US08341861B2
Disclosed is a display structure in which an insertion opening, slide grooves, a first fitting portion and a ridged portion along which the display plate bends when the display plate is bent arranged in the loading sections of a support body in a suitable manner to ensure that when the display plate is inserted into or removed from the loading unit, a force is exerted on both sides of the display plate in either the direction from the display surface side to the rear surface side thereof or the direction from the rear surface side to the display surface side thereof, and a force is exerted in another direction at the center region of the display plate. As a result of configuring in this manner, the display plate deforms so that the entire display surface side comes to have a convex or concave shape, thereby allowing the display plate to be attached to or detached from the support body without forcible localized deformation of the display plate.
US08341858B2
An article of print media that includes an electronic module that has at least one chip for storing data and for controlling the electronic module and first means for closing the electronic module such that at least a first video is shown.
US08341856B2
Footwear is provided having a midsole platform, a full length insole and a orthotic midsole in the form of an orthotic shell received between the midsole platform and the insole. The orthotic shell has a heel portion to support a heel of a foot of a wearer and a forefoot portion to support a forefoot of the wearer at least in a region behind and near metatarsal heads of the foot. The orthotic shell is shaped to partially cup the heel and support the forefoot in one of a plurality of determined orientations. The footwear may further include a plurality of support plugs to support the orthotic shell in one of the determined orientations and a shank coupled to the midsole platform to increase torsional rigidity of the footwear with respect to a longitudinal length thereof. Methods of making footwear are also provided.
US08341854B2
A vacuum freeze-drying apparatus capable of rapid drying is provided. A cold trap for drying, which is arranged inside a drying chamber, is set to a low temperature of −70 degrees Celsius or below, and heat is supplied to frozen particles on a conveyor belt to a degree such that the frozen particles do not melt. The amount of the liquid component evaporating from the frozen particles increases, and the amount of the liquid component entering the frozen particles decreases so that the time for drying the frozen particles is shortened.
US08341851B1
An apparatus for indicating the position of a point detector bar having an outer surface and linked to a moveable point associated with a fixed rail utilizing a probe. The probe is moveable to contact and ride on the outer surface of the point detector bar. A housing is connected to the probe and is moveable toward point detector bar also. A leg is positioned relative to the housing to form a unit. The leg is moveable within and relative to the housing when the probe contacts a certain portion of the outer surface of the point detector bar. A driver is linked to the leg and the housing unit and moves the housing and connected probe toward the point detector bar. A signal generator alerts the relative movement between the housing and leg within the housing and the probe contacts a certain portion of the outer surface of the point detector bar which may take the form of an enlarged diameter area.
US08341847B2
A rotary cutter for a mower for mowing grass and the like with a cord of a desired length extending in a radial direction of a cutting head from the cutting head driven for rotation through a drive shaft is described. The rotary cutter includes at least one fastening element for fixing one end of the cord to a cutting head main body. An inner end portion of the cord inserted from a sidewall of the head main body is fastened by the fastening element. The cord is removed and replaced with a new cord when the cord is worn out. The cord fastening element is disposed near a drive shaft coupling shaft tube portion in the cutting head main body. A cord outlet for removing the cord is provided to the drive shaft coupling shaft tube portion side. The inner end portion of the cord extends outside from the cord outlet and along a sidewall of the drive shaft coupling shaft tube portion of the cutting head main body.
US08341842B2
A method of manufacturing a heat sink includes, firstly, providing a plurality of fins each having a head and a body extending from the head, providing a base having a plurality of studs protruding from a top surface thereof, and providing a cover defining a plurality of recesses in a bottom thereof for receiving the heads of the fins and a plurality of orfices for receiving the studs. Next, the cover and the base are pressed to sandwich the heads of the fins therebetween. Then the studs of the base are punched to expand the studs and cause the studs to intimately engage with the cover.
US08341840B2
A method of repairing a bearing of a wind turbine generator is provided which is able to more permanently repair a gap which occurred between a constituent member of the wind turbine generator and a bearing ring of the bearing. For example, in the case of repairing the gap 13 between the main shaft outer cylinder 10 of the wind turbine generator 1 and the outer ring 12A of the main bearing 12, the plate 40 is inserted between the main shaft outer cylinder 10 and the outer ring 12A, and also the plate 40 is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the main shaft outer cylinder 10 by the adhesive agent 41. On the other hand, slip is permitted between the plate 40 and the outer ring 12A of the main bearing 12.
US08341837B2
The invention describes apparatus for designing and installing power distribution systems for: residential, commercial and industrial applications, as well as for power distribution within electro-mechanical devices. The invention transforms existing labor-intense installations into practically plug-and-power type modular systems. For a specific project, pre-designed, fabricated and tested kit, including factory assembled and tested: power and control enclosures, power outlets and junction boxes, interface cables, as specified by the invention, will be delivered directly to the installation site. No labor intense operations: wire crimping, outlet/switch wiring, junction box wiring, load wiring. No exposed hot wires or leads at any point outside enclosure. The invention will: significantly lower labor costs, reduce installation time, improve safety, reliability and quality. Utilization of shielded cables and shielding of other components within a system, will significantly lower electrical power emissions, benefiting the environment for all—the end users and other technologies.
US08341823B1
The present invention provides a fixture and method for mounting a head window to a frame for use in a submarine periscope system. The fixture supports the head window during the potting of the head window to the frame. A spring-loaded clamping plate is mountable to a baseplate for relative movement therebetween. The clamping assembly has an oval recessed portion. A plurality of spaced apart feet are formed within the oval. The feet support and are bonded to the head window. Shim stock are placed between the feet to define a critical gap.
US08341819B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a thermal processing system and methods for uniformly heating and/or cooling a semiconductor wafer. Embodiments of the invention may be applied to provide a more uniform temperature profile when processing 300 mm and larger wafers having different curvature profiles that occur at the same and/or different points in a manufacturing cycle. Wafer curvature can be dependent on the number and thickness of the metal layers.
US08341817B2
An disassembling tool having at least two cams has a bolt having a connecting knob at one end and a threaded section formed at another end, the connecting knob having a first through aperture, a nut screwed onto the threaded section; a tightening cap covering the connecting knob and comprising two second through apertures corresponding to the first through aperture; an axel having a head portion and another end disposed through the first through aperture and the second through apertures, a round shaft formed at a middle section of the axel axel and coaxially pivoted with the first through aperture, a first control section and a second control section having an eccentric shape formed on two ends of the round shaft, and the first and second control sections respectively and synchronously driving the second through apertures; and a control handle used to control rotational movement of the axel.
US08341816B1
A tool for use in disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler has a pair of arms, each arm having a tool end and a handle, the arms being hinged to each other for relative rotation in generally parallel planes, such that selected relative movement of the handles causes opposite relative movement of the tool ends. An incomplete ring is formed on each tool end, the rings being generally coaxial when the rings are adjacent to each other. An insert is configured for insertion into one of the rings, the insert comprising an opening of a selected width. The handles are able to be moved toward each other for causing the rings to move away from each other while the rings engage an air-hose coupler and a hose, so as to cause the insert in one of the rings to abut a movable sleeve of an air-hose coupler while other of the rings abuts an apparatus fixedly engaging the hose, so that when sufficient force is applied to the handles the sleeve is moved relative to a body of the coupler and to the hose for disconnecting the coupler from the hose. The width of the opening of the insert is selected according to the diameter of the hose.
US08341815B2
A laminate is prepared in which adjacent internal electrodes are electrically insulated from each other at an end surface at which the internal electrodes are exposed, a space between the adjacent internal electrodes, which is measured in the thickness direction of insulating layers, is about 10 μm or less when a withdrawn distance of the adjacent internal electrodes from the end surface is about 1 μm or less, and is about 20 μm or less when a protruding length of the adjacent internal electrodes from the end surface is at least about 0.1 μm. In an electroplating step, electroplating deposits deposited on the ends of the adjacent internal electrodes are grown so as to be connected to each other.
US08341812B2
A cremated remains memorial container including a box defining an upper box opening, a picture frame panel attached to the box such that a picture slot is defined between the picture frame panel, and a cover panel that is disposed in the picture slot and has an indented portion extending into the upper box opening. The cover panel is formed from an opaque material, and is slid into the picture slot after the cremated remains are inserted into the box, thereby obscuring the remains. A picture is then inserted in the remaining (residual) space between the cover panel and the picture frame through the picture slot opening. The indented portion of the cover panel engages with the inner edge of the upper box opening, whereby subsequent removal of the cover panel from the picture slot is resisted during removal/replacement of the picture.
US08341810B2
A fastening or mounting apparatus for releasably joining two objects is disclosed. The apparatus has a first component and a second component. The first component may include a plate, two side walls and two flanges extending from the side walls. The second component may include a plate, a first lip and a second lip. The first lip has a cavity holding a resilient element. The second lip may have a convex portion and at least partially define a detent. One of the flanges engages with the resilient element in the cavity while the two components are non-parallel. The first flange compresses the resilient element while the second flange contacts the convex portion. The resilient element biases the second flange against the detent once the two components are parallel.
US08341804B2
A grommet is provided which can reduce an insertion load without decreasing a disengagement load of an inserting member. The inserting member, having a leg portion and a head portion formed by increasing the diameter of a tip end of the leg portion, is inserted from one end side of a body portion of the grommet into an insertion hole and attached to an inserted member with the grommet interposed. On the one end side from a groove portion formed in an outer circumferential surface of the body portion, a diameter of the insertion hole is equal to or larger than a diameter of the head portion. On the other end side from the groove portion, the grommet has a small diameter portion in which a diameter of the insertion hole is smaller than the diameter of the head portion and is equal to or larger than a diameter of the leg portion.
US08341799B2
A universal connector (100) is adapted to connect a wiper blade assembly (20, 102) with a variety of wiper arm ends (300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316). In order to connect side pin type wiper arm ends (302, 304, 306), the connector includes a pin hole (216) having a figure “8” shape defined by larger and smaller overlapping lobes (218, 220). A flexible tongue (222) carried by the connector (100) includes a pair of scalloped pawls (224, 226) aligned with the respective larger and smaller lobes (218, 220) so as to engage either a ¼″ or 3/16″ wiper arm side pin (302-306). In order to connect wiper arm ends having hook slots (310, 312, 314 316), the connector (100) includes a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206), and a forward nose profile (208). Sides (210) include cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond the nose profile (208) and which carry a pair of 9×4 stops (214) set below the plane of the lower return (206) by a clearance gap. When assembling a 9×3 hook end (316), the 9×4 stop (214) is bypassed entirely due to the clearance gap. However, when a 9×4 hook arm (310, 312, 314) is used, the 9×4 stops (214) retain the hook arm (310, 312, 314) in position.
US08341795B2
A disposable liquid absorbing cleaning pad for a mop includes a layer of sponge material, a layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin fixedly attached to the layer of sponge material and attachment structure secured to the layer of sponge material for removably attaching the cleaning pad to the mop. In using the cleaning pad, the layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin is the layer that contacts the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning pad may be provided with a suitable attachment structure for mounting the pad onto a butterfly mop, a squeeze mop or a roller mop.
US08341779B2
A bed has a head section and a foot section. The bed can assume a horizontal position and at least one position in which the foot section is at an angle relative to horizontal. For instance, the bed may assume a chair position, in which the head section is pivoted upwardly and the foot section is pivoted downwardly, to a substantially vertical position.Casters allow the bed to move relative to the floor. The casters can retract toward the head section of the bed as the foot section pivots downwardly toward the floor.
US08347410B2
Disclosed is a method for examining a sample using a scanning tunneling microscope, wherein before or during image recording, a contrast agent is applied to at least one location on the tip of the scanning tunneling microscope and/or on the sample, which is part of the tunneling contact during the image recording, while a temperature less than or equal to the condensation temperature of the contrast agent is set at this location. A corresponding scanning tunneling microscope is disclosed.
US08347409B2
A method includes generating, using a sensor, a data signal. The data signal includes a first component based on a motion in a first direction of an actuator configured to provide motion between a sample and a probe in the first direction, the first direction substantially in the plane of the sample; and a second component based on at least one of topographic variations of the sample in a second direction, and a materials property of the sample. The method further includes generating, using a processor, a compensatory signal based on the first component of the data signal generated by the sensor; and providing the compensatory signal to the actuator.
US08347405B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for Asynchronous Java Script and XML (AJAX) form-based authentication using Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE). The apparatus for AJAX form-based authentication using J2EE is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps for redirecting an AJAX client request to an authentication required servlet, issuing an AJAX response to the client, authenticate the user security credentials, and process the client request for secure data. In addition, a method of the present invention is also presented for programming Asynchronous Java Script and XML (AJAX) form-based authentication that avoids a page change using Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE).
US08347404B2
A method of checking revocation of a device and software, and transmitting data to a secure device and secure software whose keys have not been leaked is provided. The method includes receiving authentication information of a device requesting transmission of data, and authentication information of software accessing the data in the device; checking revocation of the device and the software, based on the received authentication information; and transmitting the data to the software of the device, when the device and the software are not revoked as a result of the checking. By doing so, during transmission of data, such as content or a license, it is possible to check security of a device and software being executed in the device, so that the data can be more safely transmitted.
US08347401B2
A method and system is provided by which a trusted software agent can perform in a sharing violation free environment, which reduces complexity and eliminates interference with applications. A method for handling sharing violations in a computer system comprises intercepting a request by an application for access to a file, capturing a sharing violation raised by the operating system due to the said request, determining whether the sharing violation is due to the trusted agent, and if so holding the request by the application for access to the file until the trusted agent no longer holds the file, and then reprocessing the request by the application for access to the file. The application is not aware that the sharing violation due to the trusted agent occurred, or that the request was pending and reprocessed as at the end of the process it receives a file handle as if a sharing violation did not occur.
US08347397B2
The invention relates to recovering files stored on a HDD of a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) in the case of a crash of the HDD. Every time a file is stored on an external medium special information of the file system of the HDD is stored—optionally in encrypted form—on the medium as far as enough storage capacities available there. According to the invention the stored information is overwritten if a rewritable medium is used. By that the medium can be optimally used. If the HDD fails the stored information can be used to copy the files to external media.
US08347386B2
This disclosure is directed to a system and method for preventing malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices (e.g., smartphones, netbooks, and tablets). A mobile communication device uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces an assessment for the application, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, the invention allows a device to reduce the battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The servers transmits notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server receives data about applications from many devices, using the combined data to minimize false positives and provide comprehensive protection against known and unknown threats.
US08347385B2
A method for processing network traffic data includes receiving a packet, and determining whether the packet is a previously dropped packet that is being retransmitted. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of headers, the plurality of headers having respective first field values, and determining whether the first field values of the respective headers form a first prescribed pattern. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of packets, and determining an existence of a flooding attack without tracking each of the plurality of packets with a SYN bit.
US08347383B2
A traffic monitoring system (10) monitors traffics flowing through a network (100); when an abnormal traffic is detected, identifies an attack source network, a source of an attack, on the basis of attack source information indicating a source device from which the abnormal traffic is transmitted, which is obtained by an analysis of the abnormal traffic, and also identifies an attack destination network, a destination of the attack, on the basis of attack destination information indicating a destination device to which the abnormal traffic is to be transmitted, which is obtained by the analysis of the abnormal traffic; notifies an administrator of the attack source network of the attack source information by acquiring administrator information corresponding to the identified attack source network; and notifies an administrator of the attack destination network of the attack destination information by acquiring administrator information corresponding to the identified attack destination network.
US08347377B2
The invention comprises three extensions of the IEEE 802.1Q VLAN bridge model. The first extension is the cryptographic separation of VLANs over trunk links. A LAN segment type referred to as an encapsulated LAN segment is introduced. All frames on such a segment are encapsulated according to an encryption and authentication code scheme. The second extension is the division of a trunk port into inbound and outbound ports. The third extension is a protocol that automatically infers for each outbound port in a bridged VLAN, a set of LAN segment types for the port that minimizes the number of transfers between encapsulated and unencapsulated segments required to transport a frame in the bridged VLAN.
US08347376B2
Techniques for distributing a new communication key within a group virtual private network (VPN) are provided. A key distribution service determines that a new communication key for a VPN is to be distributed to members of the VPN. The new communication key is sent individually in a unique and separate message to each of the members. The key distribution service also maintains records to determine which of the members have and have not successfully received the new communication key.
US08347375B2
The intrusion detection function monitors for and reports detected intrusion signatures. The dynamic intrusion signatures function determines whether reported intrusion signatures exist in a library of signatures associated with a particular intrusion detection function. If the reported signature does not exist in the library, the library is updated. Detected intrusion signatures are reported to similarly enabled devices for library analysis and updating, if necessary. The related method includes the steps of monitoring for intrusion signatures or other triggering events, analyzing the events and updating IDS signature libraries as necessary.
US08347362B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing usage control of communication services within an end user device. A system in the network receives input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for the end user device. The system then generates a usage control profile, and transmits the usage control profile to the end user device. The end user device then monitors activities in the device to identify a communication attempt (e.g., an incoming voice call). When a communication attempt is identified, the end user device processes the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, and allows the communication attempt to continue if the attempt is authorized. If the attempt is not authorized, then the end user device blocks the communication attempt.
US08347356B2
A method is presented for selecting an HTTP authentication scheme at a client computer. A request message is sent from the client computer to a server computer to access information on the server computer. In response, the client computer receives a response message from the server computer. The response message includes an HTTP header that includes a first scheme identifier, indicating a first HTTP authentication scheme and a second scheme identifier, indicating a second HTTP authentication scheme. If the client computer does not support the second HTTP authentication scheme, the client computer uses the first HTTP authentication scheme when sending another HTTP message to the server computer. If the client computer supports the second HTTP authentication scheme, the client computer uses the second HTTP authentication scheme when sending another HTTP message to the server computer.
US08347355B2
Networking as a Service (NaaS) delivers network services using remote appliances controlled by a hosted, multi-tenant management system. The system may include a heartbeating process for communication between a web-based server and appliances, in which the appliances periodically contact the management system on the server. The heartbeating process allows the appliances to maintain a completely up-to-date configuration. Furthermore, heartbeating allows for comprehensive monitoring of appliances and for software distribution. The system may also include means for authenticating appliances, without the need for pre-installed PSKs or certificates.
US08347352B2
A method and system for securing hosting web pages from malicious third party modules. The method includes uploading a third party module to a hosting web page; validating a proxy API call received from the third party module, wherein the proxy API call includes at least a payload parameter provided by the third party module; generating an engine API call including at least the payload parameter; validating the engine API call; and executing the payload parameter if the engine API call is validated.
US08347341B2
Methods and apparatus for centralized content, media and data delivery and access within a premises such as, e.g., a residence. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a remotely manageable premises device that acts as a centralized client networking platform, providing gateway services such as network management as well as traditional content and high-speed data delivery functions. The device also acts as the shared internet connection for all devices in the premises via a cable modem, sharing personal and DVR content such as video, music and photos (and any associated metadata) throughout the premises, and providing both a wired and wireless network in the home. Telephony services utilizing e.g., embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) and/or Wi-Fi architectures may also be provided via the device. The device can also provide a trusted domain for content or data, as well as allowing a subscriber total mobility in the home.
US08347340B2
A video file system for an aircraft carrying a person having a personal electronic device (PED) for displaying video files includes a ground-based video server and an aircraft-based video system. The ground-based video server stores video files, with each video file being updatable from an available status to an unavailable status. The aircraft-based video system copies video files from the ground-based video server while the aircraft is on the ground. A determination is made, via communications with the ground-based video server and while the aircraft is airborne, whether a given video file has been updated from the available status to the unavailable status. The PED is permitted to display the given video file if it has the available status, and is not permitted to display the given video file if it has the unavailable status.
US08347339B2
A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. Training information may be stored in a memory. A plurality of packets may be generated, including the training information. The plurality of packets may also include audiovisual information. The plurality of packets may include first information identifying a first training pattern of a plurality of possible training patterns. The first training pattern may specify one or more locations of the training information in the plurality of packets. The first information may be usable by a receiver to determine the first training pattern of the plurality of possible training patterns. The plurality of packets may be transmitted in a wireless manner.
US08347338B2
This application describes a method of referencing content in an application. The method comprises, for a content element, creating a reference to the content element and associating that reference with the content element. This enables the content element (for example, text or images) to be dissociated from other features related to content; for example, its presentation on the screen. In this way, control over presentation may be achieved separately from control of the content itself. In an example, a Content Provider provides referenced content to an Operator. A Program Provider sends referenced scenarios to the Operator. The Operator resolves the reference and sends data for broadcast by the Broadcaster.
US08347335B2
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08347333B1
The present invention enables a broadcaster to vary the time and the descriptive information in a program guide on a per-channel basis. A priority ranking system of the channels allows the preparation of multiple versions of a program guide in order to fit the guide into the memory space allocated in a receiver. When constructing the program guide, the algorithm of the present invention fits the longest title variation allowed while still keeping the total size of the guide product within space constraints supported by the receiver.
US08347329B2
A method of providing a menu for video content is disclosed and may include delivering a looping video clip over a first video channel. The looping video clip may be configured to be displayed on a video plane. The method may also include delivering side channel data over a second video channel. The side channel data may include two or more navigable menu elements that may be configured to be displayed on a graphics overlay plane.
US08347327B2
An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a plurality of advertisements each having one of a plurality of different resolutions, detecting a message indicative of an upcoming advertisement break in a media content program being transmitted to a media content access device by way of a content channel, detecting a resolution of the media content program, directing a dynamic advertisement delivery subsystem communicatively coupled to the media content access device to dynamically transmit a subset of the advertisements by way of one or more advertisement channels, wherein each advertisement included in the subset has the same resolution as the resolution of the media content program, and distributing tuning information associated with each of the one or more advertisement channels to the media content access device prior to an occurrence of the advertisement break. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08347326B2
A novel approach enables an event-based framework for evaluating a media instance based on key events of the media instance. First, physiological responses are derived and aggregated from the physiological data of viewers of the media instance. The key events in the media instance can then be identified, wherein such key events drive and determine the viewers' responses to the media instance. Causal relationship between the viewers' responses to the key events and their surveyed feelings about the media instance can further be established to identify why and what might have caused the viewers to feel the way they do.
US08347324B2
A disc identifying device has sliders moving relatively in a direction such that a gap therebetween widens, one sensing switch switching-operated when a large diameter disc or a small diameter disc is inserted, the other sensing switch switching-operated only when the large diameter disc is inserted, and an actuating plate permitting the slider to move from an the initial position via a first position corresponding to the sensing switch to a second position corresponding to the sensing switch only when the large diameter disc is inserted. One end portion of the actuating plate has a stopper portion for preventing the slider from moving to the second position. The other end portion thereof is engaged with the slider.
US08347317B1
Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for performing a method of intelligently providing notification of an occurrence of an event in an environment in which potentially multiple devices might provide notification of the event; thereby reducing the number of devices that will provide the notification if those devices are nearby each other.
US08347309B2
Systems and methods for efficient thread arbitration in a processor. A processor comprises a multi-threaded resource. The resource may include an array of entries which may be allocated by threads. A thread arbitration table corresponding to a given thread stores a high and a low threshold value in each table entry. A thread history shift register (HSR) indexes the table, wherein each bit of the HSR indicates whether the given thread is a thread hog. When the given thread has more allocated entries in the array than the high threshold of the table entry, the given thread is stalled from further allocating array entries. Similarly, when the given thread has fewer allocated entries in the array than the low threshold of the selected table entry, the given thread is permitted to allocate entries. In this manner, threads that hog dynamic resources can be mitigated such that more resources are available to other threads that are not thread hogs. This can result in a significant increase in overall processor performance.
US08347304B2
A method of resource allocation failure recovery is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (E). Step (A) may generate a plurality of resource requests from a plurality of driver modules to a manager module executed by a processor. Step (B) may generate a plurality of first calls from the manager module to a plurality of allocation modules in response to the resource requests. Step (C) may allocate a plurality of resources to the driver modules using the allocation modules in response to the first calls. Step (D) may allocate a portion of a memory pool to a particular recovery packet using the manager module in response to the allocation modules signaling a failed allocation of a particular one of the resources. Step (E) may recover from the failed allocation using the particular recovery packet.
US08347301B2
Device, system, and method of executing multithreaded applications. Some embodiments include a task scheduler to receive application information related to one or more parameters of at least one multithreaded application to be executed by a multi-core processor including a plurality of cores and, based on the application information and based on architecture information related to an arrangement of the plurality of cores, to assign one or more tasks of the multithreaded application to one or more cores of the plurality of cores. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08347296B2
A priority control apparatus according to the present invention includes: an OS execution unit which executes first tasks that run on a first OS and second tasks that run on a second OS; a task priority obtainment unit which obtains the priority of an execution task which is a first task being executed by the OS execution unit and the priority of a requested task which is a second task whose execution is being requested to the OS execution unit; and a priority changing unit which, in the case where the priority of the requested task is higher than the priority of the execution task, changes the priorities of the first tasks to be lower than the priority of the requested task and higher than the next lower priority to the requested task among the second tasks, while maintaining the relative order of the priorities among the first tasks.
US08347294B2
Various techniques for automatically administering software systems using composites of atomic operations are disclosed. One method, which can be performed by an automation server, involves accessing information representing an activity that includes a first operation and a second operation. The information indicates that the second operation processes a value that is generated by the first operation. The method generates a sequence number as well as an output structure, which associates the sequence number with an output value generated by the first operation, and an input structure, which associates the sequence number with an input value consumed by the second operation. The method sends a message, via a network, to an automation agent implemented on a computing device. The computing device implements a software target of the first operation. The message includes information identifying the first operation as well as the output structure.
US08347292B2
Provided are techniques for increasing transaction processing throughput. A transaction item with a message identifier and a session identifier is obtained. The transaction item is added to an earliest aggregated transaction in a list of aggregated transactions in which no other transaction item as the same session identifier. A first aggregated transaction in the list of aggregated transactions that has met execution criteria is executed. In response to determining that the aggregated transaction is not committing, the aggregated transaction is broken up into multiple smaller aggregated transactions and a target size of each aggregated transaction is adjusted based on measurements of system throughput.
US08347277B2
For a source file on which basis a binary object file has been generated, a digital signature is generated for the source file, and the digital signature is stored. The digital signature may be secure hash algorithm (SHA) hash values. The binary object file is output. To verify that the binary object file has been generated from the source file, a digital signature is generated for the source file, and compared to the digital signature for the source file as previously stored. Where the digital signature for the source file as has been generated matches the digital signature for the source file previously stored, the binary object file is indicated as having been generated from the source file.
US08347269B2
A method and system are provided for debugging a software application in a data processing system that includes a server entity and client entities. For at least one of the client entities, a server component of the application running on the server entity is accessed, and a client component of the application is downloaded from the server entity. The client component is executed. Client log information relating to the execution of the client component is saved by invoking a log function provided by the client component; the client log information is saved into a non-persistent memory structure of the client component. The client log information is transmitted for use in the debugging of the application.
US08347251B2
An integrated circuit (IC) having a selectively-designated electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance characteristic. The IC includes an IC die having an input or output (I/O) node. A first I/O cell of a first type associated with the I/O node provides a first EMC performance characteristic, and a second I/O cell of a second type associated with the I/O node provides a second EMC performance characteristic different from the first EMC performance characteristic. A first bonding pad is electrically coupled with the first I/O cell, and a second bonding pad is electrically coupled with the second I/O cell. The IC die can be packaged into a packaged IC having an I/O pin corresponding to the I/O node. The I/O pin is wired to one of either the first bonding pad or the second bonding pad, but not to the other, such that a pinout for the I/O node is preferentially provided having one of either the first EMC performance characteristic or the second EMC performance characteristic.
US08347246B2
A method for laying out process dummy cells in relationship to inside memory cells of a memory array includes (a) calculating an initial process performance parameter for the memory array; (b) changing dummy cell layout configuration for a layer electrically connected to inside cells; (c) applying lithographic simulation and yield model for both the inside memory cells and the changed layout configuration process dummy cells; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until yield is maximized. Checks may be performed to ensure that there is enough room to make the change and that there is no significant adverse effect to neighboring circuits. The process performance parameter may be yield or a process window for the inside memory cells.
US08347241B2
A pattern generation method includes: acquiring a first design constraint for first patterns to be formed on a process target film by a first process, the first design constraint using, as indices, a pattern width of an arbitrary one of the first patterns, and a space between the arbitrary pattern and a pattern adjacent to the arbitrary pattern; correcting the first design constraint in accordance with pattern conversion by the second process, and thereby acquiring a second design constraint for the second pattern which uses, as indices, two patterns on both sides of a predetermined pattern space of the second pattern; judging whether the design pattern fulfils the second design constraint; and changing the design pattern so as to correspond to a value allowed by the second design constraint when the design constraint is not fulfilled.
US08347238B2
Alignment guides configured for adaptive snap-to behavior are disclosed. In one embodiment, during a user interface element resize or move gesture, match-priority values for potential alignment guides are determined based at least on gravity values associated with said alignment guides. After a displayed object is snapped to a first alignment guide having the highest match-priority value, and the user interface element is moved away from the first alignment guide during the resize or move gesture, the gravity value associated with the first alignment guide is adjusted.
US08347235B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing information during content breakpoints in a virtual universe. The system comprises a placement engine configured to detect a content breakpoint within a virtual universe, which is defined as at least one of a login process, a logoff process, a teleportation, a wait state, and during any point where a user changes information streams in the virtual universe. The system also comprises an insertion resolution engine configured to create a list of prioritized information to present to a user within the virtual universe and an information definition engine configured to present the prioritized information to the user of the virtual universe during the content breakpoint.
US08347233B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide novel techniques for visualizing parameter values, such as parameter values measured in an industrial measurement process. In particular, the disclosed embodiments provide visualization techniques for re-scaling a representation of a target parameter range with respect to an overall parameter range for a parameter value. Re-scaling the representation of the target parameter range effectively provides continuous dynamic zooming for the measured parameter value. This allows for better visualization as well as providing continuous feedback to an operator of the industrial measurement process regarding the current measured parameter value, thereby facilitating faster and more accurate operation of the industrial measurement process.
US08347227B2
A system and method are described that simplify defining/designing graphical display interfaces for graphically displaying related data elements. The displays provide both depictions of the data elements and the relationships between the data elements in accordance with a pre-defined data element display scheme including both element template (for particular data element types) and relationship view (spatial relationships within a display) definitions. A relationship view displays a set of provided data elements of specified type according to the element template and relationship view definitions.
US08347226B2
The invention relates to a method for the input and display of information, data and/or input elements in drop-down menus of graphical user interfaces, the drop-down menus or layered menu levels having a number of menu items of any type, the number of menu items comprising at least a number of menu items which may be selected and deselected in any combination in the form of a check box list and/or mutually exclusive and thus merely switchable menu items in the form of a radio button list, the menu item in the form of a check box list and the menu item in the form of a radio button list respectively comprising its own significant status recognition describing the character of the menu item in the drop-down menu and in the layered menu.
US08347223B2
An evaluation data specifying section specifies, as an evaluation data set, a test input data combination selected from plural pieces of test input data and for which no warning message is displayed when these test input data are input into all text input components on the screen to be evaluated and input is completed. An input result acquiring section acquires, as input result information, information capable of specifying whether a warning message is displayed when test input data to be input into one text input component are sequentially changed from a state where each test input data in the specified evaluation data set is input into the corresponding text input component and input is completed, the content of a warning message if the warning message is displayed, and information indicative of test input data input when the warning message is displayed.
US08347222B2
A solution (600b) for auto-completing words being input to a computer is proposed. For this purpose, a user starts inputting (656;677) a prefix of a target word; the computer tries predicting the target word that is desired, and it completes (680) the prefix automatically (without the need of inputting the entire target word). In the proposed solution, the user also inputs (659-662,665) an indication of the length of the target word. In this way, the computer can restrict (668) the words being eligible to complete the prefix (i.e., including it) only to the ones having the desired length. This allows solving any ambiguity with shorter prefixes.
US08347212B2
A fully customizable system and method for producing videos utilizing a decentralized business model for receiving input parameters from the customer or user and for presenting production elements for selection based on the input parameters. The system providing feedback by calculating, a cost, a delivery date, and/or the required raw video source material, as the customer or user makes production element selections. The customer or user is further provided with specific direction as to which and how many raw source materials are to be gathered for the video production.
US08347198B2
A semiconductor memory device is capable of outputting a preset logic level through an EDC pin according to an operation mode during an initial operation, and providing a stable operation according to the specification of the semiconductor memory device just after the input of a data clock (WCK). The semiconductor memory device includes an output circuit configured to output a synchronous data in response to a data clock when the data clock is enabled, and output an asynchronous data when the data clock is disabled, and a data clock detection circuit configured to control outputting the asynchronous data by checking whether the data clock is in a stable state or not.
US08347197B2
A terminal device includes: a time information receiving unit which receives measured time and an estimated error of another terminal device; an estimated error calculating unit which calculates an error containing the estimated error of another terminal device received by the time information receiving unit as an updating-use estimated error; and a time updating unit which, when the updating-use estimated error calculated by the estimated error calculating unit is smaller than an estimated error stored in an estimated error memory unit, stores the updating-use estimated error calculated by the estimated error calculating unit in the estimated error memory unit thus updating the estimated error stored in the estimated error memory unit, and adjusts a measured time measured by a time measuring unit in response to the measured time of another terminal device received by the time information receiving unit.
US08347194B2
A decoder includes multiple decoder stages and a controller. The decoder stages perform decoding operations with respect to a received signal using corresponding different decoding algorithms. The controller determines whether the decoding operation performed by one of the decoder stages with respect to the received signal is successful, and controls the decoding operation of each of the other decoder stages in response to a result of the determination.
US08347187B2
Adaptive systems include a memory device including a plurality of memory cells, a data quality monitoring block, and an adaptive data encoding block, the data quality monitoring block and the adaptive data encoding block both being operatively coupled to the memory device. The data quality monitoring block is configured to determine a quality value of a group of one or more memory cells included in the memory device, the determined quality value being indicative of a quality of the group of one or more memory cells. The adaptive data encoding block is configured to select a coding scheme from a plurality of coding schemes to encode data to be written to the group of one or more memory cells in the memory device, the selection of the coding scheme being based at least in part on the determined quality value of the group of one or more memory cells.
US08347184B2
A cloud storage data access method, apparatus and system are provided to enhance data availability and fault tolerance of cloud storage. In accordance with the present application, data redundancy at a cloud storage data center level is created by creating parity values of original data to be stored through parity calculation on a data transmitting end and placing the original data, its parity values and the data used to create the original data parity values in different cloud storage data centers, according to a predetermined data redundant storing rule.
US08347158B2
A System-on-Chip (SOC) debugging system comprising a plurality of SOCs connected to a shared bus, at least one of the plurality of SOCs being a master SOC and comprising a master/slave debug interface, wherein the master/slave debug interface is a bidirectional debug interface configured to initiate transactions on the shared bus and operable to send and receive debug data between the SOCs, wherein the debug data comprises trace data.
US08347143B2
The management and analysis of events of communications environments are facilitated. Events, such as alert and network events, are separated into a plurality of pools, depending on the classification of event. Each pool has events exclusive of one type of event. The events are placed in the appropriate pools via one or more analysis routines. Additionally, events of at least one type of pool are further analyzed using one or more analysis routines to determine which events, if any, are to be reported.
US08347140B1
A method and system of checkpointing single process application groups and multi-process application groups. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may include creating at least one full checkpoint for each application in an application group, and creating at least one incremental application checkpoint for each application in the application group. Further, each of the at least one incremental application checkpoint may be automatically merged against a corresponding full application checkpoint. Further, checkpointing may be synchronized across all applications in the application group. In the exemplary embodiment, each application may use both fork( ) and exec( ) in any combination.
US08347139B2
A power supply control device including: a control unit which controls power supplied from a first device to a disk array unit accessible from host devices through a network device; and a second device which supplies power to the disk array unit and the power supply control device when the power supply from the first device is disconnected, the control unit including: a collecting unit which collects power supply fault information regarding at least one of the host devices and the network device; a starting unit which starts power supply from the second device when power supplied from the first device is disconnected; and a transmitting unit which transmits a notification to the disk array unit in response to collection of power supply fault information after starting the power supply from the second device, the notification indicating that the power supplied from the first device is disconnected.
US08347130B2
A system-on-chip comprises a power-off domain block; and a power-on domain block that analyzes externally transferred data during a power-down state of the power-off domain block, wherein the power-on domain block executes an operation of the power-off domain block or a wake-up operation, based on an analyzed result of the externally transferred data.
US08347129B2
A system on chip (SOC) includes a processor circuit configured to receive instruction information from an external source and to execute an instruction according to the received instruction information and a workload estimator circuit configured to monitor instruction codes executed in the processor circuit, to generate an estimate of a workload of the processor circuit based on the monitored instruction codes and to generate power supply voltage control signal based on the estimate of the workload. The SOC may further include a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) configured to receive the control signal and to adjust a power supply voltage provided to the SOC in response to the control signal.
US08347114B2
A system and a method are disclosed for enforcing a predetermined mapping of addresses in a physical address space to addresses in a virtual address space in a data processing system including a processor in the virtual address space and a memory in a physical address space. During the compilation and linking of an application to be run on the data processing system, in at least one embodiment, the mapping table is generated linking the virtual addresses to physical addresses. This mapping table is kept secret. A second mapping table is generated using a cryptographic function of the physical address with the virtual address as a key to link virtual addresses to intermediate addresses. The second mapping table is loaded into the memory management unit. The data processing system further includes cryptographic hardware to convert the intermediate address to the physical address using the inverse of the cryptographic function which was used to calculate the intermediate address.
US08347113B2
A system and method for encrypting an electronic file in a mobile electronic device reads bytes of the electronic file from a cache of a memory system and divides the bytes into a plurality of byte lines. The system and method further assigns a numerical cipher to each byte line and searches a position of each numerical cipher in a corresponding byte line. Furthermore, the system and method encrypt each byte line by inserting one or more random bytes into each byte line, and generates an encrypted electronic file by combining all the encrypted byte lines.
US08347102B2
An image processing apparatus generates a password each time transmission of image data is instructed, encrypts the image data with the generated password, transmits the encrypted image data, and notifies the generated password.
US08347097B2
There is provided an object comprising: a first identifier identifying a unique object identity; a second identifier identifying a first digital signature for the identity; and a mask for masking at least one of the first identifier and the second identifier. The masked identifier is readable only when said mask has been removed.
US08347092B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for enhancing anti-terrorism public safety measures, by more securely determining whether explosives or other contraband have been inserted into notebook computer batteries or other large, replaceable subsystems of electronic devices. Because notebook computers typically require large, heavy batteries, they present attractive containers for smugglers and terrorists attempting to bring explosives onto an airplane. The disclosed security testing system provides more reliable results than many current tests, and does not require that the device under test be powered on. The systems and methods disclosed use out-of-band authentication for added security.
US08347087B1
Techniques, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for protecting a document with multiple digital rights management systems are presented. A described technique includes encrypting content in accordance with a first digital rights management scheme using a key and an encryption scheme, generating a first header associated with the encrypted content in accordance with the first digital rights management scheme, generating a second header associated with the encrypted content in accordance with a second digital rights management scheme, and creating a protected document that includes the first header, the second header, and the encrypted content.
US08347082B2
In response to a validation request that includes second information identifying the certificate authority, key information of the certificate authority at issuance of the public key certificate, and information identifying the public key certificate, if the second information identifying the certificate authority included in the validation request corresponds to the first information identifying the certificate authority included in the authority certificate, and the information identifying the public key certificate included in the validation request does not exist in the revocation information, the validation server creates a validation result indicating that the public key certificate corresponding to the information identifying the public key certificate included in the validation request is valid.
US08347080B2
Operations or functions on a device may require an operational certificate to ensure that the user of the device or the device itself is permitted to carry out the operations or functions. A system and a method are provided for providing an operational certificate to a device, whereby the operational certificate is associated with one or more operations of the device. A manufacturing certificate authority, during the manufacture of the device, obtains identity information associated with the device and provides a manufacturing certificate to the device. An operational certificate authority obtains and authenticates at least a portion of the identity information associated with the device from the manufacturing certificate and, if at least the portion of the identity information is authenticated, the operational certificate is provided to the device.
US08347078B2
A method of generating a device certificate. A method of generating a device certificate comprising, constructing a device certificate challenge at a device, sending information to a device certificate individualization server in response to the device certificate challenge, validating the device certificate challenge by the device certificate individualization server, and validating the device certificate response by the device.
US08347071B2
A deployment system allows an administrator to convert virtual deployments to physical deployments so that an administrator can easily move between the virtual and physical world. The deployment system allows an administrator to directly deploy an operating system image in the form of a VHD file to the hard disks of a physical machine as a directly bootable and natively installed operating system. Thus, the deployment system relieves administrators from separately managing physical and virtual deployment images. Instead, administrators can manage only virtual deployment images and convert virtual images to physical deployments as needed.
US08347069B2
A storage part stores correspondence information on incorporation or change in processing sequence of processing elements. An acquiring part acquires a target processing element group. An extracting part extracts the correspondence information on the processing elements included in the target processing element group. An incorporation determining part determines a set of processing elements to be incorporated in the target processing element group on the basis of the information on the incorporation of the correspondence information. An updating part updates the processing elements included in the target processing element group and the correspondence information of the processing elements included in the target processing element group based on the set of processing elements. A processing sequence determining part determines the processing sequence of the processing elements included in the target processing element group updated on the basis of the information on the change in processing sequence in the correspondence information updated.
US08347068B2
A multi-mode register rename mechanism which allows a simultaneous multi-threaded processor to support full out-of-order thread execution when the number of threads is low and in-order thread execution when the number of threads increases. Responsive to changing an execution mode of a processor to operate in in-order thread execution mode, the illustrative embodiments switch a physical register in the data processing system to an architected facility, thereby forming a switched physical register. When an instruction is issued to an execution unit, wherein the issued instruction comprises a thread bit, the thread bit is examined to determine if the instruction accesses an architected facility. If the issued instruction accesses an architected facility, the instruction is executed, and the results of the executed instruction are written to the switched physical register.
US08347062B2
A first communication device estimates upstream channel conditions for an upstream channel and determines an upstream memory requirement for a first buffer at a second communication device and a first buffer at the first communication device based on the upstream channel conditions. A downstream memory requirement is received from the second communication device for a second buffer at the first communication device and a second buffer at the second communication device based on downstream channel conditions estimated at the second communication device for a downstream channel. The first communication device determines whether the sum of the upstream and downstream memory requirements exceeds an available amount of memory for implementing the first and second buffers at the first communication device and revises at least one of the memory requirements if the sum of the upstream and downstream memory requirements is different than the available amount of memory.
US08347048B2
A system and method provide for a reception of data at a computer processor. The data relates to a dataset in a computer system. The computer processor calculates a weight for the dataset as a function of the data, and the processor executes an action on the dataset as a function of the weight. In an embodiment, the action is a backup of data on the computer system, and through recalculation of the weight over a period of time, the backup schedule, backup media, and other parameters are altered based on the changing weight for a dataset.
US08347030B2
A control arrangement, for example, in a digital component that forms part of a system, draws an input current for its operation and is configured for monitoring an interface for any one of a group of commands and, upon detecting an issued one of the group of commands, operates the component for executing the issued command in an operational mode, and during an idle time on the interface, the control arrangement exclusively monitors the interface for any one of the group of commands such that the input current is limited to a leakage current. The component may draw less than 1 milliamp of current during the idle mode.
US08347012B2
An electronic configuration circuit includes a processing circuit (2610) operable for executing instructions and responsive to interrupt requests and operable in a plurality of execution environments (EE) selectively wherein a said execution environment (EE) is activated or suspended, a first configuration register (SCR) coupled to the processing circuit (2610) for identifying the interrupt request as an ordinary interrupt request IRQ when the execution environment (EE) is activated (EE_Active); and a second configuration register (SSM_FIQ_EE_y) for associating an identification of that execution environment (EE) with the same interrupt request, the processing circuit (2610) coupled (5910) to the second configuration register (SSM_FIQ_EE_y) to respond to the same interrupt request as a more urgent type of interrupt request when that execution environment (EE) is suspended (5920).
US08347011B2
A system, method and apparatus for prioritizing transactions is disclosed. I/O devices may generate transactions with a stream identifier. A transaction classifier may assign a priority to a transaction based upon a stream identifier of the transaction. An arbiter may select a transaction for processing based upon priorities assigned to the transaction.
US08347007B2
Disclosed is a field device that transmits and receives data via a fieldbus in accordance with any of a plurality of communication protocols. The field device includes: a control section to give an instruction on a communication protocol to be used for transmitting or receiving data via the fieldbus; and a fieldbus controller including a transmitting and receiving section to transmit and receive data in accordance with any of the plurality of communication protocols, and a switching section to switch between the communication protocols to be used by the transmitting and receiving section based on the instruction from the control section.
US08347006B2
In certain embodiments, minimizing interconnections in a multi-shelf switching system includes receiving a map describing the switching system, where the switching system comprises shelves and input/output (I/O) points. The map is transformed to yield a graph comprising nodes and edges. A node represents an I/O point, and a node weight represents a number of interface cards of the I/O point represented by the node. An edge between a node pair represents traffic demand between the I/O points represented by the node pair, and an edge weight represents the amount of the traffic demand represented by the edge. The graph is partitioned to yield a groups that minimize interconnection traffic among the shelves, where each group represents a shelf of the multi-shelf switching system.
US08346995B2
Techniques are disclosed for managing the flow of IO jobs from a client to a hardware device such that resource starvation is reduced without significantly impacting throughput. Each flow can be assigned an amount of time that a hardware device can deplete completing IO jobs from the client. When the allocated amount of time is used IO jobs associated with the client can be stored in a queue until the client obtains more time.
US08346991B2
The invention relates to an electronic system having at least one host processing electronic device and at least one peripheral electronic device. The peripheral electronic device performs at least two functions. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device are interconnected via at least one interface. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device communicate via a single, common, “multi-function” interface, so that the host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device exchange at least one item of data relative to each of the two functions via the multi-function interface.
US08346990B2
methods and systems for monitoring data activity may include various operations, including, but not limited to: modifying a value of at least one counter in response to one or more input/output requests directed to at least one data storage region during a first time interval; storing a first cumulative value of the counter modified in response to one or more input/output requests directed to at least one data storage region during the first time interval following the expiration of the first time interval; modifying a value of at least one counter in response to one or more requests directed to the at least one data storage region during a second time interval; storing a second cumulative value of the counter modified in response to one or more requests directed to the at least one data storage region during the second time interval following the expiration of the second time interval; and computing at least one activity index for the at least one data storage region from at least the first cumulative value and the second cumulative value.
US08346981B2
An arrangement for installing function drivers that provide communication between computer applications and various peripheral devices employs a master driver that is loaded for each peripheral device. The master drivers receive notification of the connection of the respective peripheral devices and, in time, load the proper function drivers. Each function driver has (1) an interface part that communicates with an application and (2) a peripheral part that communicates with the peripheral device associated with that application. When a device is disconnected, the associated function driver is notified and, in response, the driver discontinues operations of its peripheral part and retains operation of its interface part.
US08346975B2
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to enqueue one or more packets in a device driver for an I/O adapter. A device driver receives, by a processor executing the device driver, a reference to a list of transmit packets. The device driver may then atomically fetch and set a transmit active flag, wherein atomically setting comprises determining a former status of the transmit active flag. Responsive to a determination that a former status of the transmit active flag is different than a current status of the transmit active flag, the device driver atomically removes, by a processor executing the device driver, any packets referenced by a host machine transmit queue reference. The device driver pre-pends transmit packets referenced by the host machine transmit queue reference to the list of transmit packets to form an augmented list of transmit packets. The device driver builds a work request based on the augmented list of transmit packets. The device driver notifies the I/O adapter of the work request. The device driver atomically resets the transmit active flag.
US08346968B2
DNS requests associated with a network call flow may be proactively predicted. A method may include receiving a model relating DNS queries to DNS queries that are likely to be subsequently issued by other network devices; receiving a first DNS query, the first DNS query being received from a first network device; predicting additional DNS queries that are likely to be issued by the other network devices; and transmitting responses to the predicted DNS queries to other network devices.
US08346961B2
Systems and methods for using routing protocol extensions to improve spoke to spoke communication in a computer network are disclosed. Embodiments provide systems and methods to establish a tunnel between a first spoke and a hub, exchange routing information between the first spoke and the hub using a routing protocol, extend the routing protocol and an associated database to include next hop mapping information, and establish a tunnel between the first spoke and a second spoke according to information in the database.
US08346956B2
A dynamic image delivery system receives a client request for an image at an image caching server. The image caching server measures the client's network access speed and looks for an appropriate pre-rendered copy of the requested image that is rendered for the client's network access speed in local storage. If the appropriate rendered copy is found, then the image caching server sends the rendered image to the client. If it is not found, then the image caching server dynamically renders a copy of the image and sends it to the client.
US08346954B2
A method is described that involves performing the following between first and second appliance networks: receiving a packet from the first appliance network; removing header information for the first appliance network from the packet; and, sending the packet's payload into the second appliance network without having appended any header information for the second appliance network to the payload. Another method is described that involves performing the following with a network interface to a first appliance network: receiving a first command through an API for the first appliance network where the command identifies an appliance and an action to be taken by the appliance; translating the first command into a second command that identifies the appliance and the action to be taken by the appliance, where the second command is in a format for a second appliance network that is a different type of appliance network than the first appliance network; and, constructing a packet having header information formatted for the first appliance network and a payload containing the second command.
US08346952B2
An embodiment of a network manager permits a resource group administrator (with resource group level permissions but without global permissions) to add a global object to his/her resource group as a managed object, without requiring the administrator to have a global permission, as discussed further below. An embodiment of the network manager permits a resource group administrator to also edit the configuration settings that are attached to his/her resource group without requiring the administrator to have a global permission.
US08346951B2
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a network client (42) inserts an authorization key (38) into the SEQ (30) and ACK (32) fields of a TCP connection request (56). The TCP connection request (56) is sent to a authorizing server (46). The authorizing server (46) extracts the authorization key (38) and uses the authorization key (38), with other implicit and explicit data contained within the TCP connection request (56) to authorize the TCP connection request (56). If the TCP connection request (56) is authorized, the authorizing server (46) sends a TCP-SYN/ACK (58) back to the network client (42) as described in the TCP protocol specification. If the TCP connection request (56) is denied, the TCP connection request (56) is discarded and nothing is sent back to the network client (42).
US08346948B2
An information processing apparatus includes a code converting portion that converts a scan code output from a keyboard into a corresponding key code, a data converting portion that converts the key code into packets, and a changing portion that changes an output destination of the scan code from the code converting portion to the data converting portion, when an application software to operate a server apparatus remotely located is activated in the information processing apparatus, which is in connection with the server apparatus over a network.
US08346944B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration service to a non-IMS subscriber terminal are disclosed. According to one method, activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal is identified. In response to identifying the activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal, an IMS network registration operation is performed on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.
US08346931B2
Management of an Information Technology (IT) environment is conditionally controlled based on runtime analysis of resource pairing constructs. Resource pairings are provided, and evaluated based on the current state of the environment. This real-time information is then used in performing managerial tasks, the results of which are effected by the runtime conditions.
US08346929B1
System and method for designing and implementing secure Web Services according to a Web Services Security Assessment structured methodology and design patterns. Lifecycles of the Web Services Security Assessment structured methodology may include, but are not limited to: vision and strategy, architecture design, development, integration, and deployment. In one embodiment, security components may be identified based on one or more use case requirements. Web Services objects that need to be protected may be identified. The object relationship for security protection may be defined, and associated trust domains, security policy and strategy and threat profiles may be identified. Protection schemes for these Web Services objects may be generated. Web Services security design patterns may be applied. One embodiment may be implemented as a secure Web Services architecture design mechanism that may receive Web Services requirements as input and assist a user in designing and generating a secure Web Services architecture.
US08346927B2
A method and system are provided for denying an application service request, such as a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) request, on wireless and wireline Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) networks. In one example, the method includes receiving a request for an application service from a user via a transport network, determining to deny the request, and providing a response corresponding to the denial of the request to the user via the transport network.
US08346926B1
Aspects of the invention relate to sharing content stored on an object addressable storage (OAS) system among a plurality of users of the OAS system and authenticating users to an OAS system. In some embodiments, a user may store content units on the OAS system and control access by other users to these content units. In some embodiments, when a user grants one or more other users access to a content unit stored on the OAS system, the OAS system may send a notification of grant of access to the other user(s).
US08346911B2
A system, computer program and method for inspection of a system under inspection. The system may include an inspection program configured to access information available at the system under inspection and generate inspection data for the system under inspection. A runtime platform independent from the inspection program at the system under inspection is configured to limit the limit the contents of the inspection data to a maximum information content. A trusted third-party computer system may assist in selecting the inspection program and transferring the resulting inspection data.
US08346908B1
An identity migration program provides interfaces for a user to manage operations for migrating locally-managed identities to centrally-managed identities. The provided interfaces include a project management interface, an identity selection interface, a migration rule editor interface, and a project scheduling interface. In certain embodiments, the identity migration program includes a communication module that provides interfaces for managing communication between the identity migration program and locally-managed and centrally-managed servers. Interfaces may also be provided to manage identity group migration and migration error resolution. A migration process management interface enables the user to halt, roll back, or resume a migration project.
US08346906B2
A system and method for computer originated audio file transmission includes a server having a communications module operable to communicate with a terminal unit. The server may also include a storage module operable to store at least one file. A processor may be provided to separate the file into a plurality of packets. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is operable to send an initial burst of packets to the terminal unit, wherein the initial burst of packets includes at least two of the plurality of packets. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is further operable to send additional packets of the plurality of packets at a predetermined rate, until each of the plurality of packets has been sent to the terminal unit.
US08346905B2
A method for providing a report database is disclosed. A server system coordinates management activities for a plurality of localized devices. An abstraction layer references the localized devices as “locations” rather than physical equipment, which are distinct from an IP address. The server system communicates with an individual device of the plurality of localized devices via the abstraction layer to request software distribution information without requiring user initiation at the individual device. Communications between the server system and the individual device are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.
US08346891B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for discovering entities in a first portion of a data center network, examining information associated with the discovered entities to determine relationships that exist between pairs of entities in the first portion of the data center network, and generating a specification of the relationships that exist between pairs of entities in the first portion of the data center network based on results of the examining.
US08346887B1
A software component for tracking and tracing the access and display of Internet content employs an Application Media Package. That package includes a definition for rendering a graphical user interface and a URL pointing to Internet content that may be presented within said user interface. An application media viewer manages the collection, organization, sharing, and rendering of a plurality of such software components. Because Application Media Packages are used in groups and often for relatively long periods of time, the present invention may collect real-time multidimensional use statistics that over time becomes a valuable multi-dimensional user behavior profiling database. A server collects use statistics from its Application Media Viewer that runs on client computers or cell phones for example, and manages and tracks Application Media Package and Viewer downloads, access to an Application Media Package library, etc.
US08346882B2
A method for structuring a content distribution overlay network for a peer-to-peer network is presented. The method includes receiving a request from a requesting node for content at a content node. The content node has processing capabilities to process the content for presentation to the requesting node. An overlay network, including the requesting node and the content node, is dynamically assembled after receiving the request for content, where the overlay network is self-organized from available nodes of the peer-to-peer network that are available at a time of the request and based on the content requested. Using the assembled overlay network, a head node of the overlay network determines if a child node in the overlay network has processing capabilities to process the content, where the child node is then assigned to process the content for presentation to the requesting node.
US08346873B2
An entity is made the target of a communication—such as instant messaging, E-mail, or VoIP—based on a specification of context that the entity satisfies. A user (or other type of entity) who wishes to communication with one or more entities that satisfy a particular context specifies that context at the time the communication is to be sent. A system resolves the context by ascertaining which one or more entities satisfy the context, and the communication is sent to the ascertained entities. In one example, a user can specify that a message is to be sent to an entity at a particular geographic location, and the system chooses the one or more entities that are nearest to the specified location.
US08346871B2
The invention is an instant-messaging system that minimizes undesirable alerts on an exposed output device. The instant-messaging system is configurable so that a user can select an alert mode that alters the instant-messaging system's response to receiving message data from a caller while a user is operating an exposed output device. Specifically, a user can select a “do-not-disturb” mode, a “designee” mode, a “caller-id” mode, or a “priority” mode. If the user selects the do-not-disturb mode, the system blocks the message and informs the caller that the user does not wish to be disturbed. If the user selects the caller-id mode, the system displays the caller's identification and then prompts the user to accept the message. If the user selects the priority mode, the system displays the caller's identification only if the caller is in the user's “priority list.”
US08346867B2
A method of managing electronic media items includes accessing first geographic information that indicates a first geographic location of a first device; accessing second geographic information that indicates a second geographic location of a second device; determining whether the first device and the second device are within a defined geographic proximity based on the first geographic location and the second geographic location; if the determination indicates that the first device and the second device are within the defined geographic proximity, generating at least one playlist of media items based on a set of media preferences shared between a first user of the first device and a second user of the second device; and sending the playlist to the first device such that the first user is able to select one or more of the media items on the playlist to be output by the first device.
US08346853B2
Methods and systems are described for processing an attached command response. In one aspect, an attachable command is sent in a first HTTP request to a server node. A second HTTP response to a second HTTP request sent to the server node is received. A determination is made that the second HTTP response includes at least a portion of the first command response.In another aspect, a first command is identified in a first HTTP request received from a user agent node. A determination is made that a first command response to the first command is attachable. A second HTTP request received from the user agent node identifying a second command. A second HTTP response to the second HTTP request is sent including at least some of the first command response.
US08346848B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for maintaining stateful interactions between clients and servers. Furthermore, the invention provides systems and methods for maintaining stateful interactions between clients and load balancers. In one embodiment, the present invention provides systems and methods for maintaining statefulness without the need for the server to query and/or store information on the client.
US08346845B2
Distributed data processing of problems representing resource assignment tasks. The problems are modeled as programs, and the programs are partitioned into sub-instances. Those sub-instances are executed in a distributed computing environment. The partitioning reduces communication costs between sub-instances and convergence time for the optimization program.
US08346840B2
A system and method are provided for rational division. The method accepts accepting a binary numerator and a binary denominator. A binary first sum is created of the numerator and a binary first count from a previous cycle. A binary first difference is created between the first sum and the denominator. In response to comparing the first sum with the denominator, and first carry bit is generated and added to a first binary sequence. The first binary sequence is used to generate a k-bit quotient. Typically, the denominator value is larger than the numerator value. In one aspect, the numerator and denominator form a rational number. Alternately, the numerator may be an n-bit bit value formed as either a repeating or non-repeating sequence, and the denominator is an (n+1)-bit number with a decimal value of 2(n+1).
US08346838B2
A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing integer transforms including multiply-add operations and horizontal-add operations on packed data. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a memory that stores a first packed byte data and a second packed byte data. The processor performs operations on said first packed byte data and said second packed byte data to generate a third packed data in response to receiving a multiply-add instruction. A plurality of the 16-bit data elements in this third packed data storing the result of performing multiply-add operations on data elements in the first and second packed byte data. The processor adds together at least a first and a second 16-bit data element of the third packed data in response to receiving an horizontal-add instruction to generate a 16-bit result as one of a plurality of data elements of a fourth packed data.
US08346829B2
Methods and apparatus which reduce or completely eliminate non-shift based divisions as part of estimating transmitted symbols and/or generating slicing parameters corresponding to two symbol transmission streams in a wireless communication system are described. A linear least squares error estimation filtering module performs symbol estimations and/or slicing parameter generation while avoiding non-shift based division operations. The linear least squares estimation module generates intermediate parameters, and implements equations which facilitate symbol estimation utilizing shift based divisions while avoiding non-shift based divisions.
US08346828B2
A system and a method for storing numbers in a register file are provided. The system and the method store single precision numbers in double precision format in a register file that is shared between floating point computational units and computational units not supporting floating point numbers.
US08346822B2
A method of memory management for a software application in execution in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: a memory manager supplying a first unit of memory having a predetermined size as a first allocation space for the software application; the software application storing data in the first allocation space; and discarding inactive data in the first allocation space by the steps of: a) the memory manager supplying a second unit of memory for the software application; b) identifying active data in the first allocation space and copying said active data to the second unit of memory, the active data including at least data that is in use by the software application; c) indicating, in the first allocation space, that the active data has become inactive; d) mapping a portion of the first allocation space to be logically contiguous with the second unit of memory to define a second allocation space for the software application whereby the second allocation space has a size that is equivalent to the predetermined size; and e) returning a remaining portion of the first allocation to the memory manager as a unit of memory suitable for reuse.
US08346813B2
A method and apparatus is provided for efficiently searching and navigating XML data stored in a relational database. When storing a collection of XML documents, certain scalar elements may be shredded and stored in a relational table, whereas unstructured data may be stored as a CLOB or BLOB column. The approach includes identifying a reference address to within an XML tree index entry and storing the address in an xmltable index. The tree index entry allows for navigation in all axes. A path-based expression may be evaluated in the context of the reference address of the LOB. The result of the evaluation identifies another XML tree index entry containing a LOB locator used to retrieve the content from the document. The tree index, node index, and secondary function indexes are used together to enhance the performance of querying the XML data.
US08346812B2
Indexing in a resource description framework data system including a search key set of ranking relationships for the subject, predicate, and object of RDF statements, generation of a single nodal index including a node for each of the RDF statements, each node having a plurality of rank tracking indicators that include a position indicator representing the relative position of the RDF statement in each ranking relationship. A computer readable storage medium and a system for indexing a resource description framework data system are also provided.
US08346809B2
An XML wrapper queries an XML document in an on-the-fly manner so that only parent nodes in the document that satisfy the query are extracted and then unnested. The parent nodes and associated descendent nodes are located using XPath expressions contained as options in data definition language (DDL) statements. The parent nodes satisfying the query and associated descendent nodes are extracted and stored outside of a database according to a relational schema. The wrapper facilitates applications that use convention SQL queries and views to operate on that information stored according to the relational schema. The wrapper also responds to query optimizer requests for costs associated with queries against external data sources associated with the wrapper.
US08346802B2
A computer implemented method for inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database at which a query regarding the inference is received. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data.
US08346786B2
An information processing system includes an acceptance section, a first processing section, a conversion section and a second processing section. The acceptance section accepts first storage location information that is indicative of where a first electronic file in a first storage unit is stored. The first processing section processes the first electronic file in accordance with a first processing content. The conversion section converts the first storage location information to second storage location information that is indicative of where a second electronic file in a second storage unit is stored. The second electronic file has an identical content as that of the first electronic file. The second processing section processes the second electronic file in accordance with a second processing content.
US08346780B2
In order to mitigate a load in communications among an integrated search server, a plurality of search users and a plurality of search servers in an integrated search system, in the present invention, when an integrated search is executed, first, information for narrowing down the search servers is obtained from each search server, and subsequently, the search servers are narrowed down based on this information, and search results are obtained from only the search servers which have been narrowed down. Thereby, there are advantageous effects of reducing memory usage of the integrated search server, and reducing unnecessary network traffic between the integrated search server and each search server.
US08346777B1
Methods and systems are provided for selectively storing event data. In one described method, an event associated with an article is captured. The captured event can comprise event data. The method further comprises evaluating the event for satisfaction of a criterion. If the event satisfies the criterion, it is indexed.
US08346775B2
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for managing information. A request to store text in a table in a database is received. A determination is made as to whether a first collection of textual information having a first concept that is related to a second concept for the text is present in the database responsive to receiving the request containing the text. The text is associated with the first collection of textual information in the database responsive to a determination that the first collection of textual information in the database having the first concept that is related to the second concept for the text is present in the database. A second collection for the data with a third concept that is related to the second concept for the text within the degree of relatedness is created.
US08346756B2
Tools and techniques related to calculating valence of expressions within documents. These tools may provide methods that include receiving input documents for processing, and extracting expressions from the documents for valence analysis, with scope relationships occurring between terms contained in the expressions. The methods may calculate calculating valences of the expressions, based on the scope relationships between terms in the expressions.
US08346744B2
A method of increasing a processing performance by setting a suitable upper limit of a resources count for each processing request according to an arrangement of hardware such as a storage device or to contents of the processing request. A processing request acceptor accepts the processing request as a data query. An auxiliary storage device forms a storage area where a database is stored. A data operation executor analyzes the accepted processing request and executed the data operations on the basis of the analyzed result. A resource manager manages the respective data operations allocated to generated processes or threads. A buffer manager caches data of the data operations upon execution of the data operations from the auxiliary storage device to a memory, and determines whether or not the data as the target of the data operations are present in the cache.
US08346740B2
In one embodiment a method of file cache management in a computer system comprises creating a resource group; developing one or more cache management policies for the resource group; and managing one or more subsequent requests for cache memory in accordance with the one or more cache management policies.
US08346737B2
A compact binary encoding technique for information that is logically hierarchically structured, such as XML data, maintains all of the features of XML data in a useable form, such as the hierarchical structure underlying the data. Hence, data encoded in this format can undergo XML-based processing on-the-fly as it is being received or fetched, as if the data was being processed linearly in its textual character-based format. Processing of data encoded in this format can begin without having to wait for and decode the entire data set. The overhead due to XML tags is significantly minimized. The encoded data can be processed more efficiently because the data is pre-parsed. Values may be stored in their native type formats and, therefore, processing of the encoded data avoids costly type conversions. Further, any available structural constraint information can be effectively exploited.
US08346731B1
Techniques for global single instance indexing for backup data are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for indexing backup data. The method may comprise generating a content hash for an item being backed up. The item may be associated with a resource name and the content hash may be used as an identifier in backup and indexing. The method may further comprise saving an entry for the item in an index database. The entry may comprise a resource list which may comprise the resource name and a reference count associated with the resource name. Moreover, the method may comprise setting a value for the reference count.
US08346726B2
Facility for using images created by backup software to recreate an entire machine as it was at the point in time in the past when the backup was taken. The facility can be extended so as to bring up a set of machines which together serve some logical business function as in a cluster or federated servers, and further extended so that an entire data center may be virtualized from backup images. The virtualized servers provided may serve as an alternate data center standing in case of disaster or to meet maintenance windows achieving low cost Instant Disaster Recovery. A set of virtual machines may stand in for physical machines for a period of time and then resynchronized or re-seeded to physical machines via a combination of bare metal recovery and re-synchronizing from live LXJNs that form the virtual machine disks.
US08346690B2
The present invention relates to the generation of an integrated guidance law for aerodynamic missiles. Particularly, a Tabu search-based approach is utilized for generating an integrated fuzzy guidance law, which includes three separate fuzzy controllers. Each of these fuzzy controllers is activated in a unique region of missile interception. The method includes the following steps: establishing a missile guidance law ƒ(z), where z represents a vector containing fuzzy membership functions and guidance rules associated with the missile guidance law; and optimizing the missile launch guidance law ƒ(z) by minimizing the equation f ( z ) = w 1 t f + w 2 ∫ 0 t f a m 2 ⅆ t + w 3 r ( t f ) , where tƒ represents missile interception time, r represents a distance between the missile and a target, w1, w2 and w3 are weighting factors, and am represents a missile normal acceleration, and further |r(tƒ)|
US08346687B2
An SV reduction method for multi-class SVMs is provided with which a number of SVs contained in the multi-class SVMs can be reduced without becoming trapped in a local minimum optimization solution and the reduction of the SVs can be performed at high precision and high speed. The method includes a step of selecting, from a plurality of initially present support vectors, support vector pairs zi, zj (i, j=1, 2, . . . , NS); a step of preparing a single-variable objective function with a single global maximum and determining a maximum value k of the objective function; and a step of applying the maximum value k to the support vector pairs zi and zj to determine a temporary vector Ztemp[i] of small classification errors; and the support vector pairs zi, zj are represented by the temporary vector Ztemp[i].
US08346683B2
System, program, and method for representation, utilization, and maintenance of regulatory knowledge
A knowledge based system, program, and method for regulatory knowledge representation, utilization, and maintenance is presented. The system, program, and method support advanced reasoning concerning entities and events in order to determine their adherence to regulations and policies, with the specific ability to identify violations of regulations that govern industries such as the financial services industry. Advanced approaches and methods that allow for efficient representation of regulatory knowledge, its utilization and maintenance are specifically defined. Events and actions like, for instance, financial transactions or regulatory compliance violations can be evaluated on an automated basis by applying various approaches and methods using the regulatory knowledge system.
US08346678B1
Described herein is an enabling product that facilitates implementation of an m-commerce business solution. According to an embodiment of the present invention an m-commerce solution includes: a content provider or merchant site that provides products and goods to be purchased; a payment system allowing online authorization of funds to purchase the goods; and a wireless network for all customer interactions. Embodiments described herein perform at least one of the following three functions: 1) protocol conversions; 2) customer information reposing, and 3) payment authorization system interfacing.
US08346665B2
A system operating in conjunction with a financial account permits joint activation of a card associated with the financial account. An event-detection module detects an event related to the card and an authorization component for permitting certain individuals to use the card. A messaging module generates account-related messages and transmitting these messages to individuals associated with the financial account.
US08346661B2
Aggregating customer records to conduct due diligence to facilitate business transaction includes receiving a request to aggregate customer transaction records, wherein the customer transaction records are stored when a customer conducts a transaction with a selected one of a first company and a second company. A plurality of customer transaction records are determined from a first enterprise. The plurality of customer transaction records are aggregated from the first enterprise, wherein the plurality of customer transaction records comprises records associated with the first company and records associated with the second company. The aggregated customer transaction records are communicated in response to the request.
US08346655B2
The present invention is a system and method for providing a trading platform for the trade of F.I.s. According to some embodiments of the present invention, there may be provided a server or server cluster including at least one Interfacing Server adapted to interface with a user, possibly via a distributed data network such as the interne. The IS1 may be adapted to present to a user a trading platform, to receive from a user trade instructions, via the platform, and execute them. The trading platform may include innovative trade options including mid-trade options (e.g. trade insurance), batch trade options, series trade options, parlay trade options and “close now”/“extend” options.
US08346653B2
An automated system for matching orders from a virtual trading crowd in an exchange configured for trading securities or derivatives is disclosed including an electronic trade engine operative to receive an order or a quote for a security or derivative at the exchange, the trade engine further operative to disseminate a request for a price message to a plurality of market makers quoting a class in response to receiving the order or the quote, an electronic book in communication with the electronic trade engine, the electronic book operative to store at least one order or quote received by the electronic trade engine, a database including an allocation algorithm, the database in communication with the electronic trade engine, and a trade processor in communication with the database, the trade processor operative to analyze and execute orders or quotes according to the allocation algorithm selected from the database.
US08346648B1
Computer systems and computer-implemented methods related to an investment program for an investment vehicle, such as a private placement fund, a limited liability partnership, or a limited liability company, for example, that purchases a life insurance policy and pair it with one or more annuity contracts on the same donor's life. The aggregate sum of the annuity premiums for the annuity contracts may equal, approximately equal, the death benefit payment amount of the purchased life insurance policy. Alternatively, the death benefit payment amount of the purchased life insurance policy may exceed, or greatly exceed, the annuity premiums for the annuity contracts. In addition, the ongoing annuity payments preferably are greater than the life insurance premiums, thereby providing investment vehicle and its investors with a positive rate of return that can be much higher than conventional fixed income investments.
US08346641B2
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a request of an entity based on a set of attributes provided by an initiating patron of the entity using a processor of an initiator device. The method also includes associating an aggregation environment to the request. The method further includes allocating an initial consideration to the aggregation environment from the initiating patron. In addition, the method includes allocating, to the initial consideration, an additional consideration provided when a different patron contributes the additional consideration to the aggregation environment of the request using a processor of a supporter device. The method also includes allocating the consideration of the initiating patron and the different patron to the aggregation environment of the request to increase a value of the request to the entity in order to increase a possibility of the entity to respond to the request using a processor of an entity device.
US08346631B2
At least one geometric characteristic for each of a number of pieces of lumber is determined. Each of the pieces of lumber may then be logically associated with at least one of a log or a cant from which the piece of lumber was sawn. The geometric characteristic may be captured by one or more scanners, for example one or more laser scanners. The geometric characteristic may, for example be a measurement of thicknesses, widths and/or wane dimensions.
US08346620B2
A system for interactive paper is described. Data fragments are captured at locations in a rendered document. A digital version of the document is optionally located. Markup data applied to the capture creates a rich set of interactions for the user. New models for publishing documents and new document-related services are described.
US08346612B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for a viewspace provider. The method comprises providing a viewspace at a location; and engaging in a transaction with an entity for a monetary amount associated with the provision of the viewspace.
US08346599B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing a complete architectural and procedural solution to wireless subscriber loyalty issues. A flexible promotion creation environment allows mobile phone operators to rapidly create and deploy various incentive programs and other such loyalty schemes; together with a data mining and profiling method for tracking, monitoring and analysing subscriber (or aggregate) usage information associated with given promotions. The proposed data mining and profiling method purposely incents specific subscriber behaviors by triggering a point-based reward scheme based on the dynamic screening of event records which are correlated with incented behaviors. Wherein a threshold is assigned based on usage information for a particular promotion; upon realization of which, the subscriber is, immediately notified of the reward through a plurality of means including e-mail, voice notification and by way of Short Message Service (SMS) at their wireless handset.
US08346598B2
Apparatus for personalization and registration of vehicle devices of different types in a road toll system, comprising: for each type of vehicle device, a respective personalization module that is configured to write personalization data into a vehicle device of this type and generate the associated registration data, which contains the personalization data, an interface module common to all personalization modules that is configured to receive their registration data and, following a release request, send it to a registration database of the road toll system, and a testing unit that reads out the personalization data of a personalized but not yet registered vehicle device, checks the registration data generated by the responsible personalization module for agreement of the personalization data contained therein with the read-out personalization data, and if it agrees, sends a release request with respect to this registration data to the interface module.
US08346586B1
A method of estimating an employment level receiving a first set of payroll data that includes at least one payroll record associated with at least one entity and identifying a format associated with the at least one payroll record of the first plurality of payroll data. The format associated with the at least one payroll record of the first plurality of payroll data may be normalized to substantially conform to a format associated with a second set of payroll data. A regression coefficient associated with the normalized first set of payroll data may be calculated. An employment level is estimated based on the first set of normalized payroll data and the regression coefficient. The regression coefficient comprises a value indicative of a difference in growth rates between the first set of payroll data and the second set of payroll data and is based at least on a number of initial unemployment claims filed during a portion of a time period associated with the first set of payroll data.
US08346583B2
A common manner for disclosing information is through a presentation. A presentation is generated automatically to pursue a financial opportunity, such as to disclose to a potential client rationale to purchase a product. In addition, auxiliary tasks that relate to the presentation can be handled automatically, such as sending notices and assigning individuals to disclose the presentation.
US08346575B2
A system is provided that receives a first message from a patient device containing patient information comprising at least one of demographic, health insurance, medication, and medical history and requesting an appointment with a first health care provider. If the first message does not designate a provider for the requested appointment, the system lists providers for review and selection. The system determines that the first provider one of designated and selected is a subscriber to automated check-in services provided by the system. The system verifies patient health insurance coverage and determines patient deductible balance and insurer copayment requirement, contacts the first provider, provides the patient information, and requests available appointment dates and times and patient account information. The system sends a second message to the device providing available appointment dates and times and requesting payment for an amount owed and receives appointment selection and payment instructions for the amount owed.
US08346569B2
A system and method for dynamically generating a customized profile for a company for a selected profile type, the customized profile including a set of attribute types, each of the attribute types having a customized attribute range. The system comprises a receipt module for receiving a predefined profile having predefined attribute types corresponding to the set of attribute types. Each of the predefined attribute types has a predefined attribute range representing a range of attribute values for the selected profile type, and for receiving personal assessments of individuals related to the company. Each of the personal assessments has questions related to attributes. Each of the questions has a value assigned by the respective related individual.
US08346568B1
A system and method for predictive bill estimation includes a process for predictive bill estimation whereby financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources. The financial data obtained from the one or more contributing consumers is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized financial data is then stored. A user consumer then initiates a request for cost/bill data associated with a given area and/or event. The aggregated and/or categorized financial data obtained from one or more contributing consumers is then searched based on one or more search parameters and results data representing multiple financial transactions and/or purchases associated the specified area and/or event is obtained. The results data obtained is then presented to the user consumer in any one of various data and/or report formats, and the user consumer may be notified/alerted to predicted fluctuations in his or her bills automatically well in advance of the expected fluctuation in order to provide the user consumer the opportunity to budget for the predicted fluctuations.
US08346550B2
An automatic speech recognition (ASR) system and method is provided for controlling the recognition of speech utterances generated by an end user operating a communications device. The ASR system and method can be used with a mobile device that is used in a communications network. The ASR system can be used for ASR of speech utterances input into a mobile device, to perform compensating techniques using at least one characteristic and for updating an ASR speech recognizer associated with the ASR system by determined and using a background noise value and a distortion value that is based on the features of the mobile device. The ASR system can be used to augment a limited data input capability of a mobile device, for example, caused by limited input devices physically located on the mobile device.
US08346543B2
A VAD/SS system is connected to a channel of a transmission pipe. The channel provides a pathway for the transmission of energy. A method for operating a VAD/SS system includes detecting the energy on the channel, and activating or suppressing activation of the VAD/SS system depending upon the nature of the energy detected on the channel.
US08346542B2
An audio signal band expanding apparatus (100a) includes a harmonic generator (3) that receives an input audio signal having a predetermined band and generates, based on the input audio signal, harmonic signals, and an adder (2) that adds the harmonic signals generated by the harmonic generator (3) to the input audio signal. The harmonic generator (3) simulates the input-output characteristics of a predetermined amplifier or that of a device to generate the harmonic signals from the input audio signal.
US08346541B2
A method for constructing a Chinese dictionary is disclosed, including determining a probability for nominalization of a Chinese term with a given collocation term according to a determination rule and the correlation between the Chinese term and its corresponding collocations, wherein the Chinese term is determined to be a verb part-of-speech. The method further includes modifying the verb part-of-speech of the Chinese term with the given collocation term to an appropriate part-of-speech when the probability for nominalization of the Chinese term with the given collocation term is higher than a predetermined value, and storing the correlation between the Chinese term, the given collocation term and the appropriate part-of-speech in a storage device.
US08346540B2
In some embodiments, a method for providing access to media segments using a tag cloud comprises receiving a request to play streaming media, identifying deep tags associated with the streaming media, and determining preferences of a user based on information provided by the user. The method can also comprise selecting a group of the deep tags based on the information provided by the user and displaying the group of the deep tags in a tag cloud, wherein the deep tags hyperlink to segments within the streaming media. The method can also include presenting, in response to activation of a deep tag in the group, one of the segments within the streaming media.
US08346535B2
An information processing apparatus includes a registration unit for registering a property of document data, a document language identification unit for identifying a language used in the document data, a property language identification unit for identifying a language used in a property value entered with respect to the document data, and a translation unit for translating the property value entered with respect to the document data from the language used in the property value into the language used in the document data when the language used in the property value is different from the language used in the document data.
US08346528B2
Mechanisms are provided for modeling a plurality of devices of an integrated circuit design as a single statistically equivalent wide device. An integrated circuit design is analyzed to identify a portion of the integrated circuit design having the plurality of devices. For the plurality of devices, a statistical model of a single statistically equivalent wide device is generated which has a statistical distribution of at least one operating characteristic of the single statistically equivalent wide device that captures statistical operating characteristic distributions of individual devices in the plurality of devices. At least one statistical operating characteristic of the single statistically equivalent wide device is a complex non-linear function of the statistical operating characteristics of the individual devices. The integrated circuit design is modeled using the single statistically equivalent wide device.
US08346517B2
A method implements hybrid type simulation serving to validate an inertial unit of a moving body on board an angular movement simulator by comparing a trajectory of the moving body as calculated in a real navigation environment with at least one reference trajectory.
US08346511B2
Certain example embodiments concern an analysis system for analyzing at least one continuous query for at least one input data stream. The at least one input data stream includes a sequence of events captured by at least one sensor. The debugging system includes an analyzer for executing the at least one continuous query and at least one modified continuous query on the at least one input data stream, for comparing at least one output data stream produced by the at least one continuous query with at least one second output data stream produced by the at least one modified continuous query, and for indicating at least one difference between the at least one output data stream and the at least one second output data stream. The analyzer synchronizes the execution of the at least one continuous query and the at least one modified continuous query.
US08346510B2
A continuously-arranged sensor system is provided that can recognize a time of a determination signal provided by each sensor unit so that a host control apparatus can use the time to perform timing control. The continuously-arranged sensor system includes a network unit and a plurality of sensor units, which are connected by a serial transmission line. In accordance with a command sent from the network unit, each sensor unit transmits the determination signal to the network unit via the serial transmission line. The network unit stores the time information and the determination information to a table memory.
US08346502B2
The present invention is a system for determining vehicle speed. The system has a sensor mounted on a wheel rotatably mounted on the vehicle for sensing centripetal acceleration of said wheel. The sensor generates a signal indicative of the sensed centripetal acceleration, and is arranged to wirelessly transmit the signal. The system additionally has an electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle. The electronic control unit is arranged to receive the signal and determine the speed of the vehicle based on the sensed centripetal acceleration.
US08346501B2
An industrial roll includes: a substantially cylindrical core having an outer surface; a polymeric cover circumferentially overlying the core outer surface; and a sensing system. The sensing system comprises: a plurality of sensors embedded in the cover, the sensors configured to detect an operating parameter of the roll and provide signals representative of the operating parameter, wherein one of the plurality of sensors is a tracking sensor and the remaining sensors are non-tracking sensors; and a processor operatively associated with the sensors that processes signals provided by the sensors. The sensors are arranged at a substantially equal radial distance from the core outer surface, such that they define a circle when viewed from an end of the roll. Each of the non-tracking sensors is further arranged at a substantially equal first angular distance from its immediate non-tracking sensor neighbors, two endmost non-tracking sensors defining an angular gap. The tracking sensor is disposed in the angular gap, such that a second angular distance defined by the tracking sensor and either of the endmost sensors differs from the first angular distance. In this configuration, the sensing system can identify from which sensor signals are generated without a trigger signal generator or accelerometer.
US08346495B2
A system includes an electrochemical cell, monitoring hardware, and a computing system. The monitoring hardware samples performance characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The computing system determines cell information from the performance characteristics. The computing system also analyzes the cell information of the electrochemical cell with a Butler-Volmer (BV) expression modified to determine exchange current density of the electrochemical cell by including kinetic performance information related to pulse-time dependence, electrode surface availability, or a combination thereof. A set of sigmoid-based expressions may be included with the modified-BV expression to determine kinetic performance as a function of pulse time. The determined exchange current density may be used with the modified-BV expression, with or without the sigmoid expressions, to analyze other characteristics of the electrochemical cell. Model parameters can be defined in terms of cell aging, making the overall kinetics model amenable to predictive estimates of cell kinetic performance along the aging timeline.
US08346494B2
The physical quantity measurement device involves a terminal unit, a sensor, a storage unit, an output unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a discriminating unit. The terminal unit has a power terminal, an output terminal, and a ground terminal. The communication unit uses the power terminal in order to receive a serial signal from an external device. The control unit has an adjusting mode and a normal mode. The discriminating unit decides that the external device requests either the adjusting mode or the normal mode based on whether or not an electrical potential of each of the power terminal and the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition. The control unit selects the normal mode when the discriminating unit decides that the external device requests the normal mode, and selects the adjusting mode when the discriminating unit decides that the external device request the adjusting mode.
US08346488B2
A device (1) for measuring a force acting between a machining tool (4) and a work piece in a processing machine is disclosed. It comprises an arrangement of at least two hydrostatic pads (7), wherein the at least two hydrostatic pads are designed to receive and support a mounting part (10) of the machining tool (4), and each hydrostatic pad of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7) presenting a pressure sensor (13), a calculation unit (16) for —reading hydrostatic pad pressure related to the pressure sensors (13) and a constant based on characteristics of each one of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7), —calculating the force by calculating a difference between the products of, for each hydrostatic pad of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7), the hydrostatic pad pressure and the constant, and —indicating the force. Also, a device for monitoring a machining tool and a device for compensating for a deflection of a machining tool when machining a work piece comprising the device are disclosed.
US08346485B2
Provided are methods for estimating the amount of initial target nucleic acid in a sample prior to nucleic acid amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The methods generally involve modeling signal intensity data generated across a range of PCR cycles with a phenomenological model in concert with a chemical model, to yield an estimate of the amount of initial target nucleic acid in the sample.
US08346479B2
A geographic information providing system in a personal webpage is disclosed. The geographic information providing system can include a GPS information storing unit, receiving GPS coordinate information related to a location of a user and additional information from a mobile communication terminal and storing the received GPS coordinate information and additional information; a map data loading unit, loading map data having a location corresponding to the GPS coordinate information if a request to access the stored GPS coordinate information and additional information is received; and a temporary layer generating controlling unit, generating a temporary layer to mark the location corresponding to the GPS coordinate information on a loaded map in a form capable of being identified by the user and providing control information for displaying the location corresponding to the GPS coordinate information.
US08346473B2
A lane determining device includes: a feature information obtaining unit for obtaining feature information F of a target feature existing in each lane in the traveling direction of a vehicle 30, based on vehicle position information; an image recognizing unit for conducting image recognition processing of a feature type of the target feature in a vehicle lane, with respect to image information; and a lane accuracy determining unit for determining a vehicle lane accuracy for the respective lanes based on a type of a recognized feature fa shown in an image recognition result, feature types Ft1 to Ft4 of the target feature of the respective lanes shown in the feature information F, in accordance with a level of probability for each of the feature types Ft1 to Ft4 of the target feature of the respective lanes is recognized as the type of the recognized feature fa.
US08346445B2
A method for reaching a neutral position N located between two end positions of a gearshift fork in a shift transmission in a motor vehicle from a starting position of the gearshift fork. The method allows finding the neutral position of the gearshift fork without a sensor determining the position of the gearshift fork or in the alternative in case such the sensor is defect.
US08346417B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a motor for an electric vehicle. The method and apparatus calculates the current acceleration α of the motor according to the detected rotor position values in real-time, and if the current acceleration α is greater than a predetermined forward acceleration α0, the output torque of the motor is decreased. If the acceleration α is less than a predetermined backward acceleration α1, then the output torque of the motor is decreased. Thus, when the vehicle travels from a normal road surface to a smooth road surface, the decrease or increase output torque may suppress the abrupt speed variations.
US08346415B1
Systems and methods for autonomous underwater navigation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for autonomous underwater navigation comprises an underwater communication network, at least one master controller node coupled to the underwater communication network, at least one network docking node coupled to the underwater communication network, and at least one submersible vehicle for underwater mapping at least a portion of a floor of a body of water. The submersible vehicle comprises a geolocation module to establish a geographic reference for at least one location in the underwater geographic region and an image collection module to collect images of an underwater geographic region proximate the geographic reference.
US08346413B2
The present interface system includes a controller monitoring pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, controlling pressure on a train brake pipe port in response to the pressure on a locomotive brake pipe port, providing ECP commands on an ECP trainline via a train electrical terminal in response to the pressure on the locomotive brake pipe port, and providing electrical power on the ECP trainline via an train electrical trainline terminal from the locomotive electrical trainline terminal. A transceiver is connected to the controller for wireless communication with the controller. A wireless display unit communicates via the transceiver with the controller and displays information from the controller to the operator remote from the interface system and provides inputs from the operator to the controller. The system also includes a three position change over valve. An event recorder and a GPS system may be connected to the controller.
US08346408B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying a number of air states for a vehicle. A deflection of a control surface associated with an actuator is identified to form an identified deflection. A current in the actuator is identified to form a measured current. The number of air states for the vehicle is estimated using the identified deflection and the measured current.
US08346402B2
An intelligent electronic device is operable to use a signal derived from an electrical power delivery system to effectively detect an islanding condition. The intelligent electronic device is configured to compare a frequency deviation (from nominal frequency) and a rate-of-change of frequency of the electrical power delivery system to a protection characteristic of the intelligent electronic device to quickly and securely detect islanding conditions thereby enhancing power protection, automation, control, and monitoring performance. The intelligent electronic device uses local measurements of the electrical power deliver system to provide reliable and economical means to properly separate a generation site from the remainder of the electrical power delivery system. Such may be useful to prevent reclosing out of synchronism.
US08346396B2
An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.
US08346391B1
A system and method can provide a command and control paradigm for integrating robotic assets into human teams. By integrating sensor to detect human interaction, movement, physiology, and location, a net-centric system can permit command of a robotic platform without an OCU. By eliminating the OCU and maintaining the advantages of a robotic platform, a robot can be used in the place of a human without fatigue, being immune to physiological effects, capable of non-humanoid tactics, a longer potential of hours per day on-station, capable of rapid and structured information transfer, has a personality-free response, can operate in contaminated areas, and is line-replaceable with identical responses. A system for controlling a robotic platform can comprise at least one perceiver for collecting information from a human or the environment; a reasoner for processing the information from the at least one perceiver and providing a directive; and at least one behavior for executing the directive of the reasoner.
US08346390B2
This invention relates to a single wheel robot system and its control method. The robot is an intelligent self-control and thus self-balancing unicycle riding robot. The control method is the balance control method of the static imbalance unicycle robot. The single wheel robot includes mechanical body and control system; the body contains a single wheel in the substructure which can rotate around for balance; the control system comprises state sensors, motion controller, servo-driven controllers, and a power system. Among them, the motion controller receive signals from the state sensors, in accordance with control procedures for processing of the received signal, thereby issuing control instructions. The servo drive controller receives the control instructions and controls the motors of the robot to adjust posture to be balanced.
US08346388B1
A system and method for automated piezoelectric sensor-based tactile sorting of plurality of small objects. A high accuracy, high precision delivery system targets the sensor which accounts for softness and mass of individual objects by measuring a force exerted and total contact time for each object upon passing contact with a sensing surface of a piezo sensor, wherein a plurality of objects cascade onto the sensor in one-by-one fashion. The quantified force and contact time values are then analyzed and compared against two threshold values or a range of threshold values which are predetermined and preset based on data from optimal objects and undesirable objects or possibly a spectrum of objects which has been analyzed and recorded to assist in calibrating the system.
US08346385B2
An early-warning apparatus for health detection of a servo motor and a method for operating the same are applied to estimate vibration phenomenon of a CNC tool machine. First, a vibration signal is produced through a vibration detecting unit. Afterward, the vibration signal is sequentially sent to a data buffer. Afterward, the vibration signal is transformed in time and frequency domains through a time-frequency transforming unit. Finally, a deterioration index is calculated through a deterioration index calculating unit to obtain a health index which is calculated through a health index calculating unit. Therefore, the build-in vibration detecting unit is provided to dispense with additional external sensors. Furthermore, the vibration phenomenon of the servo motor of the CNC tool machine is estimated according to the health index, thus analyzing non-linear and non-stationary characteristics of the estimated vibration phenomenon.
US08346380B2
A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving (a) downmix signal being generated from plural-channel signal and (b) spatial information indicating attribute of the plural-channel signal in order to upmix the downmix signal and including phase shift flag indicating whether phase of a frame of at least one channel of the plural-channel signal is shifted; obtaining inter-channel phase difference (IPD) coding flag indicating whether IPD value is used to the spatial information from a header of the spatial information; obtaining IPD mode flag indicating whether the IPD value is used to frame of the spatial information from the frame based on the IPD coding flag; obtaining the IPD value of parameter band in the frame, based on the IPD mode flag; upmixing plural-channel signal by applying the IPD value to the downmix signal; and shifting the phase of the frame of the at least one channel of the plural-channel signal based on the phase shift flag.
US08346373B2
A method and apparatus for creating and accessing an anatomic space between a heart and a pericardial sac. The apparatus includes a catheter having a cryoadhesion member situated on the distal tip of the catheter. The cryoadhesion member is utilized to adhere to the pericardial sac and to retract the sac to create a tent like structure. The catheter allows introduction of an instrument to access the pericardial sac by puncture. The access to the pericardial sac allows delivery of a device, a drug, a biologic or other substance to the heart or the space around the heart.
US08346372B2
An exemplary method includes use of a multielectrode device that can help position a cardiac stimulation lead to an optimal site in the heart based at least in part on cardiac motion information acquired via the multielectrode device and one or more pairs of current delivery electrodes that establish potential fields (e.g., for use as a coordinate system). An exemplary mutlielectrode device may be a multielectrode catheter or a multifilar, electrode-bearing guidewire. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08346367B2
An apparatus and method for improving mobility and/or the quality of synovial fluid of an affected articular joint are disclosed, wherein the joint is associated with at least a first muscle group and at least a second muscle group each having an antagonistic relationship for effecting mobility of the joint through a range of motion when recruited by natural neural impulses. The apparatus and method include an electro-medical device configured to apply motor-level electrical stimulation in a multiphasic pattern via at least a first channel and at least a second channel, the multiphasic pattern being programmed into the electro-medical device and corresponding to the sequence of an electromyographic output for the joint; at least two first electrodes connected to the at least first channel of said electro-medical device, the at least two first electrodes being positioned proximate to the at least first muscle group; at least two second electrodes connected to the at least second channel of said electro-medical device, the at least two second electrodes being positioned proximate to the at least second muscle group; and an applicator configured to be worn on the articular segment such that the at least two first electrodes and the at least two second electrodes are disposed between the applicator and the articular segment, the applicator being further configured to reduce compressive forces on at least one compartment of the affected joint.
US08346357B2
Implementations of various technologies described herein are directed toward a sensing architecture for use in cardiac rhythm management devices. The sensing architecture may provide a method and means for certifying detected events by the cardiac rhythm management device. Moreover, by exploiting the enhanced capability to accurately identifying only those sensed events that are desirable, and preventing the use of events marked as suspect, the sensing architecture can better discriminate between rhythms appropriate for device therapy and those that are not.
US08346349B2
Method and apparatus for predicting patient outcomes from a physiological segmentable patient signal
A method and apparatus for predicting patient outcome from a physiological segmentable signal of a patient. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of obtaining the physiological segmentable signal of the patient; segmenting the physiological segmentable signal into a plurality of separate segmentable components; calculating a time series of the morphological distance between adjacent separate segmentable components of the plurality of separate segmentable components; and predicting patient outcome in response to the time series of the morphological distance. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for extracting information from physiological signals for one or more subjects including the steps of partitioning the physiological signal into a plurality of components, grouping the components into a plurality of information classes, assigning a unique symbol to each information class, mapping each component to the assigned symbol, and examining one or more such sequences for clinical significance.
US08346348B2
An optical coherent cross-sectional image forming apparatus in which light outputted from a light source is divided into a measurement light and a reference light inside the apparatus and in which a cross-sectional image is formed based on a coherent light, produced from a reflected light obtained by emitting the measurement light to a biological tissue through a probe inserted into a body lumen, and the reference light, wherein the apparatus includes a detector for detecting that a transmitting and receiving unit entered inside a guiding catheter for guiding the probe by using data during the axial-direction movement and a controller for stopping at least a portion of a process associated with from generation to holding of the cross-sectional image based on the optical coherence in a case in which it is detected by the detector that the transmitting and receiving unit entered inside the guiding catheter.
US08346346B1
Imaging, testing and/or analysis of subjects are facilitated with a capillary-access approach. According to an example embodiment, a capillary is implanted into a specimen and adapted to accept an optical probe to facilitate optical access into the specimen. In some applications, the capillary is implanted for use over time, with one or more different probes being inserted into the capillary at different times, while the capillary is implanted. Certain applications involve capillary implantation over weeks, months or longer. Other applications are directed to the passage of fluid to and/or from a sample via the capillary. Still other applications are directed to the passage of electrical information between the sample and an external arrangement, via an implanted capillary.
US08346339B2
A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member; a plurality of flexible splines having proximal portions, distal portions and medial portions therein between; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; a tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; and a polymeric member including opposed a first open end and a second open end defining an open lumen therein between and an inner member surface and an outer member surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible splines is at least partially disposed within the lumen of the polymeric member; a flexible electrode assembly strip with one or more exposed electrodes disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymeric member.
US08346333B2
According to embodiments, techniques for estimating scalogram energy values in a wedge region of a scalogram are disclosed. A pulse oximetry system including a sensor or probe may be used to receive a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a patient or subject. A scalogram, corresponding to the obtained PPG signal, may be determined. In an arrangement, energy values in the wedge region of the scalogram may be estimated by calculating a set of estimation locations in the wedge region and estimating scalogram energy values at each location. In an arrangement, scalogram energy values may be estimated based on an estimation scheme and by combining scalogram values in a vicinity region. In an arrangement, the vicinity region may include energy values in a resolved region of the scalogram and previously estimated energy values in the wedge region of the scalogram. In an arrangement, one or more signal parameters may be determined based on the resolved and estimated values of the scalogram.
US08346325B2
Adaptations and improvements to tubular metal powder filters include employing non-circular cross sectional geometries, aligning the inner conductor off-axis, replacing the inner conductive wire with a conductive trace carried on a printed circuit board, combining multiple filters within a single common outer conductive housing, and employing meandering and other non-parallel signal paths. The various adaptations and improvements are designed to accommodate single-ended and differential signaling, as well as superconducting and non-superconducting applications.
US08346317B2
The present disclosure provides an electronic device having rotary input members. The device includes a substantially cylindrical main body, at least one hollow rotary input member rotatably connected to the main body, at least one pair of pads including two pads spaced from each other, arranged on the main body and beneath the at least one rotary input member, at least one selection contact arranged on an internal surface of the at least one rotary input member, and a processing unit. When a closed loop includes a pair of pads, a selection contact and the processing unit is formed, the processing unit determines input characters according to a relationship table.
US08346309B2
A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a case forming an outer appearance of the mobile terminal, a window formed at one surface of the case, a touch sensor located at the window, the touch sensor being configured to detect a touch input through the window, at least one pattern formation unit disposed in the case, the at least one pattern formation unit being configured to project a light pattern in one direction when the touch sensor is activated, and a path variation unit configured to vary the direction of the projected light such that the projected light pattern is directed toward the window.
US08346306B2
A suspend control apparatus, disposed in an electronic device having a SIM card, includes a control unit that switches the state of the SIM card between a suspended state and a resumed state. The control unit determines, based on the state of SIM card access for data communication and the state of the SIM card when the data communication occurs, whether to give priority to SIM card access or switching to the suspended state, and sets the state of the SIM card accordingly.
US08346300B2
A communication terminal optimally switches between the use of multicast reception and unicast reception, in consideration of the mobile radio environment of each terminal. For example, received signal strength indicator information is acquired at a received signal strength indicator information acquisition time calculated using a content reception time. Either multicast reception or unicast reception is selected according to the acquired received signal strength indicator information and content reception is performed. An optimal reception system can be selected and reception failure can be reduced. In addition, by performing a dynamic switching of reception methods as such, the base station-end can perform multicast delivery rather than unicast delivery when possible to communication terminals in favorable mobile radio environments, thereby significantly reducing the traffic load placed on communication paths.
US08346296B2
A user enters a numeric string on a standby screen of a cellular telephone, and then presses a predetermined function key, the numeric string obtained by numerical conversion of a piece of registration information, in accordance with an assignment relationship indicated on numerical keys of the cellular telephone. A database in which numeric data obtained by the numerical conversion of a piece of registration information in accordance with the above-mentioned assignment relationship and the piece of registration information are associated with each other is previously held in the cellular telephone. The database is searched by using the entered numeric string as a search key, so that pieces of registration information associated with numeric data containing the numeric string are extracted. An exactly matching one of the extracted pieces of registration information is sorted in a high rank and displayed.
US08346295B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for implementing a dual-mode keypad for a mobile device. The keypad may operate in a telephony mode and a text-entry mode. The keypad may include a plurality of dual-mode keys that each include an associated telephony character and at least one associated text-entry character. The dual-mode keys may include one or more toggle keys, with each toggle key having a plurality of associated text-entry characters and one associated telephony character. The dual-mode keys may be partially covered by the keypad surface so that a plurality of key surfaces extend from the key and protrude through the keypad surface. In text-entry mode, the dual-mode keys are operable to input text-entry characters. In telephony mode, the dual-mode keys are operable to input telephony characters.
US08346292B2
The present invention provides a method and system for reducing the peak to average power ratio (PAP) of a signal with low computational complexity. According to one embodiment, the present invention is applied to reduce the PAP of an OFDM signal. According to an alternative embodiment, the present invention, is applied to reduce the PAP of a CDMA signal. Rather than seeking the optimum solution, which involves significant computational complexity, the present invention provides for a number of sub-optimal techniques for reducing the PAP of an OFDM signal but with much lower computational complexity.
US08346269B2
A mobile network system includes a guidance message control server, a call control server and access gateways. The call control server receives a call request notification from a first access gateway, determines whether a second access gateway is connected to a second mobile terminal, transmits a message transmission instruction to the guidance message control server and transmits a response message including a same group specifying information. The guidance message control server receives the message transmission instruction from the call control server, acquires guidance message data specified by a message specifying information and multicast transmits the guidance message data to a multicast group specified by the group specifying information. The first access gateway receives a call connection request from the first mobile terminal and transmits the call request notification to the call control server, performs multicast group participation processing for participating in the multicast group and transmits the guidance message data.
US08346259B2
The invention provides a method for hand-over of a terminal from a first base station to a second base station, radio network element, terminal, base station and a communication system. The method for hand-over of a terminal from a first base station to a second base station, wherein said first base station is EV-DO enabled in an access network and said second base station is not EV-DO enabled, said method comprising: transmitting an EV-DO pilot signal from said second base station to said terminal; sending a route update message including an EV-DO pilot strength from said terminal if said EV-DO pilot strength is above a predetermined threshold; calculating a CDMA pilot strength based on said EV-DO pilot strength; and performing the hand-over of said terminal to said second base station when CDMA pilot strength is above the hand-over threshold.
US08346254B2
The present invention relates to a method for registering a mobile terminal in a mobile radio communication system. The mobile radio communication system comprises at least one mobile radio communication core network and at least one IMS core network. The mobile terminal is located within a radio access network associated to the at least one mobile radio communication core network and comprises at least a first and a second periodic registration timer for respectively registering the mobile terminal with the at least one mobile radio communication core network and the at least one IMS core network upon their respective expiry. The method comprises the step of registering the mobile terminal with the mobile radio communication core network and with the at least one second network as any one of the at least first and second periodic registration timers, which is first to expire, expires.
US08346250B1
A method and system is disclosed for enhanced Simultaneous Hybrid Dual Receive operation. A hybrid access terminal engaged in an IS-856 data communication in a hybrid IS-2000/IS-856 wireless communication system will use its high-gain antenna to conduct IS-2000 tuneaway scans when the access terminal determines that the IS-2000 signal received from its serving base station is below a level that can be reliably detected by its low-gain antenna. At the same time, the access terminal will continue to use its low-gain antenna to engage in the ongoing IS-856 communication, thereby avoiding interruption of the IS-856 communication by IS-2000 tuneaway scans, even when RF conditions are sub-optimal. The access terminal may apply a DRC offset to its DRC request when using just its low-gain antenna for IS-856 communications.
US08346247B2
A system and method are provided for monitoring the quality of a communication session with a mobile device. Should the communication session degrade, rather than dropping the communication session the user of a device communicating with the mobile device is prompted to wait while an attempt is made to improve the quality of the communication session. Similarly if the user of the mobile device moves out of a coverage area, rather than dropping the communication session the user of the device communicating with the mobile device is prompted to wait until a new communication session can be established.
US08346245B2
The present disclosure generally relates to methods for improving wireless communications. Example embodiments include placing a wireless communication obstacle at an optimal or approximately optimal position to improve one or more characteristics of a wireless communication link between two wireless communication devices. The wireless communication obstacle may be adapted to absorb or reflect one or more wireless communications from other wireless communication devices to prevent and/or reduce interference with the wireless communication link between the two wireless communication devices.
US08346244B2
A method and a device are provided for testing a mobile station's capability of processing at least two channels in a resource unit is provided, wherein a base station provides a test message to the mobile station; wherein the mobile station's capability of processing the at least two channels is determined based upon the mobile station's feedback. Further, a communication system comprising such a device is suggested.
US08346240B2
A method and system, for completing a call to a mobile subscriber having one or more zones defined, where the calling party is presented options for call completion based on the distance and direction of the called mobile subscriber in relation to his zones and presence inside a perimeter around his zone. The call completion comprising; call back, notification by SMS or notification by voice message on entry or exit of the area enclosed by the perimeter, or connect with additional charges for the calling party.
US08346239B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for silence insertion descriptor (SID) conversion are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for silence insertion descriptor (SID) conversion. The method includes receiving a wireless frame, the frame identifying a first node as a frame source and a second node as a frame destination; determining whether tandem-free operation (TFO) is applicable; responsive to a determination that TFO is applicable, determining whether the frame is a SID frame; responsive to a determination that the frame is a SID frame, determining whether the SID format used by the first node is incompatible with the SID format used by the second node; and responsive to a determination that the SID format used by the first node is incompatible with the SID format used by the second node, converting the SID frame from the SID format used by the first node to the SID format used by the second node.
US08346238B2
A method for communicating in a wireless communication network includes establishing a first direct communication link with a base transceiver station and communicating data associated with a communication session over the first direct communication link. The method also includes establishing a mesh connection to the base transceiver station. The mesh connection includes at least one mesh communication link with at least one intermediate communication device of a plurality of communication devices in the wireless network, the at least one intermediate communication device communicating with the base transceiver station over a second direct communication link with the base transceiver station. The method further includes switching between communicating data associated with the communication session over the first direct communication link and communicating data associated with the communication session over the mesh connection.
US08346234B2
An electronic device, for example, a laptop computer includes a processor, a transceiver module, for example, a Bluetooth module and a memory. The memory includes a platform proximity agent, which may be implemented as a series of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive a Bluetooth signal from a corresponding provisioned Bluetooth device, for example, a cellular telephone. Next, determine whether the received signal exceeds both a strength threshold level and a predetermined time threshold level, where the signal strength and time threshold levels are established when the laptop and a corresponding cell phone are paired during a provisioning process. When the received signal strength and duration both exceed the corresponding policy based thresholds, the laptop enters (or remains in) a full power state with full access to the monitor and the platform. On the other hand, when the received signal strength and duration both fall below (or are less than) the corresponding policy based threshold, the laptop enters (or remains in) a reduced power, or locked state.
US08346228B2
A method of and system for providing interactive services to a mobile device, comprising transmitting programming on-air to a first mobile device by a first facility in communication with a service provider and receiving by a second facility in communication with the service provider information based on the programming, wherein the first information comprises information relayed from the first device to the second facility after being processed by a second mobile device, is provided.
US08346224B2
An improved system and method for rating subscribers based on wireless subscriber specific credentials. A wireless network operator, or a content/application provider assigns to a subscriber a unique username. For purposes of providing rating or feedback information, the assigned username acts uniquely to identify the subscriber, whose actual identity therefore remains anonymous. The subscriber uses his or her mobile phone to access a mobile telephony network. Evaluators may offer feedback or ratings of the subscriber using the internet.
US08346219B1
A method and system are provided for delivering calling party notifications. An artificial intelligence software application located on an Intelligence Rules Server is operable to infer why a first call to a mobile station is not connected and predict when a second call to a mobile station is likely to be connected. The application communicates the inference and the prediction to a voice messaging system. The voice messaging system delivers a message to a calling party based on the inference and/or the prediction.
US08346212B2
Methods and systems for resource and utilization management of telecommunications devices within an enterprise, where the enterprise contracts for telecommunications service from one or more service providers, comprising components configured to receive quantity data corresponding to the amount of telecommunications service used by the enterprise per period into a resource management system including a microprocessor executing programmed instructions, group telecommunications devices into pools of shared use for the telecommunications service, the pools of shared use including one or more telecommunication devices, analyze for each telecommunications device telecommunications services plans available from the service providers to determine the total quantity of telecommunications service provided by the service providers and the cost per unit of telecommunications service, select selected telecommunications service plans for each telecommunications device that accommodate a target quantity of projected telecommunications service use per period, and subscribe the telecommunications devices to the selected service plans.
US08346211B2
Embodiments are directed to managing a prepaid server-arbitrated group communication session within a wireless communications system. A server receives, from a session originator, a request to setup a prepaid group communication session with at least one session target, the prepaid group communication session requiring each session participant to have an available prepaid account balance above a threshold level. The server sends a query to an online charging system to determine whether at least the session originator has a prepaid account with an available balance at least equal to the threshold level. The server initiates setup of the requested prepaid group communication session without waiting to receive a response to the query, thereby reducing latency associated with set-up of the prepaid group communication session.
US08346209B2
A system and method remotely monitor a plurality of meters in a non-wireless service network using a wireless system transmitting short message service messages separate from the non-wireless service network. The system includes a query computer for generating a query message including a command to a selected meter of the plurality of meters, for processing a reply message from the selected meter, with the reply message including a response to the command from the selected meter, and for storing the response in a memory; and a wireless telecommunications network for transmitting completely wirelessly the query message and for transmitting the reply message completely wirelessly from the selected meter to the query computer, for remotely and wirelessly monitoring at least the selected meter in the non-wireless service network. The response in the reply message includes data in a SMS message in a Global System for Mobile Communications format.
US08346207B2
A location and control system automatically locates, identifies, and corrects faults on a distribution system. The fault location and control system includes a central computer connected at one end of the distribution network and one casing installed at various locations along the distribution network. Each casing encloses a radio transceiver, plus an amplitude modulation detector connected to the radio transceiver. Each casing is installed at a predetermined distance from each other. When a fault is produced in the distribution line, each of the amplitude modulation detectors adjacent to a place where the fault is produced emits a signal that is detected by the central computer. The central computer detects and compares the location of the place where the fault is produced by comparing the time of arrival of the signals. The central computer may then automatically or manually disconnect any part of the distribution network in order to extinguish the fault arc.
US08346201B2
An asynchronous FIFO interface having a readout clock asynchronous with a write clock is provided. The asynchronous FIFO interface includes a FIFO buffer, a clock controller, a reference source and a signal source. The FIFO buffer receives a digital signal from an ADC according to the write clock and outputs a digital signal to a processor according to the readout clock. The clock controller outputs a clock control signal according to the amount of data stored in the FIFO buffer. The reference source provides an oscillation frequency. The signal source divides the oscillation frequency by a first integer divisor to generate a reference frequency, divides the readout clock by a second integer divisor to generate an input frequency, and outputs a control signal by comparing the reference frequency with the input frequency.
US08346200B2
A low-noise block converter comprises a low-noise amplifier, a local oscillator, a mixer, an IF-amplifier and a regulator. The low-noise amplifier amplifies a high-band received signal. The local oscillator generates a local-frequency signal. The mixer transforms the high-band received signal into an intermediate-frequency signal by mixing the high-band received signal with the generated local-frequency signal. The IF-amplifier amplifies the intermediate-frequency signal. The regulator is connected to the IF-amplifier to provide a steady current (or voltage) to the local oscillator, the mixer and the low-noise amplifier.
US08346197B2
A method of dynamically compensating a movement of a source communicating entity relative to a destination communicating entity comprising a set of destination antennas, an antenna data signal transmitted by a source antenna of the source communicating entity being pre-equalized by time reversing an estimated propagation channel between said source antenna and a reference destination antenna at a current time, the method comprising the iterative steps of the destination communicating entity estimating a current focus, estimating movement of the current focus, and selecting, for the next time period, a reference destination antenna for estimating the propagation channel and a target destination antenna for receiving said data signal.
US08346195B2
A time shifting device receives a full broadcast band, such as the FM radio band, demodulates the received full broadcast band into each component broadcast channel, and stores the program signal received from each broadcast channel in a buffer, thereby enabling continuous time-shifting of the content without requiring any prior program pre-selection. The disclosed time shifting device includes an analog to digital converter which digitizes an analog broadband radiofrequency signal, which may include some or all allocated broadcast channels of the targeted broadcast band, into a digital broadband radiofrequency signal. A digital filter and demodulation circuit demodulates the digitized broadband signal into individual datastreams corresponding to the various broadcast channels contained in the broadcast band. The datastreams are stored in a circular buffer for selective playback by a user. Program metadata may be utilized to identify and select programs for playback.
US08346183B2
Methods and apparatus for using an insert molding process to form a tactilely seamless overall part from component parts that are made from different materials are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a housing includes a first part formed from a first material and a second part formed from a second material that is of a different type than the first material. The first part includes a first external surface and a first bonding surface, and the second part includes a second external surface and a second bonding surface. The second bonding surface can be integrally bonded to the first bonding surface so that the first external surface and the second external surface form a gap-free overall surface.
US08346181B2
Methods and systems for power combining in a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include power combining signals from power amplifiers (PAs) on a chip. The PAs may be coupled to a single distributed antenna via antenna ports. A phase of each of the signals may be matched at the antenna ports via phase-matching circuitry. A characteristic impedance may be configured at the ports based on a location of the ports. The PAs may be impedance matched to the antenna ports via impedance matching elements. A power level of the power-combined signals may be monitored via a power detector coupled to the distributed antenna. The power detector may include an envelope detector, such as a diode. The antenna may be integrated on the chip or may be located external to the chip. The signals may include RF signals and the antenna may include a microstrip antenna.
US08346173B2
A method and system facilitate inter-cell interference cancellation in a wireless network. An RNTI component manages a set of radio network temporary identifiers (RNTIs) for a plurality of user equipment (UE). The RNTI component determines whether the UEs will likely cause interference with a neighboring cell and/or experience interference from a neighboring cell, based on a respective attribute of the UEs. The RNTI component includes a space splitting component that divides the set of RNTIs into at least two subsets based on the determination, and allocates a first group of the UEs that are determined to likely cause interference and/or experience interference to a first subset of the divided RNTIs, such that the UEs in the first group are allocated a corresponding one of the RNTIs among the first subset of RNTIs. An implicit broadcast component can implicitly broadcast the first subset of RNTIs to facilitate cancellation of interference possibly caused by the first group of UEs.
US08346171B1
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with reducing interference between wireless networks are described. In one embodiment, a method negotiates wirelessly between a first device and a second device for a quiet interval. The first device and the second device communicate wirelessly via a first network according to a first wireless protocol. The first and second devices are within a wireless area of a second network that communicates with a second wireless protocol. The method controls wireless transmission of data from at least one device on the first network by prohibiting transmissions during the quiet interval. Prohibiting transmissions during the quiet interval creates a reduced interference time period for wireless communications from the second network.
US08346163B2
A system for distributing radio frequency signals using a data cable system includes a method and components that receive a radio frequency (RF) signal, identify at least one unoccupied channel on the data cable system, convert the RF signal to the frequency associated with an unoccupied channel as a converted signal, insert the converted signal into the cable, extract the converted signal from the cable as an extracted signal, convert the extracted signal to a transmission frequency as a transmission signal, and transmit the transmission signal at the transmission frequency.
US08346157B1
Systems and methods for providing customization in asymmetric communication are disclosed. An excess of information is broadcast from a transmitter to multiple receivers in what is optionally a one-way transmission. The excess of information includes metadata used to select which subset of the excess of information is presented to a user and which subset of the excess of information is discarded. The metadata includes criteria that are compared with various, possibly different, customization factors stored on each of the multiple receivers. This comparison is used to determine which subsets of the excess information are presented and which are discarded. Because the customization factors can be different on different receivers, customization of the presented information is achieved. The customization factors optionally include geographic information resulting in customization based on a receiver location. The excess information optionally includes radio or television signals. In some embodiments, a nationally broadcast signal results in the presentation of advertisements, where the presentation is customized to a specific location.
US08346147B2
A fixing unit includes a heating roll, an endless belt and a pressing body having a hard pressing member and a soft pressing member. The hard pressing member is placed on a downstream of a passage direction of a record medium in a press contact part and forms higher hardness than an elastic layer of the heating roll. The soft pressing member is placed on an upstream of the passage direction from the hard pressing member, and forms lower hardness than the elastic layer. The press contact part is formed in a state in which a first press contact portion of the hard pressing member is longer than a second press contact portion of the soft pressing member. The hard pressing member has an end part opposed to the heating roll on the upstream. The end part has a face approaching the heating roll from the upstream to the downstream.
US08346140B2
A belt driving apparatus for rotationally driving a belt member, the belt driving apparatus includes a stretching member for stretching the belt member; a steering section including a steering member having a rotatable portion which is rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion slidable relative to the belt member and provided at each of longitudinal outsides of the rotatable portion, and further including a supporting section supporting the steering member, and a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting section, the steering section being effective to steer the belt member by inclining the steering member by a force produced by sliding between the frictional portion and the belt member; and a resisting force applying section for applying a resisting force against inclination of the steering member, the resisting force increasing with increase of a rate of change of an inclination angle of the steering member with respect to time.
US08346138B2
An intermediate transfer unit includes first to third movement controllers. When a first image carrier is used, the first movement controller moves a first moving member to a first position. When the first image carrier is not used, the first movement controller moves the first moving member to a second position. When second image carriers are used, the third movement controller moves a third moving member to a fifth position. When the second image carriers are not used, the third movement controller moves the third moving member to a sixth position. When any of the first and second image carriers is used, the second movement controller moves a second moving member to a third position. When the first and second image carriers are not used, the second movement controller moves the second moving member to a fourth position.
US08346137B2
A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a two-component developer; a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying the developer, a fixed magnet including a release pole for releasing the developer from the developer bearing member, being fixed to the inside of the developer bearing member; and a backflow prevention member that is a sheet-shaped member disposed along the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member so as to be upstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member as viewed from the release pole, the backflow prevention member being disposed so that a proximal end portion thereof is fixed to an inside surface of the developing container, and a distal end portion thereof is in contact with or adjacent to the developer bearing member and facing downstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member.
US08346133B2
A laser printer includes a contact/separation mechanism that linearly moves developing cartridges between contact positions where the developing cartridges contact corresponding photosensitive drums and separating positions where the developing cartridges separate from the photosensitive drums. The contact/separation mechanism includes a pair of contact/separation members and a synchronous moving mechanism. The contact/separation members are disposed one on one side of the developing cartridges and another on another side of the developing cartridges. The synchronous moving mechanism is for linearly moving the contact/separation members in synchronization with each other.
US08346125B2
A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge that has a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, and a transmission gear. The developing gear supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. The input gear includes a contact portion that is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force and a gear portion. The input gear rotates about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The gear portion has a pitch circle defined by being meshingly engaged with the transmission gear. The pitch circle of the gear portion is arranged to overlap with the contact portion in the axial direction of the input gear.
US08346120B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a medium conveyance unit; an image recording unit; and recording unit support portions. The image recording unit is supported by the medium conveyance unit in an undetachable manner for a user who uses the image forming apparatus. The recording unit support portions have a first support portion and a second support portion which are disposed in the image recording unit on a side of an outlet and are spaced from each other in a width direction of a medium conveyed, and a third support portion which is disposed in the image recording unit on an opposite side to the outlet. At least the first support portion and the second support portion are supported on the side of the outlet of the medium conveyance unit.
US08346106B2
A fixing device includes a fixing member including a recording medium passing area inside thereof through which the recording medium passes, a first heater disposed in the fixing member to heat the fixing member, a first pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member to press against and rotate the fixing member to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording medium, a second heater disposed outside the recording medium passing area and inside the fixing member to heat the fixing member cyclically in a given cycle of heating, a temperature detector to detect a change in the temperature of the fixing member when the fixing member is cyclically heated by the second heater, and a determination unit to evaluate a condition of rotation of the fixing member based on the cycle of heating by the second heater and the cycle of change in the temperature detected by the temperature detector.
US08346104B2
An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge. In the case where the process cartridge is a fresh cartridge, after toner (developer) is sufficiently fed to a developer carrying member in the entire longitudinal area of the developer carrying member, an initializing operation for depositing the toner on a contact portion between an image bearing member and a cleaning blade.
US08346103B2
The present invention provides a destination dedicating apparatus including a destination information reading section and a destination information recording section. The destination information reading section is configured to read destination information from a storage area mounted on a consumable good when the consumable good is first mounted into a printing apparatus. The destination information recording section is configured to record the destination information read above into a storage area provided in the printing apparatus to thereby set the printing apparatus to a dedicated machine for the consumable good having the specific destination information.
US08346098B2
A receiving apparatus is provided, which includes: a photoelectric detector (PD), adapted to generate current signals according to optical signals projected on the PD and digitally modulated at a high or low rate; a first switch, adapted to switch to output the high-rate or low-rate current signals; a first transimpedance amplifier (TIA), adapted to amplify the high-rate current signals into high-rate voltage signals; and a second TIA, adapted to amplify the received low-rate current signals into low-rate voltage signals. Therefore, in the present invention, high-rate and low-rate receiving paths are completely separated. This provides signals with good quality and avoids signal deterioration; and switching between the high-rate and low-rate receiving paths simplifies the structure and lowers costs.
US08346097B1
A method comprises: receiving an RF signal; providing an RF signal level; setting a DC optical power level at one of at least two levels depending on whether the RF signal level is above or below an RF threshold; and modulating with the RF signal optical output power about the DC optical power level. An apparatus comprises: a light source; an RF detector arranged to receive the RF signal and to provide the RF signal level; an optical power control circuit coupled to the RF detector and to the light source that includes a comparator and is arranged to set the DC optical power level according to the RF signal level; and an optical modulator coupled to the light source and arranged to receive the RF signal and to modulate therewith optical output power about the DC set point.
US08346095B2
A method for providing access to a passive optical network for services to homes or businesses from two or more telecommunications service providers and a billing means is described. A first service provider connects to a point of presence at one side of passive optical network. The provider transmits the appropriate services through this network to an authorization receiver. The authorization receiver is used to receive a periodic authorization code from the network provider to enable the appropriate services from the service provider to be transmitted to a subscriber at a home or business. The authorization receiver enables an optical fiber path to be established for the services to flow to and from the home or business. The authorization code that is transmitted through the network also provides an unambiguous means to provide a billing record such that the service provider can be billed by the network provider on an individual service address connected basis in conjunction with a record of houses passed and not yet connected.
US08346091B2
A distributed antenna system is provided for communicating with a plurality of base stations. The distributed antenna system includes a system controller and a master unit communicating with at least one of the plurality of base stations. A remote unit communicates over a high data rate media with the master unit and/or a downstream remote unit. Alternatively, the distributed antenna system includes a controller and a digital time/space crosspoint switch controlled by the controller. A digitizing transceiver is in communication with the digital time/space crosspoint switch. The crosspoint switch is configured to transmit and receive digital data through the digitizing transceiver.
US08346090B2
A supply facility supplies fluid to a movable object through a feed pipe connected with a connection port of the movable object. A feed connector of the feed pipe is rotatable around its axis when the feed pipe is connected with the connection port. At least one of the feed pipe of the supply facility and the movable object has multiple infrared communication elements. When the feed connector of the feed pipe is connected with the connection port of the movable object, at least one of the infrared communication elements is communicable with an infrared communication device on the other side via an infrared communication, regardless of the rotation phase.
US08346087B2
Embodiments of a system that includes an array of chip modules (CMs) is described. In this system, a given CM in the array includes a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals with one or more adjacent CMs through electromagnetic proximity communication using proximity connectors. Note that the proximity connectors are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. Moreover, the given CM is configured to communicate optical signals with other CMs through an optical signal path using optical communication, and the optical signals are encoded using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM).
US08346082B2
According to a method of reducing power in an optical access network, upon the application of power, an optical network terminal (ONT) operates normally in an activation mode. The ONT then determines whether the requirements for switching from activation mode to power-saving mode are satisfied. If the requirements are satisfied, the ONT transmits a sleep signal to an optical line terminal (OLT), which is a message notifying that the ONT will soon switch to power-saving mode. Thereafter, the ONT switches to power-saving mode and cuts off power for all functions except for power for monitoring and controlling external inputs. The ONT then determines whether the requirements for switching from power-saving mode to activation mode are satisfied. If the requirements are satisfied, the ONT transmits a wake-up signal to the OLT and switches to the activation mode for normal operation.
US08346081B2
Methods and apparatus are described for “Smart” RF over Glass (RFoG) CPE Unit with Seamless PON Upgrade Capability. A method includes operating a customer premises equipment device including transporting upstream cable return services with a laser; and switching a drive source for the upstream laser from an analog driver to a digital driver by using a managed electrical switch to reuse a wavelength of the laser. An apparatus includes a customer premises equipment device including a laser for transporting upstream cable return services; and a managed electrical switch coupled to the laser that is used to switch a drive source for the upstream laser to reuse a wavelength of the laser.
US08346072B2
Methods and devices for implementing a camera restriction on a wireless handheld communication device. As more handheld devices incorporate camera functionalities, organizations and individuals with privacy concerns are more vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure. The camera restriction prevents a user from taking a picture of a subject if the device has not been steadily focused on the subject in question for a predetermined period of time. In short, this process extends the normal camera-taking procedure and thus requires the camera user to take pictures in a conspicuous manner—the rationale being that a camera user would be less likely to take unauthorized pictures if such actions could be easily recognized. The camera restriction can be communicated to the device via a wireless communication network. Additionally, the restrictions and boundaries can be communicated to the device as part of an IT security policy.
US08346069B2
A water heating apparatus includes a water tank and at least one heating member mounted inside the water tank. The heating member includes a heating body, at least a multi-layer conductive coating of nano-thickness deposited on the heating body, and electrodes coupled to the multi-layer conductive coating. The multi-layer conductive coating includes a structure and composition which stabilize performance of the heating member at high temperature. The heating body can be made of ceramic glass in the form of a flat plate.
US08346066B2
An image pick-up apparatus is provided, which is provided with a recording medium, a image processing unit, a display, and a controlling unit. The recording medium stores plural continuous image frames of one scene. The image processing unit adds and combines a predetermined number of image frames among the plural image frames stored in the recording medium to successively produce image frames H for reproduction. The display switches the image frames for reproduction at a reproducing frame rate to reproduce a moving image. The controlling unit sets the number of image frames to be added and combined by the image processing unit in accordance with a reproducing speed of the moving image, whereby the moving image is reproduced with noises reduced at various reproducing speeds.
US08346060B2
A system for creating customized audiovisual content is provided. The system includes a location cue system for providing a plurality of synchronized location cues to direct a plurality of movement sequences for an actor. A speech cue system for providing a plurality of synchronized speech cues to direct a plurality of spoken sequences for the actor. A sequence controller for receiving location cue data and speech cue data and controlling the location cue system and the speech cue system.
US08346058B2
Disclosed is a replay apparatus including a reading unit, a display control unit, a storage unit to store a predetermined display limited letter string and a judging unit to judge whether the predetermined display limited letter string stored in the storage unit exists in the letter string which is based on the text data constituting the predetermined replay data read by the reading unit or not, and when the judging unit judges that the predetermined display limited letter string stored in the storage unit exists in the letter string which is based on the text data constituting the predetermined replay data read by the reading unit, the display control unit carries out a predetermined process to the judged display limited letter string in order not to display the judged display limited letter string in the predetermined display apparatus.
US08346056B2
A method and apparatus are provided for processing video. The method includes the steps of a security system providing video of a secured area, a security person monitoring the provided video, the security person superimposing markings onto one or more frames of the monitored video through a display of the monitored video and the security system saving one or more video frames and markings within a set of respective files of a memory device where the video frames occupy a first file of the set of respective files and the markings occupy a second file of the set of files, where the first and second files are different and where the markings are related to the corresponding one or more video frames via a cross reference.
US08346052B2
In an HDMI-connected AV system, bidirectional data transmission between two devices is implemented at low cost. An audio amplifying device serving as an HDMI source and a display device as an HDMI sink are connected additionally using an auxiliary transmission path such as IEEE 1394, so that the data received by the display device 3 from another device is transmitted to the audio amplifying device 2 over the auxiliary transmission path. In this setup, the display device 3 generates a CTS based on a clock regenerated by ACR and on a TMDS clock received from the audio amplifying device 2 via the HDMI, and transmits the CTS over the auxiliary transmission path along with a frequency dividing ratio N. The audio amplifying device generates an audio signal clock from the CTS and N thus received.
US08346045B2
A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of fiber optic splitter modules mounted within the chassis. Each splitter module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the splitter module through a front opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the splitter module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. The adapters mounted within the interior of the chassis are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a fiber optic splitter module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
US08346025B2
An apparatus 100 that comprises a planar electro-optic modulator 110 being located on a substrate 105 and including a waveguide 115 and electrical contacts 120. The waveguide that includes first and second substantially straight segments 122, and a curved segment 126 that serially end-connects the first and second substantially straight segments such that light 130 travels in a substantially anti-parallel manner in the first and second substantially straight segments. The electrical contacts being located adjacent the first and second substantially straight segments and being connected to produce constructively adding phase modulations on an optical carrier passing through the segments.
US08346023B2
A computer peripheral apparatus (CPA) provided for connecting to a computer. The CPA includes a CPA processor to execute a CPA program to independently and directly carry out a document processing function without receiving an instruction from a computer. In an exemplary embodiment, the CPA includes a scanner for scanning a document and the CPA processor executes a optical character recognition (OCR) program to directly recognize characters included in the document scanned by the scanner. In another exemplary embodiment, the characters recognized by the OCR program further include instructions for instructing the CPA processor to execute a subsequent program to process the document scanned by the scanner. In another exemplary embodiment, the characters recognized by the OCR program further includes instructions for instructing the CPA processor to send a facsimile of the document scanned by the scanner to a facsimile destination. In another exemplary embodiment, the characters recognized by the OCR program further includes instructions for instructing the CPA processor to save the document recognized by the OCR program as a text file in a data storage as part of the CPA processor.
US08346019B2
Image generation method and apparatus, program therefor, and storage medium which stores the program
An image generation method for generating image information of a color signal Y of an image A by using a color signal X of image A, and color signal X and color signal Y of an image B. The presence or absence of a point in color signal X of image B corresponding to each pixel position of color signal X of image A, and the position of the relevant corresponding point are estimated. To each estimated pixel position in color signal Y of image A, image information of the corresponding position in the second color signal Y of image B is assigned. Color signal Y at a pixel position in image A for which it is estimated that there is no corresponding point is generated by using the image information of color signal Y assigned to pixels having a corresponding point.
US08346015B2
The image processing method includes: (a) detecting a face area or face areas in each of the plurality of images; (b) setting an all-face-inclusion area that includes all of the face areas detected in the operation (a) for each of the plurality of images; (c) setting a plurality of unit areas where the images are to be arranged by dividing the layout area on the basis of the number of the images and the layout area itself; (d) selecting a maximum-face-number image, which is an image that includes the maximum number of the face areas detected in the operation (a).
US08346013B2
An image processing apparatus includes a defined binary image generating unit configured to generate a defined binary image associated with a level image, which is associated with an input image, the level image having pixel values of pixels represented using a first value, by regarding a pixel as a defined or undefined region pixel and setting the pixel to have a predetermined second or third value; and an estimated foreground color image generation unit configured to generate an estimated foreground color image associated with the input image, by setting the pixel values of the pixels regarded as the undefined region pixels in the defined binary image to pixel values of pixels in the input image corresponding to pixels for which distances each obtained from an integrated value of the amounts of change in continuity information are shortest from among the pixels that are regarded as the defined region pixels.
US08346011B2
A computer-implemented method for reducing noise in an image includes receiving a first image in a computer system. The first image depicts an interior of an item and is generated using a technique that provides imaging at selected depths in the item. The first image represents a first interior section having a first thickness. The method includes determining a modification for the first image using a second image of the interior. The second image represents a second interior section encompassing the first interior section and has a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The method includes storing the modification in association with the first image.
US08346010B2
An image processing device that can highly precisely correct an image with a degraded image quality due to the unnecessary diffracted light generated in the optical system including the diffractive optical element is provided. The image processing device includes an evaluation area setting unit (111) which detects a saturated pixel having a saturated luminance value, from among pixels included in the image and to set an area in the image including the detected saturated pixel as an evaluation area, a pixel count calculating unit (112) which calculates a pixel count for each of luminance values of pixels included in the set evaluation area, a first luminance value determining unit (113) which determines a first luminance value indicating a maximum luminance of an image of the unnecessary diffracted light, based on a transition of calculated pixel counts arranged in order of luminance value, a second luminance value determining unit (114) which determines a second luminance value which is a luminance value corresponding to a background of the image, and a correction unit (116) which corrects a luminance value of a pixel of luminance lower than luminance of the first luminance value and higher than luminance of the second luminance value from among the pixels included in the evaluation area so as to lower the luminance of the pixel.
US08345987B2
A method of creating an analysis model includes the steps of storing first shape information in association with instruction information that is used for creating the analysis model and that includes shape feature information about a connecting part in the first shape information; comparing second shape information with the first shape information associated with the instruction information; determining whether a difference between the first shape information and the second shape information is within an allowable range for the shape feature information included in the instruction information; and setting the instruction information if the difference between the first shape information and the second shape information is within the allowable range.
US08345984B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to recognize human action from one or more video frames by performing 3D convolutions to capture motion information encoded in multiple adjacent frames and extracting features from spatial and temporal dimensions therefrom; generating multiple channels of information from the video frames, combining information from all channels to obtain a feature representation for a 3D CNN model; and applying the 3D CNN model to recognize human actions.
US08345982B2
Embodiments enable searching of portions of objects in images, including programmatically analyzing each image in a collection in order to determine image data that, for individual images in the collection, represents one or more visual characteristics of a portion of an object shown in that image. A user is enabled to specify one or more search criteria that includes image data, and a search result may be determined based on one or more images in the collection that show a corresponding object that has a portion that satisfies a threshold. The threshold is defined at least in part by the one or more search criteria.
US08345969B2
A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production.
US08345963B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating the usage of an online workforce to remotely monitor security-sensitive sites and report potential security breaches. In some embodiments, cameras are configured to monitor critical civilian infrastructure, such as water supplies and nuclear reactors. The cameras are operatively connected to a central computer or series of computers, and images captured by the cameras are transmitted to the central computer. After initially registering with the central computer, Guardians “log on” to a central website hosted by the central computer and monitor the images, thereby earning compensation. Site owners compensate the operator of the computer system for this monitoring service, and the operator in turn compensates Guardians based on, for example, (i) the amount of time spent monitoring, and/or (ii) the degree of a given Guardian's responsiveness to real or fabricated security breaches.
US08345956B2
Two-dimensional (2D) video is converted into multi-view video. The 2D video is segmented to generate a temporally consistent segmented 2D video which is made up of a sequence of segmented frames. The multi-view video is generated by employing user-guided operations to generate depth assignments for the segments associated with user-assigned regions of the segmented frames, where a user-assigned region is formed from a group of contiguous segments selected by the user.
US08345945B2
A technique for correcting translational and rotational motion of an object, such as an object in a magnetic field, utilizes the k-space representation of the object. An initial region in the k-space representation is used as a motion-free reference region, indicative of the motion-free object. Motion-free data adjacent to the initial region are then estimated by extrapolating from the initial region, and the extrapolated data are subsequently used to estimate motion by correlating it with actual data. Segments adjacent to the initial region are then motion corrected and incorporated into an expanding base region. The expanded base region is used in subsequent correction steps. This process is continued until the entire k-space is motion-corrected. Two different extrapolation methods were used for the purpose of motion estimation: edge enhancement and finite-support solution. One technique is utilized near the k-space center and the other is utilized in the outer k-space regions.
US08345944B2
A method and system for extracting coronary vessels fluoroscopic image sequences using coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are disclosed. A set of mask images of a coronary region is received, and a sequence of contrast images for the coronary region is received. For each contrast image, vessel regions are detected in the contrast image using learning-based vessel segment detection and a background region of the contrast image is determined based on the detected vessel regions. Background motion is estimated between one of the mask images and the background region of the contrast image by estimating a motion field between the mask image and the background image and performing covariance-based filtering over the estimated motion field. The mask image is then warped based on the estimated background motion to generate an estimated background layer. The estimated background layer is subtracted from the contrast image to extract a coronary vessel layer for the contrast image.
US08345932B2
A system, method and program product for processing biometric data. A biometric data processing system is disclosed that includes: at least one signal acquisition system for collecting biometric input; a feature extraction system for extracting feature vectors from the biometric input; and a support vector machine (SVM) having a plurality of kernel functions, wherein each kernel function is configured for mapping a feature vector to a high dimensional hyperspace structure.
US08345920B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a gesture recognition interface system. The interface system may comprise at least one light source positioned to illuminate a first side of a light-diffusive screen. The interface system may also comprise at least one camera positioned on a second side of the light-diffusive screen, the second side being opposite the first side, and configured to receive a plurality of images based on a brightness contrast difference between the light-diffusive screen and an input object. The interface system may further comprise a controller configured to determine a given input gesture based on changes in relative locations of the input object in the plurality of images. The controller may further be configured to initiate a device input associated with the given input gesture.
US08345918B2
A method of surveilling a subject including a person's body may include or an imaging system may provide interrogating the subject with electromagnetic radiation, and generating, from the interrogating, image data representative of at least a first image of at least a portion of the person's body. In some examples, a first portion of the body may be identified, and a first feature of the image may be determined based at least partially on the identified portion of the body. In some examples, the orientation of the person's body may be determined from one or more features of one or more image portions. In some examples, a portion of the image of the person's body may be replaced with a substitute image portion that may be a modified portion of the first image.
US08345910B2
The present invention relates generally to microphone devices useful, for example, in hearing aid devices. The present invention relates more particularly to tunable microphone devices, and methods used to tune them. One aspect of the present invention is a microphone device that includes at least one microphone element. Each microphone element comprises a diaphragm suspended by a substrate; a solid electrolyte disposed on the diaphragm; an anode electrically coupled to the solid electrolyte; and a cathode electrically coupled to the solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode, such that ions flowing from the anode to the cathode travel through the solid electrolyte and electrons can flow in the opposite direction.
US08345902B2
A hearing aid includes a microphone for converting sound into an audio input signal, a hearing loss processor configured for processing the audio input signal or a signal derived from the audio input signal in accordance with a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid, a synthesizer configured for generation of a synthesized signal based at least on a sound model and the audio input signal, the synthesizer comprising a noise generator configured for excitation of the sound model for generation of the synthesized signal including synthesized vowels, and a receiver for generating an output sound signal based at least on the synthesized signal.
US08345895B2
A diaphragm of an MEMS electroacoustic transducer including a first axis-symmetrical pattern layer is provided. Because the layout of the first axis-symmetrical pattern layer can match the pattern of the sound wave, the vibration uniformity of the diaphragm can be improved.
US08345892B2
A front surround sound reproduction system using a speaker array, a front surround sound reproduction system to perform stereo localization using a beam forming speaker array, and a surround sound reproduction method thereof. A front surround sound reproduction apparatus using a plurality of speakers includes a first signal processing unit to adjust a frequency characteristic of each first and second channel signal and to output the adjusted signals to left and right speakers assigned according to a frequency band, a second signal processing unit to generate a plurality of channel signals by copying the first and second channel signals, to adjust a signal characteristic of each of the plurality of channel signals, and to output the adjusted signals to a speaker array in the center, and a speaker unit having a plurality of speakers to reproduce the signals output from the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit.
US08345887B1
A digital audio signal processor uses a matrix transform to produce a multi-channel synthetic reverberation signal based on variably-delayed versions of an input signal. The matrix transform outputs are mixed with the inputs to the signal delaying mechanisms, and some of the outputs are further processed to create the reverberation signal.
US08345878B2
A method for generating one or more cryptographic keys between users A and B, in which A generates a public value sensitive to a MIM attack and decomposes it into m segments of redundancy o, and transmits this concatenated information with a reference message Na over the network via k routing paths and vice versa for B, A and B regenerate the common secret by recalculating the inverse transform of all the combinations of o segments and by choosing the value that is statistically most represented, gab˜ for A, and g˜ab for B, A sends a verification message corresponding to Nb from B encrypted with gab˜ and sends it to the party B, B decrypts the message from A with g˜ab and checks consistency with Nb, then refers to the acknowledgment message in the same way: {Na} g˜ab to validate the common secret between the two entities.
US08345877B2
In a transmitter, data is encrypted by use of a data key, the data key is encrypted based on a first modification key, and the first modification key is encrypted based on a second modification key such that the first and second modification keys are different keys. The encrypted data, the encrypted data key, and the encrypted first modification key are transmitted to a receiver. In the receiver, the encrypted first modification key, the encrypted data key, and the encrypted data are received from the transmitter. The encrypted first modification key is decrypted based on the second modification key, the encrypted data key is decrypted based on the decrypted first modification key, and the encrypted data is decrypted by use of the decrypted data key.
US08345876B1
A method of encrypting a plain text message that is m characters in length is described. A one off random key having a length of m characters is generated. The random key uses a character set and modulus that is compatible with the plain text message. A first substitution encryption of the plain text message is performed using the generated random key. A string of random fill characters that is f characters in length, f being a number between zero and infinity is generated. The generated random key and the string of random fill characters is concatenated to the encrypted plain text message to generate an encrypted message string. The encrypted message string has a length 2m+f. The encrypted message string is transmitted to a receiver.
US08345873B2
Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSRs) based 2p state with p>2 or p≧2 scramblers, descramblers, sequence generators and sequence detectors in binary implementation are provided. An LFSR may apply devices implementing a binary XOR or EQUIVALENT function, a binary shift register and binary inverters and binary state generator, wherein at least an output of one shift register element in a first LFSR is connected to a device implementing a reversible binary logic function is a second LFSR. They may also apply 2p state inverters using binary combinational logic are applied. Memory based binary 2p state inverters are also applied. Non-LFSR based n-state scramblers and descramblers in binary logic are also provided. A method for simple correlation calculation is provided. Communication systems and data storage systems applying the provided LFSR devices are also disclosed.
US08345868B2
A data transfer system. The data transfer system includes a first device and a second device. The first device is configured to encrypt a partial information group of the plurality of information groups and to transfer an encrypted information group to the second device, to generate an omission information group with information having a predetermined relation omitted from at least remaining information groups of the plurality of information groups, to encrypt and to transfer the omission information group to the second device, when a partial kind of information of the plurality of information groups has the predetermined relation. The second device is configured to decrypt the partial information group and the omission information group, to restore omitted information based on the omitted information having the predetermined relation included in a transferred partial information group, and to add the restored information to the transferred omission information group.
US08345867B2
Provided are a method and an apparatus for generating pseudo random sequence to generate pseudo random sequences which have larger sizes and are different from each other in a wireless communication system; a method for generating pseudo random sequence in a wireless communication system, comprising generating a first output sequence, generating a second output sequence, and generating a third output sequence; and an apparatus to generate pseudo random sequence in a wireless communication system, comprising a first linear feedback shift register (LFSR), a second LSFR, and a third LFSR, a first initial value mapper, a second initial value mapper, a third initial value mapper, and an N delay operator.
US08345865B2
A block cipher ARIA substitution apparatus, the apparatus includes a first Sbox operation unit for performing operations of a substitution box S1 and a substitution box S1−1; a second Sbox operation unit for performing operations of a substitution box S2 and a substitution box S2−1; and a control unit for determining modes of the first Sbox operation unit and the second Sbox operation unit. The first Sbox operation unit has a first inverse affine transformation unit for performing an inverse affine operation for obtaining S1−1; a finite field inverse element operation unit for computing an inverse element of GF(28) or a result value of the first inverse affine transformation unit; a first affine transformation unit for performing an affine operation for obtaining S1; and a first and a second multiplexer.
US08345863B2
A method of countering side-channel attacks on an elliptic curve cryptosystem (ECC) is provided. The method comprises extending a definition field of an elliptic curve of the ECC to an extension ring in a first field; generating a temporary ciphertext in the extension ring and countering attacks on the ECC; and generating a final ciphertext for the first field if a fault injection attack on the ECC is not detected. The countering of attacks on the ECC may comprise countering a power attack on the ECC. Checking if there is a fault injection attack on the ECC may be performed by determining if the temporary ciphertext satisfies a second elliptic curve equation. The fault detection algorithms takes place in a small subring of the extension ring, not in the original field, to minimize the computational overhead. The method can improve the stability of the ECC and reduce computational overhead of the ECC.
US08345862B2
The invention relates to a method of sharing a strong secret F between two parties (A, B) previously sharing a weak secret F, this method of sharing combining a symmetric algorithm and an asymmetric algorithm, and consisting in using a fixed exponent e of small size, and in encrypting not the exponent e, but the modulus n, by means of the weak secret f.
US08345857B2
A method for reducing non-value added time between calls serviced at a call center includes selectively enabling an after-call-work state that is configured to be activated during a call from a subscriber vehicle when an advisor at the call center indicates a need for the after-call-work state. If the advisor does not activate the after-call-work state during the call, then upon completion of the call, automatically setting an operator station of the advisor to a call ready state. If, however, the advisor activates the after-call-work state during the call, then upon completion of the call, the method includes activating the after-call-work state.
US08345856B1
A method for determining a number of calls to generate in an automated contact center, wherein the automated contact center comprises a dialer for dialing generated calls and an agent pool where successfully connected dialed calls are handled by agents. The method collects empirical data on durations in which calls spend in the dialer and agent handling times. The collected data is used to generate discrete density or discrete distribution functions. Using the discrete density or distribution functions, an individual impact is calculated for each call presently in the dialer. The method uses the individual impacts to calculate a dialer impact, which is used to predict a future agent occupancy. Based upon the prediction, a number of calls to generate is determined. Calls are generated based upon the number of calls to generate.
US08345854B2
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using presence information to improve automatic call distribution includes receiving a call for connection with one of a plurality of agents. An indicator of a service level problem is detected, and presence information is used to identify one or more draftable agents that are not in a ready state in response to detecting the indicator. The call is distributed to a selected one of the identified one or more draftable agents.
US08345851B2
A system and method that provides a user with the ability to transmit confidential information to an IVR system in a secure manner includes invoking an interactive voice response (IVR) routine, the IVR routine determining each of the digits in the sequence by making successive queries and/or digit guesses. A user of the voice communication device need only make an affirmative response or a negative response to each query or digit quess. Once determined, each of the digits in the sequence is sent to the destination system. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08345842B2
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for outsourcing telecom billing are disclosed for issuing one or more first billing statements and one or more second billing statements from a first telecom network; and transmitting at least the one or more first billing statements to a second telecom network. The one or more first billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the first telecom network to the second telecom network, and the one or more second billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the second telecom network to one or more customers thereof. The one or more charges of the first and second billing statements may reflect the same service(s).
US08345839B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for automating the exchange of information between the multiple personal computerized devices of an entity so as to provide context for communications, such as incoming and/or outgoing telephone calls, with other entities. The system and method associate one entity with multiple devices. Communications over a device (e.g., one of the various types of telephones) are tracked. Then, for a given communication, an identifier (e.g., a caller ID from an incoming telephone call) is communicated to at least one other device. The other device performs a local and/or internet search for information associated with that particular identifier. The retrieved information is then displayed so as to provide the entity with essentially instantaneous context for the given communication. The system can be implemented using client-server network technology or, alternatively, using point-to-point communication technology.
US08345833B1
The present invention is directed to processing calls to busy telecommunications lines. In one embodiment, the presence of a subscriber accessing a computer network over a first telephone line via a first computer terminal is detected, wherein the subscriber also has a first telephone station connected to the first line. When a caller calls the first line and the first line is busy, the call is forwarded to a second telephone line associated with a call manager system. The call manager system determines when the subscriber is no longer accessing the computer network. At least partly in response to determining that the subscriber is no longer accessing the computer network, the call manager system transmits a text message to the caller, the message including the subscriber's phone number. The caller can then call back the first line using the transmitted phone number.
US08345832B2
Textual preview of a voicemail is generated and provided through email or similar media to users along with the audio version. Transcription of the textual version, as well as additional capabilities such as actionable terms, playback-jump, switching between text and audio versions, direct or metadata based searchability, and enhanced response capabilities are provided based on contextual data obtained from voicemail metadata and user associated data stores such as contact list, email history.
US08345823B2
An X-ray image diagnosing apparatus has a radiating unit, a placement unit, a detecting unit, a supporting unit, a moving control unit, an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, and a frame rate control unit. The placement unit is placeable an object. The supporting unit supports the radiating unit and the detecting unit in opposing relationship across the placement unit. The moving control unit relatively moves the supporting unit and the object on a longwise direction of the placement unit so as to perform an X-ray imaging at different imaging positions along the longwise direction. The obtaining unit obtains X-ray image by performing the X-ray imaging. The calculating unit calculates blood-vessel data on the basis of the X-ray image and calculates a frame rate on the basis of the blood-vessel data. The frame rate control unit configured to change the frame rate on the X-ray imaging.
US08345810B2
An equalizer based receiver operation method and apparatus in a mobile communication system are provided. The method includes estimating a channel for a multi path receive signal, analyzing a delay profile of a multi path channel, and selecting a tap position from a plurality of tap positions of an equalizer depending on the analyzed delay profile.
US08345809B2
In time varying OFDM systems, the effect of a non-ideal time synchronization may lead to a poor performance in terms of decoded average bit error rate versus the signal-to-noise ratio. The receiver apparatus (3) of the transmission system (1) estimates a subcarrier-dependent channel frequency response and determines an intercarrier interference spreading on the basis of a cyclic shift in symbols carried by the subcarriers. Therewith, an intercarrier interference included in an OFDM signal can be canceled, even in case of a non-ideal time synchronization.
US08345807B2
A demodulation device comprises at least a diversity combiner, an elimination parameter storage, an elimination parameter investigator, a noise eliminator, and a noise collection means. The elimination parameter storage stores elimination parameters used for eliminating a noise, as elimination parameters for each of antennas, the noise collection means receives a noise and outputs the received noise as a collected noise signal, and the diversity combiner outputs a combined signal along with combining parameters, each representing a parameter related to the combining for each of the antennas. The noise eliminator eliminates the noise by using the elimination parameters for all the antennas as well as the combining parameters for all the antennas.
US08345802B2
A receiver for a digital modulated signal which receives a multi-carrier modulated signal and demodulates a receiving signal by converting it from a time region into a frequency region by Fourier transform is provided. The receiver comprises a Fourier transformer which performs Fourier transform of the receiving signal and an interference removing circuit which reduces an inter-symbol interference or an inter-carrier interference of the receiving signal. The removing circuit is disposed in a front stage of the Fourier transformer.
US08345797B1
In a method for generating steering matrices for beamforming, one or more subsets of one or more maximum transmit steering matrices are selected, where the maximum transmit steering matrices correspond to a maximum number of spatial streams able to be transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver. The subsets correspond to an actual number of spatial streams to be transmitted, and the subsets are applied to spatial streams to be transmitted. In an apparatus for generating steering matrices, a steering matrix calculator is configured to determine, from maximum transmit steering matrices, a plurality of steering coefficients corresponding to an actual number of spatial streams.
US08345793B2
A method and apparatus for compensating for ISI is described herein. A transmitter and receiver work together to develop pulse shaped OFDM symbols with reduced inter-channel ISI between pulse-shaped OFDM symbols transmitted on different sub-carriers at the same time, and inter-block ISI between pulse-shaped OFDM symbols transmitted on the same sub-carrier at different times. In addition, a pre-compensation element in the transmitter and/or a post-compensation element in the receiver compensate for diagonal ISI occurring between pulse-shaped OFDM symbols transmitted on different sub-carriers at different times.
US08345786B2
A signal reception apparatus of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system using a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) scheme. The signal reception apparatus, when it uses the NR receive antennas, receives a time-domain preamble signal transmitted by a signal transmission apparatus corresponding thereto via each of the NR receive antennas, and estimates a channel according to a channel estimation scheme using the time-domain preamble signal received via each of the NR receive antennas. When the signal transmission apparatus uses NT transmit antennas, the time-domain preamble signal is a signal transmitted by the signal transmission apparatus via each of the NT transmit antennas for a second time period which is set according to a corresponding transmit antenna within a first time period.
US08345780B2
A wireless communication system may include first and second wireless communications devices communicating with one another via a wireless communications link having a settable link characteristic. The first and second wireless communications devices may include respective first and second wireless transceivers and respective first and second controllers coupled thereto. The first controller may be for detecting received interference, for determining a type of the interference from among interference types comprising wideband interference and narrowband interference, and for setting the settable link characteristic to compensate for the interference based upon the interference type.
US08345779B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing a communication system for handling pulse information. Embodiments of the invention provide a pulse shaping unit operable to avoid saturation of the pulse transformer, while being easily incorporated into IC processes. Some embodiments of the pulse shaping unit provide a two-to-three level driver unit for converting a two-level input voltage signal to a three-level driver signal for driving a pulse transformer. Other embodiments of the pulse shaping unit provide components configured to differentially drive a pulse transformer, effectively converting a two-level input voltage signal to a three-level driver signal.
US08345773B2
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US08345766B2
An apparatus and corresponding method are provided for selecting one of several alternate input streams for transmission, the method including determining bandwidth requirements for each of the alternate input streams, measuring bandwidth currently available for transmission, and selecting for transmission one of the alternate input streams that has the highest determined bandwidth requirement less than or equal to the measured bandwidth currently available for transmission.
US08345758B2
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 0 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture if the co-located block has the list 0 motion vector and a list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after the current picture, and the selected list 0 motion vector points to a second reference picture which is a reference picture of the first reference picture. The method further includes deriving the list 0 and list 1 motion vectors of the bi-predictive block based on the selected list 0 motion vector of the co-located block. The deriving includes deriving a first temporal distance from a difference between the current picture and the first reference picture, deriving a second temporal distance from a difference between the first reference picture and the second reference picture, and scaling the selected list 0 motion vector of the co-located block based on the first and second temporal distances.
US08345757B2
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting the list0 motion vector of the co-located image block for the bi-predictive image block as a motion vector for deriving motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block regardless of whether the co-located block includes a list1 motion vector. The selected motion vector of the co-located block in the reference picture is scaled based on a temporal distance between a current picture and the reference picture. The current picture includes the bi-predictive block. The motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived based on the scaled motion vector of the co-located block.
US08345749B2
A method and a system for spatial scalable region of interest transcoding of JPEG2000 coded video frames for video surveillance systems. Based on a user defined ROI, the method transcodes HD frames into images in moderate resolution with a ROI in HD resolution. The transcoder extracts all packets belonging to the ROI or the lower resolution levels of the background from the JPEG2000 bitstream. Non-ROI packets of higher resolution levels are replaced by empty packets. The ROI is tracked using a mean shift algorithm to guarantee that always the correct image details are extracted in high resolution. Since the transcoding is performed by extracting and replacing packets of the codestream, an expensive re-encoding of the code-stream is not required. Thus, the transcoding technique is of low complexity and shows a short processing time. Combining the transcoding technique with mean shift tracking leads to a powerful video transcoding technique.
US08345748B2
An image encoding and decoding apparatus and method, the image encoding and decoding apparatus includes: an encoding unit adjusting at least one weight value adaptively to the number of bits expressing each pixel of a current image, predicting a pixel value of a block of interest by performing an operation on a pixel value of at least one block having a pixel value similar to the pixel value of the block of interest among blocks included in a previous image and the at least one adjusted weight value, and encoding the pixel value of the block of interest using the predicted pixel value of the block of interest; and a decoding unit adjusting the at least one weight value adaptively to the number of bits, restoring the predicted pixel value of the block of interest by performing an operation on the pixel value of the at least one block having the pixel value similar to the pixel value of the block of interest among blocks included in the restored previous image and the at least one adjusted weight value, and decoding the pixel value of the block of interest using the restored pixel value, wherein the previous image refers to an image displayed prior to a current image, and the block of interest is a target block of interest among blocks belonging to the current image.
US08345740B2
When distributing a set 101 of frames 102 each with encoded data 103 from a transmitter 104 to a receiver 105, a dependent frame 108 requires an independent frame 107 for decoding, and the transmitting 111 of the frames 102 from a buffer 110 at the transmitter 104 is reordered such that the dependent frame 108 is sent after the independent frame 107. In particular, a transmission policy wherein buffering 109 a further frame 125 takes into account both: if the further frame 125 requires zero, one or two frames 102 of the set 101 for decoding, and the current frames 102 buffered at the first and the second position 123 of the transmit buffer 110.
US08345737B2
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting network impairments through tilt-normalized measurement data, the method including: collecting data for a network signal; computing a best-fit tilt for the collected data; performing tilt-normalization of the collected data responsive to the computed best-fit tilt; and determining whether the tilt-normalized data crosses a threshold, and if so, pattern matching the tilt-normalized data to detect a network impairment; and the apparatus including: an input unit for collecting data from a network signal; a tilt unit connected to the input unit for computing a best-fit tilt for the collected data and performing tilt-normalization of the collected data responsive to the computed best-fit tilt; and a pattern matching unit connected to the tilt unit for determining whether the tilt-normalized data crosses a threshold, and if so, pattern matching the tilt-normalized data to detect at least one network impairment.
US08345736B2
A sampling point detection circuit 1 comprises: means 11 for setting amplitude division lines along a time axis and time division lines along an amplitude axis of an eye diagram; means 12 for calculating a virtual circle that is inscribed in a divided region having the smallest area among divided regions obtained when a region that is defined by segments each connecting intersections of a bit error rate contour line of the eye diagram and the amplitude division line and intersections of the bit error rate contour line and the time division line and that contains an intersection of the amplitude division line and the time division line is divided by the amplitude division line and time division line; and means 13 for determining, as a sampling point, the intersection of the time division line and the amplitude division line that are set when the largest virtual circle among the virtual circles is calculated.
US08345731B2
Control circuitry is configured to control a sampler, in a sampling phase determination process, to sample a signal at a sampling period of T±T/n for outputting a sample set for each one of n phases of the sampled signal. Each one of n correlators has a first input configured to receive one of the sample sets, a second input configured to receive a PN signal, and an output which provides a correlation result from a correlation process between the sample set and the PN signal. The control circuitry is further configured to identify, from the correlation results, one of the phases associated with the optimal correlation result. The control circuitry is then configured to control the sampler, in a communication mode, to sample a received signal at a sampling period of T at the phase associated with the optimal correlation result.
US08345729B2
Provided is a radio communication device which can surely prevent inter-code interference while maintaining the use efficiency of an upstream line control channel and suppress separation characteristic of a response signal. The device includes: a control unit (209) which controls a cyclic shift amount of a ZC sequence used for a primary diffusion in a diffusion unit (214) and a Walsh sequence used for secondary diffusion in a diffusion unit (217) according to a PUCCH number inputted from a judgment unit (208); the diffusion unit (214) which performs primary diffusion of the response signal by the ZC sequence set by the control unit (209); and the diffusion unit (217) which performs secondary diffusion of the response signal by the Walsh sequence set by the control unit (209). The diffusion unit (214) performs primary diffusion of the response signal by using the ZC sequence having such a cyclic shift amount that the guard interval at the both ends of the detection window section is maximum in the ZC sequences having different cyclic shift amounts.
US08345725B2
Systems (100) and methods (700) for processing a data signal in a communications system. The methods involve generating a first chaotic sequence at a transmitter (102). The methods also involve performing first basis function algorithms using the first chaotic sequence to generate first statistically orthogonal chaotic sequences. At least one sequence is selected from the first statistically orthogonal chaotic sequences for combining with a first data signal. The selected sequence is combined with a second data signal to obtain a modulated chaotic communication signal. The modulated chaotic communication signal is transmitted to a receiver (104). At the receiver, the received modulated chaotic communication signal is processed to obtain data therefrom. Notably, the signal processing generally involves performing a deterministic process (e.g., a Hidden Markov Model deterministic process).
US08345722B2
The present invention provides a method of driving a semiconductor laser, where the method can control changes in the internal temperature of a device as well as control optical output using a driving current. A method of driving a semiconductor laser includes steps of: preliminary driving the semiconductor laser by preliminary activating at a current value larger than a threshold value; de-activating the semiconductor laser, after the step of preliminary driving; and starting a formation of a latent image on a photosensitive drum based on a latent image formation signal, after the step of de-activating.
US08345720B2
A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and control circuitry, such as an integrated circuit. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets. The ceramic sheets are fused together. The ceramic sheets include traces or vias that provide electrically conductive paths to the integrated circuit. The control circuitry controls the output of the laser diode, e.g. the output at each of the laser diode's emitters. Multiple laser diode packages are placed together to form an array.
US08345714B2
A cell search method and apparatus for an asynchronous mobile communication system are provided. A Secondary Synchronization Code (SSC) correlator despreads a signal at every slot boundary in accordance with a z-sequence to output a SSC correlation value. The signal is received over a first symbol duration. A Primary Synchronization Code (PSC) correlator despreads the received signal in accordance with a PSC to output a PSC correlation value. A dot product calculator performs dot product calculation between the SSC correlation value and the PSC correlation value to output a correlation result of the SSC. A frame synchronization detector extracts frame synchronization information from the correlation result.
US08345706B2
A base station (eNodeB) performing a radio communication with a user equipment (UE) includes: a transmission format determining unit (16) configured to determine a transmission format of a downlink data channel not to be associated by a control channel, based on a downlink reception signal quality measured by the user equipment; a notification unit (18) configured to notify, to the user equipment, the transmission format determined by the transmission format determining unit; a transmission power controlling unit (19) configured to control a transmission power of the downlink data channel; and a transmitting unit (18) configured to transmit downlink data to the user equipment via the downlink data channel, by using the transmission format determined by the transmission format determining unit.
US08345705B2
A method and apparatus for conducting analog communication are provided. A first set of wires carrying a data signal is coupled to a data network. A second set of wires carrying an analog signal is coupled to an analog communication network. A single connector is coupled to the first and second sets of wires. A port in a communication device is coupled to the connector. The communication device communicates the data signal and the analog signal over the first and second sets of wires respectively. The second set of wires may be separate from the first set. The second set of wires may be a subset of the first set, in which case, a filter filters an incoming analog signal from an incoming signal on the second set of wires. A multiplexer multiplexes an outgoing analog signal with an outgoing data signal on the second set of wires.
US08345703B2
A reconfigurable hardware architecture, in the form of a System-on-Chip 1, includes an ASIC (19) and an embedded FPGA (18) which define static and reconfigurable parts of an IC architecture (15) respectively. Incoming Ethernet, or other format, packets are applied to a packet filter (14), which detects those packets containing reconfiguration data. The reconfiguration data is used to update the FPGA (18).
US08345689B2
Systems and methods that identify the Upper Layer Protocol (ULP) message boundaries are provided. In one example, a method that identifies ULP message boundaries is provided. The method may include one or more of the following steps: attaching a framing header of a frame to a data payload to form a packet, the framing header being placed immediately after the byte stream transport protocol header, the framing header comprising a length field comprising a length of a framing protocol data unit (PDU); and inserting a marker in the packet, the marker pointing backwards to the framing header and being inserted at a preset interval.
US08345684B2
A network linking device in communication with a computer host and an external network is disclosed. The network linking device includes a media access controller (MAC), a buffer and a feature value evaluator. The MAC in communication with the external network receives a data packet from the external network, and stores the data packet in the buffer in communication therewith. The feature value evaluator in communication with the buffer determines whether the data packet complies with a transfer condition according to a feature value included in the data packet, and actuates the MAC to assert an interrupt signal to the computer host when the feature value indicates the data packet complies with the transfer condition. A method for transferring a data packet between a computer host and an external network is also disclosed.
US08345682B2
Data path processing information is included in the pseudowire layer of pseudowire packets in order to provide information for use in the data path processing of data (e.g., a packet), typically, but not always, included in the payload of the pseudowire packet itself. The pseudowire packet typically includes in corresponding fields: a pseudowire label for identifying a pseudowire type; a pseudowire control word; and payload data. The pseudowire type identifies the structure of the pseudowire control word field and the payload field, including the location of data path meta data, such as in the pseudowire control word field or payload field. This data path meta data identifies one or more attributes for use in processing the payload data.
US08345680B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node having a playout buffer including one or more of the following: receiving a first packet, a second packet, a first set of at least one subsequent packet, wherein each packet includes a sequence number (SN); determining that the second packet is not in sequence with the first packet by determining that the SN of the second packet is not equal to the SN of the first packet plus an expected increment value; determining whether the second packet represents a jump in SNs by determining whether the SN of a first subsequent packet is equal to the SN of the second packet plus the expected increment value; and when the second packet represents a jump in SNs, gradually normalizing the playout buffer upon receipt of each subsequent packet.
US08345677B2
Rather than utilizing fixed point-to-point remapping of PIDS, the present invention utilizes the type of stream that the PIDS are associated with and the related program services IDs to specify the associations between input and output programs. This permits mapping at the program level and, therefore, allows dynamic responses to input program changes based upon the program mapping references. Resolving PID mapping based upon programs and the included services allows output PIDs to remain constant service-by-service even as the input programs change.
US08345669B1
In accordance with a non-limiting example, the system and method places a call from a first call device used by a party A to a second call device such as used by a party B by routing the call from the first call device into a communications server that establishes an internet protocol (IP) call between the communications server and the second call device. A third call device such as used by a party C monitors the second call device. A first SIP invite command is sent from the third call device to the communications server as a pick-up call instruction for the call to the second call device when it has not answered the call from the first call device. A second SIP invite command is sent between the third call device and communications server and the call is transferred from the second call device to the third call device to establish a communications session between first and third call entities.
US08345659B2
A unified synchronous ranging channel is provided. The unified synchronous ranging channel has a ranging cyclic prefix length that is the same as a cyclic prefix length of a data channel. The unified synchronous ranging channel is used for one of initial ranging, handover ranging, and periodic ranging between a mobile station and a femto base station. In one embodiment, the synchronous ranging channel spans over a two-dimensional radio resource region having a first number of subcarriers along frequency domain, a second number of OFDM symbols along time domain, and a third number of time-domain repetition. At the transmit side, a ranging code sequence is generated by applying a fixed time-domain cyclic shift per OFDM symbol to a root sequence. At the receive side, the ranging code sequence is decoded by using a summation module, a likelihood-combining module, and a modified peak test module that normalizes a peak value.
US08345651B2
MIMO systems communicate with wireless devices. MIMO systems include directional antennas that are oriented so that the physical sectors of the antennas overlap to form areas of overlap. The areas of overlap are oriented in unique directions. Radios are selectively coupled to the portion of the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The physical sectors of the antennas that are selectively coupled to the radios overlap. The radios use the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The antennas operate as a MIMO antenna.
US08345648B2
A wireless communication system transmits information requested by a wireless communication terminal to the wireless communication terminal moving through a spot wireless area. In a wireless base station, an external information communication control section controls communication with a server. A contents memory stores at least a part of contents received from the server. A wireless communication section communicates with the communication terminal using a predetermined communication method. A control section establishes connection with the communication terminal using a first connection which does not require an authentication procedure, or using a second connection which requires the authentication procedure. An access control (restriction) section permits access from the communication terminal to the contents memory and prohibits access to the server when a type of connection is the first connection, and permits access from the communication terminal to the contents memory and to the server in the case of the second connection.
US08345647B2
The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for communicating information between two nodes, points or terminals in a wireless local area network (WLAN), where a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling is allowed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network. The two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN. The AP and the STA can indicate its capability to support a flexible multicast and broadcast listening interval by using new fields in Beacon and Probe Response frames and in (Re)Association Request Frames. The multicast and broadcast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.
US08345644B2
A wireless communication method and system for controlling an enhanced uplink (EU) radio access bearer (RAB). The wireless communication system includes at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), at least one Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC). The RNC configures an EU RAB to operate on an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH). At least one of the WTRU and the Node-B report EU traffic statistics and EU performance statistics to the RNC. The RNC then adjusts the configuration of the EU RAB in accordance with the received EU traffic statistics, the EU performance statistics, and information collected by the RNC itself.
US08345626B2
Provided is a function of minimizing a delay time of a packet call disconnect due to a handover between communication networks providing a communication service using different mobile communication technologies. To do this, even though a handover situation is generated during a packet service, the packet service is continuously provided by maintaining a current mode and performing a mode change after registration in a handover target network succeeds. Accordingly, since the packet service is not provided only while a packet call connecting process is performed, a delay time according to a packet call reconnection can be minimized.
US08345619B2
Provided is a base station capable of suppressing increase of overhead of allocation result report in frequency scheduling in multi-carrier communication and obtaining a sufficient frequency diversity effect. In the base station, encoding units (101-1 to 101-n) encode data (#1 to #n) to mobile stations (#1 to #n), modulation units (102-1 to 102-n) modulate the encoded data so as to generate a data symbol, a scheduler (103) performs frequency scheduling according to a CQI from each mobile station so as to uniformly allocate data to the respective mobile stations for a part of RB extracted from a plurality of RB, and an SCCH generation unit (105) generates control information (SCCH information) to report the allocation result in the scheduler (103) to the respective mobile stations.
US08345616B2
A method scheduling outgoing communication in a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a signal quality profile for an area in which the device is located. The method further includes receiving a signal from a user application stored on the device that requests the mobile device to make the outgoing communication. Additionally, the method includes determining a current location, a speed, a direction, and a signal quality associated with the device and determining whether the signal quality is above a certain threshold. If not, the method includes predicting a future time at which the signal quality will be above the threshold based at least on the current location, the speed, the direction, the signal quality, and the signal quality profile. Finally, the method includes scheduling the outgoing communication from the mobile device at the future time.
US08345610B2
Disclosed is a method for mapping pilot signals in a multiplexing mode of unicast service and Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS). The method comprises the steps of: generating pilot symbols for the unicast service and the MBMS service, respectively; mapping the pilot symbols for the MBMS service to multiple transmit antennas such that, in a subframe, the pilot symbols for the MBMS service for each antenna are arranged in a same time domain and adjacent to each other, the pilot symbols for the MBMS service for the same transmit antenna are spaced from each other by a predetermined number of subcarriers in the frequency domain and by a predetermined number of OFDM symbols in the time domain, and the pilot symbols for the MBMS service for the same transmit antenna are arranged in a staggered form along the time domain, and mapping the pilot symbols for the unicast service at the same time.
US08345595B1
What is disclosed is a communication system and method of operating a communication system, where a wireless access node configured to receive packet communications from wireless devices communicating in sectors over wireless links, and the packet communications indicate an application type. A wireless access node determines wireless device identifiers of the wireless devices and sector identifiers of the sectors and transfers the packet communications, the wireless device identifiers, and the sector identifiers. A packet processing system is configured to receive the packet communications, the wireless device identifiers, and the sector identifiers; determine the application types of the packet communications; determine sector activity profiles by way of the application types, the wireless device identifiers, and the sector identifiers; determine a quality-of-service policies based on the activity profiles; and transfer the quality-of-service policies. The wireless access node is configured to receive the quality-of-service policies and enforce a level of service to the wireless devices over the wireless links based on the quality-of-service policies.
US08345591B2
A wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may be determine a quality of service (QOS) required to communicate data. The WMC device may utilize a plurality of physical layers available in the WMC device to retain the QOS throughout the data communication. The physical layers may comprise a plurality of wireless technologies and/or a plurality of transmission power levels within each wireless technology. Selection of physical layers that may be utilized may comprise determination of available QOS through the physical layers, available power in the WMC device, and/or power requirement for communicating data via the physical layers. Data encoding may also be utilized to alter size of communicated data while retaining the required QOS. Data encoding may comprise utilizing encoding schemes, data compression, and/or redundancy bits. A set of deadlines may be utilized to enable switching between available physical layers to ensure maintaining and/or achieving required QOS.
US08345586B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system, comprising: a first wireless network including a coordinator and a plurality of network devices associated with the coordinator; a second wireless network; wherein the first coordinator is arranged to notify at least one network device of the availability of data; and the at least one network device notified of the availability of data is arranged to associate with the second wireless network and to receive the data.
US08345578B2
Methods for configuring antennas of first and second nodes of a wireless communications network clocked by transmission cycles, each cycle being divided into time slots, the first node and second nodes having first and second time slots for transmitting data in the first mode, the first node having a third time slot for transmitting data to the second node in a second mode, are proposed. The configuring method, on the second node side, comprises steps of determining a receiving configuration of the antenna of the second node, verifying that the determined receiving configuration is invariant, relative to a receiving configuration previously used for receiving data transmitted from the first node to the second node in the second mode; in the event of negative verification: sending a predetermined signal in the second mode, by using a sending configuration that is determined based on the determined receiving configuration; configuring, during the third time slot, the antenna of the second node by using this determined receiving configuration.
US08345577B2
High speed wireless infrastructures and techniques are provided. Wireless radios are situated within an enterprise, each radio positioned at the end of the wireless frequency range for that of a neighboring radio. Each radio wireless transmits using direction steerable antennas at 60 Gigahertz. At lease one radio is interfaced to a back-end enterprise information server. Each radio capable of interfacing to a consumer's wireless device within the enterprise when that wireless device is within range of the directional steerable antennas. The wireless radios and the back-end information server combine to form a high speed wireless communication network within the enterprise.
US08345569B2
A system and method of perceptual quality assessment for multimedia content in a communications network employing digital watermarking. A content preparer prepares content for quality assessment by embedding digital watermarks into the multimedia data, each watermark having a different level of robustness with respect to a specified type of potential degradation introduced during content transmission. A quality assessor provides an assessment of the quality of the transmitted content by attempting to detect the presence of at least one watermark, and calculating a quality assessment score based on the level(s) of robustness of the detected watermark(s) with respect to the specified type of potential degradation. The quality assessment score can be calculated based on the level of robustness of the least robust watermark whose presence was successfully detected by the quality assessor. The quality assessor generates an output indication of the transmitted content fidelity using any suitable type of output indication.
US08345561B2
A method and system for measuring latency is provided. A monitor node is used to measure latency in a computer network or in a computing device by time stamping signal messages sent from nodes in the computer network and/or tasks in a particular node or device. The time stamps are generated using a system clock of the monitor node to reduce any discrepancies in timing. In addition, the monitor node may compensate for latencies between the monitor node and each of the one or more nodes or devices across which latency is to be measured. Signal messages may include a data message ID and/or a node ID identifying the message that is being tracked and for which latency is being measured. Latency may further be measured across multiple tasks being performed in the same or different nodes or devices by transmitting signal messages for each of the multiple tasks.
US08345555B2
An ad-hoc network is a typically a dynamic collection of nodes capable of communicating therebetween without the aid of pre-established infrastructure. Ad-hoc networks differ from traditional networks in that the topology of interconnections between nodes is inherently dynamic and not fixed. Generally, the routing protocols belong to two groups: proactive and reactive. Proactive protocols attempt to maintain correct and up-to-date routing information at every node. Reactive protocols, in turn, collect necessary routing information only if a pair of nodes are to establish a communication. In accordance with embodiments of the invention a reactive ad-hoc network protocol is disclosed that uses controlled flooding to broadcast packets of information within the ad-hoc network. Furthermore, the ad-hoc network protocol does not maintain up-to-date routing information at every node in an ad-hoc network and does not utilize specific control messages to assure that packets within the ad-hoc network follow optimal paths.
US08345553B2
Apparatus and methods for reducing latency in coordinated networks. The apparatus and methods relate to a protocol that may be referred to as the Persistent Reservation Request (“p-RR”), which may be viewed as a type of RR (reservation request). p-RR's may reduce latency, on average, to one MAP cycle or less. A p-RR may be used to facilitate Ethernet audiovisual bridging. Apparatus and methods of the invention may be used in connection with coaxial cable based networks that serve as a backbone for a managed network, which may interface with a package switched network.
US08345542B2
An apparatus comprising a first segment endpoint bridge (SEB) configured to couple to a second SEB via a plurality of path segments, wherein the path segments comprise a working segment and a plurality of candidate protection segments, wherein the candidate protection segments comprise a protection segment that is configured to protect the working segment, wherein the candidate protection segments other than the protection segment do not protect the working segment, wherein only one first state variable is used to maintain each of the candidate protection segments other than the protection segment, and wherein a plurality of second state variables are used to maintain each of the working segment and the protection segment.
US08345540B2
In general, techniques are described for implementing a virtual snooping bridge in computer networks. The techniques may be implemented by a ring network comprised of a plurality of ring network devices arranged in a ring topology. In one aspect, a ring network device coupled to an adjacent device that provides access to multicast content implements the techniques. This ring network device comprises one or more ports and a control unit. The ports receive ring messages from one or more of the other ring network devices in accordance with a group management ring protocol (GMRP). The ring messages indicate operations requested by one or more host devices with respect to delivery of content of the multicast group. The control unit then presents the received operations to the adjacent network device such that, from the perspective of the adjacent network device, the ring network appears as a single layer two network device.
US08345537B2
A method and system are provided for automatically rerouting logical circuit data from a physical circuit failure in a data network. When a failure in a logical circuit is detected, a label or services name associated with the logical circuit is automatically associated with a logical circuit identifier utilized for identifying the logical circuit in the 10 data network. Once the logical circuit is associated with the logical circuit identifier, the logical circuit data may be automatically rerouted to a “failover network,” thereby minimizing lost data until the failure in the logical circuit is resolved. The logical failover circuit may be an already existing logical circuit provisioned over a dedicated backup physical circuit in the data network.
US08345534B1
A transceiver including a frame formatter configured to generate a frame including orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for transmission on a plurality of antennas. The frame includes a short preamble including a short training symbol including a plurality of adjacent tones, wherein at least a plurality of the adjacent tones in the plurality are mapped to different ones of the plurality of antennas; a long preamble including at least a first set of long training symbols; a header including at least a first SIGNAL symbol; and a data field.
US08345532B2
A transmitting device for transmitting signals in a wireless communication system, includes at least two beam antennas, each beam antenna having a main beaming direction at a different angle and generating means for generating a number of signal streams to be transmitted within the wireless communication system, whereby the signal to be transmitted is split into these different streams and said number of signal streams corresponds to the number of beam antennas, whereby each signal stream is transmitted via a different beam antenna. Transmitting device for transmitting signals in a wireless communication system, comprising at least two beam antennas, each beam antenna having a main beaming direction at a different angle and generating means for generating a number of signal streams to be transmitted within the wireless communication system, whereby each of these signal streams comprises a different version of the data, and said number of signal streams corresponds to the number of beam antennas, whereby each signal stream is transmitted via a different beam antenna.
US08345531B2
The present invention discloses a method for selecting a transmission technology (MIMO or non MIMO) for a HSDPA connection established between a RNC and a UE depending on the mobility of said UE, measured at the RNC as variations of the position of the UE. Then, if the connection is established with HSDPA MIMO technology and the position variations exceed a first pre-defined threshold, the connection is switched to HSPDA non MIMO technology. Also, if the connection is established with HSPDA non MIMO technology and the position variations are below a second pre-defined threshold, the connection is switched to HSPDA MIMO technology.
US08345528B2
An optical pickup device includes an objective lens portion which converges laser light at a first focal point and a second focal point; an actuator which positions the first focal point or the second focal point on a recording layer in a disc; an astigmatism element which sets a first focal line position and a second focal line position of the laser light reflected on the disc away from each other in a propagating direction of the laser light; a spectral element which disperses four light fluxes obtained by dividing the laser light reflected on the disc in four from each other; and a photodetector having a sensor group which receives the four light fluxes dispersed by the spectral element.
US08345525B2
A recording and reproducing area and a reproduction-only area are formed by wobbling a groove formed in a spiral fashion to form a track to be tracked on a disk. The recording and reproducing area has address information recorded by wobbling of the groove and information recorded and reproduced by phase change marks on the track formed by the groove where the address information is recorded. The reproduction-only area has prerecorded information recorded by wobbling of the groove.
US08345519B1
A method and system for providing a head gimbal assembly (HGA) for an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive including media is described. The HGA includes a slider, a laser assembly, and a flexure. The slider has a front side, a back side, and at least one EAMR transducer residing in proximity to the front side. The front side corresponds to an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides in proximity to the media during use. The laser assembly includes a laser for providing energy to the EAMR transducer and is mounted on the back side of the slider. The flexure has at least one laser lead and a through-hole therein. The through-hole is configured to accommodate the laser assembly. A portion of the at least one laser lead extends over the through-hole and electrically connects the at least one laser lead with the laser.
US08345518B2
High density-information storage is accomplished by the use of novel, near-field optical devices in combination with high-density storage media. The near-field optical devices are configured to focus light to nanoscale spot sizes and may employ negative index of refraction materials for focusing. The high-density storage media may include protein-based storage media, such as photochromic proteins, and high-coercivity magnetic storage media. Light energy provided the optical devices may enable exposed protein molecules to transition between stable molecular states that may be distinguished on the basis of their respective spectral maxima. Light energy provided by the optical device may also be used to heat localized regions of magnetic media to a selected temperature, effecting local changes in coercivity of the magnetic media. Information may be written to the magnetic storage media within this localized region using a magnetic recording device, while leaving the magnetic state of the remaining portion of the magnetic storage media unchanged.
US08345517B2
An apparatus includes a structure including a waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the waveguide. A laser has an output facet and is positioned in the pocket. A stop is included one at least one of the laser and a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.
US08345516B2
The invention relates to a magneto-optical switching device for switching magnetization in a medium, comprising a magnetizable medium. According to the invention, a radiation system suited for imparting angular momentum to the magnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium, so as to selectively orient the magnetization of said medium. In addition, the invention relates to a method of switching a magnetizable medium, comprising providing a magnetizable medium; providing a radiation beam of a selectively chosen angular momentum; and targeting said radiation beam to said medium so as to transfer said angular momentum to a magnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium. Accordingly, spin states in magnetic materials can be manipulated using radiation of a suitable angular momentum. An effective magnetic field is generated for orienting the magnetization of the domains and can simultaneously be used to locally heat the material.
US08345512B2
A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) device, comprising: a cMUT formed on a semiconductor substrate; a DC high-voltage generation unit that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and that is for generating a DC high-voltage signal to be superposed on a driving signal for the cMUT; a driving signal generation unit that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and that is for generating the driving signal; and a superposition unit that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and that is for branching the DC high-voltage signal output from the DC high-voltage generation unit and for superposing one of the branched DC high-voltage signals on the other of the branched DC high-voltage signals via the driving signal generation unit.
US08345506B2
In order to latch and store a word line reset level voltage (negative voltage) which is set during reset operation, a word line driver includes PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors. The word line driver further includes a stress-reducing PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor, and also a word line bias control circuit which controls and activates a supply bias during setting of a word line, start of resetting, and a reset period.
US08345500B2
A memory with disabling circuit includes a memory matrix and a disabling circuit. The memory matrix includes a data input/output end and an output enable end. The disabling circuit includes a fuse and an output end. When the fuse is not blown, the disabling circuit transmits the signal of the data input/output end to the output end according to the signal of the output enable end. When the fuse is blown, the disabling circuit generates a tri-state to the output end. Therefore, external circuits cannot perform actions of reading or writing to access the memory matrix.
US08345489B2
A storage system according to one embodiment includes logic adapted for determining to move an extent from a source-tier in a storage system to a destination-tier in the storage system, wherein a set of tracks of the extent is presently being accessed; logic adapted for determining whether any track from the set of tracks is presently being written to; logic adapted for designating to a write-stack associated with the source-tier each track that is presently being written to and designating to a read-stack associated with the source-tier remaining tracks from the set of tracks; logic adapted for removing oldest tracks from the read-stack and the write-stack until the read-stack and the write-stack have been depleted of tracks; logic adapted for populating a destination-tier cache with the tracks as they are removed from the read-stack and the write-stack using a predetermined read-to-write ratio when a parameter of the extent exceeds a migration threshold; logic adapted for removing any tracks from a source-tier cache that were removed from the read-stack and the write-stack; and logic adapted for migrating the extent from the source-tier to the destination-tier.
US08345480B2
The present invention realizes a semiconductor integrated circuit device for driving liquid crystal (liquid crystal control driver IC) capable of easily setting drive conditions and the like according to specifications of a liquid crystal display to be used. An electrically-programmable nonvolatile memory circuit (EPROM) or an electrically erasable and programmable nonvolatile memory circuit (EEPROM) is provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit device for driving a liquid crystal display, and setting information is stored in the memory circuit. The memory circuit is constructed by a normal device which can be formed in the same process as a semiconductor manufacturing process of forming devices of other circuits.
US08345475B2
One embodiment is a non-volatile memory cell with random access read, program, and erase. The memory cell includes a cell transistor that includes a source region, a drain region, a first insulating spacer, and a second insulating spacer. The memory cell also includes a source-side transistor, a drain-side transistor, a source-side multiplexer, a drain-side multiplexer, a source-side sense amplifier, and a drain-side write driver. A first binary value is stored in a first bit in the memory cell by trapping or releasing a first electric charge in the first insulating spacer. The first bit is read by sensing the resistive change in the cell transistor or by sensing the threshold voltage change in the cell transistor.
US08345471B2
A magneto-resistance element is provided. The magneto-resistance element includes an underlying layer including a main metal selected from electrically conductive metals and an auxiliary metal selected from transition metals, a first magnetic layer stacked on the underlying layer, an insulation layer stacked on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer stacked on the insulation layer.
US08345470B2
A control circuit supplies a word line drive voltage to one of m word lines which corresponds to a memory cell to which data is to be written, during a word line drive period including a first period and a second period following the first period, to decrease current capabilities of first and second load transistors included in the memory cell during the first period, and increase the current capabilities of the first and second load transistors during the second period.
US08345468B2
A capacity and density enhancement circuit for a sub-threshold memory unit array which can decrease the drain current in the bit lines and enhance the pull-up capability of memory cells. The capacity and density enhancement circuit is composed of a first enhancement transistor, a second enhancement transistor, a first mask transmission gate, a second mask transmission gate, a first logic memory capacitor and a second logic memory capacitor.
US08345462B2
A method for manufacturing resistive memory includes depositing a first conductive material layer on a substrate; etching the first conductive material layer to form a first signal line with a first surface; forming a memory material layer with a second surface coupled to the first signal line via the second surface contacting the first surface; depositing a second conductive material layer coupled to the memory material layer; etching the second conductive material layer to form a second signal line, wherein the area of the second surface is substantially larger or equal to the area of the overlapping region of the first signal line and the second signal line.
US08345427B2
A module is electrically connectable to a computer system. The module includes a first surface and a first plurality of circuit packages coupled to the first surface. The module further includes a second surface and a second plurality of circuit packages coupled to the second surface. The second surface faces the first surface. The module further includes at least one thermal conduit positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The at least one thermal conduit is in thermal communication with the first plurality of circuit packages and the second plurality of circuit packages.
US08345425B2
A cooling system for cooling a CPU 200 mounted on a printed circuit board 100 within a housing thereof, has a heat-receiving jacket 310, being thermally connected with a surface of the CPU generating heat therein, and for evaporating liquid refrigerant stored in a pressure-reduced inner space with heat generation thereof. A condenser 320 receives refrigerant vapor from the heat-receiving jacket for condensing the refrigerant vapor into a liquid by transferring the heat into an outside of the apparatus. A thermo siphon is used for circulating the refrigerant due to phase change thereof, and the condenser has fine grooves on an inner wall surface thereof along a direction of flow of the refrigerant, and is also formed flat in a cross-section thereof, for cooling the refrigerant vapor from the heat-receiving jacket on the inner wall surface thereof, efficiently.
US08345407B2
Disclosed is an ionic liquid: wherein: n is 1 or 2; R1 is selected from H and (C1-C6)alkyl; R2 is selected from —(CH2)wO[(CH2)xO(CH2)y]m(CH2)zCH3 and wherein w is 1 to 6, x is 1 to 6, y is 0 to 6, z is 0 to 6, m is 0 to 3 and [w+m(x+y)+z] is less than or equal to 12; and R3 is selected from H and methyl, wherein if n is 1 then R3 is methyl, and if n is 2 then R3 is H. Also disclosed are electrochemical devices and devices employing such electrochemical devices as energy sources.
US08345405B2
Disclosed is multilayer ceramic capacitor. The multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a capacitive part including dielectric layers and first and second internal electrodes alternately laminated therein, wherein the dielectric layers include first ceramic particles having an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 0.3 μm, and one set of ends of the first internal electrodes and one set of ends of the second internal electrodes are exposed in a lamination direction of the dielectric layers, a protective layer formed on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the capacitive part, including second ceramic particles and having a porosity of 2% to 4%, wherein an average particle size ratio of the second ceramic particles to the first ceramic particles ranges from 1.1 to 1.3; and first and second external electrodes electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes exposed in the lamination direction of the dielectric layers.
US08345404B2
A conductive layer mainly made of gold is formed on an upper surface of an insulating substrate. Plural electrodes facing each other via a gap is formed by forming the gap in the conductive layer. An overvoltage protective layer covering the gap and a portion of each of the plurality of electrodes is formed. This method can provide the gap with a narrow width precisely, and thereby, provide an electrostatic (ESD) protector with a low peak voltage, stable characteristics of suppressing electrostatic discharge, and a high resistance to sulfidation.
US08345400B2
A surge suppression circuit for a load control device allows the load control device to pass hipot testing, while providing improved protection of the load control device during surge events. The load control device comprises a load control circuit and a filter circuit for preventing noise generated by the load control circuit from being provided to an AC power source. The surge suppression circuit comprises a clamping device adapted to be electrically coupled across the AC power source, and first and second spark gaps coupled across the filter circuit for limiting the magnitude of the voltage generated by inductive components of the filter circuit. The filter circuit may comprise a common-mode choke, and two series-connected capacitor having their junction connected to earth ground. Alternatively, the filter circuit may additionally comprise a differential-mode choke.
US08345391B2
A DC/DC converter and a method protect a MOSFET driven by the converter from overcurrent conditions. No extra pins are required to sense the current, which saves IC package area and cost.
US08345377B2
An aerodynamic device for aerostatic sealing in a hard disk drive (HDD) including an exterior surface configured to modify airflow in the HDD and proximate at least one magnetic disk and an inlet port configured to receive pressurized airflow. The aerodynamic device also includes a plurality of outlet ports disposed on the exterior surface configured to discharge the pressurized airflow directly onto the at least one magnetic disk and aerostatically seal the aerodynamic device with the at least one magnetic disk.
US08345364B2
There is provided an optical limiter device for protecting an object from incident light having a wavelength in the visible, infrared or ultraviolet spectrum. The device comprises a plurality of nanoparticles of a metallic material including free electrons that undergo collective oscillations when exposed to the incident light. The plurality of nanoparticles of the metallic material include a plurality of nanoparticles of a non-spherical particle geometry, which may include a geometry having a plurality of sharp protrusions on a spherical body. The metallic material may include gold, silver, aluminum, indium or copper. The device further comprises a structurally rigid transparent medium in which the plurality of nanoparticles of the metallic material are embedded; and a mechanical support mounting the transparent medium between the incident light and the object.
US08345359B1
A lens system includes, from an object-side to an image-side, a first lens with positive refractive power, an aperture stop, a second lens with positive refractive power, a third lens with negative refractive power, a color filter, and an image plane. The first lens includes a first surface facing the object-side and a second surface facing the image-side. The second lens includes a third surface facing the object-side and a fourth surface facing the image-side. The imaging lens satisfies the following conditions: 0.26
US08345355B2
A lens including a lens portion having two opposite oblong surfaces at least one of which is a curved lens surface having a refractive power is disclosed. At both ends in a longitudinal direction of the lens portion, first and second flange portions are provided each of which tapers toward the lens portion and has a slant surface slanting with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lens portion and connected with one of the oblong surfaces. An angle of the slant surface of the first flange portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lens portion is different from an angle of the slant surface of the second flange portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lens portion.
US08345353B2
A lens including a lens portion having first and second opposite oblong surfaces is disclosed. At least one of the first and second oblong surfaces of the lens portion is a curved lens surface having a reflective power. A rib portion is disposed at each of two opposite sides of the lens portion facing in a direction of a width of the first oblong surface. The rib portion extends along a longitudinal direction of the lens portion in a position separate from the second oblong surface. A draft surface extends between the second oblong surface and the rib portion. The draft surface includes a slant surface slanting outwardly toward the rib portion. The slant surface is curved inwardly with a draft thereof increasing gradually toward the rib portion.
US08345342B2
A photochromic structure includes a plastic support of optical grade with good light transparency, having at least one face with an adhesive layer impregnated with a solution of a solvent with photochromes, having a flexible host matrix for the photochromes, which is mounted by adhesion onto another support. A structure with a uniform flexible photochromic matrix, which has rapid transition times, notably a rapid relaxation time, is thus obtained. The structure is mountable, and advantageously repositionable. It is produced via a process using roll-milling combined with a system for dispensing the solvated solution of photochromes upstream of the rolls, via which a support strip of an adhesive is entrained by the rolls, and the adhesive is gradually impregnated and then laminated on another support.
US08345331B2
This invention is directed to an image reading apparatus. In the apparatus, reading an original by irradiating it with light of three primary colors, respectively, and by receiving the reflected light is performed as follows. More specifically, an operation mode is designated, and conditions used to perform image reading are set in accordance with the designated mode. Under the set conditions, the image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original sequentially with beams of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Alternatively, under the set conditions, image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original simultaneously with beams of two primary colors in each of three different combinations of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Instead, image reading is executed twice according to these two methods.
US08345327B2
An image reading apparatus, which reads an image on an original, including: a light source extending along a main scanning direction to illuminate the original; a plurality of line sensors configured to receive light reflected from the original and to output light intensity signals; a storage unit configured to store reference data; and a determination unit configured to obtain determination data regarding hue based on a light intensity signal output from one of the plurality of line sensors that receive light reflected from a reflective reference member illuminated by the light source and a light intensity signal output from another of the plurality of line sensors that receive light reflected from the reflective reference member illuminated by the light source and to determine a hue balance of the light source based on the determination data and the reference data stored in the storage unit.
US08345324B2
An image reading device includes: an original table having a stationary original reading area and a moving original reading area on its top surface; an image reading unit provided inside the original table and moving the reading line in the direction of the width of the stationary original reading area and to the moving original reading area with the direction of the length of the stationary original reading area as the reading line; an original cover openably and closably provided on the original table so as to cover at least the stationary original reading area; and an ADF having an original conveyance path leading from an original tray by way of the moving original reading area to an original output tray. The image reading device reads originals of sizes larger than the readable stationary original size without any size increase of the device.
US08345320B2
An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same, that can prevent unnecessary wear of components or damage of a document when a simplex scanning operation is carried out. The image reading device includes a first reading unit and a second reading unit. The first reading unit includes a first scan unit to scan a first surface of a document, a first press member mounted while opposing the first scan unit, and a first elastic member to bias the first scan unit or the first press member to closely contact the document with the first scan unit. The second reading unit includes a second scan unit to scan a second surface of the document, a second press member mounted while opposing the second scan unit, and a second elastic member to bias the second scan unit or the second press member to closely contact the document with the second scan unit. The second scan unit and the second press member are separated from each other by a lifting device. The first elastic member to bias the first scan unit or the first press member has an elastic force different from an elastic force of the second elastic member to bias the second scan unit or the second press member.
US08345316B2
A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. To verify the object, the digital watermark payload is extracted and compared with the data about the object. The combined digital watermark and content signature is also evaluated to authenticate the media signal on the media object.
US08345312B2
A method of printing a text with an apparatus using channels is provided. The method includes determining whether print data corresponds to a specified text by determining similarities between channels of print data, and determining a degree of flatness of one of the channels, searching for a boundary area in the print data if the print data is determined to correspond to the specified text, and reducing some of the channels at the boundary area, and compensating for the one of the channels by a density of the reduced channels if the print data is determined to correspond to the specified text.
US08345308B2
An image forming apparatus includes a user interface, and an image forming unit to perform an image forming job in a new image mode by combining two or more image modes when the two or more image modes are selected through the user interface. The image forming unit may include a controller to combine color lookup tables of the two or more selected image modes and to create a new color lookup table, and an engine unit to perform the image forming job in an image mode corresponding to the new color lookup table. Therefore, it is possible for the image forming apparatus to support various image modes.
US08345307B2
Techniques are disclosed for stitching images printed by a multi-head printer in a manner that is relatively insensitive to misregistration of the image segments. When a pair of overlapping print heads print a pair of adjacent image segments which meet in a stitching region, printing at each location in the stitching region is accomplished by both print heads with a weighting that depends on the location being printed within the stitching region. In one embodiment, for example, the output of each print head is weighted by a linear function of horizontal pixel position. Techniques are also disclosed for selecting screening patterns for use when stitching is performed with variable-dot printers. Such screening patterns are selected to minimize variations in density that may arise as the result of cross-web and/or down-web misregistration.
US08345299B2
An image forming apparatus that can read data from a storage medium having hierarchically structured directories includes a first directory and a second directory which is stored in the first directory. The apparatus includes: a display portion that displays designation information of the first directory; an operation portion configured to receive a designation of the second directory based on the first directory designation information displayed on the display portion; a display control portion that controls the display portion to display designation information of the second directory when the second directory is designated; and a printing portion that index-prints images on a print medium based on files stored in one of the first and second directories, the designation information of which is currently displayed on the display portion.
US08345289B2
A system, apparatus and method are provided to automate an audit of an information technology (IT) system.
US08345279B1
Information stored in a corporate database is monitored and used to determine when certain business-related events have occurred. Event information is transmitted over the Internet to a print production facility, where it is used to fire one or more event rules, which in turn automatically generate print requisitions or print production orders. In one variation, print requisitions are routed through an existing and commercially available procurement system before a print production order is generated. The system can monitor and handle events from multiple corporations, each having its own business-related event rules, and each potentially having its own procurement approval system.
US08345278B2
In a job processing system, usage restriction information is managed for restricting user usage of functions of a job processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus acquires usage restriction information corresponding to a first operator instructing generation of job data, and writes the usage restriction information into job data to be transmitted to the job processing apparatus. The job processing apparatus checks whether or not the usage restriction information is written in the job data received from the information processing apparatus, and when the usage restriction information is confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with the usage restriction information, and when the usage restriction information is not confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with usage restriction information of a second operator instructing execution of a job in the job processing apparatus.
US08345275B2
An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a file stored in a storage medium, an expansion unit that expands the acquired file, an expansion control unit that controls the expansion unit to skip expanding of unexpanded data that is found to be impossible to expand from the file and to continue the expanding of the file, and a print unit that executes printing in accordance with expanded data from the file.
US08345274B2
An imaging device receives from a host image data and commands including a normal command and a real-time command to be processed prior to the normal command. A receiver receives a real-time processing disable command with a parameter indicating a number of bytes of the image data, and a processor processes the image data in terms of the number of bytes without processing the real-time command, after processing the real-time processing disable command. In a method for so controlling an imaging device, the host controls transmission of image data and commands including normal and real-time commands to an imaging device as noted above. The host comprises a detector that determines if data to be transmitted includes image data, and a processor that transmits the image data after transmitting a real-time processing disable command with the parameter described above, if the detector determines that the data includes the image data.
US08345256B2
A method is provided to calibrate a detection array used for acquiring an image of an interferogram at an instrument. A first interferogram and at least two shifted interferograms are elaborated at the instrument by creating a number of optical path differences, so at least three samples are on a sine wave portion for each optical path difference. A function coinciding with the sine wave portion is determined by interpolation. A calibration coefficient is determined from the function for each optical path difference.
US08345246B2
A running yarn line inspection method inspects yarn lines running in parallel in the same surface. The running yarn line inspection method is provided with a first illumination means and a line sensor for imaging the yarn lines on the side of the first surface of the running surface of the yarn lines and a second illumination means on the side of the second surface, and comprises a data processing means which processes data obtained by the line sensor and a recording means which records data processed by the data processing means with time.
US08345241B1
Application of digital light processor (DLP) systems in an imaging ellipsometer or imaging polarimeter with a focusing means, sample and detector arranged to meet the Scheimpflug condition.
US08345226B2
Based on the present invention, superior compact spectrometers may be constructed and integrated into a cellular phone, or attached to a cellular phone. Such a cellular phone may be a PDA phone, which supplies electrical power to the said spectrometer, provided with data storage, signal processing capability, and real-time display. As a combined standalone system, it allows spectroscopic measurements to be fulfilled in real-time applications in field, and results can be sent out in wireless communication to a remote station or to another cellular phone user in order to share the measurement results right away. When the system is used with a laser to function as a Raman spectrometer system, it can fulfill many daily routine tasks encountered by ordinary civilians, for example, the blood glucose monitoring for diabetes patients at home in a non-invasive manner.
US08345221B2
A method for measuring a spherical aberration amount of a projection optical system that projects an image of a pattern formed on an original plate onto a substrate, includes: obtaining a first focal position in a direction of an optical axis of the projection optical system under a first measurement condition; obtaining a second focal position in the direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system under a second measurement condition; calculating the spherical aberration amount of the projection optical system based on a difference between the first focal position and the second focal position. Under the first measurement condition the focal position in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the spherical aberration amount does not change; and under the second measurement condition the focal position in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the spherical aberration amount changes.
US08345215B2
The invention relates to a system and method for the optical calibration of the temperature of a micro-environment. The system comprises a thermochromic liquid crystal in combination with a luminophore. The steps of the method comprise providing in combination in the micro-environment at least one thermochromic liquid crystal and a luminophore, varying the temperature of the environment while irradiating the combination with light that includes light at one or more excitation wavelengths of the luminophore, and monitoring luminescence emitted by the combination while recording the temperature of the environment.
US08345210B2
A gate signal transmission circuit structure is provided which is disposed on a peripheral circuit region of a display panel and includes at least a driver bonding pad, at least a transmission line and a plurality of connection lines. The transmission line is disposed around the driver bonding pad. The connection lines are connected between the driver bonding pad and the transmission line, wherein a plurality of holes exist between the connection lines, and the thickness of each connection line is substantially the same as the thickness of the transmission line.
US08345204B2
A liquid crystal display is provided. In the liquid crystal display, a common line includes an edge common line that is formed in a non-display area outside a display area of a liquid crystal display panel to receive a common voltage through a plurality of input units, a plurality of pixel common line patterns that are formed along edges of each of subpixels to be electrically connected to one another, and a plurality of longitudinal common lines that is electrically connected to the edge common line to apply the common voltage to the pixel common line patterns. Each of the pixel common line patterns has a mesh structure and is connected to common electrodes of the subpixels. Each of the longitudinal common lines is formed between two horizontally adjacent pixels in a direction parallel to the data lines.
US08345198B2
A vertical alignment liquid crystal layer is sealed between a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having a second electrode, each pixel region has a reflective region and a transmissive region, and a gap adjusting section is provided on one of sides of the first substrate and the second substrate which sets a thickness (gap) d of the liquid crystal layer which controls a phase difference of incident light to the liquid crystal layer so that a gap dr in the reflective region is smaller than a gap dt in the transmissive region. An alignment controller which divides alignment of the liquid crystal within a pixel region is provided in the pixel region on at least one of the sides of the first substrate and the second substrate. It is also possible to optimize by changing the gap in red, green, and blue.
US08345195B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a sealant coupling the first substrate and the second substrate and enclosing the liquid crystal layer; a display signal line arranged on the first substrate and including an end portion; and a first spacer disposed between the end portion of the display signal line and the sealant. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules exhibiting a pretilt alignment with respect to the first and second substrates.
US08345182B2
A liquid crystal display device including lenticular lenses and color separation filters, associated with a subpixel row direction, on the backlight side with respect to lenticular lenses. In a RGW row, a color separation filter reflecting B wavelengths is arranged, and in a GBW row, a color separation filter reflecting R wavelengths is arranged. Together with collecting light in transmissive aperture parts with lenticular lenses and improving the transmitted quantity of light, the light reflected by color separation filters is returned to the backlight and re-utilized.
US08345176B2
A LCD device that includes a gate driver transferring a plurality of gate signals to a plurality of gate lines, a gate driver transferring a plurality of gate signals to a plurality of data lines, and a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixel pairs in each of which two corresponding pixels included in two neighboring pixel columns, respectively, and in the same pixel row, from among the plurality of pixels, are connected in common to a corresponding data line of the plurality of data lines and a corresponding gate line of the plurality of gate lines, and wherein a gate signal transferred to a predetermined pixel row through a corresponding gate line is transferred to a pixel on one side and a pixel on the other side from among a plurality of pixel pairs included in two pixel rows different from the predetermined pixel row, thereby controlling a switching operation.
US08345174B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, an isolating layer, and a conductor. The first electrode is disposed between the first substrate and the isolating layer, on which the conductor is disposed. Each of the second and third electrodes is disposed on the second substrate and includes a contact surface. The second and third electrodes are not in contact with each other and are separated by a gap. The conductor is disposed in accordance with the location of the gap.
US08345166B2
A broadcast receiving apparatus in the present invention includes: a first audio data characteristics extracting unit extracting a first soundless period and first interval information from first audio data included in the first service; a second audio data characteristics extracting unit extracting a second soundless period and second interval information from second audio data included in the second service; a simulcast determining unit determining whether or not the broadcast waves are simulcast by comparing the first interval information with the second interval information; and a broadcasting switching control unit switching between (i) the output of the audio data and the video data included in the first service and (ii) the output of the audio data and the video data included in the second service based on a result of the determination by the simulcast determining unit.
US08345163B2
Motion blur at a pixel of interest in a video signal is corrected adaptively by detecting a motion vector of the pixel of interest, estimating the direction and magnitude of the motion blur from the motion vector, and filtering the video signal at the pixel of interest. The filtering process uses the pixel values of the pixels in a neighborhood of the pixel of interest, clipped so that they do not differ too greatly from the pixel value of the pixel of interest, and low-pass filtering coefficients selected according to the estimated direction and magnitude. The filtered value is used to calculate a gain factor for correcting the pixel value of the pixel of interest. The strength of the correction is adjusted according to the difference between the pixel value of the pixel of interest and the mean pixel value in its vicinity. The adjustment and clipping prevent overcorrection.
US08345160B2
A synchronous signal conversion circuit converts a first synchronous signal, which is transmitted with a data signal, to a second synchronous signal conforming to a predetermined standard. In the synchronous signal conversion circuit, a transition detection circuit detects transition of the first synchronous signal. A synchronous signal generation circuit generates a second synchronous signal in response to a detection result by the transition detection circuit. An output timing control circuit delays the second synchronous signal generated by the synchronous signal generation circuit so that the second synchronous signal synchronizes with the data signal.
US08345159B2
A captioning evaluation system. The system accepts captioning data and determines a number of errors in the captioning data, as well as the number of words per minute across the entirety of an event corresponding to the captioning data and time intervals of the event. The errors may be used to determine the accuracy of the captioning and the words per minute, both for the entire event and the time intervals, used to determine a cadence and/or rhythm for the captioning. The accuracy and cadence may be used to score the captioning data and captioner.
US08345158B2
Apparatus and methods for generating a shutter-time compensated high spatial resolution (HR) image output by enhancing lower spatial resolution (LR) video images with information obtained from higher spatial resolution still images which are temporally decimated. Super-resolved images and LR SAD information is generated from the LR images and used for directing the extracting of information from the temporally decimated HR images to enhance the spatial resolution of the LR images in a blending process. By way of example blending can comprise: motion estimation, motion compensation of a temporally displaced HR still images and a super-resolved (SR) image input, transformation (e.g., DCT), generating motion error output, blending motion compensated images in response to LR motion error information; inverse-transformation into a shutter-time compensated HR video image output. Accordingly, a more cost effective solution is taught for obtaining a desired shutter time and video resolution.
US08345149B2
The optical path of the light having spread at each point of an object to be shot is limited by an iris unit of a density filter. Since the density filter unit has a desired transmittance characteristic, the amount of the light passing through the density filter unit continuously changes from the center of the luminous flux toward the periphery. After the luminous flux forms an image on the image forming surface, it spreads toward the light-receptive surface of an image sensor, and becomes an image spreading on the light-receptive surface in a predetermined range.
US08345142B2
An imaging area image is displayed on a monitor instead of an enlarged image after a focus state is maintained by an operation of a second operation member used for instructing maintenance of the focus state, if a first operation member configured to issue an instruction to start focus control is re-operated.
US08345138B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, an image signal transmitter, an image signal receiver, a signal processor and a control unit. The imaging element includes pixels arranged in two-dimensional array. The pixels output an imaging signal in synchronization with a first synchronizing signal. The image signal transmitter superimposes a second synchronizing signal on the imaging signal and transmits an image signal. The second synchronizing signal indicates a start position in vertical and horizontal directions in the two-dimensional array and is different from the first synchronizing signal. The image signal receiver receives the image signal from the image signal transmitter, and separates the received image signal into the imaging signal and second synchronizing signal. The signal processor processes the separated imaging signal based on the separated second synchronizing signal. The control unit receives the first synchronizing signal, and controls peripheral circuits in synchronization with the first synchronizing signal.
US08345134B2
An Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) gate charge coupled device (CCD) is provided. The CCD device comprises a CCD structure having a substrate layer, an oxide layer over the substrate layer, a nitride layer over the oxide layer and a plurality of parallel ITO gates extending over the nitride layer. The CCD device further comprises a plurality of substantially similarly sized channel stop regions in the substrate layer that extend transversely relative to the ITO gates, such that a given pair of channel stop regions defining a pixel column of the CCD structure. The CCD device also comprises a plurality of vent openings that extend through the nitride layer along the plurality of substantially similarly sized channel stop regions to allow for penetration of hydrogen to at least one of the oxide layer and the substrate layer.
US08345123B2
A lens unit 1 acquires identification information for an attached lens unit from the lens unit and stores the acquired identification information in a second memory 37. In a case in which correction information for the stored identification information is not registered, a CPU 36 reads the correction information for the stored identification information out from an external memory 39 and registers it.
US08345115B2
Presented is a system and method for measuring the refractivity profile of a parcel of atmosphere comprising an image capturing device for capturing an image of a visual feature, such as a topographic feature like the horizon, combined with a lens having focal length adapted to focus an image onto image capturing device such that the combination of the lens and the image capturing device are adapted to resolve at least 100 microradians of angle, and an image processor adapted to compare a detected position of the visual feature in the image to the expected position of the visual feature. The system uses the difference between the detected position and the expected position to detect the change in arrival angle caused by atmospheric refraction of light from the visual feature as it passes through the atmosphere.
US08345108B2
The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.
US08345107B2
A digital camera 1 has an image recorder 12, a microprocessor 3, and an image display controller 13. The image recorder 12 records a plurality of sequentially captured images along with a panning mode signal 60 related to the panning operation of the digital camera 1. The microprocessor 3 determines the layout of the plurality of images on the basis of the panning mode signal 60 recorded to the image recorder 12. The image display controller 13 displays a plurality of images side by side on a liquid crystal monitor 55 on the basis of the determination result of the microprocessor 3.
US08345104B2
A method for testing an image capturing function of an electronic device includes following blocks. A test program package with an exemplar image is installed in the electronic device. The electronic device is placed on a test fixture used for limiting an image capturing position and an image capturing angle of the electronic device. The electronic device captures an image to be tested by the electronic device. The image to be tested is compared with the exemplar image to determine whether the image capturing function of the electronic device is satisfactory.
US08345098B2
In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a user may elect to modify a primary view by electronically “removing” obstructing objects from the primary view. The user begins by identifying the objects to be electronically removed from the simulated view, either by designating the boundaries of the objects or by identifying classes of objects to be removed. Pel locations associated with obstructing objects are identified in the primary data set. Video data provided by cameras other than a primary video camera is analyzed to identify common features in the primary and secondary views and to identify pels that correspond with object-associated pels in the primary view. A merged data set, consisting of pel data from the primary data set and from at least one of the secondary data sets, provides the video data presented in the simulated view.
US08345095B2
An apparatus for displaying an image of a blind spot area to which driver's view is obstructed by a pillar, includes: an monitor on the pillar; a camera to take an image of a peripheral area including the blind spot area; and an image converting device to convert the camera image and create an output image to be displayed on the monitor. The image converting device sets in the peripheral area a reference surface defined as a surface of a sphere around a reference point at which the driver's eye point is assumed to exist; obtains positions of intersecting points at which half-lines extending from the reference point and passing through respective screen pixels of the monitor intersect with the reference surface; identifies pixels of the camera image corresponding to the respective intersecting points based on the camera's parameters; and creates the output image using data of the identified pixels.
US08345088B2
In an autostereoscopic display apparatus comprising a liquid crystal spatial light modulator having an array of pixels of different colors, each pixel comprising plural domains of different polar alignments, and a parallax element comprising an array of optical elements having geometric axes extending in parallel across the spatial light modulator in an inclined direction, the domains are shaped to improve the angular contrast uniformity. For each individual domain, a notional line parallel to the geometric axes of the optical elements of the parallax element has a total length of intersection with the individual domain, summed over adjacent pixels of the same color, is the same for all positions of the notional line. The total length of intersection for different domains is proportional to the area of the individual domains.
US08345080B2
Disclosed herein is a method of monitoring 3G video telephony through a DM port. The method is performed using monitoring equipment in a state in which the monitoring equipment, provided with a driver module capable of opening the DM port of a mobile communication terminal for measurement, is connected to the mobile communication terminal. The method includes the steps of (a) opening the DM port of the mobile communication terminal, (b) setting up connection between the mobile communication terminal and a counterpart terminal by sending a key press command through the DM port, (c) sending H.324M protocol-based log commands through the DM port in order to receive voice or video data from the counterpart terminal, and receiving the voice or video data from the mobile communication terminal, (d) decoding and decompressing payload data of the received voice or video data, and (e) analyzing the decompressed voice or video data.
US08345078B2
An optical component bowing device includes a bending moment generating structure. In a particular embodiment, the bending moment generating structure can have extension members that extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of an optical component. The extension members can be positioned adjacent longitudinal end portions of the optical component. The bending moment generating structure can also have loading members that load the extension members in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the optical component, whereby displacement of the extension members can generate a bending moment in a supported portion of the optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam. The bending moment generating structure can also include a reflective surface. Extension members on at least one end of the optical component can be T-shaped when seen in plan view in a direction orthogonal to the reflective surface.
US08345076B2
A material marking method includes: generating a code; randomly selecting at least one area of the material; and marking by laser shot on the surface of, or inside the material in each the area of the material to represent the code there in a way that cannot be detected by the naked eye. Preferentially, the randomly selecting step is performed for each item of material to be marked. Preferentially, during the code generating step, a two-dimensional bar code is generated, and during the marking step, the two-dimensional bar code is represented. Preferably, the method includes marking the material in order to represent a mark visible to the naked eye, at least one part of a marking area of a mark visible to the naked eye is selected randomly and/or the visible mark bears an item of information representative of the position of at least one area where the code that cannot be detected by the naked eye is represented.
US08345072B2
A display drive circuit of the invention has: an initial-color-gamut-apex-coordinate-storing unit capable of storing initial color gamut apex coordinates; a user-target-color-gamut-apex-coordinate-storing unit capable of storing user target color gamut apex coordinates; a saturation-expansion-coefficient-deciding unit for deciding expansion coefficients of saturation data based on the initial and user target color gamut apex coordinates; and an expansion unit for expanding saturations of display data based on the saturation expansion coefficients. The expansion coefficients of saturation data are decided based on the initial and user target color gamut apex coordinates, and saturations of display data are expanded according to the expansion coefficients. Thus, the degree of expanding the saturations can be controlled for each color gamut or each of R, G and B color properties of an LC display panel.
US08345066B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for representing virtual and real environment information for at least one user, whereby virtual arrangements and real arrangements are represented in such a way that masking of the virtual arrangements by real arrangements can be identified. The relative position and orientation of the device in the real environment are detected by means of an environment detection unit. In addition, a detection of the reality and the conversion thereof into a 3-dimensional surface model is continuously carried out by means of a spatial detection unit. A processing system transfers the 3-dimensional surface model of the real arrangements and the 3-dimensional model of the virtual arrangement into a common co-ordinates system and calculates possible masking surfaces of the virtual arrangement by the real arrangement.
US08345064B2
A tile binning method including: dividing a scene for rendering a triangle, into a plurality of tiles; determining identification values of tile nodes of each of the tiles; and identifying a tile including an entirety or a part of the triangle from the tiles, based on the identification value of the tile nodes for each of the tiles.
US08345055B2
An image display device includes a timing controller capable of overdriving. The timing controller has three line buffers, an image reverse processing unit, and an overdrive unit. The first line buffer buffers first line data of a second frame, wherein the second frame is generated later than a first frame. The second line buffer buffers first compressed data. The image reverse processing unit estimates first and second line data of the first frame according to the first compressed data. According to the first and second line data of the first and second frames, the overdrive unit outputs first and second lines of interleaving data for an interleaving frame. The interleaving frame is inserted between the first and second frames. With the third line buffer, the timing controller outputs the first and second lines of interleaving data at different time point.
US08345053B2
A graphics processor capable of parallel scheduling and execution of multiple threads, and techniques for achieving parallel scheduling and execution, are described. The graphics processor may include multiple hardware units and a scheduler. The hardware units are operable in parallel, with each hardware unit supporting a respective set of operations. The hardware units may include an ALU core, an elementary function core, a logic core, a texture sampler, a load control unit, some other hardware unit, or a combination thereof. The scheduler dispatches instructions for multiple threads to the hardware units concurrently. The graphics processor may further include an instruction cache to store instructions for threads and register banks to store data. The instruction cache and register banks may be shared by the hardware units.
US08345040B2
A display state of input data and a setting dialog on a display screen is determined to display the setting dialog at an appropriate position based on a determination result. An information processing system includes a scanner apparatus for inputting data and a PC for displaying input data input by the scanner apparatus on a display screen of a large-sized display. The PC includes a display control portion for displaying the input data and the setting dialog for setting document reading conditions relating to the input data on the display screen, and a display state determining portion for determining a display state of the input data and the setting dialog. The display control portion controls a display position of the setting dialog based on a determination result by the display state determining portion.
US08345039B2
An organic light emitting display device capable of driving transistor threshold voltage compensation, including: pixels positioned in the intersections of scan lines and data lines, wherein each pixel comprises: a first transistor and a fourth transistor, connected at a common node, disposed between an anode of an OLED and a first power supply; a cathode of the OLED connected to a second power supply; a second transistor connected between a gate of the first transistor and a data line, and turned on when a scan signal is supplied to a scan line; a third transistor connected between the common node and the data line, and turned on when a scan signal is supplied to the scan line; a first capacitor connected between the gate of the first transistor and the anode of the OLED; and a second capacitor connected between the anode of the OLED and a predetermined voltage source.
US08345034B2
A circuit configuration for realizing high impedance in an address drive circuit is provided in order to reduce the number of recovery switches without reducing power recovery efficiency. A mechanism for realizing the high impedance in an address drive circuit during a sustain period of a plasma display panel is provided. By achieving the high impedance, capacitance coupling between an X electrode and an address electrode and between a Y electrode and an address electrode can be cancelled, and a power recovery circuit can be simplified without reducing the power recovery efficiency.
US08345030B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing positive and negative voltages of a power supply. In one aspect, the power supply includes an inductor having a first end coupled via a source switch to a voltage source and coupled via a first plurality of output switches to a respective plurality of negative outputs and a second end coupled via a ground switch to a ground potential and coupled via a second plurality of output switches to a respective plurality of positive outputs and a controller adapted to configure the switches into at least one of multiple configurations.
US08345027B2
Disclosed herein is an image display device for displaying input image data on a display section formed by arranging pixel circuits in a form of a matrix by driving the pixel circuits by a signal line driving circuit and a scanning line driving circuit via a signal line and a scanning line of the display section.
US08345022B2
A linear compensation method of a touch panel is utilized to a touch control computer system. According to the method, a compensation reference table, including reference temperatures and reference surface resistances at pre-determined reference points having known coordinates at the reference temperatures, is obtained at first. Then, a set of user calibration resistance at the pre-determined reference points is obtained through a user calibration process, so as to obtain ratios of the user calibration resistances to interpolation surface resistances as correction weights. Under different temperature, interpolation surface resistances corrected by utilizing the correction weight to derive the current correction surface resistances that are corrected and nearly identical to actual surface resistances. Therefore, relatively precise coordinates are obtained through resistance-coordinate conversion process.
US08345018B2
An image display including a touch-sensitive display, that creates tactile sensation and movement of an object (3-2) along its surface is provided. Actuators including conductive rods (4-111, 4-112) attached together may be used, such that each rod of the actuator (4-11) may increase or decrease in size when current is applied to that rod to cause the actuator to bend toward a specified direction. Also, an image display that includes ball bearings (1-10) whose rotation is controlled by driving magnets (1-21, 1-22) to cause an object to move is provided. Further, air holes (3-11) tilted in various directions to control object movement by air pressure may be provided. Moreover, rods (3-10) may be moved up or down as activated by driving magnets (2-20). The actuators, rods, ball bearing assemblies, or holes may provide touch sensitivity for the image display.
US08345016B2
An input assisting apparatus that is detachable from an electronic apparatus including a touch sensor panel including a plurality of first input areas assigned with input information includes: a main body having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the touch sensor panel when the input assisting apparatus is attached to the electronic apparatus, the second surface being on an opposite side of the first surface; one or more elastically-deformable bulge portions that respectively correspond to one or more first input areas of the plurality of first input areas of the touch sensor panel and are provided to bulge from the second surface of the main body; and opening portions that are provided to the one or more bulge portions and expose at least a part of the one or more first input areas corresponding to the one or more bulge portions.
US08344996B2
A method for updating a submatrix of a display matrix of a display device comprises sequentially selecting rows of the display matrix starting from an initial row of the display matrix. The method includes determining whether a selected row precedes a first row of the submatrix in a first drive frame of a waveform having two or more drive frames. If a condition that a selected row precedes the first row of the submatrix in the first drive frame of the waveform is false, the method includes addressing the selected row for a first line address period. If a condition that a selected row precedes the first row of the submatrix in the first drive frame of the waveform is true, the method includes addressing the selected row for a second line address period.
US08344984B2
A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, and liquid crystal cells and having a quad type pixel structure in which red, green, blue, and white subpixels constitute one pixel, a logic circuit sequentially outputting polarity control signals, a data drive circuit that inverts a polarity of a data voltage in response to the polarity control signals to supply the data voltage with the inverted polarity to the data lines, and a gate drive circuit sequentially supplying gate pulses to the gate lines. A logic level of each of the polarity control signals is inverted every three horizontal periods, and phases of the polarity control signals are different from one another.
US08344983B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of areas in which response speeds greatly different from each other coexist in a pixel. A first replacement process section replaces the image data of the desired target frame with a first gradation, when a gradation transition from a current frame to a desired target frame corresponds to the above gradation transition. A second replacement process section replaces the image data of the current frame with a second value. The first value is set to a value causing the pixel to respond at a relatively higher speed without the occurrence of the excessive brightness. Without avoiding the deterioration of the image, it is possible to drive a liquid crystal display apparatus including areas whose response speeds are different from each other coexist in the pixel, such as a liquid crystal display apparatus of vertically aligned mode and normally black mode.
US08344971B2
An image display device includes a display portion formed by disposing pixel circuits in a matrix, and a signal line driving circuit and a scanning line driving circuit for driving the pixel circuits through signal lines and scanning lines of the display portion. The pixel circuit includes at least: a light emitting element; a drive transistor for current-driving the light emitting element by a drive current corresponding to a gate-to-source voltage thereof; a hold capacitor composed of either one capacitor or a plurality of coupling capacitors for holding therein the gate-to-source voltage; and a write transistor adapted to be turned ON/OFF in accordance with a write signal outputted from the scanning line driving circuit, thereby setting a voltage developed across terminals of the hold capacitor at a voltage of corresponding one of the signal line.
US08344970B2
A transistor control circuit (74) comprises a source-gated thin film transistor (70), an input for receiving a drive voltage representing a desired control of the source-gated transistor and a current source (82) for causing a known current to pass through the source-gated transistor (70). A first capacitor (78) stores a resulting gate-source voltage of the source-gated transistor when the known current is passed through the source-gated transistor. The drive voltage is modified using the resulting gate-source voltage, and the modified voltage is used in the control of the source-gated transistor. This control can provide a translational shift in the operating characteristics of the transistor, and it has been found that this can compensate for ageing of the transistor, for non-uniformity between different devices, and for temperature variations.
US08344956B2
A method is provided for reducing near-field radiation and specific absorption rate (SAR) values in a communications device. The communications device includes a multimode antenna structure transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals and circuitry for processing signals communicated to and from the antenna structure. The method includes adjusting the relative phase between signals fed to neighboring antenna ports of the antenna structure such that a signal fed to the one antenna port has a different phase than a signal fed to the neighboring antenna port to provide antenna pattern control and to increase gain in a selected direction toward a receive point. The method features using a transmit power lower than the transmit power used in a non-pattern control operation of the antenna structure such that the communications device obtains generally equivalent wireless link performance with the receive point using reduced transmit power compared to the non-pattern control operation, thereby reducing the specific absorption rate.
US08344952B2
A portable terminal with an antenna for receiving broadcast signals, includes an antenna module having a chip antenna patterned on a dielectric chip so as to define a physical length of the antenna module that enables the chip antenna to operate within a broadcast band, and a conductive plate connected to the chip antenna and having an area such that conductive plate leads a main radiation of the antenna module on the broadcast band, whereby the physical length of the antenna module can be reduced as short as possible by employing the chip antenna. Accordingly, the chip antenna facilitates making the antenna module and the portable terminal be smaller in size. Also, the chip antenna is configured to lead a main radiation on the conductive plate, thereby increasing radio reception quality and improving radio performance.
US08344948B2
The described principles provide a method and system for calibrating an UWB RF positioning system. Means for automated calibration of the UWB RF positioning system allow calibration based on simple user input that does not require accuracy. Thus, the disclosed calibration means enables nomadic deployment of UWB RF positioning systems by enabling fast and easy calibration and re-calibration of the system based on in-use data to correct for changes in the system during use. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, means are provided for direct feedback of calibration accuracy to the user. In a further embodiment of the invention, the full use of a UWB positioning system is enabled by obtaining optimal accuracy even at the outskirts of the tracking space and by providing optimal accuracy for a given number of receivers.
US08344943B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to retrodirective radio-frequency systems wherein a transmit antenna array includes at least one row of N transmit elements and a receive antenna array includes at least one row of N receive elements that correspond one-to-one to the transmit elements and wherein the transmit and receive elements are located on spaced planes, and centered about a common axis and located at common transmit distance and a common receive distance, respectively. In some embodiments the one row of transmit and receive elements comprises “n” rows of elements, where “n” is an integer greater than one, thereby forming a two-dimensional array. In some embodiments the total transmit radiation pattern provides an azimuth coverage of 360 degrees. In other embodiments, it may provide less coverage but be operable as independent sectors. In some embodiments, the desired transmit wave form will be identical between all transmit elements of the array, one possible example being pseudo random noise imparted on a sinusoidal carrier.
US08344941B2
A method of detecting motion in a load bearing member on a machine. The method includes positioning a Doppler radar detector on the machine and orienting the Doppler radar detector such that the Doppler radar detector floods the load bearing member transmitted radio frequency signals. The method further includes receiving reflected radio frequency signals from the load bearing member with an antenna and generating intermediate frequency signals based on differences between the transmitted radio frequency signals and the reflected radio frequency signals. The method further includes measuring the intermediate frequency signals.
US08344931B2
The present invention provides an n-bits successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converting (ADC) circuit, comprising: an n-bits SAR control logic, a p-type capacitor network including a DACp array and a sampling capacitor CSp, an n-type capacitor network including a DACn array and a sampling capacitor CSn; and a comparator for comparing outputs from the p-type capacitor network and the n-type capacitor network, wherein a power supply and ground are directly connected to the p-type capacitor network and the n-type capacitor network without using reference voltages produced by a reference voltage generator. The n-bits SAR control logic comprises n shift registers, n bit registers, and a switching logic. The comparator comprises a first pre-amplifier, a second pre-amplifier and a dynamic latch. Alternative, the comparator comprises a four-input pre-amplifier and a dynamic latch.
US08344929B2
An A/D converter device is provided, which has a D/A conversion function and changes a resolution of A/D conversion and D/A conversion. The A/D converter device is configured to selectively execute an A/D conversion operation and a D/A conversion operation, by the operation of a control circuit controlling switching of switches according to an ADC/DAC function switching signal supplied from an external side. The A/D conversion operation performs A/D conversion of an input signal voltage inputted via a signal input terminal from an external side and outputs an A/D conversion value of 12 bits. The D/A conversion operation outputs, via a signal output terminal, an analog voltage produced by performing D/A conversion of a digital value supplied from the external side.
US08344920B1
Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating a pipeline analog-to-digital converter including one or more serially connected analog-to-digital pipeline stages and a back-end analog-to-digital converter.
US08344915B2
A keyboard includes a base, and plural keys arranged on the base, wherein at least a part of the plural keys are arranged in plural steps in a depth direction of the keyboard, in the shape of a sector in such a manner that the keys closer to a central portion in a width direction of the keyboard are arranged backward whereas the keys closer to both end portions in the width direction of the keyboard are arranged forward.
US08344912B2
A method and apparatus in a sensor network in an aircraft for collecting data about the aircraft. The sensor network in the aircraft collects the data about the aircraft. The sensor network comprises a set of wireless sensors attached to a first set of locations for the aircraft, a set of wireless routers attached to a second set of locations for the aircraft, and a set of gateways connected to an aircraft data processing system. The set of wireless routers is capable of receiving the data in wireless signals transmitted by the set of wireless sensors. The set of gateways is capable of receiving data in the wireless signals from the set of wireless routers to form received data and is capable of transmitting the received data into the aircraft data processing system.
US08344905B2
An expandable tubular sleeve having utility for lining a downhole tubular member includes a tubular body having a portion that is predisposed to initiate expansion thereof under the application of internal fluid pressure. The predisposed portion of the body may be a plastically-deformed portion formed, e.g., by application of mechanical force to a wall of the body. The predisposed portion of the body may be defined by a portion of the body having reduced wall thickness. The reduced wall thickness may be achieved, e.g., by reinforcing the wall thickness everywhere except the predisposed portion. The predisposed portion of the body may be formed by modifying the material properties of the body, e.g., by localized heat treatment. The sleeve and related apparatuses and methods are useful for securing and protecting a cable having one or more insulated conductive wires for transmission of signals between locations downhole and at the surface.
US08344903B2
An instrumental device is provided which includes a variable display portion and a pointer moving around the variable display portion and achieves excellent response and resistance to vibration without complicating the shape of a member. The instrumental device has a display plate 21 having a variable display portion 21b, a pointer 23 moving around the variable display portion 21b, and pointer drive means 25, 26 provided on the back-face side of the display plate 21 for moving the pointer 23. The instrumental device includes a guide rail portion 22 provided in the display plate 21 to surround the periphery of the variable display portion 21b, the pointer 23 being located on the guide rail portion 22, a holding portion 24 holding the pointer 23 movably along the guide rail portion 22, a first magnet 24c provided in the pointer 23 or the holding portion 24, and a second magnet 25a provided in the pointer drive means 25, 26 such that the second magnet 25a is opposite to the first magnet 24c, wherein the pointer 23 is rotated in association with rotation drive of the pointer drive means 25, 26 by attraction force of the first and second magnets 24c, 25a.
US08344892B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to personalizing event participation of a visitor at an event. Embodiments include communication nodes that form defined wireless areas. A first one of the communication nodes determines when the visitor enters a first defined wireless area in response to detecting an identifier associated with the personal portable wireless device associated with the visitor, records user activities of the visitor within the first one of defined wireless areas, and determines an interest of the visitor in response to the user activities in the first defined wireless area, where the interest is used to customize the event for the visitor.
US08344882B2
A display device includes a dial, an alarm setting member, and a warning unit. The alarm setting member includes an A/D converter, a recognition module, a storage module, and an analysis module. With rotation of the dial, a variation voltage is generated. The A/D converter converts variable voltage from analog to digital form. In contrast, the alarm time is decreased. The storage module stores the adjusted alarm time. The analysis module compares the current time with the preset alarm time and outputs a driving signal to the warning unit in the event of a match.
US08344875B2
A vacuum pump stand (1) for generating and regulating the vacuum intended for a rotary vaporizer, including a control device having a control connection to a control unit (4) having at least one control element (3, 6). In the pump stand (1), the control unit (4) is designed as a remote control unit having a wireless control connection to the control device of the pump stand. Laboratory personnel can thus observe the rotary evaporator and the associated pump stand (1) through the divider of a fume cupboard, in order to be able to modify and readjust the process parameters at the remote control panel as needed. Because the remote control unit (4) has a wireless control connection to the control device of the pump stand (1), the fume cupboard no longer needs to be opened, even momentarily. Rather, the pump stand (1) can be operated from a sufficient distance outside the fume cupboard without the laboratory personnel needing to be exposed to special hazards.
US08344872B2
A sensor is paired with an emitter, such as in a postage metering machine, and the sensor is calibrated for ambient light conditions. Ambient light is measured with a sensor while the emitter is unpowered. If the measured ambient light is less than a current trip level (voltage level at the sensor), then a current level of light is measured with the sensor while the emitter is powered. If the measured current level of light exceeds the current trip level, then the signal output from the sensor indicates that an object such as an envelope awaiting postage to be printed thereon is present at the sensor. The current trip level may be determined by measuring light at the sensor when the emitter is on and adding some voltage margin to it, but if the sensor is blocked during this calibration a default threshold is used as the current trip level.
US08344867B2
A system and method for activating a safety system when a vehicle may be involved in a spin, roll, and/or a spin-to-roll condition. The system and method include determining a side slip angle of the vehicle using the arctangent of the ratio of a lateral and longitudinal velocity. The system and method also include receiving a roll rate signal and determining a roll angle using the roll rate signal. The system and method also include determining a roll warning threshold that is a function of a relationship between the roll rate signal and the roll angle. Lastly, the system and method include activating the safety system when a side slip angle threshold and/or the roll warning threshold are exceeded.
US08344861B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a haptic motion feedback mechanism. One embodiment of an apparatus for communicating motion in a virtual space includes a base and a feedback mechanism coupled to the base, the feedback mechanism using forced air to convey motion in the virtual space. In another embodiment, a method for communicating motion in a virtual space using a feedback mechanism includes receiving a signal indicative of user motion from a computing device on which the virtual space is running and forcing air through the feedback mechanism in order to convey the user motion.
US08344856B2
A position detecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a moving machine capable of moving along a predetermined path, plural storage media configured to store position information and arranged in parallel along the path, and a reading unit provided on the moving machine side and configured to read the position information of the storage media arranged in a reading range corresponding to the reading unit.
US08344847B2
A medical device system includes at least one controllable patient-worn or patient-carried medical device, and a plurality of controller devices that are capable of independently controlling features or functions of the patient medical device. Control commands and other data is wirelessly communicated among the patient medical device and the multiple controller devices. A number of techniques, protocols, and other measures are provided to coordinate wireless communication between the various devices in a medical device system. These control command coordination processes address situations where conflicting, redundant, or concurrent control commands might be independently issued by the multiple controller devices.
US08344843B2
A flux transfer device includes a first conductive element for generating magnetic flux when energized by an electric current and a second conductive element being concentric with the first conductive element, wherein the second conductive element generates an electric voltage/current in response to changes in the magnetic flux. A first magnetic element is concentric with the first conductive element, such that the magnetic flux generated by the first conductive element displaces at least a portion of the magnetic flux from the first magnetic element, thereby inducing an electric voltage/current in the second conductive element. A third conductive element and a second magnetic element may be positioned concentrically with the first conductive element such that the magnetic flux generated by the first conductive element displaces at least a portion of magnetic flux from the second magnetic element, thereby inducing an electric voltage/current in the third conductive element.
US08344832B2
A magnetic switch comprises a first frame and a second frame, a stationary contact to face the second frame, a movable contact contactable with or separated from the stationary contact, a coil assembly that generates a magnetic force in accordance with a flow of an electric current, a movable unit that makes the movable contact to be contactable with or separated from the stationary contact, a contact spring that applies an elastic force to the movable contact in a direction that the movable contact moves toward the stationary contact, a movable distance limiting unit limiting a movable distance of the movable unit to determine a contact pressure distance that the movable contact contacts the stationary contact and the contact spring is pressed, and a return spring to apply an elastic force to the movable unit in a direction that the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact.
US08344831B2
A magnetic yoke having a yoke core that has a magnet, on which a first yoke arm and a second yoke arm are developed in such a way that the magnet and the two yoke arms open up a yoke opening, and having a first pair of pole pieces, which extend into the yoke opening and are positioned at a distance to each other in a first direction in such a way that a first gap is developed between the first pair of pole pieces and having a second pair of pole pieces, which extend into the yoke opening and are positioned in a second direction, that is aligned perpendicular to the first direction, at a distance from each other in such a way that a second gap is developed between the second pair of pole pieces. A micromechanical component having such a magnetic yoke is also described. A method for producing a magnetic yoke and a micromechanical component is also described.
US08344830B2
A magnet core (1) that is suitable for use in a fault current circuit breaker and that is made of a helically wound, magnetically soft band has a top (4) and a bottom (5), the top (4) and the bottom (5) being formed by side surfaces (16) of the magnetically soft band. The magnet core (1) is fixed in a protective housing (6), and there is a contact cement (11) between the bottom (5) of the magnet core (1) and an inside wall (10) of the housing for fixing the magnet core (1).
US08344828B2
A metamaterial transmission line for transmitting an electromagnetic wave. The metamaterial transmission line may include a substrate including a substrate configured to include a an upper portion and a lower portion on which a ground plane is formed, a signal line configured to be formed on the substrate, and a defected ground structure configured to include an etched region and two metal portions, wherein the etched region is generated by etching a part of the ground plane and the metal portions extend from the signal line and are disposed on the etched region.
US08344826B2
A phased-array antenna filter and diplexer for a super economical broadcast system are provided. The filter and diplexer includes a signal divider tee diplexer, a receive filter and a transmit filter. The diplexer includes a tee branch point, an antenna port, a transmit port and a receive port. The receive filter includes a flat, multi-pole bandpass filter, an input port and an output port, where the input port is coupled to the diplexer receive port to define a receive signal path, from the tee branch point to the receive input port, that has a length of approximately one quarter receive wavelength. The transmit filter includes a folded, multi-pole bandpass filter, an input port and an output port, where the output port is coupled to the diplexer transmit port to define a transmit signal path, from the tee branch point to the transmit output port, that has a length of approximately one quarter transmit wavelength.
US08344825B2
An acoustic wave device includes an input terminal; a balun that is connected to the input terminal, converts a signal input from the input terminal into two anti-phase signals, and outputs the two anti-phase signals; and a filter that is connected to the balun, and outputs the two anti-phase signals input from the balun as balanced output signals. An output impedance of the balun is equal to an input impedance of the filter, and is larger than an output impedance of the filter.
US08344816B2
Provided is a fundamental wave/overtone crystal oscillator to obtain fundamental wave oscillation and overtone oscillation with one crystal unit and to optimize the excitation current depending on the fundamental wave oscillation and the overtone oscillation. The fundamental wave/overtone crystal oscillator includes a crystal unit that oscillates with fundamental waves or with overtones, and an oscillator circuit that amplifies an excitation current from the crystal unit and outputs an oscillatory frequency. A capacitor Cf and a capacitor Co are connected in parallel with the base of a transistor in the oscillator circuit as well as the emitter. A switch is provided so as to connect or disconnect the capacitor Cf with respect to the circuit in response to a switching signal. The switch turns ON when the crystal oscillator oscillates with fundamental waves, and turns OFF when the crystal oscillator oscillates with overtones.
US08344811B2
In a dual-hand capable voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) device at least two voltage-controlled oscillator units (VCO1, VCO2) are coupled via a reactive component (A) and each said at least one voltage-controlled oscillator unit (VCO1, VCO2) further being connected to at least a respective external switching device (B1, B2) adapted to control an operating frequency of the (VCO) device.
US08344810B2
A CMOS amplifier with integrated tunable band-pass function, a tunable active resistor structure, a method of amplifying an input signal and a method of fabricating an amplifier. The tunable active resistor structure comprises two symmetrically cross-coupled transistors.
US08344809B2
A radio frequency (RF) amplifier is disclosed including an active device adapted to amplify an input signal in accordance with a gain frequency response to generate an output signal, and a dissipative circuit adapted to modify the gain frequency response by dissipating the input or output signal more so at a first frequency range than at a second frequency range. The dissipative circuit may include a resistive element, and an open circuit adapted to operate as an open at a specified frequency to substantially minimize the dissipation of the input or output signal through the resistive element at the specified frequency. The open circuit may include an open-ended transmission line having an electrical length of a half wavelength or multiple thereof at the specified frequency. Alternatively, the open circuit may include a short-ended transmission line having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength or odd multiple thereof at the specified frequency.
US08344802B2
An operational amplifier device includes an operational amplifier, a first transmission gate, and a first switch module. The operational amplifier includes an output stage, which has a first signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, and outputs an output voltage at the signal output terminal. The first transmission gate is coupled between the signal output terminal and a transmission output terminal, having a first transmission control terminal. The first switch module is utilized for controlling electrical connection between the first signal input terminal and the first transmission control terminal. During a first transmission period, the first switch module controls the first transmission control terminal to be coupled to the first signal input terminal, thereby conducting the first transmission gate to not only transmit the output voltage but also act as a Miller capacitor.
US08344799B2
A power amplifier according to the present invention includes: a carrier amplifier (2) that amplifies a carrier of a high-frequency input signal; a peak amplifier (3) that amplifies a peak component of the high-frequency input signal; an average power level detecting circuit (11) that detects an average power level of the high-frequency input signal; a peak power level detecting circuit (12) that detects a peak power level of the high-frequency input signal; a first voltage controller (10a) that controls a DC voltage supplied to the carrier amplifier (2) according to an output voltage signal from the average power level detecting circuit (11); and a second voltage controller (10b) that controls a DC voltage supplied to the peak amplifier (3) according to an output voltage signal from the peak power level detecting circuit (12).
US08344791B2
Embodiments of the present invention include charge pump circuits and methods. In one embodiment, a first charge pump receives a voltage and generates a first charge pump output voltage and current for supplying the power requirements of a circuit. A second charge pump is coupled in series with the first charge pump. The second charge pump generates a second charge pump output voltage and current for supplying different power requirements of the circuit. In one embodiment, the first charge pump provides a high current low voltage output to a first circuit and the second charge pump provides a low current high voltage output to a second circuit. Capacitors of the first charge pump may be external to an integrated circuit and capacitors of the second charge pump may be internal to the integrated circuit.
US08344784B2
A method and circuit arrangement is provided for controlling switching transistors of an integrated circuit, with a bridge circuit and with a control unit, which is designed and/or has a program so that the control unit is designed as a measuring device and measures a bridge voltage of the bridge circuit, outputs an adjusting signal for adjusting a component of a bridge circuit, and outputs a control signal for activating the switching transistors. When the bridge circuit) has a branch with a resistor network and a transistor connected in series, and the control unit is designed and/or has a program so that the adjusting signal for adjusting a resistance value of the resistor network is switchable as the component dependent on the bridge voltage.
US08344783B2
A delay circuit includes: a delay unit configured to receive a clock signal, delay an input signal sequentially by a predetermined time interval, and output a plurality of first delayed signals; and an option unit configured to select one of the plurality of first delayed signals based on one or more select signals, and output a second delayed signal.
US08344773B2
A semiconductor device includes a delay circuit supplied with a first clock signal and a first phase determination signal and producing a second clock signal, the delay circuit controlling the second clock signal such that a delay in phase of the second clock signal to the first clock signal is increased when the first phase determination signal takes a first logic level and decreased when the first phase determination signal takes a second logic level, and a phase determining circuit supplied with the first clock signal and a third clock signal, which is produced in response to the second clock signal, and producing a second phase determination signal in response to a difference in phase between the first clock signal and the third clock signal.
US08344771B2
A delay locked loop (DLL) of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first delay line configured to variably delay a source clock signal and output a locked clock signal, a phase comparator configured to compare the phase of the source clock signal with the phase of a feedback clock signal, a second delay line configured to variably delay the locked clock signal, a first delay controller configured to control the first delay time of the first delay line, a second delay controller configured to control the minimum delay time of the second delay line, and an operation mode controller configured to control the first and second delay controllers in response to an output signal of the phase comparator, and switch operation modes of the first and second delay controllers depending on locking state of the delay lines.
US08344760B2
A circuit includes an input/output buffer circuit. The input/output buffer circuit includes an output buffer circuit and a bias control circuit. The output buffer circuit provides an output voltage in response to output information. The bias control circuit provides an output buffer bias voltage based on the output voltage.
US08344758B2
A device for performing a “logic function” consisting of a magnetic structure including at least a first magnetoresistive stack including a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer separated by a non-ferromagnetic interlayer and at least one first line of current situated in the vicinity of the first magnetoresistive stack and generating in the vicinity of the first stack a magnetic field when an electric current passes through it. The first line includes at least two current input points so that two currents can be added together in the first line, with the sum of the two currents being determined by the logic function.
US08344746B2
A system, probe interface, and method to test an integrated circuit with an electrostatic discharge signal. The probe interface includes a pulse generation circuit, ground plane, and a relay matrix, while the integrated circuit includes a plurality of contact points. The probe interface is configured proximate to the integrated circuit and the relay matrix is configured to electrically connect at least one of an operative signal, the pulse generation circuit, or the ground plane to a contact point of the integrated circuit. The probe interface is thus configured to provide a shortened path for at least one of the electrostatic discharge signal from the probe interface to the integrated circuit, or to the ground plane from the integrated circuit. The probe interface may selectively electrically connect to up to about thirty-two contact points of the integrated circuit, while the system may include up to about four probe interfaces.
US08344740B2
The present invention relates to a system for measuring a capacitor (C). A current source (12) is connected in parallel to the capacitor (C) between a supply plane (Vc) and ground (VGND) for providing a current to the capacitor (C). A voltage level-shift is connected between the supply plane (Vc) and the ground (VGND) in parallel to the capacitor (C) and in parallel to the current source (I2). The voltage level-shift senses a voltage across the electronic component (C) and provides a level-shifted output voltage Vout in dependence thereupon. The voltage level-shift comprises a resistor (RI) connected in series with a current source (II) and an output port interposed between the resistor (RI) and the current source (II). The current sources (I,) and (12) have opposite temperature coefficients such that the current provided to the electronic component is substantially constant.
