRX cycle can be ignored or is to be considered by the UE. The UE may use the longer DRX cycle if the second DRX cycle can be ignored and may receive paging from the first network and/or the second network based on the longer DRX cycle. In another aspect, the UE may negotiate a DRX cycle with a network.
US08971927B2
A system for monitoring and controlling the use of a mobile computing device is disclosed. The system includes a data server (104) containing a model of a road network specifying traffic routes at a selected location. A mobile wireless computing device (106) is configured to wirelessly communicate with the data server (104). An embedded accelerometer (116) and a GPS receiver (114) are included in the wireless device (106). A mobile device control module in communication with the wireless device (106) and the data server (104) provides a motion data cache (118) to record data from the GPS receiver (114) and accelerometer (116), an activity mode recognition module (120) configured to determine a type of activity based on the motion data cache (118), and a use permission module (112) in communication with the data server (104) to provide timing and location information at which the wireless device (106) can be used based on the activity mode.
US08971919B2
A method for generating a two-dimensional radio coverage map comprising a plurality of physical levels including a first physical level and a second physical level. The access point is located above the second physical level. A first radio coverage map comprising original points located at a first distance from the access point is generated. Each of the original points has a first predicted value. A distance is selected to place the two-dimensional radio coverage map at the target distance from the access point. Coordinates of map points of the two-dimensional radio coverage map are generated. Each of the map points corresponds to one of the original points. An offset value representing an attenuation due to the target distance being different than the first distance is computed. For each of the map points, a predicted received signal strength value is generated by adding the offset value to the first predicted value of the corresponding one of the original points.
US08971914B2
Provide dare methods, systems and apparatuses for data brokering between hand held wireless devices (WDs) and data rendering devices (DRDs). DRDs in the form of multimedia devices used for displaying video data (e.g., televisions, video monitors, and projectors) are provided with video for display at the DRD at the request of WDs. DRDs are capable of receiving video data from a network at the request of a WD and/or directly from a WD as the host and then displaying the video data on including multimedia video devices capable of displaying video data. DRD and/or multimedia video devices can also be controlled by the WD during display of video data and to control display of the video data.
US08971904B2
A method for resource allocation for use in a wireless communication system including at least one first femtocell and one neighboring second femtocell is provided. At least one first mobile communications device camps on the first femtocell. The method includes the steps of determining a first group corresponding to the first femtocell and the second group corresponding to the second femtocell according to at least one signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of the first and second femtocells measured by the first mobile communications device and a threshold, wherein the first mobile communications device is included in the first group and the second group simultaneously, and the first and second groups forms an allocation group when the measured SIR of the first and second femtocells is less than the threshold, and sequentially performing a resource-allocation procedure on each group of the allocation group according to a specific allocation order.
US08971901B2
Systems and method for allocation and optimization of sub-carriers by a plurality of cells based, at least in part, on aspects of user equipment utilizing the wireless communication network. A wireless network management component classifies user equipment with at least a portion of the wireless communication network as cell edge user equipment or cell central user equipment. Based on the classification of the user equipment, the management component determines resource requirements for the cells. The resource requirements can include the designation of sub-carriers as primary sub-carriers and associated power levels based on the designation for the group of cells in the wireless network. Additionally, each cell within the wireless network can utilize the designation of sub-carriers and association of power levels in configuring communications with user equipment.
US08971892B2
A user equipment capable of performing reselection in a wireless network is disclosed. The user equipment comprises: 1) a controller configured to perform reselection between cells according to a priority-based reselection (PBR) algorithm using priority information; 2) transceiver circuitry configured to operate in cells using at least one radio access technology and to receive incoming messages including the priority information; and 3) a memory configured to store the received priority information. The controller is further configured to compare the received priority information with defined limits stored in the memory and to determine if the received priority information exceeds the defined limits.
US08971885B2
Access terminals and network nodes are adapted to conduct access terminal registrations. In one example, an access terminal may obtain a data message for transmission, and registration information associated with the access terminal. The access terminal may send a message including the data message and the registration information. A network node can receive a message from an access terminal, where the received message includes a data message and access terminal registration information. The network node can register the access terminal with a network based on the access terminal registration information included in the received message. The network node can also process the data message included in the received message. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08971884B2
The innovation relates to a system and/or methodology for reporting registration rejections to the UICC. More specifically, the innovation relates to providing remote access to registration rejection data stored in the UICC, transmitting the registration rejection data to a service provider, executing one or more UICC applications based on the registration rejection data, and/or logging or tracking the registration rejection data. In addition, the innovation provides for automating action taken by the UICC based on the registration rejection using artificial intelligence.
US08971883B2
The disclosure is directed to managing registration of a wireless communication device (WCD) operating in a wireless network. The WCD may support registration according to a signaling protocol, such as session initiation protocol (SIP). The WCD adjusts a registration timer based on network quality experienced by the WCD. When network quality is poor, for example, the WCD reduces the length of the registration timer. Reduced network quality may indicate that the WCD is at risk of losing network coverage. By reducing the length of the registration timer when network quality is degraded, stale registrations for out-of-coverage WCDs can be reduced. In particular, the shortened registration timer will expire more quickly, permitting the registration to be cleared more quickly. Consequently, the amount of call forwarding and other resources devoted to stale registrations can be reduced. If the WCD retains network coverage, it can maintain a registration by sending another registration request.
US08971882B2
When installing a femto base station device 1b, failure that may occur in wireless communication is suppressed. The femto base station device 1b includes an RF unit 4 which transmits broadcast information or paging information to a femto terminal device 2b communicating with the femto base station device 1b, and an information storage unit 31 which adds and stores, in the broadcast information or the paging information, location information that relates to the location of the femto base station device 1b and is used by another wireless communication device to suppress interference.
US08971865B2
An integrated cordless and cellular phone system, including a base station for one or more cordless phones, the base station being served by a fixed line telephone network operator, including one or more slots for attaching one or more cellular phone modules therein, the cellular phone modules being served by corresponding cellular network operators, wherein each of the one or more slots is associated with a corresponding cordless phone, and call routing circuitry (i) for identifying an incoming call to the base station as being intended for a specific one of the cellular phone modules, and (ii) for routing the incoming call to the cordless phone that is associated with the slot to which the specific cellular phone module is attached. A method is also described and claimed.
US08971863B2
A device may receive a request for a service call and location information associated with a user device, and may determine an address of a customer, associated with the user device, based on the location information. The device may determine customer information based on the address, and may filter a list of call centers, for the service call, based on the customer information and the address. The device may generate trouble ticket information for the service call, and may provide the customer information and the trouble ticket information to call centers provided in the filtered list of call centers.
US08971861B2
Various arrangements for delivery of relevant content to a mobile device of a user are presented. Physiological state data and image data related to the user of the mobile device may be received by a host computer system from a mobile device. The image data may be analyzed to identify a characteristic of the image. The physiological state data may also be analyzed. Content to deliver to the mobile device of the user may be selected at least partially based on the physiological state data of the user and the characteristic of the image. The content may be transmitted to the mobile device.
US08971856B2
A distribution server is configured to receive from a web portal information about an order request for an accessory and digital content. The distribution server stores the digital content at the distribution server along with authentication information used to authenticate a retrieval request for the digital content from a mobile device. The authentication information includes a claim receipt for the digital content and a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) associated with the mobile device. The mobile device sends the retrieval request to the distribution server. Responsive to the retrieval request, the distribution server determines whether the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content. Upon determining the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content, the distribution server forwards the digital content over a communication network to the mobile device.
US08971853B2
GPS signal data is converted into movement and idle indicators and is classified as a task-related or privacy event. The task data database lists personnel, location-situs, projected time-of-arrival, time-on-site and other task data. When GPS-location matches task situs, time-on-site data is generated. A movement-ON notes end-of-task. The method gathers pre-set privacy event data from the task person or the task person can, in real time, set ON a privacy block. In real time, the privacy block masks the idle ON and movement ON status until an end-of-privacy time. The method classifies, in real time, idle ON, movement ON and publishes this data on a daily calendar beyond any privacy block. The method also accepts a privacy block re-classification. In real time, status postings note traffic delays, vendor assistance, equipment needed, and co-worker needed indicator. An accounting recovery code can be assigned to the status indicators for billing and accounting purposes.
US08971848B2
A method and apparatus for managing UE-based network performance measurements utilizing a process of tracing a UE in a radio telecommunication network. An eNB may receive a trace activation message from a Mobility Management Entity, MME, or a Network Management Entity, wherein the trace activation message includes eNB-specific, and optionally MME-specific, selection conditions for selecting a UE for a trace session. The eNB selects a UE for tracing when the eNB-specific selection conditions are satisfied, and may send the MME-specific selection conditions to the MME for evaluation. When all selection conditions are satisfied, the eNB activates the trace session with the selected UE. The Trace Activation IE utilized in the Trace Start message, the UE Context Setup Request message, and the Handover Request message is extended with additional IEs in order to implement the method.
US08971845B2
A method for location reporting at a charging area level granularity is provided. The method includes detecting at a mobility management entity (MME) a transition of a user equipment (UE) from a first cell to a second cell to obtain at least a second cell identifier. The method also includes determining at the MME whether the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from a first charging area to a second charging area using the second cell identifier by comparing the second cell identifier to a charging area configuration. A charging area includes a plurality of cells that are served by at least one eNodeB. The method further includes providing to a policy server a report of the determined UE transition, if it is determined that the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from the first charging area to the second charging area.
US08971840B2
Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas.
US08971832B2
An integrated communications system. Comprising a substrate having a receiver disposed on the substrate for converting a received signal to an IF signal. Coupled to a VGA for low voltage applications and coupled to the receiver for processing the IF signal. The VGA includes a bank pair having a first bank of differential pairs of transistors and a second bank of differential pairs of transistors. The bank pair is cross-coupled in parallel, the IF signal is applied to the bank pair decoupled from a control signal used to control transconductance output gain of the bank pair over a range of input voltages. A digital IF demodulator is disposed on the substrate and coupled to the VGA for low voltage applications, for converting the IF signal to a demodulated baseband signal. And a transmitter is disposed on the substrate operating in cooperation with the receiver to establish a two way communications path.
US08971816B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified mechanism for assisting in antenna direction adjustment. The object is achieved by a method in a wireless communication device 120 for assisting in direction adjustment of a directional antenna 125. The wireless communication device 120 is adapted to be connected to a wireless communication system 100 via a directional antenna 125. The wireless communication system 100 comprises a service node 150. The method comprises the first step of establishing 510 a radio connection to the wireless communication system 100 via the directional antenna 125 and the second step of sending 520 a request for antenna direction information to the service node 150 and the third step of receiving 530 the requested antenna direction information from the service node 150 and the fourth step of obtaining 540 performance measurement and the fifth step of sending 550 the obtained performance measurement to the service node 150 and the sixth step of receiving 560 an indication of an antenna direction to be used from the service node 150.
US08971811B2
A master device images an object device and uses the image to identify the object device. The master device then automatically interfaces with the identified object device, for example, by pairing with the object device. The master device interfaces with a second object device and initiates an interface between the first object device and the second object device. The master device may receive broadcast data from the object device including information about the visual appearance of the object device and use the broadcast data in the identification of the object device. The master device may retrieve data related to the object device and display the related data, which may be display the data over the displayed image of the object device. The master device may provide an interface to control the object device or be used to pass data to the object device.
US08971810B2
The claimed subject matter provides for systems and/or methods for a dynamic range wireless access point to initiate deliberate and/or selective communications with one or more wireless devices over a short range radio path. One embodiment of an access point system comprises a processor that transfers one or more wireless devices to a long range radio path once a transition condition has been met. In another embodiment, an access point system may affect transactions between user/customer's smart devices and a commercial place of business where the access point system and the smart devices initiate communications when the smart devices are deliberately placed within the proximity of the access point antenna and/or the smart devices are brought within the vicinity of the access point antenna such as by passing through the entrance or exit to the place of business.
US08971804B2
A near field RF communicator has an antenna circuit to couple with the H field of an RF magnetic field and a power supply deriver to derive a rectified auxiliary power supply from the received magnetic field. Rectification may be performed using an actively switched rectifier having a passive mode of operation. A sub regulation system is provided to regulate the auxiliary power supply to inhibit the possibility of temporally varying power requirements of the near field RF communicator or its host causing an apparent load modulation of a signal that is transmitted or received by the communicator.
US08971801B2
Manufacturing processes monitor forces or pressures within a machine. Metal within machines affect wireless communications within the machines for reporting monitored data. An embodiment of the present invention is a sensor that provides wireless communications unaffected by metals and with less electrical noise than slip rings. An embodiment can monitor manufacturing processes, such as by employing a piezoelectric transducer to measure forces or pressures in a machine and generate an electrical signal representing, for example, forces measured by the piezoelectric transducer. A threshold modulator circuit converts the electrical signal into a series of electrical pulses, which can be transmitted as a corresponding series of magnetic field pulses to a wireless receiver. The receiver reconstructs the original electrical signal, thereby enabling a receiver system to determine physical activities in the machine. The embodiment may be self-powered through use of power generated by the piezoelectric transducer.
US08971800B2
Aspects relate to improving reporting NFC RF technology usage in activation and data exchange for NFC devices. For example, with a near field communication (NFC) device a NFCC may be configured to obtain a first radio frequency (RF) technology and mode value, a second RF technology and mode value, and one or more RF specific parameters associated with a NFC device during an activation phase of a communication link using a first NFC RF technology. The one or more RF specific parameters and the first NFC RF technology may be based on the first RF technology and mode value. Further, the NFCC may be configured to configure communications to be supported by a second NFC RF technology for use during a data exchange phase of the communication link. The second NFC RF technology may be based on the second RF technology and mode value.
US08971796B2
A signal repeating element for repeating a signal includes a housing, at least one transmit antenna element positioned on one side of the housing and at least one receive antenna element positioned on the same one side of the housing. Receiver and transmitter circuitry is coupled with respective ones of the receive and transmit antenna elements. Phase circuitry for affecting the phase of signals from the at least one receive antenna element and at least one transmit antenna element is coupled between the respective receive or transmit antenna element and the receiver or transmitter circuitry.
US08971790B2
A method, apparatus and system provide for efficient use of communication resources for providing broadcast services in a communication system. A receiver receives a first broadcast controller identification from a first base station, and a second broadcast controller identification from a second base station. A controller coupled to the receiver determines whether the first and second broadcast controller identifications are associated with use of a common set of broadcast parameters. A transmitter transmits a request for transmission of a new set of broadcast parameters when the first and second broadcast controller identifications are not associated with use of the common set of broadcast parameters. After receiving the new set of broadcast parameters, the receiver uses the new set of broadcast parameters for receiving broadcast services.
US08971787B2
A paper edge cleaner in which paper is carried along a paper guide by a paper carrying roller. A grinder grinds both sides of the paper parallel to the paper movement to remove burrs from the paper. The paper is supported by a support.
US08971765B2
Disclosed is an intermediate transfer member including, a resin layer as an outermost layer, in which plural recessed portions having a curved inner wall are scattered on the surface thereof.
US08971762B2
An image forming apparatus includes a bearing member provided to a secondary transfer unit, with the bearing member being configured to engage with a main body unit of the apparatus, a hooking-receiving member rotatably provided in the main body unit of the apparatus and opposed to the bearing member, and a rotation regulation member provided to the main body unit of the apparatus to regulate rotation of the hooking-receiving member. The hooking-receiving member contacts the rotation regulation member when the secondary transfer unit is closed with respect to the main body unit of the apparatus and-rotates in a direction away from the rotation regulation member when the secondary transfer unit is opened with respect to the main body unit of the apparatus.
US08971758B2
A photosensitive member cartridge includes: a photosensitive member extending in an axial direction; a frame including a pair of photosensitive member receiving portions configured to receive axial end portions of the photosensitive member; and a pair of holding members configured to hold the axial end portions of the photosensitive member. The frame includes a first frame and a second frame separable from each other in a prescribed direction perpendicular to the axial direction and mating with each other such that the first frame provides a part of each photosensitive member receiving portion and the second frame provides a remaining part of each photosensitive member receiving portion. Each of the holding members is engaged with both of the first frame and the second frame.
US08971757B2
A color laser printer is configured with a tray being provided above the housing cassette which houses a recording medium. The tray holds developing units and is configured to be pulled out from device main body while leaving housing cassette inside device main body. Furthermore, a sliding support element capable of supporting protrusions of the tray is provided, such that a portion of the tray downstream of the protrusions can be supported on the installation surface when the tray is pulled out from device main body.
US08971754B2
A toner carrier includes a metal core, a barrel formed on an outer circumference of the metal core and including at least an elastic layer, and a coating formed on outer circumferences of both ends of the barrel. The coating has a thickness and a width of an outer circumference of the coating is different from a width of an inner circumference of the coating. The width is from an end surface of the barrel along an axis of the barrel, and the width of the outer circumference is larger than the width of the inner circumference so that the end surface of the coating is reversely inclined.
US08971753B2
A process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning frame member, a developer bearing member, a development frame member, a flexible sheet member, and a protection member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member forms an electrostatic latent image. The cleaning frame member supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developer bearing member develops the electrostatic latent image using a developer. The development frame member supports the developer bearing member. The flexible sheet member is fixed onto a seating surface with one end side thereof and contacts the developer bearing member with the other end thereof, for preventing leaking of a developer from between the developer bearing member and the development frame member. The protection member is attached to the cleaning frame member, for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The protection member includes a pressing portion at the back side of the seating surface, for suppressing deformation of the seating surface.
US08971750B2
An apparatus includes a CPU, wherein, when the apparatus is currently in a power OFF state, and if an operation different from that of a power source switch is performed, the CPU connects a load to a power source by the switch to discharge a capacitor.
US08971730B2
An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including first and second cartridge contacts is detachably mountable, includes: a guiding member for guiding the cartridge to a positioning portion provided in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a first main assembly contact contactable to the first cartridge contact when the cartridge is positioned partway toward the positioning portion and is positioned in the positioning portion; a second main assembly contact contactable to the second cartridge contact when the cartridge is positioned partway toward the positioning portion; a third main assembly contact contactable to the second cartridge contact only when the cartridge is positioned in the positioning portion; and a control portion for detecting presence or absence of the cartridge in the main assembly and a mounted state of the cartridge by being electrically connected with the first, second and third main assembly contacts.
US08971726B2
A network element has at least one input, to which an optical signal can be fed, and at least one output, which is equipped to emit an optical signal; a first coupler having an input linked to the network element input and a first and a second output; an optical receiver having at least one input coupled to the second output of the first coupler and at least one output; an optical sender having at least one input of which is linked to the output of the optical receiver; a signal processing device being arranged in the signal path; a second coupler having a first input linked to the first output of the first coupler, a second input linked to the output of the optical sender, and an output which is linked to the first output of the network element.
US08971714B2
An integrated or monolithic photonic circuit that modulates RF signals onto optical signals and then performs a channelizing filter function according to the RF content. According to an exemplary embodiment, the photonic circuit is employed in an aircraft system that includes a front end, a photonic circuit, an optical connection, and an electronic module at some distant location in the aircraft. RF signals are received by an antenna in the front end, the RF signals are then modulated onto optical signals by a modulator and a laser, the modulated optical signals are filtered by a filter array according to a channelizing filter function, and the modulated and channelized optical signals are then carried over the optical connection to the electronic module. Other options like a wavelength-tunable laser and corresponding feedback feature, as well as ring filters with integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are also possible.
US08971708B2
A system, a method and a related device for signal transmission are provided in order to improve utilization efficiency of the fiber. The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT), a plurality of optical network units (ONU), a base band unit (BBU), a plurality of remote radio units (RRU), a first signal-processing device and a plurality of second signal-processing devices, wherein the first signal-processing device sends a multiplexed signal to a plurality of second signal-processing devices after a plurality of signals sent by the OLT and the BBU are multiplexed, and demultiplexes a signal sent by the second signal-processing device in order to obtain a plurality of signals sent by the ONU and a plurality of different RRUs and sends these demultiplexed signals to the OLT and the BBU; one of a plurality of second signal processing devices sends a multiplexed signal to the first signal-processing device after a plurality of signals sent by the ONU and a plurality of different RRUs are multiplexed, and demultiplexes a signal sent by the first signal-processing device in order to obtain a signal sent by the OLT and a plurality of signals sent to a plurality of different RRUs by the BBU and sends these demultiplexed signals to the ONU and the RRUs.
US08971706B2
Automatic discovery and verification of optical communication links as well as isolation of link failures in an optical communication system.
US08971701B2
A universal optical receiver may include an optical channel monitor configured to acquire spectral data for an optical signal on at least one selected optical channel, a tunable local oscillator configured to be tuned to a center frequency of the optical signal on the at least one selected optical channel, a storage device configured to store data associated with the optical signal responsive to acquisition of the spectral data and tuning of the tunable local oscillator, and processing circuitry configured to execute an algorithm that employs a plurality of binary distinctions based on physical characteristics of the optical signal and employs at least one calculation of figure of merit associated with a series of parameter values of the optical signal to identify a format of the optical signal.
US08971689B2
An imaging device includes: a storage unit that sequentially stores a plurality of frame images and raw recorded audio data; a unit that generates slow-motion movie image data to be played at a second frame rate lower than a first frame rate, based on the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit during a first predetermined duration; a unit that generates at least one set of still image data on the basis of at least one frame image from among the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit during the first predetermined duration; a unit that generates audio data on the basis of the raw recorded audio data stored during a second predetermined duration longer than the first predetermined duration; and a unit that records the audio data generated, in association with the slow-motion movie image data generated and the still image data generated.
US08971684B2
Provided is a method of producing a preform 10P for a coupled multi-core fiber including: an arranging process P1 for arranging a plurality of core glass bodies 11R and a clad glass body 12R in such a way that the plurality of core glass bodies 11R are surrounded by the clad glass body 12R; and a collapsing process P2 for collapsing a gap between the core glass bodies 11R and the clad glass body 12R, wherein the respective core glass bodies 11R have outer regions 16 having a predetermined thickness from the periphery surfaces and made of silica glass undoped with germanium, and the clad glass body 12R is made of silica glass having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the outer regions of the core glass bodies 11R.
US08971681B2
An optical system for use in an imaging procedure includes one or more semiconductor diodes configured to generate an input signal beam with a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns that is amplified and communicated through optical fiber(s) to a nonlinear element configured to broaden the spectral width to at least 50 nm through a nonlinear effect. A subsystem includes lenses or mirrors to deliver an output beam having a broadened spectrum to an Optical Coherence Tomography apparatus with a sample and reference arm to perform imaging for characterizing the sample. The delivered output beam has a temporal duration greater than about 30 picoseconds, a repetition rate between continuous wave and Megahertz or higher, and a time averaged intensity of less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. The output beam has a time averaged output power of 20 mW or more.
US08971678B2
Spacer resin pattern layer which precisely aligns a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element relative to both a waveguide pattern layer and electrical circuit pattern layer from the semiconductor wafer level. A substratum of resin having a through-hole provided for electrical communication with an electrical circuit pattern layer is formed on a semiconductor wafer. A truncated cone-shaped three-dimensional reflective surface is formed to guide the emitted light towards or received light from a waveguide pattern layer. A metal film is deposited planarly in a predetermined range from the center when positioned relative to the position of the through-hole. A truncated cone-shaped mold is stamped in the center. By modifying the direction of the light using this tapered structure, the precision tolerance is increased and optical loss is reduced.
US08971660B2
Disclosed is a noise reduction device that includes a representative-value vector calculation unit that extracts from the neighboring region the pixels of a similarity region having a degree of similarity, greater than or equal to a threshold, to the notice pixel in a predetermined color space and calculates a representative-value vector of the pixels of the similarity region; a difference projection unit that projects a difference vector between a notice-pixel vector of the notice pixel and the representative-value vector in a specific direction of the color space; and a pixel-value correction unit that replaces an element of a vector obtained by adding the difference vector projected in the specific direction to the representative-value vector with the pixel value of the notice pixel.
US08971659B2
Systems and methods of bad pixel cluster detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a bad pixel correction module coupled to receive image data and adapted to perform a bad pixel cluster detection process. The bad pixel correction module includes logic to determine whether two test pixels have values that exceed a representative value of a group of surrounding pixels by more than a threshold amount. The threshold amount is determined via a table lookup.
US08971658B2
Disclosed herein is a method that includes a classifier that distinguishes objects based on their color shades. A moving window based operator looks at the color class of the adjacent objects and determines if an adjustment is necessary. If at least one of the objects is the type of interest and the color classes of the objects meet the criteria, then the boundary between the objects is subject to be adjusted. Two adjustment modes are discussed: “adjust-tagging” mode and “adjust-color” mode. In the adjust-tagging mode, a specific tag is sent down to the print engine to force the use of high addressability halftones for the boundary pixels in the darker object. In the adjust-color mode, a color lighter (usually white) than that of the lighter object is assigned to the boundary pixels in the lighter object. The width of the modified pixels along the boundary is configurable.
US08971654B2
A method of decoding an image including performing entropy-decoding to obtain quantized transformation coefficients of at least one transformation unit in a coding unit of the image, performing inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation on the quantized transformation coefficients of the at least one transformation unit to obtain residuals, and performing inter prediction for at least one prediction unit in the coding unit to generate a predictor and restoring the image by using the residuals and the predictor.
US08971653B2
An apparatus for decoding an image includes an entropy decoder that performs entropy-decoding to obtain quantized transformation coefficients of at least one transformation unit in a coding unit of the image, an inverse transformer that performs inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation on the quantized transformation coefficients of the at least one transformation unit to obtain residuals, and a restorer that performs inter prediction for at least one prediction unit in the coding unit to generate a predictor and restores the image by using the residuals and the predictor.
US08971650B2
An image decoding method including determining coding units having a hierarchical structure for decoding an image using split information of a coding unit, determining at least one prediction unit for predicting a coding unit among the coding units using information about a partition type, and determining at least one transformation unit for inversely transforming the coding unit using information about a depth of the at least one transformation unit, wherein the split information of a coding unit, the information about a partition type and the information about a depth of the at least one transformation unit are parsed from a bitstream, parsing from the bitstream transformation coefficients generated by transformation according to the at least one transformation unit generated by dividing the coding unit, and reconstructing residual of the at least one transformation unit by performing inverse quantization, and inverse transformation on the parsed transformation coefficients, and performing intra prediction or inter prediction on the prediction unit to generate a predictor, and reconstructing the image based on the residual and the predictor.
US08971648B2
A method and apparatus are provided for coding an image or a sequence of images, generating a data stream including data representative of pixel groups, referred to as blocks, in one of the images. The method includes: grouping blocks in a cluster of blocks according to the proximity of their respective values corresponding to at least one block parameter to be coded; determining a value of the parameter, the value being characteristic of said group of blocks; coding blocks of the cluster, where the values of the blocks for the parameter are coded implicitly by inheritance of the characteristic value or are coded as refinements relative to the characteristic value, and coding a data structure associated with the cluster of blocks, the data structure including data associated with the characteristic value.
US08971641B2
An image matching system is described for finding reference images that match a query image. The image matching system performs this operation in expeditious fashion by restricting the matching to a bounding region; the bounding region, in turn, may be associated with a location at which the query image may have been captured. In addition, the image matching system provides various mechanisms that expedite adding new reference images to an image index, to thereby provide a re-enforced learning mechanism of the image matching system.
US08971634B2
A method for approximate pyramidal search for displacement matching is provided that includes performing a complete window-based search at a coarsest resolution level in a resolution pyramid to determine a best matching point in a destination image for each point in a source image, wherein a displacement from each point to the best matching point is determined, counting, for each displacement of the determined displacements, a number of points having the displacement, selecting displacements from the determined displacements based on the number of points counted for each displacement and a predetermined threshold, and performing a search at the next finer resolution level in the resolution pyramid to determine a best matching point in the destination image for each point in the source image, wherein the search for a best matching point for each point is limited to the selected displacements and a reduced search window around each displacement.
US08971630B2
Methods are described for determining an optimal path for creating a scheme for dividing a text line of Chinese, Japanese or Korean (CJK) characters into character cells prior to applying classifiers and recognizing characters. Gaps between characters are found as a window is moved down the text line. Finding gaps may involve finding 4-connected paths. A histogram is built based on distances from start of window to a respective gap. The window is moved to the end of each gap after each gap is found and distances measured. Process is repeated until window reaches the end of the text line and all gaps found. A linear division graph (LDG) is constructed according to detected gaps. Penalties for certain distances are applied. An optimum path is one with a minimal penalty sum and can be used as a scheme for dividing text lines into character cells.
US08971629B2
The user interaction system comprises a portable pointing device (101) connected to a camera (102) and sending pictures to a digital signal processor (120), capable of recognizing an object (130) and a command given by the user (100) by moving the pointing device (101) in a specific way, and controlling an electrical apparatus (110) on the basis of this recognition.
US08971628B2
Faces in images are quickly detected with minimal memory resource usage. Instead of calculating a Haar-like feature value by subtracting the average pixel intensity value in one rectangular region from the average pixel intensity value in another, adjacent rectangular region, a face-detection system calculates that Haar-like feature value by dividing the average pixel intensity value in one such rectangular region by the average pixel intensity value in the other such adjacent rectangular region. Thus, each Haar-like value is calculated as a ratio of average pixel intensity values rather than as a difference between such average pixel intensity values. The feature values are calculated using this ratio-based technique both during the machine-learning procedure, in which the numerical ranges for features in known face-containing images are learned based on labeled training data, and during the classifier-applying procedure, in which an unlabeled image's feature values are calculated and compared to the previously machine-learned numerical ranges.
US08971622B2
An image processing apparatus and image processing method, which enable suppression of coloring that occurs in image recovery processing for a RAW image are disclosed. Pixel interpolation processing is executed for a predetermined reference color component of the RAW image. For each color component other than the reference color component, a first color difference is obtained using a pixel value of the color component and a corresponding pixel value of the reference color component after the pixel interpolation processing. After applying the image recovery processing to each color component, a second color difference is obtained in a similar manner to the first color difference, and a pixel value is corrected according to the difference between the first and second color differences determined before and after the image recovery processing.
US08971618B2
A target and a method to use the target to determine the translucence of media is disclosed. The target has a first region and a second region. The first region comprises a color chart. The second region comprises a test pattern that is covered by the sample media when the sample media is loaded onto the target. The test target has a first area and a second area. An image of the target loaded with the sample media is used to determine the translucence of the sample media. The color of the media over the first and second areas of the test target are matched to the nearest color patches in the image of the color chart. The estimated actual colors of the media over the first and second areas of the test target are determined using the known colors of the nearest color patches. The translucence is determined using the difference between the estimated actual colors of the media over the first and second areas of the test target.
US08971617B2
A method and apparatus for generating a grayscale image. The method and apparatus receive a single value. From the single value, the method and apparatus generate a set of grayscale weighting values. The method and apparatus generate the grayscale based on a color image and the set of grayscale weighting values. By limiting the number of values to a single value, the method and apparatus prevents a user from arbitrarily selecting a number of possible weighting values which could result in a grayscale image that is too dim or too bright. This single control method and apparatus quickly and efficiently produces a grayscale image that is neither too bright nor too dim.
US08971601B2
A medical image diagnosis device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an imaging unit that takes an image of a subject, with an X-ray generation unit which exposes the subject to X-rays and an X-ray detector which detects X-rays that have passed through the subject, being supported on a supporter; a control unit that controls so as to rotate and move the supporter with respect to the subject and take images of the subject from a plurality of viewpoints; a storage unit that stores image data taken from a plurality of the viewpoints; an image processing unit that classifies a plurality of pieces of the image data stored in the storage unit into a plurality of imaging ranges to generate thumbnail images; and a display unit that displays thumbnail images generated by the image processing unit.
US08971599B2
The present disclosure relates to iterative reconstruction of images. In certain embodiments, a deconvolution filter is used to approximate the inversion of a Hessian matrix associated with the reconstruction. In one such embodiment, the desired image is not reconstructed directly in the iterative process. Instead, an image is reconstructed that yields the desired image when filtered by the deconvolution filter.
US08971569B2
A marker processing method includes: (a) binarizing a shot image; (b) labeling one or more constituents of the image detected based on the image binarized in step (a); (c) obtaining a region centroid of each of the constituents corresponding to the respective labels processed in step (b); (d) obtaining a degree of overlap of the region centroids of the constituents corresponding respectively to the labels, obtained in step (c); and (e) detecting a marker based on the degree of overlap of the region centroids obtained in step (d).
US08971561B2
An earphone having an earphone housing including a tip portion dimensioned to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer, a body portion extending outward from the tip portion, and a tube portion extending from the body portion. The body portion has a face portion that faces a pinna region of the ear when the tip portion is inserted into the ear canal. A primary output opening, that outputs sound from a driver in the housing to the ear canal, is formed in the tip portion. A secondary output opening, that outputs air from the ear canal to the surrounding environment, is formed in the face portion. The primary output opening and the secondary output opening are horizontally aligned when the tube portion is positioned vertically downward and an angle formed between the primary output opening, the tube portion and the secondary output opening is less than 90 degrees.
US08971549B2
The present disclosure provides a audio signal processing apparatus including, an amplitude detector configured to detect a noise start point of an audio signal including a noise signal by comparing an amplitude value of the audio signal with a threshold value, a frequency feature calculator configured to calculate a frequency feature representing at least a frequency characteristic of the audio signal after the noise start point, and a noise determiner configured to determine a leg continuously including high-frequency components equal to or higher than a reference frequency in the audio signal after the noise start point as a noise leg based on the frequency feature.
US08971545B2
There is provided an earpiece having a first side towards the ear, an acoustic transducer for outputting a sound signal and a sound guide element having a first end and a second end. In that case the first end faces the acoustic transducer and the second end faces the first end of the (ear canal) earpiece. The sound guide element serves for guiding the sound signal to an ear canal of a user. The sound guide element has a first opening at its second end. The (ear canal) earpiece also has at least one volume element which delimits a volume and which has at least one second opening for connecting the volume to the first end of the ear canal earpiece.
US08971538B1
The state of firmware for devices on a provisioned host machine can be validated independent of the host CPU(s) or other components exposed to the user. A port that is not fully exposed or accessible to the user can be used to perform a validation process on firmware without accessing a CPU of the host device. The firmware can be scanned and a hashing or similar algorithm can be used to determine validation information, such as hash values, for the firmware, which can be compared to validation information stored in a secure location. If the current and stored validation information do not match, one or more remedial actions can be taken to address the firmware being in an unknown or unintended state.
US08971537B2
The client requests from the authentication and authorization server a capability for accessing the target server. The authentication and authorization server sends client a capability (capC,S) comprising the public key (pubC) of the client, said capability being signed with a private key (privAA) of the authentication and authorization server. The client sends the capability (capC,S) to the target server. If the capability is valid, the target server grants the client access and a data exchange session can be initiated. The disclosed protocol is scalable, as it does not require individual configuration of each target server device, allows revocation of user access within reasonable time, stores no compromisable secret data on any target server device, enables individual access permission per user, and accountability of each user.
US08971534B2
A mobile communication terminal used in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) 3G mobile communication includes: a communication terminal unit configured to receive a short text message from a user and transmit encrypted data generated by encrypting the short text message; and a secure-universal subscriber identity module (S-USIM) unit configured to generate a session key for encrypting the short text message, when receiving a request to encrypt the short text message from a communication terminal unit.
US08971533B2
Systems and methods are described herein for supporting end users of a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, to reset a secure element associated with the communication device. The reset process may include clearing the secure element, associated memories, and storage devices of any user specific or personalized information associated with the user. The reset process may also include removing or resetting keys or other identifiers within the secure element that associate the mobile device with a particular secure service provider. According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method for resetting a secure element within a network device may include receiving an encrypted reset request message at the secure element, decrypting the encrypted reset request message using a communication key, verifying authorization for the reset request message, and atomically clearing parameters associated with the secure element.
US08971524B2
Systems and techniques for communication over telephony wireline. A command interface and control device may include a wireline input configured to connect the device to an operative line of a wireline telephony network (such as the PSTN) and to transmit voice signals to and receive voice signals from the wireline telephony network. The device may also include a cellular module configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular telephony network and a system controller to control communications on the wireline input and the cellular module. One or more wireline adapter modules may be configured to provide control functionality local to a telecommunications device.
US08971520B1
The present invention relates to the assignment of calls to groups of call handlers in a call center environment. According to certain aspects, the present invention achieves an optimal balance between the level of service and overall cost by assigning a “common” pool skill to all call handlers in the system and by secondarily assigning one or more additional “rare” pool skills to each call handler. In this configuration, any call handler may receive calls (or other multiple media work assignments) from the states in the common pool while also receiving calls from the states in their additional rare pool(s). According to other aspects, a method according to the invention optimizes the selection of the skills to be included in each of the pools.
US08971511B2
A method and apparatus to provide speaker selection in a multi-party conference call is described. The method may comprise processing a speaker queue for at least one new speaker and monitoring when a number of active speakers is less than a predetermined number of active speakers. When less than the predetermined number, the method automatically, without human intervention, adds a new speaker from the speaker queue. A request for a new speaker may be received via a communication channel independent of a voice communication channel of the multi-party conference call. The request may be received from the conference endpoint via a voice communication channel of the multi-party conference call. In an example embodiment, new speakers in the speaker queue may be prioritized based a class of service associated with each new speaker. Priority may be given to a new speaker with a higher associated class of service.
US08971505B2
A method and an apparatus for providing a customer premise based feature. For example, the method receives a call directed to a customer, wherein the call is associated with a customer premise based feature. The method then forwards the call to a customer premise based communication system located at a location of the customer, wherein the customer premise based feature is implemented locally by the customer premise based communication system.
US08971498B2
A contour collimator or an adaptive filter for adjusting a contour of a ray path of x-ray radiation is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic fluid that is impermeable to x-ray radiation and a number of switchable magnet elements, by which an aperture forming the contour may be formed in the magnetic fluid.
US08971484B2
The present subject matter relates to inspection systems, devices and methods for x-ray inspection of objects. A conveyor can move an object to be inspected through an inspection zone along a direction of travel, one or more multibeam x-ray source arrays can provide multiple collimated x-ray beams through the inspection zone along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel, and one or more x-ray detector arrays can detect x-ray beams passing through the inspection zone from the x-ray source array. X-ray signals detected by the x-ray detector array can be recorded to form multiple x-ray projection images of the object, and the multiple x-ray projection images can be processed into three-dimensional tomographic images of the object.
US08971483B2
There is provided an X-ray composite apparatus capable of performing, with one unit, X-ray CT and element analysis by fluorescent X-rays. The X-ray composite apparatus 100 includes an X-ray source 110 generating cone beam X-rays, a sample support 150 holding a sample S, collimator parts 130 and 140 capable of narrowing the cone beam X-rays to form parallel X-rays, depending on the intended use, between the X-ray source and the sample support 150, a two-dimensional detector 170 detecting the cone beam X-rays transmitted through the sample S, and a fluorescent X-ray detector 176 detecting fluorescent X-rays radiated from the sample S, and when the apparatus is used for X-ray CT, the apparatus irradiates the sample with the cone beam X-rays, while when the apparatus is used for fluorescent X-ray analysis, the apparatus irradiates the sample S with the parallel X-rays.
US08971481B2
A tomography apparatus that generates images of an object includes a radiation source emitting a radiation beam, wherein the radiation beam rotates around the object and penetrates the object; a radiation detector rotating around the object opposite the radiation source so that the radiation detector detects the radiation beam after penetration of the object; a radiation mask surrounding the object that masks the radiation beam, wherein the radiation mask is arranged in a path of the radiation beam between the radiation source and the radiation detector and the radiation beam passes the radiation mask only once between the radiation source and the radiation detector.
US08971480B2
A mounting structure for mounting an x-ray tube on a CT rotatable gantry is disclosed. The mounting structure includes base plates that are boltable to the CT rotatable gantry and have bearing strut connections formed thereon. Spherical bearing struts are provided in the mounting structure to mechanically couple the x-ray tube to the base plates, with the spherical bearing struts each having a first end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the x-ray tube casing and a second end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the base plates. The spherical bearing struts constrain a gantry-load direction displacement of the x-ray tube and enable rotation and displacement of the x-ray tube around at least one axis of rotation or in one direction other than a gantry load direction, so as to accommodate thermal displacements in the x-ray tube created during operation thereof.
US08971479B2
A shift register of a gate driving circuit includes a pull-up unit for pulling up a first output signal and a first gate signal to a high voltage level according to a driving voltage and a high-frequency clock signal, a start-up unit for transmitting a second gate signal, an energy-store unit for providing the driving voltage to the pull-up unit according to the second gate signal, a first discharging unit for pulling down the driving voltage to a first voltage level according to a first control signal, a first leakage-preventing unit for turning off the first discharging unit when the first gate signal reaches the high voltage level, a first pull-down unit for respectively pulling down the first output and first gate signals to the first and a second voltage levels according to the first control signal, and a first control unit for generating the first control signal.
US08971478B2
A shift register includes a plurality of stages of unit circuits each including a flip-flop. Each of the unit circuits generates, by obtaining a sync signal in accordance with an output from the flip-flop, an output signal. The flip-flop includes a first switch and a second switch and a latch circuit for latching a signal supplied thereto and outputting the signal as the output from the flip-flop. A first shift direction signal is supplied to the latch circuit via the first switch, and the second shift direction signal is supplied to the latch circuit via the second switch. In each unit circuit other than those of the first and last stages, an output signal from a previous stage is supplied to a control terminal of the first switch, and an output signal from a subsequent stage is supplied to a control terminal of the second switch.
US08971477B2
An integral pressurized water nuclear reactor for the production of steam utilizing a helical coil steam generator, a plurality of internal circulation pumps, and an internal control rod drive mechanism structure.
US08971473B2
An apparatus for the generation of neutron/gamma rays is described including a chamber which defines an ion source, said apparatus including an RF antenna positioned outside of or within the chamber. Positioned within the chamber is a target material. One or more sets of confining magnets are also provided to create a cross B magnetic field directly above the target. To generate neutrons/gamma rays, the appropriate source gas is first introduced into the chamber, the RF antenna energized and a plasma formed. A series of high voltage pulses are then applied to the target. A plasma sheath, which serves as an accelerating gap, is formed upon application of the high voltage pulse to the target. Depending upon the selected combination of source gas and target material, either neutrons or gamma rays are generated, which may be used for cargo inspection, and the like.
US08971470B2
Techniques are described to provide a device and network of devices that collect distributed coordinated timestamps from distributed time counters in a multi-module or multi-integrated circuit system. The interconnect between the modules can be a single-wire or a two-wire interconnect. The modules communicatively coupled to the interconnect can use a collision-avoidance protocol for triggering the broadcasting of timestamps among the modules as well for allowing all modules to transmit their timestamps. Timestamps from multiple clocks can be transmitted by all modules and then collected and compared to produce correction factors to clock signals of each module to potentially achieve distributed clock synchronization in multiple independent modules or integrated circuits.
US08971464B2
A method to form a CFR cancellation filter for signals with dynamic power and frequency distribution by estimating the filter at the rate required by the input signal's dynamics. For mixed mode systems (for example CDMA and LTE) the CFR is computed for each stream, and combined to form the final filter.
US08971452B2
A hybrid MIMO RDN 3G/4G receiving system which include M antennas for N MIMO branches, wherein M>N is provided herein. Each branch has a beamformer so that each of the beamformers includes at least one combiner configured to combine signals coming from the antennas coupled to a respective beamformer into a combined signal. The system further includes a control module configured to tune at least one beamformer based on metrics derived by the baseband module. More specifically, the tuning of the beamformers is carried out, at least partially, using 3G/4G metrics that are generated but not usually reported in 3G/4G air protocols, wherein these metrics are extracted by the control module.
US08971448B2
This invention is a method and an apparatus to up link transmission of data from a user equipment to a base station for single user multiple input, multiple output. This invention includes receiving at least one codeword, permuting the received codewords, precoding the permuted codewords and transmitting the predecoded codewords on plural antennas. The codewords may be permuted by layer permutation or by codeword permutation.
US08971442B2
A method and apparatus for implementing spatial processing with unequal modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) or stream-dependent MCSs are disclosed. Input data may be parsed into a plurality of data streams, and spatial processing is performed on the data streams to generate a plurality of spatial streams. An MCS for each data stream is selected independently. The spatial streams are transmitted via multiple transmit antennas. At least one of the techniques of space time block coding (STBC), space frequency block coding (SFBC), quasi-orthogonal Alamouti coding, time reversed space time block coding, linear spatial processing and cyclic delay diversity (CDD) may be performed on the data/spatial streams. An antennal mapping matrix may then be applied to the spatial streams. The spatial streams are transmitted via multiple transmit antennas. The MCS for each data stream may be determined based on a signal-to-noise ratio of each spatial stream associated with the data stream.
US08971434B2
The invention relates to a technical field of multiple-antenna transmission in a wireless communication system. Communication of feedback representation of and generating a codebook suitable for precoding of multiple-antenna transmission is disclosed. An example matrix representation of precoding of a first number of antenna ports comprises precoding sub-matrices of less antenna ports.
US08971430B2
Deterioration of reception characteristics due to interference waves is suppressed. A receiving device includes a communication unit, which subtracts a frequency of an intended wave subcarrier from a frequency of interference waves if the interference waves are present in a reception signal, divides the result of the subtraction by a frequency interval of the subcarrier, sets the remainder of the division as an offset frequency, and thus changes reception frequency setting based on the offset frequency.
US08971428B2
Systems, apparatus and methods for determining a cyclic shift diversity (CSD) mode are presented. Examples use a channel impulse response (CIR) to determine a current CSD mode. Specifically, a channel impulse response from an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, which forms CIR samples. The CIR samples are examined to find a local maxima. A current CSD mode may be selected based on the local maxima found in the CIR samples.
US08971426B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and an adaptive multiple antenna transmission method and apparatus in accordance with antenna transmission power are disclosed. A method of performing multiple antenna transmission from a terminal to a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of: determining a reference value for a transmission power of each of a plurality of transmit antennas of the terminal; grouping the plurality of transmit antennas into a first group of transmit antennas and a second group of transmit antennas in accordance with the determined reference value; and transmitting a signal to the base station through at least one of the first group of the transmit antennas and the second group of transmit antennas.
US08971425B2
A method for relaying performed by a relay station is provided. The method includes receiving a signal from a source station through at least one receive antenna, defining a connection structure between the at least one receive antenna and at least one transmit antenna, processing the signal by using a midcoding matrix, and transmitting the processed signal to a destination station through the at least one transmit antenna. Quality of signal transmission can be enhanced.
US08971421B2
A millimeter wave wireless (M2W2) interconnect is used for transmitting and receiving signals at millimeter-wave frequencies for short-range wireless communication with high data rate capability. The transmitter and receiver antennae may comprise an on-chip differential dipole antenna or a bond-wire differential dipole antenna. The bond wire differential dipole antenna is comprised of a pair of bond wires connecting between a pair of pads on an integrated circuit (IC) die and a pair of floating pads on a printed circuit board (PCB).
US08971418B2
A digital television (DTV) transmitter and a method of coding data in the DTV transmitter method are disclosed. A pre-processor pre-processes the enhanced data by coding the enhanced data for forward error correction (FEC) and expanding the FEC-coded enhanced data. A data formatter generates one or more groups of enhanced data packets, each enhanced data packet including the pre-processed enhanced data. And, a packet multiplexer generates at least one burst of enhanced data by multiplexing the one or more groups of enhanced data packets. Herein, each burst of enhanced data includes at least one group of enhanced data packets. The DTV transmitter may further include a scheduler which generates first and second control signals to control operations of the data formatter and the packet multiplexer, respectively.
US08971415B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a video communication system, device and method on the basis of feedback reference frame. The method includes: receiving, by a video encoding end, video frame information fed back by a video decoding end, determining a reference frame for encoding current video image according to the video frame information; encoding the current video image according to determined reference frame, and sending a video frame formed after the encoding; decoding, by the video decoding end, received video frame, and feeding back the video frame information to the video encoding end through a network and according to decoding result. By adopting embodiments of the invention, network data flow may be reduced. Meanwhile, phenomenon which may cause greater impact on the network, when it is necessary to send larger data amount since frame-loss or failed-decoding, may be avoided.
US08971413B2
Techniques are described that can be used to store macroblocks to memory and retrieve macroblocks from memory. In some cases, macroblocks can be stored in memory in memory addressable locations with column and row addresses flipped. Because macroblocks are stored in columns but retrieved across rows, portions of multiple macroblocks can be retrieved in a single read burst. The portions can be Golomb decoded and stored so that macroblocks can be re-assembled from the portions. In some cases, macroblocks of encoded video can be stored in continuous memory addressable locations.
US08971398B2
In an embodiment, a method of producing a multi-level RF signal includes producing plurality of pulse-width modulated signals based on an input signal. The method further includes driving a corresponding plurality of parallel amplifiers with the plurality of pulse-width modulated signals by setting a parallel amplifier to have a first output impedance when a corresponding pulse-width modulated signal is in an active state and setting the parallel amplifier to have a second output impedance when the corresponding pulse-width is in an inactive state. The method also includes phase shifting the outputs of the plurality of parallel amplifiers, wherein phase shifting transforms the second output impedance into a third impedance that is higher than the second output impedance, and combining the phase shifted outputs.
US08971395B2
A Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) with programmable taps includes a summer configured to receive a DFE input signal. Delay elements are coupled to the summer. The delay elements are connected in series. Each delay element provides a respective delayed signal of an input signal to the delay element. A weight generator is configured to provide tap weights. The DFE is configured to multiply each tap weight to the respective delayed signal from the respective delay element to provide tap outputs. Each tap output is selectively enabled to be added to the summer or disabled based on a first comparison of a first threshold value and each impulse response or each tap weight corresponding to the respective tap output, where the impulse response is the DFE input signal in response to a pulse signal transmitted through a channel.
US08971391B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems for incorporating bonding processors while avoiding bonding processor buffer overflow by initiating retransmission requests on all data lines whenever corrupted data is encountered on one data line. Initiating these “extra” retransmission requests equalizes retransmissions delays over all transmission lines, preventing the bonding processor from receiving excess data that cannot be reassembled until the retransmission request is processed.
US08971387B2
Systems and methods for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks are disclosed. For example, a system for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks includes at least a first electronic circuit to transmit and receive signals or data, at least one driver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit, and at least one receiver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit and the at least one driver unit. The at least one receiver unit includes at least one offset signal generating unit, a signal comparing unit, and a switching unit to couple an offset signal from the at least one offset signal generating unit to an input of the signal comparing unit.
US08971380B2
System and method for adjusting DIDO interference cancellation based on signal strength measurements
A machine-implemented system and method are described for removing interference between adjacent distributed-input-distributed-output (DIDO) clusters comprising. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: detecting signal strength at a first client from a main DIDO cluster; detecting interference signal strength at the first client from an interfering DIDO cluster; if the signal strength from the main DIDO cluster reaches a specified value relative to the value of the interference signal strength from the interfering DIDO cluster, then generating channel state information (CSI) defining channel state between one or more antennas of the first client and one or more antennas of the interfering DIDO cluster; transmitting the CSI from the first client to a base transceiver station (BTS) in the interfering DIDO cluster; and implementing DIDO precoding with inter-DIDO-cluster interference (IDCI) cancellation at the BTS in the interfering DIDO cluster to avoid RF interference at the first client.
US08971375B2
The present invention relates to a surface-emitting laser diode with an active amplifying region (2) which is bounded by two laser mirrors (1, 3), while one or more polarization-selective layers (4) are provided for stabilizing the polarization in a region that is located on that side of at least one of the laser mirrors (1, 3) that is opposite the active amplifying region (2), these layers (4) extending parallel to the respective mirror (1; 3) and having a polarization-dependent refractive index and/or absorption.
US08971371B2
Laser device comprising: a laser source including a light emitting structure; a guide structure to deliver light generated by the emitting structure, this guide structure comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion housing a diffraction grating that forms a reflector of the laser source and cooperates with the emitting structure, the second portion being a waveguide that delivers light generated by the emitting structure and propagated in the first portion. The emitting structure is made using the III-V technology or II-VI technology, and the guide structure is made using the silicon technology.
US08971368B1
Laser devices formed on a semipolar surface region of a gallium and nitrogen containing material are disclosed. The laser devices have a laser stripe configured to emit a laser beam having a cross-polarized emission state.
US08971365B2
Symmetrical, direct coupled laser drivers for high frequency applications. The laser drivers are in integrated circuit form and use a minimum of relatively small (low valued) external components for driving a laser diode coupled to the laser driver through transmission lines. An optional amplifier may be used to fix the voltage at an internal node at data frequency spectrum to improve circuit performance. Feedback to a bias input may also be used to fix the voltage at the internal node. Programmability and a burst mode capability may be included.
US08971356B2
Apparatus for monitoring a packet switched network, the apparatus comprising: at least one port for receiving and transmitting packets; a local clock; and a packet inspector that uses time from the local clock to timestamp packets received at a port of the at least one port, and additionally copies timing information from received timing distribution packets, which are transmitted from a master clock to a slave clock in order to discipline the slave clock, and forwards the received packets for transmission from a port of the at least one port; wherein the apparatus uses the timestamp of a received timing distribution packet and the copied timing information to monitor timing distribution performance of the network.
US08971352B2
A physical layer device provides for synchronization of clocks in a communication network. A place holder for an alignment marker is inserted into a frame to be transmitted. Once the placeholder alignment marker is inserted into the frame, no additional data is added to the frame. Transmission of the frame including the placeholder alignment marker may also be delayed to allow data processing in subsequent blocks within a transmit block to complete prior to further processing of the frame including the placeholder alignment marker (e.g., timestamping, MACSec, etc.) to improve timing accuracy with a multi lane distribution environment.
US08971346B2
A data collection system for, and methods of, providing reliable store-and-forward data handling by encoded information reading terminals can utilize ad-hoc peer-to-peer (i.e., terminal-to-terminal) connections in order to store data that is normally stored on a single terminal only, in a redundant manner on two or more terminals. Each portable encoded information reading terminal can be configured so that when it captures data, a software application causes the terminal to search out nearby peer terminals that can store and/or forward the data to other peer terminals or to a data collection server, resulting in the data having been stored by one or more peer terminals that are immediately or not immediately accessible by the data-originating terminal.
US08971345B1
A method and apparatus are provided for scheduling a heterogeneous communication flow. A heterogeneous flow is a flow comprising packets with varying classes or levels of service, which may correspond to different priorities, qualities of service or other service characteristics. When a packet is ready for scheduling, it is queued in order in a flow queue that corresponds to the communication flow. The flow queue then migrates among class queues that correspond to the class or level of service of the packet at the head of the flow queue. Thus, after the head packet is scheduled, the flow queue may be dequeued from its current class queue and requeued at the tail of another class queue. If the subsequent packet has the same classification, it may be requeued at the tail of the class queue or may remain in place for another servicing round.
US08971342B2
In an open flow system, it is made possible to confirm a flow having succeeded or failed in the registration on a flow table. Specifically, a controller transmits and receives an open flow message to and from a switch. The switch is provided with a flow table which manages flows registered from a controller, and a flow table reading section which reads corresponding data, a flow table control section which performs processing of addition, deletion and modification of a flow entry, and a platform function managing section which determine whether an object flow entry is valid or invalid according to an inquiry from the flow table control section. The flow table has a normal flow table and a save flow table. A valid flow entry which conforms to configuration data of the switch is registered on the normal flow table. An invalid flow entry which does not conform to the configuration data of the switch is registered on the save flow table.
US08971339B2
In a routing process based on contents of a communication, there is a problem that it is required to carry out switching to refer to the contents every switch on a route or use a routing label. In order to solve the problem, a relay unit terminates data from a transmission source terminal and transfers the contents to a network controller. The network controller assigns flow data which is necessary for relay and issues a flow transfer instruction to a switch. The assigned flow data is notified to the relay unit and the relay unit sets a communication flow to a destination terminal by using the specified flow data, and relays the data to the destination terminal from the transmission source terminal.
US08971338B2
A method enables a switch in a split-architecture network to provide high speed packet processing and enhanced network functionalities that are not supported by the OpenFlow. The switch receives a packet from a network through an input port of the switch, and matches header fields in the packet against table entries in flow tables to identify an action to be taken. The flow tables are part of an OpenFlow pipeline. The identified action is to direct the packet to a designated processing unit in the switch. The OpenFlow pipeline forwards the packet to the designated processing unit via a communication channel in the switch. The designated processing unit processes the packet with the enhanced network functionalities, and injects the packet back to one of the flow tables before transmission of the packet to the network through an egress port of the switch.
US08971332B2
Nodes on a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network implement a link state routing protocol such as IS-IS. Nodes assign an IP address or I-SID value per VRF and then advertise the IP addresses or I-SID values in IS-IS LSAs. When a packet is to be forwarded on the VPN, the ingress node identifies the VRF for the packet and performs an IP lookup in customer address space in the VRF to determine the next hop and the IP address or I-SID value of the VRF on the egress node. The ingress node prepends an I-SID or IP header to identify the VRFs and then creates a MAC header to allow the packet to be forwarded to the egress node on the link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. When the packet is received at the egress node, the MAC header is stripped from the packet and the appended I-SID or IP header is used to identify the egress VRF. A customer address space IP lookup is then performed in the identified VRF on the egress node using the information in the client IP header to determine how to forward the packet. Customer reachability information within a VPN may be exchanged between VRFs using iBGP, or directly by using link state protocol LSAs tagged with the relevant I-SID.
US08971329B1
A multiple channel data transfer system (10) includes a source (12) that generates data packets with sequence numbers for transfer over multiple request channels (14). Data packets are transferred over the multiple request channels (14) through a network (16) to a destination (18). The destination (18) re-orders the data packets received over the multiple request channels (14) into a proper sequence in response to the sequence numbers to facilitate data processing. The destination (18) provides appropriate reply packets to the source (12) over multiple response channels (20) to control the flow of data packets from the source (12).
US08971326B2
The present invention provides methods for performing payload header suppression (PHS), expansion, and verification in hardware. A PHS verify circuit reads a data packet until it reaches the location where the first byte must be compared to PHS rule verify bytes. Next, all the relevant bytes in the payload header are compared to the PHS vile verify bytes obtained from a payload header suppression rule mask. Upon completion of the compare, a flag is generated to a PHS suppress circuit indicating that verification has passed or failed. For payload headers passing the verification process, the payload header suppress circuit examines the payload header suppression mask to identify one or more bits in the payload header for which an associated byte string is to be suppressed. Next, the associated byte string for each of the identified bits are suppressed to generate a suppressed packet payload header. Finally, a payload header suppression index is added to the suppressed packet payload header. The data packet, including the suppressed packet header and suppression index are then transmitted. Once received, a payload header suppress circuit on the receiver end examines the payload header suppression index to determine if the payload header has been suppressed. For each suppressed payload header, each bit in the payload header is compared to a payload header suppression mask to determine if the bit has been suppressed. Next, for each suppressed bit, a byte string is retrieved from a payload header suppression rule and inserted into the suppressed payload header.
US08971313B2
A method, apparatus and system for updating location information of an IP address are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an incoming call; searching a pre-stored location database for a location corresponding to the incoming call; searching a pre-stored log database for an IP address corresponding to the incoming call; and updating location information of the IP address stored in an IP database by the location searched out. The present disclosure may be applied when a service provider updates the location information of the IP address in the IP database. Thus, the problem that the location information in the IP database cannot be updated accurately in the prior art is solved.
US08971312B2
An approach is provided for supporting a plurality of communication modes through universal identification. A core identifier is generated for uniquely identifying a user among a plurality of users within the communication system. One or more specific identifiers are derived based upon the core identifier, wherein the specific identifiers serve as addressing information to the respective communication modes. The specific identifiers and the core identifier are designated as a suite of identifiers allocated to the user.
US08971311B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for supporting a plurality of RTP multiplexing enablement methods in a media gateway are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system includes a media gateway controller configured to receive a signaling message to establish a call from a peer node in a first network, an a media gateway configured to perform a first and second RTP multiplexing enablement process on the media portion of the call, wherein the first RTP multiplexing enablement process includes sending a real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) Application packet to the peer node, refraining from performing RTP multiplexing on packets sent to the peer node until a reply RTCP Application packet is received from the peer node, and receiving RTP multiplexed packets from the peer node, and wherein the second RTP multiplexing enablement process includes obtaining an Internet protocol (IP) realm identifier that identifies the first network, accessing configuration data in the media gateway using the IP realm identifier to determine a predefined multiplexing enablement action for packets destined for the first network, and executing the determined predefined multiplexing enablement action on packets sent to the peer node in the first network.
US08971309B1
Methods and systems for providing a universal voice over packet (VOP) protocol call structure. The present invention allows VOP calls to be made across different service providers without traversing through a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The calls occur as On-Net calls. Email addresses may be used to call different parties. In addition, telephone numbers may be used to reach parties in the PSTN through an Off-Net carrier causing Off-Net calls.
US08971291B2
A mechanism by which handoff delay can be minimized while not compromising the IMS/MMD security and also protecting the media if required by certain applications is presented. One proactive method includes proactive authentication. Another proactive method includes proactive security association, such as transferring SA keys from old proxy to new proxy, or transferring keys through serving signal entities. Reactive methods include transferring SA keys from old proxy to new proxy, using either push or pull technology. Other reactive methods include transferring keys through serving signal entities using either push or pull technology.
US08971283B2
A radio resource assignment method for a physical channel in an uplink directed from a mobile apparatus to a base station in a radio communication system, includes: assigning a contention-based channel and a scheduled channel according to one of a time division scheme, a frequency division scheme, and a hybrid scheme of the time division scheme and the frequency division scheme. In addition, radio resources are properly assigned to each of the contention-based channel, a common control channel of the scheduled channel, and a shared data channel of the scheduled channel.
US08971278B2
The present disclosure presents methods and apparatuses for improved wireless node transmission of advertising beacons based on, for example, the presence of sufficient wireless node resource availability and one or more user equipment (UE) wakeup schedules. For example, the present disclosure describes example methods of advertising beacon transmission by a wireless node, which may include determining that a resource availability opportunity exists for supporting a UE at the wireless node. In another aspect, methods may include tuning to a non-serving channel based on determining that the resource availability opportunity exists. According to such example methods, the non-serving channel may be different from a serving channel of the wireless node. Furthermore, the example methods may include transmitting an advertising beacon on the non-serving channel. Upon successful receipt of the advertising beacon, the UE may scan for the serving channel of the wireless node for subsequent wireless network access.
US08971276B1
A method includes, in a mobile communication terminal, accepting from an application layer first data having a first data size for transmission to a base station over a radio channel. An indication of a second data size of second data, which is to be transmitted over the radio channel but was not yet accepted from the application layer, is accepted from the application layer. A resource allocation on the radio channel is calculated in the terminal depending on both the first data size and the second data size. The base station is requested for the resource allocation, and at least part of the first and second data is transmitted from the terminal in accordance with the resource allocation.
US08971274B1
Valuation of and marketplace for inter-network links between balloon network and terrestrial network
Embodiments relate to a marketplace for inter-network links between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network. An example method may involve a computer-based purchasing agent: (i) determining a demand for inter-network bandwidth between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network, (ii) determining one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, wherein the inter-network link provides inter-network bandwidth between the balloon network and the terrestrial data network, and wherein each offer is associated with a corresponding client device, (iii) based at least in part on a comparison of: (a) the demand for inter-network bandwidth and (b) the one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, selecting one or more of the offers to provide an inter-network link, and (iv) initiating a process to establish an inter-network link at each client device that corresponds to one of the one or more selected offers.
US08971273B2
Dynamic bandwidth selection techniques are provided for a plurality of wireless access point devices that operate in a wireless local area network. Each access point device is capable of serving wireless client devices with a bandwidth from a set of possible bandwidths associated with one or multiple contiguous or non-contiguous radio frequency channels. A bias is generated based on determined type of traffic or client composition for each access point device, the bias favoring a channel assignment that results in a particular bandwidth in the set of bandwidths. The bias is applied to metrics representing severity and degree of interference for each channel to generate adjusted metrics. A bandwidth from the set of possible bandwidths is selected for each access point device based on the adjusted metrics.
US08971261B2
A base station includes a transmit path circuitry to transmit an uplink grant in a DCI format to a subscriber station. The base station also includes a receive path circuitry to receive only UCI on a PUSCH from a subscriber station when the uplink grant includes a MCS of an enabled transport block (TB) with a value of 29, or a redundancy version of the PUSCH with a value of 1; a CSI request field with a non-zero value; and a total number of physical resource blocks allocated for the subscriber station, NPRB, with a value less than or equal to a threshold number of physical resource blocks, TPRB. TPRB is based at least partly upon one of a total number of CSI information bits to be transmitted on the PUSCH, Ntotal, and a number of DL CCs reported in a current CSI reporting, NCCs.
US08971260B2
Provided are a base station, a terminal, a band allocation method, and a downlink data communication method in which a mapping method for synchronization signals and report signals is implemented with high resource usage efficiency when a first system in which an independent single communication is allocated to a unit band co-exists with a second system in which a plurality of unit bands can be allocated to a single communication. In a base station (200), an OFDM signal generation unit (225) maps primary synchronization channel (P-SCH), secondary synchronization channel (S-SCH), primary broadcast channel (P-BCH), and dynamic broadcast channel (D-BCH), which can be decoded by both an LTE terminal and an LTE+ terminal, to some of a plurality of unit bands available to the station itself. The OFDM signal generation unit (225) also maps D-BCH+, which can be decoded only by an LTE+ terminal, to all of the plurality of unit bands to produce a multiplexed transmission signal. When the terminal which has transmitted terminal capability information is an LTE+ terminal, a control unit (265) transmits a band movement indication which indicates changes in the reception band to that terminal.
US08971256B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for efficient ad-hoc peer to peer communication in a contention access period, while antenna directions of communicating peers can point to each other. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for improved association of a device in a wireless network with a controller of the network.
US08971255B2
A wireless device includes first and second wireless network interfaces, first and second address determination modules, and a mobility control module. The first interface establishes layer two connectivity with a first media access gateway. The first address determination module assigns a first address to the first interface in response to a first address assignment message received from the first media access gateway. The second interface establishes layer two connectivity with a second media access gateway in preparation for a handoff from the first media access gateway to the second media access gateway. The second interface transmits an address request message, indicating a desire for the first address to be assigned to the second interface, to the second media access gateway. The second address determination module assigns a second address to the second interface in response to a second address assignment message received from the second media access gateway.
US08971252B2
A wireless gateway apparatus that forms a wireless communication network with wireless field devices includes a first wireless communication unit and a display unit. The first wireless communication unit is configured to communicate wirelessly with wireless field devices that have joined the wireless communication network. The display unit is configured to display at least one of device information of the wireless field devices, which is acquired by communicating with the wireless field devices, and connection information, which indicates a condition of connection with the wireless field devices.
US08971250B2
A first base station provides overlapping coverage area with each of a plurality of second base stations. The first base station is of a different base station type than the plurality of second base stations. Each of the plurality of second base stations transmits a message to a plurality of wireless devices in connected mode. The message comprises a subframe allocation bitmap indicating a plurality of subframes. The plurality of subframes comprises a plurality of special subframes. Base stations in the plurality of second base stations configure the same set of subframes as the plurality of special subframes.
US08971244B2
A method is performed by a device. The method includes determining whether the device is allowed to attach to an operator network based at least partially on whether all access point names in a minimum access point name list are enabled in the device. The device allows itself to attach to the operator network if it is determined that the device is allowed to attach to the operator network. The device prevents itself from attaching to the operator network if it is determined that the device is not allowed to attach to the operator network. The device can wirelessly receive a command to disable an access point name in the device. If an access point name on a detach access point name list is disabled, then the device detaches from the operator network and prevents itself from reattaching until an integrated circuit card in the device is removed and replaced.
US08971242B2
A method for supporting Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) transmission during component carrier (CC) reallocation. The method includes starting a HARQ process using a first CC, allocating a second CC, mapping the HARQ process from the first CC to the second CC, and transmitting remaining HARQ data associated with the HARQ process using the second CC. Also included is a method for supporting HARQ transmission during CC reallocation comprising starting a HARQ process using a first CC, determining to allocate a second CC, waiting until completion of the HARQ process using the first CC before allocating the second CC, and beginning another HARQ process on the second CC. Included is a method comprising starting a HARQ process using a first CC, allocating a second CC, discontinuing transmission using the first CC before completion of the HARQ process, and restarting new data using the second CC.
US08971237B2
The method of communication between an airplane and the ground, the aircraft communicates by radiowaves with the ground via at least one satellite and in a frequency band extending from 5030 MHz to 5091 MHz, bounds included, using a WiMax type transmission standard. The invention also provides an on-board communications terminal for an aircraft, suitable for communicating by radiowaves with the outside of the terminal in a frequency band extending from 5030 MHz to 5091 MHz, bounds included, in application of a WiMax type transmission standard.
US08971220B2
A base station including at least a transceiver switch is provided enabling the base station to transmit and receive data in either FDD or TDD mode from an antenna. The base station may be provided with a synthesizer which can be retuned from FDD to TDD mode or alternatively, an FDD and a TDD synthesizer and a switch enabling the transmitter and receiver of the base station to process FDD or TDD mode data respectively.
US08971213B1
In one embodiment, a method includes generating for a client device associated with an access point, a partial association identifier based on an association identifier assigned to the client device and a hash of a basic service set identifier the client device is associated with, and transmitting a packet to the client device, the packet comprising the partial association identifier. The partial association identifier indicates that the packet is intended for the client device. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US08971207B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08971205B2
A communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device is hosted in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A contact server functions as a bridge service between the first communication device and the second communication device. A communication link between the first communication device and the contact server or the second communication device and the contact server is initially a voice-over IP (VoIP) communication link over a wireless data network comprised of a first packet data media stream. The contact server receives the first packet data media stream and at least one other packet data media stream from the first communication device and combines them into a single packet data media stream before transmitting the combined single packet data media stream to the second communication device.
US08971197B2
A method for reporting uplink control information and a wireless communication device using the same are disclosed. The wireless communication device supports multiple component carriers (CC), and the proposed method includes following steps. When a base station requests the wireless communication device to transmit aperiodic channel state information (CSI) report of one or more downlink CC to the base station, but the CSI of the downlink CCs may be invalid, following steps are executed on the downlink CC. Full payloads of channel quality indicator (CQI)/precoding matrix indicator (PMI) corresponding to a plurality of selectable RI values of the downlink CC are respectively calculated. Additionally, an RI value of the downlink CC is selected according to the full payloads of the CQI/PMI corresponding to the selectable RI values.
US08971191B2
A method and apparatus for changing monitoring of a cellular data connection at a mobile device, the method checking, using a processor at the mobile device, whether the mobile device is connected to both the cellular data connection and an alternative data connection; and if yes, extending the slot cycle or suspending monitoring of a slot for the cellular data connection at the mobile device.
US08971174B2
A restart method that performs restart in a label transfer network, the restart method includes: selecting, by a restart node, one or more adjacent nodes based on a processing capacity of the restart node, setting a selected adjacent node as a restart group and notifying the selected adjacent node of restart; restoring, based on a label value of a path notified by the selected adjacent node, an entry corresponding to the path using a label table that associates the path with the label; and repeating a notification of restart and a restoration of an entry to restore the label table.
US08971168B2
Provided is a data transmission system using a carrier aggregation. The data transmission system may assign a radio resource based on a correspondence relationship between a downlink and an uplink, and may transmit data using the assigned radio resource.
US08971165B2
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field.
US08971164B2
An optical component for an optical pick-up for converging a laser beam having a particular wavelength onto a recording layer of an optical disc. The optical component comprises a base material formed of a resin composition, an undercoating which is formed of three layers of thin films having a same main constituent and is formed on a top surface of the base material, and a functional thin film formed on a top surface of the undercoating. In this configuration, each of a first layer and a third layer of the undercoating is a thin film formed without introducing oxygen, and a second layer is a thin film formed while introducing oxygen. A film thickness of the undercoating falls within a range of 160 nm to 270 nm, and film thicknesses of the thin films constituting the undercoating are substantially equal to each other.
US08971160B1
An HAMR NFT pin and main body structure comprising a pin material with high index of refraction and low absorption coefficient is disclosed. The disclosed NFT pin provides a comparable media absorption efficiency to the conventional Au pin while improving on overall NFT reliability. The protrusion of the NFT pin is reduced and overall life of the writer is prolonged. The main body may comprise any noble metal or metal alloy suitable for achieving optical resonance in an HAMR NFT. The cladding material may be selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the pin material.
US08971159B2
A light delivery system in a slider includes a channel waveguide, a mode-index refractive surface, a solid immersion mirror, and a near field transducer. The mode-index refractive surface shapes the angular spectrum of the light on its path to the solid immersion mirror in a manner so as to change the distribution of light energy focused on to the near field transducer.
US08971157B2
A display apparatus which includes: a first display wheel that has a first display section; a second display wheel that has a second display section; a driving section that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and rotates the first display wheel in the forward direction and the reverse direction; and a rotating section that rotates only the first display wheel in the forward direction when the first display wheel is rotated in the forward direction, and rotates the second display wheel in the reverse direction together with the first display wheel when the first display wheel is rotated in the reverse direction.
US08971156B2
Device for controlling a time function or non-time-related function and timepiece including the same
The invention concerns a device for controlling a time function or a non-time related function including at least two push-buttons (28A, 28B) each provided with a stem (30A, 30B) and a head (32A, 32B), said push-buttons (28A, 28B) being able to move axially between a first inactive rest position and a second position in which they control the function, characterized in that the stems (30A, 30B) of the two push-buttons (28A, 28b) extend side by side and parallel to each other. The invention also concerns a timepiece fitted with this control device.
US08971153B2
An information display device includes a dial plate having a display window; a rotatable date display plate provided under the dial plate and having dates to be selectively displayed through the window; an information display plate provided between the dial plate and the date display plate and including a display portion having an information item on a top surface thereof; an information display plate driver capable of moving the information display plate to any one of first and second positions. When the information display plate is in the first position, the display portion does not lie just under the window and a date in a position corresponding to the window is displayed through the window. When the information display plate is in the second position, the display portion is in a position corresponding to the window.
US08971151B2
An ultrasound probe is provided that includes piezoelectric bodies, each of which is provided with electrodes on the front surface on the side from which ultrasound is emitted and a rear surface opposing the front surface. At least a part of the ultrasound probes is disposed in a curved manner. A flexible printed circuit board comprises a first part that is provided in parallel with the curved surface of the piezoelectric bodies in a circular direction on the rear surface side of the piezoelectric bodies, and a second part that extends from the first part near the end part of the arranged piezoelectric bodies and further extends to the electronic circuit, the electric circuit, or the interface. Furthermore, the flexible printed circuit board is provided with a wiring pattern that conducts between at least one electrode of the piezoelectric body and the electronic circuit, the electric circuit, or the interface.
US08971145B2
A memory system includes a multi-port memory having a first port and a second port. First registers and second registers provide first and second addresses, respectively, to the first and second ports. An access controller controls the multi-port memory to launch an access for the valid address provided by the first input registers in response to the first edge of the master clock unless an immediately preceding first edge of the master clock has occurred more recently than the most recent occurrence of the first edge of the first clock and to launch an access for the valid address provided by the second input registers in response to the first edge of the master clock unless an immediately preceding first edge of the master clock has occurred more recently than the most recent occurrence of the first edge of the second clock.
US08971144B2
A system for providing write-protection functionality to a memory device includes: a memory device including configurable registers controlling write and erase operations in the memory device; a system interface; a filter logic device in electrical communication with the memory device and further in communication with the system interface; and a power on reset circuit in communication with the system interface and the filter logic device, wherein the power on reset circuit asserts a reset signal to the system interface on startup of the system, further wherein, while the reset signal is asserted to the system interface, the filter logic device modifies the configurable registers to prevent all further write and erase operations to the memory device and then the power on reset circuit de-asserts the reset signal to the system interface enabling communication between the system interface and the memory device.
US08971142B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line pre-sense amplifier configured to sense a potential difference between bit line pair and amplify the voltages of the bit line pair based on the sensed potential difference, a bit line main sense amplifier configured to sense a potential difference between the bit line pair and amplify the voltages of the bit line pair to first and second driving voltages based on the sensed potential difference, and a power supplying controller configured to supply the second driving voltage to the bit line pre-sense amplifier and the bit line main sense amplifier.
US08971140B2
A semiconductor device comprises a sense amplifier circuit amplifying a signal transmitted through the bit line, first/second data lines transmitting the signal amplified by the sense amplifier circuit, a read amplifier circuit driven by a first voltage and amplifying the signal; first/second switch circuits controlling connection between the above components, first/second voltage setting circuits setting the second/third data lines to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. A predetermined voltage obtained by adding the second voltage to a threshold voltage of a transistor in the second/third switch circuit is applied to the gate terminal thereof, and ends of the data lines are connected to the source and drain terminals thereof.
US08971136B2
A memory device automatically correcting the effect of collisions of high-energy particles, comprising at least one memory cell, and further comprising: retention means for retaining, for a determined period, a single copy of the stored value stored in said memory cell; detection means for detecting a change of state of said memory cell, by comparing the stored value stored in said memory cell with the value in retention in said retention means; and management means suitable for determining whether a detected change of state of said memory cell is due to a high-energy particle and, in which case, to automatically command a reloading of the stored value stored in said retention means into said memory cell.
US08971132B2
The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized.
US08971126B2
Methods and apparatus for compensating for charge loss in memories include tracking a specific block of the main memory array and determining charge loss compensation by comparing pre-cycled and post-cycled mean threshold voltages for the tracking block; or tracking each block of the main memory and determining charge loss and compensation on a block by block basis.
US08971124B1
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logical operations using sensing circuitry. An example apparatus comprises an array of memory cells and sensing circuitry comprising a primary latch coupled to a sense line of the array. The sensing circuitry can be configured to perform a first operation phase of a logical operation by sensing a memory cell coupled to the sense line, perform a number of intermediate operation phases of the logical operation by sensing a respective number of different memory cells coupled to the sense line, and accumulate a result of the first operation phase and the number of intermediate operation phases in a secondary latch coupled to the primary latch without performing a sense line address access.
US08971122B1
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with group based read reference voltage management in flash memory are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a partition logic, a Vref memory, and a Vref logic. The partition logic is configured to assign respective cells in a flash memory device to respective groups of cells. The Vref memory is configured to store respective Vref values mapped to respective groups of cells. The read logic is configured to read a cell in the flash memory by determining a group to which the cell is assigned; determining a Vref mapped to the group; and using the Vref value to read the cell. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an adaptation logic configured to selectively adapt respective Vref values mapped to the respective groups of cells.
