US08684505B2
In one example, a structure for supporting a printhead includes: a substrate having a first side and a second side; multiple inlets each protruding from the first side of the substrate through which liquids may be introduced into the structure from the outlets of liquid containers that can be attached to the structure; multiple openings through the substrate from the first side to the second side, each opening positioned near one of the inlets at a location exposed to the outlet of a corresponding one of the containers when the container is attached to the structure; and an air channel on the second side of the substrate connecting each of one or more of the openings to another opening.
US08684504B2
A continuous ink jet printer has a line (69a) for venting at least some of the air that has been sucked along the gutter line (17), and a line (69b) for recirculating back to the printhead (25) at least some of the air that has been sucked down the gutter line (17). Preferably the relative proportions of vented air and recirculated air can be varied, so as to reduce solvent loss during normal operation but allow increased solvent loss if the ink is over-dilute. Preferably the air recirculated to the printhead is connected directly into the flow path from the gutter orifice to the source of gutter suction, without opening into the space containing the ink jet. This reduces the tendency of solvent in the recirculated air condense on the printhead electrodes.
US08684492B2
A recording apparatus includes: a transport unit that unrolls and transports a recording medium being wound in a roll to the downstream side along a transport path of the recording medium; a recording unit that performs recording processing on the recording medium in a recording region positioned halfway on the transport path; and a control unit that controls the transport unit so that an amount of protrusion of the leading edge portion of the recording medium from the recording region to the downstream side is varied based on an amount of curling of the leading edge portion of the recording medium due to the curling tendency of the recording medium having been unrolled by the transport unit when the recording processing is performed on the recording medium by the recording unit.
US08684490B2
An image forming apparatus includes a joint head in which a plurality of heads, each having a plurality of nozzles, are arranged in a nozzle arranging direction, and end portions of the heads adjacent to each other overlap, an overlap processing unit that distributes recording dot pattern data used for forming dots by using nozzles of an overlapping portion of the heads out of recording dot pattern data to the nozzles of the recording head adjacent to each other, a first tone correcting unit that performs tone correction, by a first correction characteristic, on recording dot pattern data using the nozzles other than the overlapping portion, and a second tone correcting unit that performs tone correction by a second correction characteristic on recording dot pattern data by using the nozzles of the overlapping portion.
US08684489B2
A system cuts media printed with phase change ink in a manner that reduces the ink debris produced by cutting solidified ink. The system includes a heater configured to heat phase change ink on the media moving through the heater to a temperature at which the ink is malleable, the temperature being above room temperature and below a temperature at which phase change ink melts, and a cutter configured to receive the media after the media has been heated by the heater and to cut the media. The blade of the cutter may also be heated to facilitate media cutting with a reduced likelihood of solid ink debris being generated.
US08684479B2
A refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, includes at least one internal container having at least one storage shelf. An edge strip or framing element is attached along at least one edge portion of the storage shelf. Seated on the edge strip or framing element of the storage shelf along part of or all of its longitudinal extent is at least one outer profiled strip and connected by at least one snap connection, plug-in connection and/or clamp connection.
US08684477B1
A cabinet door assembly is moveably mounted to a cabinet to selectively close a chamber. The cabinet door has a substantially planar first panel and a substantially planar second panel in a planar parallel configuration. The second panel may retract relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel. A stop member may be incorporated to limit the downward movement of the second panel. Ramp surfaces and a guide member cooperate to facilitate upward and/or inward directional movement of the second panel relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel.
US08684471B2
A bicycle rim includes a body having an axis defining a center thereof. The body includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery. The outer periphery and the axis have an outer radius therebetween, and the outer radius is constant. The inner periphery includes a first portion having a non-constant diameter.
US08684465B2
The headrest has a carrier element, which has joining means for fixing to a backrest of a motor vehicle seat and an upper base, and having a cushion part which has a supporting member and is displaceable with respect to the carrier element in a direction of displacement. The carrier element features a latching strip having several latching elements, and the supporting member has a locking means which in a locking position engages with one of the latching elements and in a release position is disengaged from the latching elements. The supporting member further forms at least one oblong hole surrounding the upper base. The supporting member also has a spring-loaded strip which extends along a lower edge of the oblong hole and abuts against the upper base and pushes the same into contact with the upper edge of the oblong hole.
US08684455B2
A motor vehicle seat including a seat portion having a wind deflector provided in a storage compartment thereof, the wind deflector being mounted for movement between a rest position in the storage compartment and an active position out of the storage compartment. The seat portion also has a rotational joint configured to permit rotation of the seat portion between a first orientation in which the seat portion permits a user to assume a seated position, and a second orientation in which the seat portion permits the wind deflector to assume the active position.
US08684453B2
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a device for transporting picnic tables. A transporting apparatus that connects to a hitch of a vehicle that is specifically designed to hold a foldable picnic table. The picnic table further comprising condiment shelves, wheels and side tables.
US08684446B2
An energy-saving vehicle including a housing, a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a steering wheel. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, at least a first air inlet, and at least an air outlet. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The first air inlet is disposed in the front of the vehicle. The air outlet is disposed at the back of the vehicle. The first air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the air-flow channel. The front wheels and the rear wheels are driven by a power unit. The length of the air-flow channel is no less than that of the upper portion of the housing. The vehicle consumes less energy and travels more stably compared to conventional vehicles.
US08684438B2
Disclosed is an outer skin reinforcement for an outer skin of a motor vehicle, wherein the outer skin reinforcement is formed of a brace, which extends parallel to the outer skin and is connected on connecting points in the vehicle in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the brace is connected to the outer skin via an adhesive layer.
US08684433B2
A system includes a first container having a wall defining a receptacle, a neck defining an opening, and a flip cap disposed over the opening, and a second container having a wall defining a receptacle, a neck defining an opening, and a flip cap disposed over the opening. The system also includes a carrier having first and second carrier pieces disposed about the first and second containers and attached together with the first and second containers secured therebetween. The system further includes a top cap attached to the flip caps to secure the first and second containers together and to simultaneously remove the flip caps from the containers.
US08684432B2
Fingers for holding a target project from shift members, and shift in accordance with the movement of the shift members shifted in predetermined axial directions by a shift mechanism to hold the target. Sliding members for shifting the shift members in the predetermined axial directions project from the shift members, and guide the shift members by sliding. According to this structure, a robot hand becomes smaller in size by decreasing the clearances between the fingers (moving the shift members closer to each other). Thus, the robot hand can hold a small target object within a small work space even though the robot hand conducts a parallel shift of the fingers.
US08684424B2
The invention relates to a closing assisted electric lock for the opening of an automobile, that comprises: a bolt (5) including first (19) and second (20) notches, said bolt (5) interacting with a strike and being capable of rotating between an open position, a position closed at the first notch of the lock and a position closed at the second notch of the lock; a pivoting ratchet (13) capable of interacting with said bolt (5) for preventing the rotation thereof (5) into a closed position at the first and second notches of the lock; a bolt (5) driving lever for rotatingly driving the bolt (5) between the closed position at the first notch and the closed position at the second notch of the lock; characterized in that the driving lever (9) includes a protrusion (37) provided so that said bolt (5) is capable of pivoting the lever (9) when said bolt (5) rotates from the open position to the closed position at the second notch of the lock.
US08684421B2
A locking system includes a carrier member at least one locking member extending from the rod. The carrier member is movable between a first locked position in which the locking member engages a locking receptacle to maintain a container cover in a closed position and a second unlocked position in which the locking member disengages from the locking receptacle and the cover is movable between the closed and open position. The locking system includes a blocking member at a second end of the carrier member. The blocking member is movable between a first engaged position in which the rod abuts a portion of the blocking member and maintains the elongate rod in the first locked position and a second disengaged position in which the rod disengages from the blocking member and a biasing unit urges the rod in the second unlocked position.
US08684414B1
A multi-point seat restraint system configured to provide restraint for a passenger superposed a seat in a supine position. The multi-point seat restraint system includes a plurality of upper belts having a first end anchored behind the seat back of the associated seat. A junction bar is further included wherein the junction bar is configured to releasably secure the upper belts proximate the second end of the plurality of upper belts. The junction bar further includes a first belt portion and a second belt portion integrally secured thereto. The first belt portion and second belt portion and configured to be releasably secured to a first lower belt and a second lower belt. The first lower belt and second lower belt are retractably mounted to the floorboard of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment of the second lower belt, the second lower belt includes a first portion and a second portion being angularly mounted.
US08684412B2
A Collapsible Trailer. The trailer is lightweight, but durable, and includes a set of detachable deck segments that can be assembled into a deck. The trailer further includes a suspension assembly that attaches to the deck once the deck is assembled or, alternatively, is permanently attached to one deck segment. Intra-deck segment support is provided by slidable rods that are extendable to bridge between a pair of adjacent segments. Each deck segment has a male edge to be inserted into a female edge to create an exceedingly strong, interlocking hinge-like structure. The deck and trailer can be assembled without the need for any tools. The deck segments, when disassembled, are stackable into a condensed deck stack. A foldable suspension facilitates the stackable storage and transportation of the trailer. The trailer is convertible into a cargo platform that can be attached directly to a conventional trailer hitch receiver on a vehicle.
US08684406B2
An airbag with a valve device for a gaseous medium includes at least one textile layer and at least one foil that at least partially covers the textile layer such that due to the valve device at least one area of the airbag permeable by the medium can be at least partially opened when the valve device is in an open position and can be at least substantially sealed when the valve device is in a closed position.
US08684399B2
A gas generator includes an inflator and a retainer. The retainer includes a holding portion, which partially covers the inflator. The inflator has an attaching protrusion for determining the position relative to the retainer. The retainer includes an engagement base and a tongue piece. The tongue piece extends in an axial direction of the inflator and from a position separated from the engagement base in the circumferential direction of the holding portion. The engagement base and the tongue piece each have an engagement portion. The engagement portions face each other to form an engagement space therebetween, into which the attaching protrusion enters. The engagement space has an inlet the width of which is less than the size of the positioning protrusion. When the inflator causes the positioning protrusion to increase the width of the inlet, the tongue piece is elastically deformed about a basal end of the tongue piece.
US08684378B2
A frame folding and adjustment mechanism for a foldable motorized vehicle, comprising: a hollow adjusting and fixing member, a hollow mounting member, an elastic element, a restricting member, and a cable assembly having a fixing cylinder, and a cable, wherein the fixing cylinder is fixed between the front rack and the hollow mounting member, the upper end of the cable freely passes through the fixing cylinder, the lower end of the cable fixedly passes through the restricting member and is connected to a lower end of the elastic element, the upper end of the elastic element is fixed to the hollow mounting member, the restricting member detaches from the hollow adjusting and fixing member when the upper end of the cable is pulled, and the restricting member engages with the edges of the hollow adjusting and fixing member when the upper end of the cable is released.
US08684372B2
A modular kit for constructing a dolly comprising of at least one strut having a first and second end, and a first, second, and third through hole; at least one first connector; at least one second connector, each first connector removably attaches to each second connector, hereinafter referred to as a connector assembly, after at least two struts have been modularly assembled, each connector assembly is threaded through either the first, second, or third through holes of each respective strut; and at least one caster assembly, each caster assembly removably attaches to each connector assembly.
US08684369B1
A specially formed ball shaped disc 40 to 50 mm in diameter to be utilized on the PIC® inline skate, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,360, to allow for extreme jumps, spins, and footwork moves in the sport of inline figure skating. The ball pick disc is made of molded rubber or synthetic material. The purpose of the ball pick is to provide extreme deep edges for enhanced spins, jumps, and footwork common in the sport of inline figure skating while protecting the skate frame from scraping. The ball shape is slotted to fit around the frame thus protecting the frame from scraping and allows the skater to achieve extremely deep edges. The ball shape provides 180 degrees of surface allowing the skater unlimited toe-in angles. The configuration of the disc allows the ball pick to be reversed to extend wear.
US08684365B2
A stabilizer system is provided with a stabilizer bar configured to connect a left wheel and a right wheel of a vehicle to each other and suppress a roll of the vehicle by torsional reaction force, an actuator configured to control a relative torsional amount between a side of the left wheel and a side of the right wheel of the stabilizer bar, and a control device configured to control the actuator. The actuator can selectively operate in a permitting mode in which increase and decrease in the torsional amount is permitted or in a regulating mode in which the increase and decrease in the torsional amount is regulated.
US08684364B2
An arbor of a machine tool has a collet arbor base, an expandable and releasable collet having a top band coupled to a bottom band, an actuator pin slidable from the collet arbor base arranged concentrically within the collet and having a reverse male taper on an upper end thereof that actuates the top band of the collet, and a conical ring with a taper angle matching the upper end of the actuator pin arranged proximate a lower part of the actuator pin concentric therewith, wherein the reverse male taper at the upper end of the actuator pin activating the top band and the conical ring having a matching taper activating the bottom band of the collet cause the collet to expand and retract accordingly.
US08684361B2
A target system includes a blocking plate with one or more openings through which bullets are fired and one or more targets for being struck by the bullets disposed behind the blocking plate and generally in line with the one or more openings. The target system may include a hinge mechanism which limits the range of movement of the target after it has been struck by a projectile. The hinge mechanism may also provide for tool less attachment and removal of the targets from the hinge mechanism.
US08684357B2
Air hockey tables are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an air hockey table comprises an air hockey table comprising a playing surface that is at least partially curved; and a plurality of air paths extending through the playing surface, wherein air is emittable by the plurality of air paths, and wherein the puck is at least partially floatable on air that is emittable by the plurality of air paths.
US08684354B2
An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.
US08684344B2
A protective envelope for a lid of a plastic cup comprises a vacuous plastic film stuck on the top of the lid which was beforehand vaporized by an antiseptic liquid, without alcohol, then dried. The plastic film includes a detachable part, activated by a thread to be pulled, which is positioned above the opening to drink of the lid. So, when a consumer is ready to drink, he removes the detachable part by pulling the thread, so freeing the opening to drink. With such protection the lid is protected from bacteria and virus which can cause diseases. In brief, the steps of conception of the antiseptic lid are: to vaporize the lid with an antiseptic liquid without alcohol, to dry the lid, to put a thin film of plastic onto the lid by positioning the detachable part over the drink opening and to stick the film onto the lid by means of a vacuum.
US08684342B2
A coil spring has a spring wire wound in a coil shape having an outer diameter side portion and an inner diameter side portion on a peripheral shape in a cross section thereof, one of the outer diameter side portion and inner diameter side portion formed in a semi-circular shape expressed by x2+y2=b2, the other thereof formed in a non-circular shape with a long diameter “a” and a short diameter “b” expressed by (x/a)α+(y/b)α=1, and value of the “α” set in a range of 1.85 to 2.45, and contact faces provided between the inner diameter side portion and the outer diameter side portion on the peripheral shape in the cross section such that each contact face comes into contact with a contact face of an adjacent coil in an axial direction along an axis line of the coil spring.
US08684331B2
A new valve for regulating the flow of liquid has two housings that are removably attached to one another. When the housings are separated, the liquid can no longer pass through the valve. A system of magnetic elements is used to cycle the flow of liquid (urine) through the valve. The valve is typically connected to an indwelling bladder catheter and the valve allows the patient to be at least temporarily disconnected from a collection bag.
US08684325B1
This mounting system can be used to house a television or other appliance against, or in, a wall, ceiling, floor or table. A user may manipulate the position and orientation of the housed appliance from its storage position to an operational position. The entire system can be completely concealed from view by a decorative cover while providing ready access to the appliance. To operate the appliance, the mount provides for extension and/or rotation to a desired position without removal of the concealing cover. A mounting bracket is attached to a fixed structure, and an appliance interface bracket is adapted for attachment to the appliance. A system of linkage arms couples the two brackets. Multiple linkage arm systems accommodate various lengths of extension and degrees of rotation including 180°. In all cases provision is made for concealed containment of all power and control cables necessary for operation of the appliance.
US08684320B2
A support bracket for mounting wires, cables, conduits and the like to floor beams of an aircraft passenger cabin floor without modification to the floor beams, the floor beams having a top flange, a bottom flange, and a vertical web. The support bracket has a support body with cable support cradles where each cradle has a cradling surface and a tie wrap passage; and at least clamping block connected to the support body with at least one adjustable tension bolt, the clamping block having a beam engaging surface wherein tension in the at least one bolt urges the beam engaging surface toward the support body.
US08684318B2
A mechanical lock for railway points comprising an outer tube and a linear arrangement of interlinked components arranged in a core of the outer tube, the interlinked components comprising five coaxially arranged, separately manufactured, elements, including a central tie and two link-rods, the two link rods being respectively interlinked at first ends thereof to opposing ends of the central tie by expandable components.
US08684315B2
An active winglet includes a body portion substantially parallel to a wing of an aircraft, as if it were an extension of the wing. The body portion is attachable to an aircraft wing and includes a controllable airflow modification device coupled thereto. By virtue of having a controllable airflow modification device, the winglet is capable of adjusting a control surface of the controllable airflow modification device in response to in-flight conditions, to reduce wing loads, increase range, and/or increase efficiency.
US08684313B2
An inflatable kite has a continuous leading edge tube that is swept forward at its left and right wingtip ends so that bridle lines attaching the canopy to the user are forward of the center of effort of the kite.
US08684310B2
A multilayer construction for aerodynamic riblets includes a first layer composed of a material with protuberances, the first layer material exhibiting a first characteristic having long-term durability and a second layer composed of a material, exhibiting a second characteristic with capability for adherence to a surface.
US08684306B2
A retractable nose landing gear assembly for an aircraft is disclosed, which includes an elongated strut cylinder defining a longitudinal axis, an elongated strut piston mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the strut cylinder between a shrunk condition when the landing gear is retracted into a wheel well of an aircraft and a fully extended condition when the landing gear is deployed from the wheel well for landing the aircraft, and wherein the strut piston is mounted for rotation about the axis of the strut cylinder for steering the aircraft while taxiing on the ground, and a locking mechanism operatively associated with the strut cylinder for preventing rotation of the strut piston about the axis of the strut cylinder when the landing gear is in a shrunk condition retracted within the wheel well of the aircraft during flight.
US08684303B2
A gas turbine engine includes a spool along an engine centerline axis which drives a gear train, said spool includes a low pressure compressor with four (4) stages.
US08684299B2
Device for driving at least one wheel of an aircraft landing gear, which includes at least one turbine machine incorporated into the landing gear of the aircraft. Advantageously, the turbine machine is a pneumatic turbine.
US08684297B2
A method of grounding a dispenser. A low impedance path is connected to elements internal to the dispenser. The low impedance path is also connected to a surface contact spring which is adapted to contact an external mounting surface when the dispenser is affixed thereto. Static electrical charge accumulated on the elements is discharged through the low impedance path and the surface contact spring to the external mounting surface.
US08684295B2
A cord reel configured in such a manner that the position of a cord reel body can be easily adjusted when the cord reel body is located at an intermediate portion of cords. A cord reel is provided with a first bobbin (4) and a second bobbin (5) on which respective cords (2) are wound, bobbin impelling means (6) for always impelling both the bobbins (4, 5) in the take-up direction, and a bobbin interlock means (7) for interlocking both the bobbins (4, 5) together, the bobbin interlock means (7) being configured in such a manner that, when both the cords (2) are not being operated in the pay-out direction, the bobbin interlock means (7) restricts rotation of both the bobbins (4, 5) in the take-up direction, that, when the cords (2) are operated in the pay-out direction by an operating force not greater than a preset value, the bobbin interlock means (7) allows one of the bobbins to rotate in the pay-out direction and allows the other bobbin to rotate in the take-up direction in association with the rotation of said bobbin, and that, when a cord (2) is operated in the pay-out direction by an operating force greater than the preset value, the bobbin interlock means (7) releases the interlock between both the bobbins (4, 5) to cause only the operated bobbin to rotate in the payout direction.
US08684294B2
To allow a seat belt retractor to be easily assembled and to be made compact while effectively operating a pretensioner and an energy absorbing mechanism. A plurality of balls 20 rotate a ring gear 25 by gas generated in the event of an emergency. Since internal teeth 25a are meshed with external teeth 26a, a pinion 26 is rotated by the rotation of the ring gear 25, and a spool retracts a seat belt. After pressing the ring gear 25, the balls 20 separate from the ring gear 25 and are stored in an arc-shaped passage 33. Since the seat belt is then withdrawn, the pinion 26 and the ring gear 25 rotate in a seat-belt withdrawing direction. In this case, some of the balls 20 in contact with the ring gear 25 are returned by the ring gear 25. Therefore, the ring gear 25 more smoothly rotates because the influence of the balls 20 is suppressed.
US08684287B2
A coffee grinder includes a machine base, in which a crushing unit, a separating unit, and a grinding unit are provided. The machine base has an inlet and an outlet, and the crushing unit is under the inlet to crush coffee beans into parchments and beans. The separating unit has a rotary member and a collection container that the rotary member provides an air flow to send the parchments to the collection container. The grinding unit is between the crushing unit and the outlet to grind the beans from the separating unit and send the ground beans to the outlet. The present invention crush the coffee beans to separate the parchments and the beans, and the parchments are removed by the separating unit. Next, the beans will be ground.
US08684282B2
An atomizer delivery manifold or spray head with an adjustable spray pattern tip is provided. The adjustable spray pattern atomizer is especially useful for delivery of fibrin glues, and enables a fluid admixture to be applied precisely to a specific site in a wide range of spray patterns.
US08684259B2
The pocket folder is made from a single sheet blank and has a pair of pockets and reinforced side edges. The pockets may be open pockets or one of the pockets may be closed while the other is open.
US08684254B2
A surgical instrument is designed for clamping, cutting, and/or joining tissue. This surgical instrument includes a handle portion, an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion, first and second jaw members disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, a shaft movable upon actuation of the handle portion, and a knife bar operatively coupled to the shaft. At least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The knife bar has a curved profile and moves along at least one of the jaw members upon movement of the shaft.
US08684252B2
A surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle assembly having a proximal end, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The shell assembly includes a shell and a staple guide housing a plurality of staples. A flexible engagement structure attaches the staple guide to the shell.
US08684251B2
A head for a stapler used during a mucosectomy is disclosed that includes an external body, an internal body, an anvil, and a blade. The internal body includes a central hole into which a rod is slidingly inserted. One or more annular grooves are formed on a lateral surface of the rod, and are intended to receive a portion of mucosa which is included in a purse string suture as the mucosa is tied around the rod. By retracting the rod in the central hole of the internal body, the mucosa to be removed is carried into the internal body.
US08684250B2
An apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a circular surgical stapler having an anvil assembly with an anvil shaft and an anvil, the circular surgical stapler further having a tubular body portion with an annular knife and a body portion shaft selectively attachable to the anvil shaft; and a seal structure for deposition between the intestinal sections of tissue including a hub configured to engage attachment structure on at least one of the anvil shaft and the body portion shaft. The attachment structure is positioned so that the seal structure is located between the intestinal sections of tissue when the circular surgical stapler is disposed within the intestinal sections of tissue.
US08684247B2
A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, an elongated member and a disposable loading unit. The handle assembly includes a mode selection mechanism configured to alternate the surgical device between a first grasping mode of operation and a second clamping mode of operation. The handle assembly includes a rotation control member and an articulation lever. The rotation control member is configured to facilitate rotation of the elongated member with respect to the handle assembly. The articulation lever is configured to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongated member. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly configured to clamp and staple tissue in the second clamping mode of operation of the device.
US08684242B2
A holster with interchangeable cowling members for reconfiguring the holster pocket to accommodate pistols of varying sizes including pistols with add-on attachments including a frame member forming at least a first portion of a holster pocket, a cowling member cooperatively associated with the frame member forming a second portion of the holster pocket, at least one slide member associated with one of the frame member and cowling member, at least one groove associated with the other of the frame member and cowling member, the groove being adaptable to receive the slide member for selective longitudinal movement therealong, and a latch device having a first portion cooperating with the frame member and a second portion cooperating with the cowling member and operable to selectively prevent relative movement therebetween. The groove, slide member and latch device releasably mount the cowling member to the frame member.
US08684238B2
An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle.
US08684233B2
A fluid container unit including: a container coupling for coupling a supply/discharge port of a first container with a supply/discharge port of a second container; a single nozzle member having a nozzle tube; a connection cap having a first end for holding a base portion of the nozzle member and a second end for covering one side of the container coupling by fitting around an outer periphery thereof; an intermediate adaptor having a pair of pusher elements facing the first and the second supply/discharge ports, respectively; and a supply/discharge port opening mechanism for moving the intermediate adaptor toward the container coupling and opening the supply/discharge ports by the pusher elements. The pusher elements are movably held in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle tube in the connection cap.
US08684232B2
Colorant fluid dispensing device (1) for dispensing multiple colorant fluids, comprising more than one fluid container (2) at least one dispenser outlet (3), wherein the fluid containers are in fluid connection with the at least one dispenser outlet via pumping means (4) the pumping means comprises more than one piston pump (5), each piston pump comprises a central pump tube (15) in which a piston (20) is provided with a piston rod (21) for moving the piston inside the central pump tube, the colorant fluid dispensing device further comprises driving means (36) for moving the piston rods of said piston pumps, control means (38) for controlling the driving means, and the driving means comprises a movable selector (37) configured to engage the piston rods of a selection.
US08684231B2
A drink additive lid system (10) is provided for selectively introducing a drink additive (12) to a beverage container (14) closed by the lid system (10). The system (10) includes a plurality of additive compartments (20), each compartment (20) containing a drink additive (12), and a lid (22) attachable to a beverage container (14) to close a fill opening (16) of the beverage container (14). The lid (22) carries the compartments (20) and includes a drinking port (67) to allow beverage to pass from inside of the container (14) to the mouth of a user, and an actuator (24) mounted to be sequentially positioned adjacent each additive compartment (20) to allow a user to sequentially dispense the additive (12) from each additive compartment (20) into the beverage container (14) by engaging the actuator (24) with the compartment (20).
US08684223B1
A drinking glass has flutes inward from inside walls of an inner sleeve. Outer walls are curved. The flutes and curved outer walls form lenticular surfaces that distort images. The flutes provide precise alignment for multicolor printing on the outer wall of the inner sleeve. An outer sleeve is sealed to a top of the inner sleeve. A space between the sleeve is filled with fluid, sheets and objects.
US08684221B2
A pastry tray includes a body having an outer region and an inner region. The inner region includes at least one aperture extending therethrough. The pastry tray also typically includes at least one leg extending at least partially vertically downward from the body. When the pastry tray is arranged on a container containing a heated liquid, heat and steam from the heated liquid pass through the at least one aperture. When a pastry is arranged on the pastry tray, the heat and steam act to warm, and in some cases soften, the pastry.
US08684220B2
A concrete storage tank structure comprises a tank including a floor slab having a periphery and a wall having inner and outer faces extending upwardly from the floor slab at a position adjacent the periphery of the latter. The tank structure further includes a shear pad extending outwardly away from the tank from a position adjacent a lower portion of the outer face of the wall. The shear pad and the tank are positioned relative to one another in such a way that a space is provided therebetween and a number of elongated flexible connecting elements are arranged so as to extend through the space in interconnecting relationship relative to the shear pad and the tank. A strip of resilient neoprene elastomeric material is disposed in the space. The shear pad is thus flexibly attached to the tank in such a way that the forces imposed on the wall of the tank by the shear pad during movement of the tank during use are minimized.
US08684217B2
A rigid or semi-rigid tray is provided, including a bottom and at least one side wall which forms at least one recessed product-receiving compartment, and a flange extending around the tray which forms distal edges of the container. The tray further includes a lidding film affixed to the flange which forms a peelable heat-seal extending around the product-receiving compartment and the distal edges of the container, and an easy-open member positioned between the product-receiving compartment and the distal edges of the container. The easy-open member has a frangible portion of the lidding film which forms a tab member when punctured, for example by the force of a human finger, to provide a means for removing the lidding film from the flange and gaining access to the product-receiving compartment.
US08684213B1
A container assembly that includes a container having a container top and a container floor, a lid affixed to said container top by a hinge, the lid being adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, an internal fastener being (1) attached to the inside of the container, (2) not accessible from the outside of the container when the lid is in its closed position, and (3) adapted to maintain the lid in its closed or locked position, an access hole in the container floor, a lever positioned within the container and above the access hole, and a tool adapted to be inserted into the access hole to activate the lever to release the internal fastening mechanism.
US08684209B2
A foldable and overlappable carrier box includes a base panel, a pair of first side panels erected along any two facing edges of the base panel, and a pair of second side panels erected along remaining facing edges of the base panel. Each of the first side panels is divided into an upper face and a lower face along a horizontal line, the upper face being foldable downwards, and each of the second side panels is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion along a horizontal line, so that when carrier boxes are stacked in multiple layers by folding the upper face, a lower portion of a carrier box located at an upper position is overlappable with an upper portion of a carrier box located at a lower position.
US08684195B1
A wall mounted storage system has a track, a plurality of vertical panels, a plurality of plugs and a plurality of shelves. The track is mounted to a wall for supporting the vertical panels. The shelves and panels form compartments. Each vertical panel has a cut out which matches the configuration of the track. The cut out has a front radiused section and a rear flat section. The track has a corresponding front radiused edge and rear seat. The cut out mates with the track at the radiused and flat sections. An opening is provided between the bottom of the track and the bottom of the cut out. The plug fits within this opening to prevent the vertical panel from separating from the track after the panel is attached to the track. The front bottom edges of the vertical panels are protected by bottom protectors.
US08684191B2
A support rack for a substantially planar circuit board includes first and second spaced apart sides. The sides define a plurality of spaced apart product receiving support surfaces where corresponding surfaces on each side are parallel to one another and spaced apart by a central region to form a U-shaped rack. Between pairs of support surfaces on a selected side are truncated, trapezoidal-like protrusions which terminate in product retaining clips. Integrally formed braces can be provided to increase rack strength.
US08684189B2
Described is the application of layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly techniques to electrospun nanofibers in order to fabricate novel, breathable electrospun fiber-based chemical and biological detoxifying protective fabrics and filters. The combination of layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly and electrospinning technique allows one to take advantage of high specific surface area, light weight and breathability of electrospun fiber mats while simultaneously providing the versatility to incorporate different functional polyelectrolytes to achieve multifunctional coatings for both chemical and biological protection together. The functionalized fiber mats can be incorporated into breathable chemical and biological protective fabrics, filters and masks. In addition, LbL electrostatic coating of porous non-woven materials provides the versatility to generate multifunctional polymer-based membrane materials for other applications.
US08684185B2
A separating device for separating a mixture of magnetizable and non-magnetizable particles present in a suspension conducted in a separating channel, has a ferromagnetic yoke, which is arranged on one side of the separating channel and made of sheet metal and which has at least one magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic deflecting field and a separating element arranged at the exit of the separating channel for separating the magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic field generator provided is a coil arrangement, having coils which can be controlled via a control device in grooves of the yoke along the separating channel such that a deflecting magnetic field, particularly a travelling wave, deflecting substantially toward the yoke; and being variable in terms of time is produced, having substantially field-free regions passing over the entire length of the separating channel.
US08684184B2
A dual-supply container comprises a first compartment having a first opening, the first compartment being configured to contain therein a multiple-use amount of a product; a second compartment having a second opening, the second compartment being configured to contain a limited-use amount of the product; and a removable cover for each compartment that covers the opening of the compartment to seal the product in the compartment.
US08684174B2
A case for an electrical device includes: (a) a first portion with a bottom surface; (b) a second portion adjacent to the first portion; (c) a third portion adjacent to the second portion; (d) a fourth portion adjacent to the third portion; and (e) a fifth portion with an interior surface and adjacent to the fourth portion. In this embodiment, at least one of the first portion or the third portion is configured to be removably coupled to the electrical device. Additionally, when the case placed in an open configuration, the first portion is capable of being located over the fifth portion with the bottom surface of the first portion adjacent to the interior surface of the fifth portion.
US08684161B2
A portable truck dump comprises a conveyor system mounted on an elongate frame to transport material from a first end of the frame to a second, opposite end of the frame. A grate is positioned over the conveyor system and is supported by first and second sides of the frame. A ramp extends generally perpendicular to the frame on each side of the frame next to the grate to provide a drive-over access for a material transport vehicle to deposit its load over the grate and onto the conveyor system and a portion of each ramp. A first end of each ramp immediately adjacent to the frame is pivotally connected to the frame to allow the ramp to be articulated towards the grate to move excess material off of the ramp and into the grate.
US08684157B2
According to some embodiments of the invention, a magnetic sensor having a track width of greater than about 50 millimeters is provided. The magnetic sensor is adapted to detect a magnetic feature and produce a linear, analog output in response to the magnetic feature. The analog output is along a single data channel.
US08684156B1
A bill acceptor capable of reducing light pollution, avoiding errors and faults and enhancing detection accuracy and reliability is disclosed to include a housing defining a bill slot in a face panel thereof, a bill-receiving unit accommodated in the housing and including a holder base defining therein a bill passage in communication with the bill slot, a control module, a transmission mechanism and a recognition circuit assembly, the recognition circuit assembly including a sampling and validating module consisting of a plurality of light emitters and light sensors and controllable by the control module to validate the authenticity and face value of an inserted bill, and privacy filters mounted in a light path in the bill-receiving unit between the bill passage and the light sensors to filtrate external light sources and to let the light emitted by the light emitters pass toward the light sensors.
US08684151B2
A loading apparatus for loading raw material into a processing apparatus includes an accommodation section accommodating the raw material, upstream and downstream paths through which the raw material is fed in an airtight state into the processing apparatus, a feeding mechanism that feeds in an airtight state the raw material from the accommodation section to the upstream path, a joint section that separates and joins the upstream and downstream paths, and a closing section, positioned in the second path, that can be opened and closed to maintain the processing apparatus and a portion of the downstream path located downstream of the closing section in an airtight state when the joint section separates the upstream and downstream paths. The downstream path is extendable and contractible to move its downstream end with respect to the joint section while the upstream and downstream paths remain joined.
US08684144B2
A shaft brake disc, in particular for a rail vehicle, including a friction ring fastened to a hub by way of screws that are passed through a clamp ring at the inner periphery of the friction ring that sits against support flanges, the clamp ring forming a backing support for the screws, is adapted so that the clamp ring and the hub engage one another in a form-fitted manner.
US08684141B2
A device for lifting vehicles and other objects may include a first tubular body and a second tubular body. The second tubular body is mobile in relation to the first tubular body in a longitudinal direction of the first tubular body. A first receiving chamber for a first fluid medium is provided in the interior of the first tubular body. A second receiving chamber is provided for the first fluid medium and a line connection provides fluid communication between the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber. The line connection extends through at least a portion of the first receiving chamber. According to various aspects, the device includes a supply line configured to supply a second fluid medium, different from the first fluid medium, to the first receiving chamber.
US08684137B2
A roof jack apparatus that includes a rail having first and second end portions and a slide connector slidably received by the rail and capable of being fixed at a position along the rail. The slide connector is configured to releasably receive a jack support for at least partially supporting the rail above a roof. The roof jack apparatus also includes a fascia rest disposed on the second end portion of the rail for resting against a fascia of the roof. The slide connector can move along the rail with respect to the fascia rest. A plank support disposed on the second end portion of the rail can receive and support at least one plank.
US08684135B2
Sound barrier panels that are made from various waste materials, including scrap fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), scrap carpet fibers, recyclable plastics and mineral wool.
US08684132B2
A sound transmission system of a motor vehicle, having an intake sound transmission device which can be coupled via a first tubular connecting element to an air intake manifold which leads to an internal combustion engine and via a second tubular connecting element to a vehicle interior, having a resonator device which interacts with the intake sound transmission device and can be coupled via a third tubular connecting element to the air intake manifold which leads to an internal combustion engine.
US08684126B2
In a rearward pedal movement restraint assembly for a vehicle, an intermediate portion of a clutch pedal, which moves rearward by the impact of a frontal collision of the vehicle when the frontal collision occurs, contacts a forward portion of a knee panel so that the clutch pedal pivots toward the front of the vehicle so that the amount of rearward movement of the clutch pedal is reduced.
US08684122B2
A center motor power-assisted bicycle includes an internal transmission and has a regenerative function. A transmission comprises, in a drive wheel hub, a planetary gear, a one-way clutch for reverse input, a clutch switching device, and, a sun gear and transmits driving force from a sprocket to the drive wheel. A transmission control mechanism selectively rotationally fixes the sun gear to the axle to change speed when driving force is applied. The clutch is disposed between the sun gear and the axle, and selectively rotationally fixes the sun gear to the axle by the operation of the clutch switching device when reverse input is applied. While the bicycle is driven, the clutch switching device moves the clutch to the rotatable state, to transmit driving force. While the bicycle is traveling without being driven, the clutch is locked, so that reverse input is transmitted to the sprocket.
US08684115B2
A vehicle and a modular drive apparatus for the vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes a wheel assembly rotatable about a central axis in first and second directions. The wheel assembly is also pivotable about a pivot axis transverse to the central axis in third and fourth directions. The apparatus includes an electric motor coupled to the wheel assembly for rotating the wheel assembly in the first and second directions. The apparatus includes a braking device coupled to the wheel assembly for braking the wheel assembly. The apparatus includes a steering mechanism coupled to the wheel assembly for pivoting the wheel assembly in the third and fourth directions. The apparatus includes a housing receiving the wheel assembly, the electric motor, the braking device, and the steering mechanism to define a self-contained unit for attaching to and detaching from the vehicle to provide interchangeability of the self-contained unit.
US08684112B2
Cutting elements, earth-boring drill bits having such cutting elements and related methods are described herein. In some embodiments, a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include a diamond table having an indentation in a cutting face thereof and a shaped feature in a substrate at the interface between the diamond table and the substrate, the shaped feature corresponding to the indentation in the cutting face of the diamond table. In further embodiments, a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include a sacrificial structure positioned within an indentation in a diamond table. In additional embodiments, a method of forming a cutting element may include positioning a sacrificial structure in a mold, positioning a powdered precursor material over the sacrificial structure, and pressing and sintering the powdered precursor material to form a diamond table having an indentation in a cutting face formed by the sacrificial structure.
US08684109B2
A method of drilling a subterranean borehole comprising: a) pumping a drilling fluid down a drillstring (12), the drillstring (12) having a bit (14) at an end thereof, b) rotating the drillstring (12) about its longitudinal axis so that the bit forms a borehole (10) in the ground, the method further comprising the steps of: c) determining a desired drilling fluid flow rate range d) determining the desired upper and lower limits of the fluid pressure at the bottom of the wellbore (the BHP); e) determining the viscosity of drilling fluid which will maintain the BHP within the range set by the upper and lower BHP limits over the entire or the majority of the required drilling flow rate range; f) adjusting the composition of a drilling fluid to bring the drilling fluid to the viscosity calculated in step e above.
US08684108B2
A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string.
US08684083B2
A perforating gun designed to orient a charge holding structure (e.g., tube, solid rod) within a barrel of the perforating gun to be at the same position relative to a wellbore casing regardless of a position of the barrel of the perforating gun. A charge assembly receivable within the barrel includes the charge holding structure and first and second end caps that are rotatably interconnected to the charge holding structure and non-rotatably interconnected to the barrel. As the charge holding structure is always or substantially always designed to maintain a common orientation in relation to the wellbore casing, explosive charges associated with the charge holding structure so as to fire towards particular location on the wellbore casing may always or substantially always perforate such particular locations upon or after the explosive charges have fired.
US08684079B2
Described is a way to reduce solvent usage in solvent-dominated oil recovery processes through the use of an emulsion. Injection of an emulsion into an oil reservoir is performed as an alternative or supplement to solvent injection to minimize solvent usage per unit amount of oil recovered. The emulsion may contain solvent and the solvent may form an external-phase of the emulsion. A solvent-external emulsion may be injected and formed using an aqueous liquid or a gas as the internal phase. The emulsion may be an aqueous-external, vapor-internal emulsion with solvent being injected separately or simultaneously. Polymer may be added to viscosify the emulsions and use them for flow diversion in a solvent-dominated process.
US08684075B2
An expandable screen includes, a body constructed of one or more strands of a shape memory material randomly distributed in a mat structure, the body is stable at a first volume and expandable to a second volume upon a change in environment.
US08684074B2
Work string-mounted cleaning tool and a method of assembling such tools using a quick release for the cleaning element. Oblong pad element has a curved upper surface with slots to receive work surface segments. Opposite edge has a part-circular recess with part-circular peripheral lip around an upper edge of the recess. A retainer fastening component in the recess has a core with socket adapted to receive a driving tool. The retainer is sized to permit it to rotate when mounted within the recess. Roll pins are provided for use in locating the fastener component in predetermined rotational configurations in relation to the recess. Shear pin is provided to inhibit unintended rotation of the fastener component, and to lock the retainer for normal use of the cleaning tool. Shearing of the shear pin permits disassembly of the tool.
US08684072B2
A gas generator has an elongate combustion housing shaped to fit within a borehole for generating gasses in the borehole for use in the recovery of petroleum products. The gas generator includes a plurality of annular cooling jacket segments that surround the elongate combustion housing, each of the annular cooling jacket segments having an inlet port and an outlet port for allowing water to flow therethrough. A plurality of apertures through the elongate combustion housing allow water to flow from the plurality of annular cooling jacket segments into the elongate combustion chamber.
US08684064B2
An industrial rollup door to selectively cover a doorway opening or to provide industrial guarding is presented. The rollup door comprises door leaf, comprised of lamellae, or panels a flexible strip as a lifting belt for selectively lifting and lowering the door, a continuous dampening profile running along the outer surface of each lamellae near an end, and a rotatable spiral disc to accept the lamellae as the door is lifted and to release the lamellae as the door is lowered.
US08684043B2
A textile substrate includes warp and weft, wherein the warp includes a plurality of warp threads and the weft includes a plurality of weft threads. At least one of the weft threads may include a first yarn and at least one of the weft threads may include a second yarn. The first yarn may be a yarn which includes fibers made of wool and regenerated cellulose and at least one third fiber in the form of a continuous fiber made of a synthetic material. The second yarn may contain regenerated cellulose fibers, wherein the proportion by mass of the regenerated cellulose fibers respectively contained in the second yarn as a proportion of the total mass of the second yarn is greater than the proportion by mass of the respective second regenerated cellulose fibers contained in the first yarn as a proportion of the total mass of the first yarn.
US08684040B2
Roughness is added to the surface of a bluff body in a relative motion with respect to a fluid. The amount, size, and distribution of roughness on the body surface is controlled passively or actively to modify the flow around the body and subsequently the Vortex Induced Forces and Motion (VIFM). The added roughness, when designed and implemented appropriately, affects in a predetermined way the boundary layer, the separation of the boundary layer, the level of turbulence, the wake, the drag and lift forces, and consequently the Vortex Induced Motion (VIM), and the fluid-structure interaction. The goal of surface roughness control is to decrease/suppress Vortex Induced Forces and Motion. Suppression is required when fluid-structure interaction becomes destructive as in VIM of flexible cylinders or rigid cylinders on elastic support, such as underwater pipelines, marine risers, tubes in heat exchangers, nuclear fuel rods, cooling towers, SPAR offshore platforms.
US08684039B2
A shower assembly with supporting arm has: a water inlet connected to the supporting arm and to a descending pipe; a switching valve body fixed and connected to the end of the pipe through an outer water inlet and having an outer and a inner water outlet connected to a ascending inner tube in the pipe; and an upper branch pipe fixed to the location of the water inlet and connected to the inner tube, of which the end has one or at least one upper water outlet, wherein the switching valve body has a valve core inside, which makes the pipe connected to the outer and the inner water outlet respectively or simultaneously. The switching valve body that is at the end of the pipe controls the current export from the upper and the outer water outlet beneath the switching valve body.
US08684036B1
A cryogenic valve includes a first port and a second port, a valve body, a valve stem, a sealing member, a valve element and a housing. The valve body includes a valve seat defining a fluid orifice in fluid communication with the first port. The valve stem is configured to engage with the valve body, wherein at least one of the valve stem and valve body form an inner valve cavity. The valve element is positioned within the inner valve cavity. The valve element is also configured to bias the sealing member against the orifice to substantially block flow through the orifice and the first port. The bias is controlled in response to control of the valve element by a valve actuator. A channel is configured to allow fluid flow through at least one of the valve stem and valve element along a longitudinal axis. A housing is configured to substantially seal and enclose at least a portion of the valve body and valve stem. The housing forms an inner housing cavity configured to thermally isolate the exterior of the valve body and valve stem from the housing.
US08684030B2
A self-sealing valve comprises a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, and a retaining member, the valve housing being configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit, and a flexible diaphragm comprising a flexible material having resiliency, wherein the retaining member and the flexible diaphragm are configured so that the retaining member retains a portion of the flexible diaphragm so as to use the resiliency of the flexible material to bias the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat to a closed position of the self-sealing valve to provide a self-seal of the fluid conduit, and to facilitate movement of the flexible diaphragm under a fluid bias against a first side of the flexible diaphragm in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position, and wherein the retaining member and the flexible diaphragm are configured so that the self-sealing valve can be contacted to move a portion of the flexible diaphragm away from the valve seat to the open position.
US08684019B1
A cordlock of a mobility cane is provided including a body having a length greater than the inner diameter, a width less than the inner diameter, a depth less than the inner diameter, and a body opening extending through the depth and sized to accommodate the cord but to prevent passage of the widened portion. The depth of the body sized to accommodate the cord between the body and the inner wall when the cordlock is inserted in the cane.
US08684018B1
An improved automatic umbrella including a tube plug fixed to a top of a second tube of a telescopic tube assembly, an inner tube fixed to the tube plug within the second tube of the telescopic tube assembly, a control tube being movably fitted in the inner tube, wherein the control tube is provided with a lower control pulley at its inner bottom end and the inner tube is provided with an upper control pulley at its inner top end, and a control line being provided such that a first end of the control line is fixed to a bullet head in the telescopic tube assembly, whereas a second end of the control line is sequentially looped around the upper control pulley and the lower control pulley, and finally fixed to a top end of the control tube, whereby the umbrella can be easily folded into a fully compact form.
US08684011B2
The technology described herein provides systems and methods for combing, drying, and straightening hair with a device having one or more rows of teeth. Additionally, this technology provides for an adjustable tension mechanism that provides for the compression of hair, thus wringing it of water and providing the ability for a user to also straighten his or her hair. Furthermore, this technology provides for combing, drying, and straightening hair without utilizing an electric or heating means.
US08684005B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a nasal cannula for delivering continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) to a patient's nares during operative procedures or in critical care areas. A malleable metal or plastic is encased in the bridge of the cannula to allow it to be shaped to the patient's face. As a result of contouring the cannula to the face, air leaks are minimized allowing a seal to be provided when an op site is applied to cover the upper lip, nasal cannula and nose. The cannula's nasal inserts can end in nontapered or slightly tapered non-sealing beads, which may be slightly angled out to accommodate various facial anatomies. When approximately several liters per minute of oxygen are flowed through the cannula, CPAP is obtained.
US08683989B1
In at least one embodiment, an archery bow includes a rotatable member comprising a cam track, a capstan and a terminal. A drawstring extends from the first rotatable member. A power cable is attached to the terminal and extends away from the rotatable member. The power cable comprises an elongate straight portion located near the rotatable member, a capstan portion in contact with said capstan and a terminal portion in contact with said terminal. In a brace condition, the power cable wraps around the capstan in a first rotational direction as the power cable is traversed from the elongate straight portion to the terminal portion. When the bow is drawn from the brace condition, the rotatable member rotates in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.
US08683987B2
Otto intake-cycle controlled-air (throttled) internal combustion engines suffer from parasitic pumping losses associated with partial vacuums developed in their intake manifolds and in the cylinders above their pistons. To solve this problem, there is provided individually partitioned dry-sump crankcases dynamic pneumatic coupling pressure reduction cycle system and method that reduce the damaging parasitic effects of the differential pressure about a piston head during an intake cycle which is a source of part-load pumping-loss friction. This closed loop system includes an independent supplemental mechanical fail-safe system of a turbo-compound engine variant for pneumatic coupling of individual cylinder-crankcase volumes. It does not alter the cylinder homogeneous mixture charge integrity and stability. The system is applicable to several engine configurations, such as controlled air intake or uncontrolled air intake combustion engines, using different fuel types, either in liquid or in gazeous state.
US08683980B2
An open or closed loop EFI system, integrated on a genset engine or any internal combustion engine, with an electrical sensor and crank position sensor is described. Since a genset engine's exhaust emissions and general performance are a function of spark timing, integration of electrical and crank position sensors on a genset engine provides optimal engine performance and efficiency when the electrical draws fluctuate. The electrical sensor and crank position sensor send data to the electronic control unit (ECU), and this data is used to determine the optimal air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) and optimal spark timing. The ECU varies the spark timing in accordance with the speed and load of the engine and actuates the fuel injector to send the correct amount of atomized fuel to mix with the air flow to be combusted allowing the engine to meet performance.
US08683977B2
In an internal combustion engine with separate cylinder banks, separate exhaust passages are connected to each cylinder bank of an engine and a shared intake passage is connected to both cylinder banks. One end of an EGR passage is connected to the separate exhaust passage of one cylinder bank, and the other end of the EGR is connected to the shared intake passage. If it is determined that an EGR valve in the EGR passage is stuck in an open state, a fuel-cut control is executed in the cylinder bank that is connected to the separate exhaust passage to which the EGR passage is connected. Thus, even when the EGR valve is stuck in an open state, it is possible to prevent the internal combustion engine from operating unstably.
US08683963B2
A hydraulic control device is equipped with an oil jet that injects oil to a piston, an oil gallery through which oil injected by the oil jet and oil supplied to a lubrication part of an engine pass, an oil pump that pumps oil to the oil gallery, and a switching valve that is provided on an oil jet passage connecting the oil gallery and the oil jet together and leads oil supplied from the oil gallery to either the oil jet or an oil pan disposed at an upstream side of the oil pump. An ECU controls the switching valve on the basis of an engine speed and an engine cooling water temperature.
US08683947B2
A bird feeder generally in the form of hopper feeder that is coupled with a water reservoir. The hopper feeder generally includes a seed reservoir that receives and holds bird seed, which is dispensed to the birds by way of feeding stations. The hopper further provides a liquid reservoir for dispensing drinking water to visiting birds.
US08683943B2
A disclosed plasma process apparatus is disclosed that applies a plasma process to an object to be processed, including a cylindrical processing container configured to be evacuatable to vacuum, a holding unit configured to hold plural objects to be processed and inserted into and to be extracted from the cylindrical processing container, a gas supplying unit configured to supply a gas into the processing container, an activating unit configured to be located along a longitudinal direction of the processing container and to activate the gas by plasma generated by a high frequency power, a cylindrical shield cover configured to surround a periphery of the processing container and to be connected to ground for shielding from high frequency, and a cooling device configured to cause the cooling gas to flow through a space between the cylindrical shield cover and the cylindrical processing container during the plasma process.
US08683940B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for coating a profile surface with metallic texture paint by roll coating in combination with spray coating, and a method for coating thereof. The first major feature of the present invention is an apparatus for coating a profile surface, characterized in that it is provided with a roll coater for roll coating at least one surface of profile with a UV paint served as a binder, and a spray coater, installed at a position next to the roll coater, for spray coating with a metallic texture paint comprising a solvent, acrylic beads and metal powders on the coating layer of UV paint. The second major feature of the present invention is a method for coating a profile comprising the steps of roll coating at least one surface of profile with a UV paint served as a binder, and spray coating with a metallic texture paint containing a solvent, acrylic beads and metal powders on the coating layer of UV paint.
US08683934B2
A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.
US08683931B1
Expensive seed wasting and crop stunting are avoided by electronically controlling solenoids to selective supply fluid pressure to double acting cylinders. Rams operate links and roller mounted seed doors. Extending or withdrawing the rams closes or opens the doors. Clips on the rams limit door openings. A microprocessor stores field dimensions and planting patterns, spacing of seed planting headers from an onboard GPS and distances of seed travel through spaced seed distribution tubes. The microprocessor electronically controls solenoids to timely shut seed doors in groups before reaching turns or unplanted headlands and to timely open groups of seed doors before reaching planting areas.
US08683926B2
Systems and methods of transporting containers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for transporting shipping containers is provided. The apparatus is configured to move along rails of a railroad track. The apparatus comprises a coupling configured to couple with a trailer configured to transport shipping containers. The coupling is attached to a source of magnetic flux. The source of magnetic flux is positioned so as to be driven by a source of varying magnetic flux positioned along the railroad track. In one embodiment, the source of magnetic flux comprises one or more permanent magnets and the source of varying magnetic flux comprises at least one electromagnet.
US08683917B2
A stencil assembly for use in depositing filling onto wafers includes a stencil tube defining a lengthwise passage for flow of filling, the stencil tube including an outer surface, and at least two axially spaced apart filling outlets passing through a wall of the tube. A first stencil die is positioned along the stencil tube and has an inner surface facing the outer surface of the tube in a region axially aligned with one filling outlet of the stencil tube, the first stencil die including at least one outlet extending from the inner surface of the first stencil die to an outer surface of the first stencil die. A second stencil die is positioned along the stencil tube and spaced from the first stencil die, the second stencil die having an inner surface facing the outer surface of the tube in a region axially aligned with another filling outlet of the stencil tube, the second stencil die including at least one outlet extending from the inner surface of the second stencil die to an outer surface of the second stencil die.
US08683914B1
The baster has a bellows for use in providing suction to draw basting liquid into a tapered tube, and compression to eject the liquid out of the tube. A valve at the lower tip of the tube provides resistance to the unwanted outflow of liquid from the tube to greatly reduce or eliminate dripping. Preferably, the valve has the form of a flexible membrane over the lower tip of the tube, with a plurality of slits which cross one another.
US08683911B2
A linear actuator includes a guide block constituting a guide mechanism. In the guide block, a pair of installation grooves are formed in a lower surface facing toward a cylinder main body. Ball circulation members having therein ball circulation holes are installed respectively in the installation grooves. Additionally, ball circulation passages through which balls circulate are provided. The ball circulation passages are made up from roll-reversing sections disposed on opposite ends of the ball circulation members, the ball circulation holes, second ball guide grooves formed in both side surfaces of the guide block, and first ball guide grooves of the slide table.
US08683908B1
A personal armor assembly protects a person from being harmed from behind. The assembly includes a plurality of armor plates. Each armor plate is curved wherein each armor plate is configured to cover an associated dorsal section of a person. A body member is configured to be worn by the person. Each armor plate is coupled to the body member wherein the body member extends between the armor plates. The body member has a plurality of forwardly extending portions forming a plurality of loops wherein the body member is configured to extend around a body of the person. The armor plates are supported against the dorsal side of the person. A plurality of biasing members is coupled to and extends between adjacently positioned armor plates. The biasing members urge the armor plates into an upright position wherein the armor plates provide support to the person.
US08683902B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus that performs a cutting process on a booklet formed by a bundle of center-folded sheets of paper includes: a conveying member that conveys the booklet; a leading edge stopper capable of reciprocating in a booklet conveying direction and used for setting a cutting position by abutting on a center-folded portion of the booklet; and a supporting member that supports the booklet when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set. When the booklet is being conveyed, the conveying member and the conveyed booklet are located in a contact position, and when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set, each of the conveying member and the conveyed booklet is located in one of separated positions, and the cutting position of the booklet is set by the leading edge stopper while the conveyed booklet is supported by the supporting member.
US08683900B2
A torch guide device for cutting target material is presented, the torch guide device including a torch cradle assembly coupled to a rail assembly. The torch cradle assembly is configured for holding a torch to align a torch tip of the torch to the target material. The torch cradle assembly is movable along the rail assembly for cutting the target material along a cutting path. The connector member couples the torch cradle assembly to the rail assembly. The connector member comprises a pivot for pivoting the torch cradle assembly relative to the rail assembly. The torch cradle assembly, in a first position, pivots about the pivot to engage at least a portion of the rail assembly to establish an orientation of the torch tip relative to the target material.
US08683892B2
A split torque gearbox system provides a multiple path, three stage power gear train that transmits torque from a high-speed engine to a low speed output shaft, while providing equal gear load distribution with a floating pinion in the second stage of reduction. The number of the split modules in the gearbox depends on gearbox configuration, number of high speed input shafts, and transmitted power. The split modules are located around a last stage output gear that combines power from each module and transmits the power to an output such as a main rotor system.
US08683891B2
A method for controlling back clearance of a motion transmission apparatus, is capable of controlling the generation, reduction and even elimination of a back clearance of a motion transmission apparatus to meet different needs. The motion transmission apparatus comprises: a first electric motor, a second electric motor, and a toothed member engaged with the first and second toothed drive members, when the toothed member needs to be precisely positioned, the back clearance between the second electric motor and the toothed member at different positions of the toothed member will be controlled according to the torque change, so as to consequently change a position offset of the second electric motor with respect to the first electric motor, when the toothed member doesn't need to be precisely positioned, the second electric motor shouldn't be controlled.
US08683887B2
A rack-and-pinion steering apparatus comprises pinion teeth formed according to proper tooth specifications in other aspects under a larger pressure angle, thereby stably offering smooth and comfortable steering feeling over a long time. The module (m), number of teeth (z), tooth depth (h) and helix angle (β) of the pinion teeth (4) are set within the following ranges, under a pressure angle (α) set within a range of 24° to 30° and a given stroke ratio. module (m): 1.8 to 2.0 number of teeth (z): 7 to 13 tooth depth (h): 2 m to 2.5 m helix angle (β): 35° or smaller
US08683884B2
Three or more displacement generation mechanisms, which allow some of a plurality of guide members that are provided respectively to a plurality of guide holding members that is capable of reciprocally moving substantially perpendicularly to shifting directions of a reciprocally movable linear motion structural member with respect to a base member, and a rocking member that is provided to an end of a linear motion member capable of reciprocally moving in directions substantially in parallel with the shifting directions of the guide holding members so as to rock around an axis substantially perpendicular to the respective shifting directions of the linear motion structural member and the linear motion member, to be made in contact with each other so that some of the guide holding members are displaced relatively to the linear motion structural member, are operation-controlled, with a result that a transmission gear ratio between a displacement velocity of the linear motion member and a displacement velocity of the linear motion structural member is changed.
US08683880B2
A semiconductor wafer metrology technique which corrects for the effect of electrostatic forces on an atmospheric buoyancy compensated weight force measurement of a semiconductor wafer. In one aspect a wafer is weighed in a faraday cage whose is measured independently. A change in the measured weight of the faraday cage can be used to correct the measure weight the wafer. In another aspect a direct electrostatic measurement can be converted into a weight correction using a predetermined correlation between an electrostatic charge measured by the charge meter and a weight error force. In another aspect the electrostatic measurement may be indirect, e.g. derived from varying the distance between the wafer and a grounded plate parallel to the wafer to effect a change in an electrostatic force between the grounded plate and the wafer.
US08683873B1
A vortex-shedding flowmeter uses two ultrasonic transducers to generate an acoustic beam at a selected carrier frequency. Vortices generate fluid oscillations that are detected when they pass through the beam and induce phase changes representative of fluid flow rate. In an improved vortex-shedding flowmeter each of the transducers is connected to a separate transformer and the outputs of the two transformers are interconnected to yield the phase change.
US08683871B2
A process for manufacturing a laminated glazing, in which a lamination interlayer is interposed between two substrates having a glass function, including: making a measurement of Young's modulus E on a sample of the interlayer, using a viscoanalyzer, by varying temperature and frequency while imposing a constant dynamic displacement; making a numerical treatment of curves obtained, using WLF (Williams-Landel-Ferry) equations, to establish a law E(f) governing behavior of a material constituting the interlayer sample at a given temperature; producing a numerical model based on a finite-element method in bending of a laminated glazing panel, wherein mechanical properties of the sample result from the preceding operations; comparing results of the numerical calculation with those obtained with analytical formulae in which participation of the interlayer in transferring shear in the laminated glazing is represented by a transfer coefficient ω; varying the transfer coefficient ω in the analytical formulae until results converge; and constructing a transfer function ω=f(E) by successive iterations.
US08683868B2
A transducer, generally 10, has a robust, yet very flexible, steel-braid reinforced protective cover 12 which is permanently assembled to a custom machined fitting 14. A typical pressure transducer 16 is threaded through a SST nut 18 and then through the cover 12. Bonding the transducer body to the cover's fitting 14 captures the nut 18 between a flange 16A on the transducer 16 and a shoulder 18A in the nut 18, allowing the nut 18 to be freespinning yet a permanent part of the assembly 10.
US08683862B2
An oscillation apparatus comprising: a frame; a first proof mass coupled to the frame via a spring; a driving circuit operatively coupled to the first proof mass and the frame, wherein the driving circuit is configured to induce oscillatory motion of the first proof mass relative to the frame at a resonant frequency in a first direction; a first electron-tunneling position switch operatively coupled to the first proof mass such that the first position switch is configured to pass through a closed state during each oscillation of the proof mass, wherein the position switch comprises first and second single-atom-thick tunneling electrodes; and a sensing circuit coupled to the position switch, the sensing circuit configured to output a signal whenever the position switch passes through the closed state.
US08683859B2
An apparatus and method to provide monitoring of pressure outside the wellbore casing of a well in which a Wireless Sensor Unit is placed externally of a section of non-magnetic casing. An internal Sensor Energizer Unit is placed inside the wellbore casing. The Wireless Sensor Unit includes one or more sensors to measure the pressure and/or temperature of the surroundings. The Wireless Sensor Unit and the Sensor Energizer Unit communicate using electromagnetic modulation techniques, and the Wireless Sensor Unit may be powered by means of power harvesting from the Sensor Energizer Unit.
US08683858B2
An apparatus and method for simulating production conditions in hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs, as an example, by flooding of core samples from such reservoirs, are described. Full recirculation flow measurements permit several fluids (for example, crude oil, brine, and gas) to be simultaneously injected into core samples having varying dimensions. Accurate and stable back pressures are maintained at total flow rates of as high as 200 cc/min., for a large range of fluid viscosities. Accurate and stable net overburden pressures relative to pore pressure are also maintained, thereby simulating the formations at depth. Core samples from formations may also be investigated using the apparatus and method hereof, for carbon dioxide sequestration potential, as another example.
US08683854B2
Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine system heating by stagnating coolant in one of a plurality of loops in an engine cooling system. Degradation of the various valves and thermostats of the cooling system can be diagnosed by adjusting the valve and monitoring changes in one or more of coolant temperature, transmission temperature and cabin temperature. Based on engine operating conditions, the various valves may be adjusted to vary coolant temperature in different regions of the cooling system, thereby providing fuel economy benefits.
US08683837B2
A method of forming a bottle-shaped or other contoured metal container by providing a hollow metal preform having a closed end and a wall thickness that decreases progressively in a direction away from the closed end, and subjecting the preform to internal fluid pressure to cause the preform to expand against the wall of a die cavity defining the desired container shape. The method may be employed in pressure-ram-forming procedures wherein a punch is advanced by means of a backing ram into the die cavity to displace and deform the closed end of the preform.
US08683834B1
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for determining and calibrating a K-factor for material and to methods and systems for calibrating forming devices, forming device controls, and/or forming device components. The disclosed systems and methods can dynamically provide exact and calibrated values for the parameters needed to produce correct and accurate flat patterns based on any type of material or any tooling combination. As such, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can be used to achieve a first run perfect or near-perfect part capability that does not currently exist.
US08683831B2
A locking cover plate can be selectively locked in position on a stortz pipe end fitting or can be unlocked and removed for access to the open pipe end. The cover plate includes a sliding plate that is driven laterally outward into a deployed state by rotating a drive bolt. The drive bolt is coupled to the sliding plate through a torque limiting coupling that transfers the rotation of the drive bolt to translating movement of the latch bar with a cam plate. Movement of the sliding plate is indicated through a front of the cover plate such that the user can identify whether the cover plate is locked on a fitting or simply placed on the fitting without the lock engaged.
US08683830B2
A security device is provided for attachment to an object having one or more security features for preventing unwanted removal of the security device from the object. The security device may include any one of a surveillance device, such as an electronic article surveillance tag, and an inventory device, such as a radio frequency identification tag. In a particular embodiment, the security device has at least two security features, one security feature comprises a support member that is configured to engage a head of a key, wherein the key is configured to provide a force to allow the support member to move a clip between a first state, a state that prevents the release of a pin from the clip, and a second state, a state whereby the clip allows the release of the pin from the clip. Another security feature comprises a lock moveable between a locked position, the locked position preventing the support member from moving the clip from the first state to a second state, and an unlocked position, the unlocked position allowing the support member to move the clip from the first state to a second state. A key is also provided, the key configured to apply at least two forces to a security device, one of the at least two forces respectively applied to each of at least two security features of the security device.
US08683827B2
An oblong conduit (13) for conditioning molten glass is disclosed. The wall (23) of the conduit is composed of a precious metal, e.g., a platinum-rhodium alloy, and can be equipped with precious metal tabs (29) for supporting the upper surface (25) of the wall so as to reduce sag of that surface at such times as the conduit is at an elevated temperature and is not filled with glass. The precious metal tabs (29) can be received in channels (31) formed in a refractory support structure (27). The refractory support structure (27) can be a laminate of two layers (33,35), where one of the layers (33) has a smaller grain structure than the other layer (35), the layers being held together by an adhesive (37).
US08683821B2
Systems and methods for condensate removal are disclosed. A reservoir may include a trap structure and a sediment trap may be disposed within the trap structure. The sediment trap may be positioned within the reservoir so that condensate flowing into the reservoir is filtered before flowing out of the reservoir.
US08683817B2
A multiple refrigerant circuit cooling system includes at least a first refrigerant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit. Each of said first and second refrigerant circuits including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in refrigerant flow communication. The condensers of the first and second refrigerant circuits each including condenser coils having exterior surfaces and each condenser including at least one fan for drawing ambient air across the exterior surfaces of its respective condenser coil. The exterior surfaces of the condenser coil of the condenser of the first refrigerant circuit being in fluid communication with the fan of the condenser of the second refrigerant circuit to provide reduced airflow across the exterior surfaces of the condenser coils of the first refrigerant circuit at a low ambient temperature.
US08683816B2
A heat exchanger delivers a pressurized dry gas stream cooled to an essentially constant temperature. The gas stream circulates in a coil with a functional part immersed in a liquid fraction of a second gas in a chamber of a corresponding container, whereby a portion of the wall of the container with the chamber contacts a liquid fraction of a third gas, providing a condensation surface for the second gas. The container containing the second pressurized gas is airtight. The condensation surface is dimensioned to allow absorption of a predetermined caloric power by the gas in the chamber without significant variation of temperature/pressure. Included is a monitored variable heater of the bath of the liquid fraction of the residual gas in the container, whereby total caloric power released by the circulating gas to be cooled and by the heater is constantly kept approximately equal to the specified caloric power.
US08683811B2
In a jet engine with compressor air circulation provided for stabilizing the flow conditions, the compressed hot compressor air tapped from the flow path of the compressor (1) is first cooled in the bypass duct (3) and then resupplied to the upstream compressor via line (12). This reduces the thermal load of the blades and improves efficiency.
US08683809B2
A fossil-fueled power station including a steam generator is provided. A steam turbine is mounted downstream of the steam generator via a hot intermediate superheater line and a carbon dioxide separation device. The carbon dioxide separation device is connected to the hot intermediate superheater line via a process steam line and a backpressure steam turbine is mounted into the process steam line.
US08683806B2
A baffle for the bottom of a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The baffle includes a flat portion of wall with an opening for an injector of the combustion chamber to pass through, two longitudinal edges for the assembly to two adjacent baffles and two transverse edges. At least one of the edges includes a joint cover arranging a housing along the edge for an edge of an adjacent baffle so as to seal the junction between the two edges. A combustion chamber incorporating the baffles is also disclosed.
US08683803B2
A method and apparatus for generating power which includes a phase-change media (PCM) that expands upon cooling contained within an expandable capsule if the phase change involves solidification (if phase change is solid-solid, then capsules are not needed), a carrier liquid that does not freeze in the operating temperature range, a heat exchanger, and an engine. Alternatively, the method and apparatus can include a PCM contained within a layer next to the walls of a constant volume container, a working liquid within the container that does not freeze in the operating temperature range, a heat exchanger, and an engine. In both cases, the engine denotes a device that converts the energy in the high-pressure liquid into electrical or mechanical power.
US08683800B2
A vacuum source arbitration system is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied to a vacuum reservoir via an ejector during a first condition, and vacuum is supplied to the vacuum reservoir via an engine intake manifold during a second condition. The approach may provide a desired level of vacuum in a reservoir while reducing engine fuel consumption.
US08683791B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for homogenizing exhaust from an engine. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an automobile. The automobile can include a fuel delivery unit, an engine, an exhaust system, and a control unit. The exhaust system can include a swirl inducement unit, multiple sensors, and multiple catalytic converters. The swirl inducement unit can homogenize an exhaust from the engine. The swirl inducement unit can include a plurality of vanes and/or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions can be a plurality of bumps and/or a plurality of semi-circular rings. The plurality of vanes can be rotatable with the rotation of the vanes being controlled by the control unit. The rotation of the vanes can be based on an operating condition of the engine.
US08683787B2
An exhaust gas purifying catalyst (1) of the present invention includes anchor/promoter simultaneous enclosure particles (5) including catalyst units (13) which contain: noble metal particles (8); and anchor particles (9) as an anchor material of the noble metal particles (8) supporting the noble metal particles (8); promoter units (14) which are provided not in contact with the noble metal particles (8) and contain first promoter particles (11) having an oxygen storage and release capacity; and an enclosure material (12) which encloses both the catalyst units (13) and the promoter units (14), and separates the noble metal particles (8) and the anchor particles (9) in the catalyst units (13) from the first promoter particles (11) in the promoter units (14). The exhaust gas purifying catalyst (1) further includes second promoter particles (6) which have the oxygen storage and release capacity, and are not enclosed in the anchor/promoter simultaneous enclosure particles (5) by the enclosure material (12).
US08683786B2
A method for operating a spark-ignition engine having a three-way catalyst and a particulate filter downstream thereof, comprising: oscillating an exhaust air-fuel ratio entering the particulate filter to generate air-fuel ratio oscillations downstream of the particulate filter, while increasing exhaust temperature; when the downstream oscillations are sufficiently dissipated, enleaning the exhaust air-fuel ratio entering the particulate filter; and reducing the enleanment when an exhaust operating parameter is beyond a threshold amount.
US08683780B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique pulse detonation combustion system. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine including a unique pulse detonation combustion system. In some embodiments, the pulse detonation combustion system includes an inlet section, a vortex generator and at least one flame accelerator. The inlet section, vortex generator and the at least one flame accelerator may be operative to initiate a deflagration to detonation transition. In some embodiments, the pulse detonation combustion system may include a flame accelerator configured with a directionally-dependent drag coefficient. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for pulse detonation combustion systems, gas turbine engines, and other machines and engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US08683778B2
Powered turf conditioning brushes having increased efficiency, improved lift, and which minimize the introduction of grain, and their method of use with reel mower cutting units such as those used for precision mowing of golf course greens. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08683777B2
A packaging system includes a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into relatively low density cushioning material or dunnage and a packaging system controller. The packaging system controller provides packaging instructions related to a part or parts to be packaged and instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the cushioning material. In one aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by retrieving a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with a particular part. In another aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by determining an optimized packaging methodology using one or more characteristics of the part or parts to be packaged. The packaging system also provides for automated inventory control and productivity monitoring.
US08683772B2
A truss mounting brace (1) for use during installation of trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) may also be used as a permanent spacer between two trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) comprises a mounting section (4) arranged to be mounted on a truss (19, 21, 22), a gripping section (3) and an oblong body section (5) connecting the mounting section (4) and the gripping section (3). The gripping section (3) has a gripping mechanism (6) arranged to receive and to engage another element interlockingly. The present invention also relates to a method of installing two or more trusses, use of the truss mounting brace, and a method of manufacturing the truss mounting brace.
US08683766B2
A channel screed comprises a first member having an internal channel defined by opposed walls extending from a base. The first member includes ribs within the internal channel that accommodate placement of a second member thereon. The first member having surface features that cooperate with surface features of the second member to provide an attachment therebetween. The first member includes fins projecting outwardly from the opposed walls to provide both an indication of building material thickness, and a mechanical attachment therewith. The second member covers the first member internal channel to provide a desired aesthetic appearance to the installed channel screed. The second member comprises a base with opposed walls, and includes flanges projecting from top edges of the opposed wall surfaces. When attached to the first member, the flanges cover up the internal channel, and the interface between the first member and the building material.
US08683765B2
The present disclosure relates to a wall structure of a building, including a first plate-shaped support body made of a solid foam material, the surface of which to be directed toward the inside of the building adjoins an insulation layer, a first wavelike metal wire grille, which is foamed at least partially into a surface of the first support body to be directed toward the outside of the building, and first fastening elements, which penetrate both the first metal wire grille and the first support body in order to fasten support elements, between which the insulation layer is accommodated.
US08683764B2
A block wall system comprising a framework having a perimeter, an intermediate vertical mullion, and an intermediate horizontal mullion with the blocks retained therein using flexible flanges. The intermediate vertical mullion and the intermediate horizontal mullion define one or more cavities within the framework. A block has a top, a bottom, a front face, a back face, and a pair of narrow faces. One or more detents are defined within each narrow face. Next, a flange is anchored within the intermediate vertical mullion, wherein the flange flexes and thereafter retracts to embed itself into the detent of the block when the block is inserted into the cavity such that the block is retained within the framework, thereby eliminating the need to use a fastener directly into or against the block to secure the block within the framework.
US08683762B2
A barrier element for forming a component of a floor covering of a floor in a data center includes a substantially laminar part, the laminar part having a cross member attached to one surface. The cross member mounts a plurality of filaments which can form a layer impervious to air flow.
US08683761B2
A mounting system for a solar array can include a plurality of couplers that are designed to engage and disengage all modules without the use of rails that are greater than the maximum dimension of a solar module. The couplers can be configured to cooperate with height adjuster mechanisms. Additionally, the couplers can be configured to accommodate the engagement and disengagement of solar modules without the need to loosen or remove fasteners, for example, through a hook and tilt movement.
US08683760B2
Fixing system for solar panels for use on principally flat roofs, consisting of a base and a roof penetration, which base can be anchored to the existing steel structure of the roof, which base is further suitable to be connected to the specified roof penetration, which roof penetration is equipped above with fixings for the attachment of the further structure of the solar panels, where the roof penetration includes an inner tube and an outer tube formed from principally rectangular tubes fitting one inside the other without contacting one another, at an angle of 45° so that rubber profiles can be pressed into the spaces between the inner tube and the outer tube, serving to provide thermal gaps and functioning as a mechanical connection between the inner tube and the outer tube.
US08683754B2
An insulating member is disposed between the top of a wall and the underside of a roof to more effectively insulate the structure and prevent condensation fostering growth of mold and mildew occurring along the surfaces of the wall, ceiling and roof. A first surface of the insulating member overlies the top plate of the wall extending inward between the ceiling joists a distance of at least 1.5 feet. A second surface overlies the outside surface of the wall extending downward along the exterior of the wall a distance of at least 0.5 feet. A third surface is shaped to substantially conform to the opposing underside of the roof deck such that the space between the roof deck and the wall top plate is sealed off by the insulating member. Multiple air flow pathways extend through the insulating member providing continuous air flow from soffit area into the attic space.
US08683747B2
Disclosed is an easy-to-construct window apparatus including to assure easy construction and superior drainage ability. The window apparatus includes a window frame fixing unit including a bottom plate, vertical plates formed at lateral ends of the bottom plate and a rack plate formed at each vertical plate, a window frame support unit including a seat plate on the rack plate, a support plate configured to be supported on the bottom plate, fastening pieces protruding from the seat plate, and a holding groove formed in each fastening piece, a rail unit including a horizontal plate provided with a rail and a coupling piece, and a holding ridge formed at the coupling piece so as to be coupled with the holding groove, a window drive unit including a press-fit structure to be press-fitted into a window, and water discharge holes perforated in the aforementioned units.
US08683746B2
Awning window unit with an operating and closing slide unit for the movable frame of the window unit
An awning window unit which includes a fixed frame (2); a movable frame (3) connected to the fixed frame by a pair of hinged members (4, 5) joined to respective members of the fixed frame and of the movable frame so as to allow the movable frame to move between a closed position, where the fixed and movable frames are in contact with each other, and an open position, where at least one lower rail (3c) of the movable frame is at a certain distance from the fixed frame towards the outside of the room where the window unit (1) is installed, and vice versa; and a movement arm (7) configured to move the movable frame from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.
US08683741B2
Described are devices and methods for providing protection to plants from cold and other weather. A plant cover or protector is constructed of a translucent or other material, a flexible or bendable material, cut into a two-dimensional blank or shape and provides an easily assembled, self-supporting structure to be placed over one or more plants or a location. The plant protector is erected without the use of tools or need for a separate frame or support. The plant protector may be used with stakes or spikes. The plant protector may be collapsed to a planar configuration. The plant protector may be easily and inexpensively manufactured. The plant protector may be repeatedly used from season to season. A top portion of each plant protector may be easily and quickly closed or opened such as by manual manipulation. The plant protector comprises one or more supports or feet for increased contact with the ground and resilience against wind. The plant protector may be folded from a blank into a three-dimensional frustum or conical shape and placed in a desired location. Other shapes such as hexagonal and octagonal cross sections are possible. A preferred form is tapered from bottom to top.
US08683736B1
A mechanism by which the hook and leader line are released from a casting float enclosure upon its impact with the water so that once the casting float enclosure opens, the leader line with hook and bait go into the water to attract a fish. A mechanism by which in the event the hook or leader line become snagged, the leader line would be lost but the casting float enclosure separately attached to the fishing line will be retrieved. A separating cage with a portion of the casting float to separate the hook and bait form the operating components of the casing float.
US08683724B2
A tag for attachment to a circuit breaker is formed from a sheet of plastic material having first and second notches, one or more catches corresponding to one or more apertures, an electronic security device and a plurality of parallel grooves extending between the edges to form a plurality of sections. The tag is assembled by folding the sheet of plastic material so that the end sections overlap and the apertures fixedly receive the catches to secure the tag in a closed position. The notches in the first and second top sections form an opening, which is adapted for receiving the circuit breaker switch.
US08683721B1
The present disclosure and related inventions are directed to a greeting card or other social expression product which is combined with a simple game with sound and light effects. The greeting card combines a traditional paper greeting card, a plastic-molded game encasement and game board, lever, and game pieces with various electronic components to create an interactive greeting card with playable game that causes sound and light effects.
US08683715B1
A decorative article for boots comprising a cuff manufactured from either a length of material or elastic material having fur, feathers or other decorative articles fastened thereto. An interior pocket is included for storage of money, credit cards, I.D. warmers, coins and the like.
US08683706B2
A handheld engine-driven cutter is provided with a disk blade and an engine that drives the disk blade, a filter through which air provided to the four-stroke engine passes, a carburetor that mixes fuel and the air that passed through the filter, a casing that houses the filter and the carburetor, at least one operation member that is operated by a user and connected to the carburetor via a link, and a shaft that is connected to the casing and supports the operation member in a swingable manner. A shaft receiving groove that supports the shaft is formed in the casing.
US08683694B1
A frame assembly that includes at least two frame members that are connected to one another. A corner key cavity is formed at the outer sides of adjacent frame members and is shaped to cooperate with a corner key. The corner key cooperates with the corner key cavity to secure adjacent frame members to one another. The corner key cavity is formed at or near the outer perimeter of the joined frame members, and extends across a majority of the depth of the frame members. The frame assembly may include a number of frame members that, when secured to one another, define a window frame assembly.
US08683691B2
The present invention provides a base material for disk rolls which is a platy molded article for obtaining ring-shaped disks for use in a disk roll comprising a rotating shaft and ring-shaped disks fitted thereon by insertion, whereby the peripheral surface of the disks serves as a conveying surface, the base material comprising inorganic fibers having a crystallization temperature of 800-900° C., a filler, and a clay. Also disclosed is a disk roll which comprises disks cut out of the base material.
US08683690B2
A number of flat tubes, flat tube heat exchangers, and methods of manufacturing both are described and illustrated. The flat tubes can be constructed of one, two, or more pieces of sheet material. A profiled insert integral with the flat tube or constructed from another sheet of material can be used to define multiple flow channels through the flat tube. The flat tubes can be constructed of relatively thin material, and can be reinforced with folds of the flat tube material and/or of an insert in areas subject to higher pressure and thermal stresses. Also, the relatively thin flat tube material can have a corrosion layer enabling the material to resist failure due to corrosion. Heat exchangers having such flat tubes connected to collection tubes are also disclosed, as are manners in which such tubes can be provided with fins.
US08683681B2
In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed for fabricating a rigid flex cable assembly. The method includes arranging one or more layers of a polyimide film having an electrically-conductive surface into a stack; applying an adhesive to the one or more layers of polyimide film; arranging a top and a bottom polyimide film to a top portion and a bottom portion of the stack to form the rigid flex circuit board; and selecting a suitable pressure and temperature at which to form the rigid flex assembly such that the one or more layers of polyimide film do not move with respect to one another during the fabrication.
US08683676B1
Disclosed is a gripper for use with a disk clamp end effecter in a disk drive manufacturing process used for mounting a disk clamp to a disk in the manufacturing of a disk drive. The gripper comprises: a disk gripper housing, a lip seal gripper mounted to the disk gripper housing, and a vacuum channel. The lip seal gripper includes an upper portion that fits into the disk gripper housing and a lower portion that has a surface. The surface is configured to extend around the disk clamp to press against the disk clamp. The vacuum channel extends from the upper portion of the lip seal gripper to the lower portion of the lip seal gripper to provide a vacuum to the lip seal gripper such that the surface of the lip seal gripper is gripped by the vacuum to the surface of the disk clamp around the disk clamp.
US08683674B2
Method for stacking microelectronic devices using two or more carriers, each holding microelectronic devices in an array so they may be registered. Each device is releasably held by its edges in a carrier to allow access to top and bottom surfaces of the device for joining. Arrays of devices held in two or more carriers are juxtaposed and joined to form an array of stacked devices. A resulting stacked device is released from the juxtaposed carriers holding each device by releasing forces of the corresponding carrier urging upon edges of the device, thereby permitting removal of the stacked device.
US08683669B2
A bone plate manufacturing method includes an image acquisition step, an image reconstruction step, a comparison step, a data retrieval step, a model designing step and a bone plate manufacturing step. The image acquisition step acquires an original 3D craniofacial image. The image reconstruction step uses an image processing system to perform image reconstruction of the original 3D craniofacial image to obtain a reconstructed 3D craniofacial image, and the image processing system comprises a plurality of mechanical data. The comparison step compares the original 3D craniofacial image with the reconstructed 3D craniofacial image and defines the image difference therebetween as a defected portion. The data retrieval step retrieves a portion of the mechanical data and defines a mechanical compensation area on the reconstructed 3D craniofacial image. The model designing step designs a bone plate mold. The bone plate manufacturing step manufactures a bone plate.
US08683657B2
A retractable bar includes an inner tube, an outer tube and a positioning assembly. The outer tube has a longitudinal sliding groove and multiple locating notches. The outer tube is axially movably sleeved onto the inner tube. The positioning assembly has a positioning block and a press button. The positioning block is accommodated in the longitudinal sliding groove, and the positioning block has a positioning protrusion and a threaded hole. The press button has a threaded portion engaged with the threaded hole and is movable between a first position where the positioning protrusion is forced into engagement with one of the locating notches to lock the outer and inner tubes and a second position where the positioning protrusion is disengaged from each locating notch for allowing the axial relative movement of the outer tube to the inner tube for adjustment of the length of the retractable bar.
US08683651B2
A door hinge includes two hinge parts that are connected to each other in articulating fashion. One of the hinge parts has a base plate for attachment to a door frame or door leaf and at least one insert that is adjustable in two directions (x, y, z) relative to the base plate. An intermediate piece is situated between the insert and the base plate that is movable relative to the base plate along a first linear guide in a first direction (x). The insert is movable relative to the intermediate piece along a second linear guide in a second direction (z). A fixing means for providing a clamping locking action extends through a front section of the base plate, the intermediate piece and the insert.
US08683648B2
A gate holder is normally in an open position. When pulled down, a return mechanism is compressed and a gate holding portion engages a self-closing gate for a period of time sufficient to allow a user to move through the gate, and which automatically returns to its open position allowing the gate to close without further interaction by the user.
US08683646B2
A vacuum cleaner brushroll clutch having a motor, clutch assembly input rotated by the motor, brushroll, clutch assembly output to rotate the brushroll, drive clutch, and starter clutch. The drive clutch is connected to the clutch assembly output and moveable between a first position in which it does not directly contact the clutch assembly input and a second position in which it directly contacts the clutch assembly input to transmit a first torque directly from the clutch assembly input to the clutch assembly output. The starter clutch is connected to the drive clutch and moveable between a first position in which it does not engage the clutch assembly input and a second position in which it engages the clutch assembly input to transmit a second torque from the clutch assembly input to the drive clutch to move the drive clutch into the second drive clutch position.
US08683641B2
The invention pertains to a novel scraper assembly having a plurality of interchangeable scraper heads and handles and corresponding method for use. The scraper assembly further comprises a plurality of abrasive mechanisms, namely spring bristles, coiled springs, chainmail abraders and wire cloth abraders capable of effectively cleaning a surface without scoring or otherwise damaging the surface. The invention may be particularly useful for cleaning grills and ovens. Additionally, the invention may also be useful for shaping, adding texture to, stripping materials from or otherwise preparing a surface, including wood, metal or ceramic surfaces.
US08683639B2
A toothbrush is proposed that includes a handle, a neck, and a head arranged along a longitudinal axis thereof. The head is open on one side and functions as a protective screen. Movable ring-shaped holders with bristles radially secured thereon are mounted in the head. The holders' butt ends are joined to one another and to the protective screen by movable seals forming a hermetical body to protect the toothbrush's drive mechanism from penetration of water and toothpaste. Two design options allow the holders for accomplishing-angular oscillatory movements, or -rotating in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis, thus ensuring bristles' movements from top to bottom along the user's teeth. The proposed design ensures a high cleaning effectiveness, water tightness, and compensation of a reactive torque of the toothbrush, which extends the service life of the toothbrush and facilitates the use thereof.
US08683635B2
An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The electric toothbrush includes at least one switch element and a control unit. The at least one switch element is operable by a user to switch the toothbrush to an on/off state, and operable by a user during the time that the at least one switch element is in its on state to select a brushing mode from a set of at least a first brushing mode and a second brushing mode. The control unit is arranged to control the electric toothbrush such that when the at least one switch element is operated to select a particular brushing mode in the on state, the toothbrush will then operate in that particular selected brushing mode when the at least one switch element is thereafter switched to an off state and then subsequently switched back to an on state, provided that the toothbrush was in the off state for a time period less than a threshold period (T).
US08683630B2
A patient head support system comprises a base unit, a head support, and an intervening member for connecting the base unit and the head support. The base unit includes a handle assembly with an elongated body, a bore at one end thereof, and a lever that moves relative to the body between closed and open positions to contract and to expand the bore, respectively. A sleeve retained within the bore is sized to receive and hold a shaft of the intervening member, so as to hold the intervening member in a fixed position when the lever is closed. The sleeve remains retained in the bore when the transition member is disconnected, to resist contracting of the bore caused by inadvertent closing of the lever when the intervening member is unattached, and to protect against the unwanted intrusion of material into the bore.
US08683629B2
An articulating bed incorporates a support frame having an upper body support section. A lumbar actuation lever extends from a rotatable torque tube with angle arms extending from the torque tube to a lumbar support element. The lumbar support element is retracted against the upper body support section creating minimal deflection in a lumbar region of a mattress. The torque tube is rotated with to elevate the lumbar support element. A head support bracket is mounted to a neck angle adjustment section. The neck angle adjustment section is aligned with the upper body support section. or rotated about hinge elements to provide an angled head and neck position with respect to the upper body support section.
US08683625B1
A device to prevent a sink sprayer hose from becoming caught on under sink plumbing, such as shut-off valves, is herein described. The device comprises a semi-circular shield and a hinged retaining mechanism mounted to an underside of a kitchen sink around shut-off valves and adjacent to the sink sprayer hose. It is held in place to the wall or cabinet surface via a foam adhesive tape. The sprayer hose rests against it, thus preventing it from becoming caught on the shutoff valve as it is withdrawn. This allows for full withdrawal of the hose and elimination of the aggravation that occurs when the hose becomes caught on the valve/piping that is present.
US08683624B1
A system for showering includes a showerhead and a water conveying device having two water conveying members turnable relative to one another about a turning axis and having openings for water entry and exit formed so that in an assembled position of the conveying members the openings of the conveying members extend transversely to the turning axis and are coaxial with one another.
US08683619B2
In one aspect of the subject invention, a spacer is provided for supporting a closet flange above a sub-flooring, the closet flange having a pipe section and an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the pipe section. The spacer includes a disc-shaped body having spaced apart first and second faces, and spaced apart inner and outer edges extending between the first and second faces. The inner edge defines an opening extending through the body, the opening sized to permit passage therethrough of the pipe section of the closet flange but not the annular flange of the closet flange. The outer edge is generally smooth and arcuate. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a spacer is provided usable with a closet flange to provide elevation thereof.
US08689353B2
A system for management of access rights to operating data and/or control data of buildings or building complexes can include a communications release service running on a first server. This release service releases a communication of a user, who is registered with an identity, with the buildings or building complexes filed for him or her in a list when his or her identity corresponds with an identity filed in the list. Also, after release of the communication has taken place by the communications release service, a building authorization service running on a second server releases specific access rights for the user to operating data and/or control data of the building or building complex on the basis of access rights filed in an authorization databank.
US08689347B2
A system and method that regulates the various operations between computing stations and storage devices. Storage devices are the storage means that are contained upon devices that are able to have data stored upon them. Any operation that involves or may lead to the exchange or accessing of content (data) between a storage device and computing station may be regulated by means of a policy which comprise a set of rules. Rules may be defined according to specific criteria, including the type of storage device, the type of content, the attributes of the content, and other attributes associated with the storage device and/or the content. The policy will be dynamically installed upon a computing station for specific user(s) and will regulate the data operations that may take place between the computing stations and storage devices based on evaluation of the policy. Based on the evaluation of the policy, the requested operation is permitted, restricted in some areas, or denied.
US08689316B2
Methods and apparatus for transferring packets in a packet switched communication system. A system is provided that includes an L2 device including a controller determining for each packet received whether the received packet is to be inspected, an inspection device operable to inspect and filter packets identified by the controller including using a zone specific policy and an L2 controller for transferring inspected packets in accordance with L2 header information using L2 protocols.
US08689301B2
A proxy server causes an authentication authority to authenticate a client in response to a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request of the client on a connection. It does not cause the client to be authenticated in response subsequent requests on the connection as long as the underlying connection is not broken, the subsequent requests are on behalf of the same client, the client has not been removed from the system, the client's password has not changed, a “safety net” timer has not expired, or any other policy that the server chooses to enforce. This eliminates the overhead of constant re-authentication in response to each SIP request.
US08689300B2
A method and system for authenticating the identity of a client device that is calling a remotely located server over a network. A client device inputs information pertaining to a hardware characteristic and a network address thereof into a cryptographic hash function stored on the client device. The hash function computes a unique registration ID hash code and presents it to the system server during a registration process. The system server then generates a digital certificate having a system-side key (i.e., public key). A client-side key (i.e., private key) is provided to the client device. For all future calls to the system server, the client device re-computes its registration ID hash code and then digitally signs it using its client-side key. The system server then uses its system-side key to examine the digitally signed registration ID hash code to authenticate the identity of the client device. Since the registration ID hash code is not stored on the client device, but rather re-computed each time the client device makes a call to the system server, a high degree of security is achieved.
US08689299B2
Systems and methods for managing a user identity on a mobile device are provided. The system comprises the mobile device comprising a user agent and a client application, the user agent and the client application in communication with each other. The system further comprises an identity provider in communication with the mobile device, and a client service in communication with the mobile device. The user agent is configured to communicate with the identity provider and retrieve the user identity for the client application, and the client application is configured to transmit the user identity to the client service.
US08689289B2
Global object access auditing techniques are described. In an implementation, a global SACL for a resource and an object SACL are merged to form a merged SACL responsive to a request for access to an object. The merged SACL is checked to determine what activity is to generate an audit event.
US08689283B2
The present invention relates to a security access control method and system for wired local area network, the method includes the following steps: 1) a requester (REQ) negotiates the security policy with an authentication access controller (AAC); 2) the requester (REQ) and the authentication access controller (AAC) authenticate the identity; 3) the requester (REQ) negotiates the key with the authentication access controller (AAC). The direct identity authentication between the user and the network access control device is realized by the present invention; the negotiation and the dynamic update of the session key for the link layer data protection are realized; a variety of network architectures such as the enterprise network, the telecommunication network are supported; the scalability is good, the multiple authentication methods are supported; the authentication protocols with different security levels are supported, the requirements of the various subscribers are satisfied; the sub-modules of the protocol are independent, flexible, and easy to be accepted or rejected.
US08689280B2
DNS-based content routing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, data is examined that describes interactions via a network with content via a domain name. Responsive to the examination, a policy is adjusted to change how one or more network addresses are resolved for the domain name for access to the content. A communication is formed that includes the adjusted policy to be communicated to one or more domain name system (DNS) servers, the adjusted policy configured to specify which network address are resolved for the domain name by the one or more DNS servers for access to the content.
US08689270B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for broadcast pause and resume for enhanced television. In some embodiments, software key frames identifying a state of a browser at a plurality of points in time may be used for synchronizing a series of graphics to a video stream. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08689267B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for adapting playback bit rate in a content delivery system based on scene complexity of the video content as well as network conditions and other performance factors. A scene complexity map of the video content indicates the complexity levels of different scenes within the video content. Using the scene complexity map, a content player may download scenes of lower scene complexity levels from video streams encoded to lower bit rates to manage the bandwidth consumed to download the video content and allow for the downloading of scenes of higher complexity levels from video streams encoded to higher bit rates.
US08689266B2
Television viewers want to watch previously broadcast videos for a number of reasons. For example, a viewer may have missed one or more episodes of his or her favorite series. As another example, a viewer may have mistaken the broadcast date of a show. Functionality can be implemented in a video recording device to submit rebroadcast requests for previously broadcast videos to a content provider. The content provider can use the rebroadcast requests to determine popularity of the previously broadcast video and dynamically schedule rebroadcasts of the most popular videos. The rebroadcast requests represent intended viewership of the video and can be leveraged by the content provider when assigning advertisement rates for the rebroadcast.
US08689262B2
A broadcast receiving device capable of easily setting area information. A control unit of a DVR transmits an acquisition request for area information to a TV. When the control unit receives a response to the acquisition request from the TV, the control unit extracts area information from the received response and performs a channel presetting using the extracted area information. A control unit of the TV has area information stored therein. When the control unit receives an acquisition request for area information from the DVR, the control unit transmits, as a response to the request, the stored area information to the DVR.
US08689252B1
A method for optimization of advertisement selection includes determining that content received via a website channel and content received via an additional media channel are being concurrently consumed at a location. The additional media channel is one of a television channel, a radio channel, a movie channel, and a print channel. The method further includes receiving usage information regarding the content being consumed at the location via one of the website channel and the additional media channel, and selecting, based on the usage information, advertisements to concurrently present via the other channel at the same location.
US08689251B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing advertisements. A plurality of advertisement targeting criteria is determined from a video stream or file. A first advertisement targeting criterion of the advertisement targeting criteria is associated with a first time position in the video. A second advertisement targeting criterion of the advertisement targeting criteria is associated with a second time position in the video. One or more first advertisements are provided, for presentation at or after the first time position in the video, based on the first advertisement targeting criterion. One or more second advertisements are provided, for presentation at or after the second time position in the video, based on the second advertisement targeting criterion.
US08689247B2
Methods and systems enable receiving on mobile devices credits, tokens or coupons from mobile TV broadcast service providers. Credits may be delivered via direct unicast messages such as SMS or e-mail, or via broadcast provisioning messages. Subscription response messages may be used to deliver credits to mobile devises which transmit a request for service. Broadcast service providers may push credits to mobile devices by transmitting a solicited pull message or a credit grant push message. Credits may be sent to mobile devices within a credit response message or a long term decryption key message. Credits may be used a purchase transaction, with the broadcast service provider controlling redemption of credits by sending an a long term decryption key message via a unicast network or a short term decryption key message via the broadcast network to cause mobile devices to decrement their stored credits.
US08689237B2
A method, system, and medium are disclosed for facilitating communication between multiple concurrent threads of execution using a multi-lane concurrent bag. The bag comprises a plurality of independently-accessible concurrent intermediaries (lanes) that are each configured to store data elements. The bag provides an insert function executable to insert a given data element into the bag by selecting one of the intermediaries and inserting the data element into the selected intermediary. The bag also provides a consume function executable to consume a data element from the bag by choosing one of the intermediaries and consuming (removing and returning) a data element stored in the chosen intermediary. The bag guarantees that execution of the consume function consumes a data element if the bag is non-empty and permits multiple threads to execute the insert or consume functions concurrently.
US08689231B2
One or more embodiments of the invention enable a system and method for ordering tasks with complex interrelationships. The present invention as described herein may be used to produce a linear ordering of tasks with complex interrelationships including dependencies and constraints. In one or more embodiments optional tasks may be permitted such that a given task may or may not be added to the execution queue depending on the scheduling of earlier tasks following evaluation of their dependencies—that is, the system of the invention supports the management of optional tasks in a task ordering operation where some or all of tasks have complex interdependencies.
US08689219B2
Systems (100) and methods (200) for managing transactional processing. The methods involve executing a first transaction (120) which is blocked by an exclusive lock of at least one second transaction (110) from accessing at least one resource of a system. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether a Service Level Agreement (“SLA”) associated with the first transaction is being met. If it is determined that the SLA is not being met, the resources needed by the first transaction are identified. Subsequently, all executing transactions, that are using the resources needed by the first transaction, are identified. At least one of the identified transactions is then dynamically slowed down or speed up. The transaction is slowed down or sped up by: adjusting how many records are to be processed in each sub-transaction of the transaction; and/or increasing or decreasing the time period between commit operations of the transaction.
US08689218B1
A method is provided for interfacing a plurality of processing components with a shared resource component. A token signal path is provided to allow propagation of a token through the processing components, wherein possession of the token by a given processing component enables the latter to conduct a transaction with the shared resource component. Token processing logic is also provided for propagating the token from one processing component to another along the token signal path, the propagating being done at a propagation rate that is related to a transaction rate associated with the shared resource component. A circuit comprising a plurality of processing components and a shared resource component is provided wherein the plurality processing components and the shared resource components are interfaced with one another using the method proposed.
US08689210B2
A system for a package pre-fetching for a remote program installation. The system includes a cache and a service program unit. The service program unit receives a request for a package required for an installation of an operating system and at least one peripheral application thereof from a computing node. The service program unit determines a package request sequence by which the computer node issues one or more package requests according to a type of the computing node, so as to pre-read a subsequent package from an external storage device into the cache before the computing node issues a request for the subsequent package.
US08689204B2
There are described tools and methodologies for building Read Only Memory (ROM) mask software images and the corresponding data/code patching software images. One method is for creating ROM mask content having patch references included therein whereby patch reference errors are detected and corrected. A software patch for a ROM mask with existing patch references may then automatically be created.
US08689201B2
A method of automatically creating functionally and structurally diverse equivalent copies of software executables using return oriented programming for the purpose of passing through a filter and other purposes includes starting with a program and a target runtime environment, creating a return oriented instruction library having a plurality of code fragments which end in a ‘return’ instruction from the program and chaining fragments together to automatically form diverse equivalent copies of software executables using return oriented programming.
US08689199B2
A high level shader language compiler incorporates transforms to optimize shader code for graphics processing hardware. An instruction reordering transform determines instruction encapsulations of dependent instructions that reduce concurrent register usage by the shader. A phase pulling transform re-organizes the shader's instructions into phases that reduce a measure of depth of texture loads. A register assigning transform assigns registers to lower register usage by the shader.
US08689188B2
A method includes creating an initial test plan including initial estimates of effort and defect distributions, creating an alternative test plan including alternative estimates of effort and defect distributions, and displaying at least one metric of the initial test plan and the alternative test plan side by side for comparison by a user.
US08689182B2
Various embodiments provide an interface between a Web browser's layout engine and a scripting engine. The interface enables objects from the layout engine to be recognized by a memory manager in the scripting engine and interact in a streamlined, efficient manner. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the interface allows browser layout engine objects to be created as objects that are native to the scripting engine. Alternately or additionally, in some embodiments, the native objects are further configured to proxy functionality between the layout engine and the scripting engine.
US08689179B2
A system and a method associated with a system landscape having a plurality of independent systems are provided to determine a refactoring object associated with modification of at least one code-based object and transport the refactoring object to a set of independent systems in the system landscape where each independent system is coupled to a communications network. Furthermore modifications of code-based objects are arranged to be performed at each of the set of independent systems in the system landscape.
US08689178B2
A software development method and system having a suite of graphical customization tools that enables developers to rapidly configure all aspects of the underlying application software, including the look-and-feel, behavior, and workflow. This is accomplished without modifying application source code, base objects, or SQL. The sophisticated repository management capabilities of the method and system of our invention allows teams of developers to work efficiently on configuring applications. The application upgrader provides an automated process to upgrade the customizations to future product releases thus protecting the investment in customization. The ease, comprehensiveness, scalability, and upgradeability of the customization process help reduce the total lifecycle cost of customizing enterprise applications.
US08689171B2
A system and method for managing resources in a programming environment includes providing mutable entities including related data including triples, listening for changes in the related data, and triggering a first construct in accordance with the changes in the related data to update the mutable entities. Updates are propagated from the first construct to other constructs such that a cascade of updates occurs. The cascade of updates is executed concurrently such that the updates are propagated to completion and are executed all at once relative to other cascades of executing constructs.
US08689165B2
Methods and systems for optimizing and/or designing integrated circuits. One exemplary method includes routing, as part of a process of designing an integrated circuit (IC), connections on a representation of the IC using a first set of wiring resources and marking wiring resources as used once the wiring resources within the first set have been used for routing and routing, using a second set of wiring resources in the representation, connections on the IC without checking whether wiring resources within the second set have been previously used to route connections, wherein wiring resources in the second set differ, on average, in physical size, from wiring resources in the first set. Other methods and systems for optimizing and/or designing ICs are also described, and machine-readable media containing executable program instructions which cause systems to perform one or more of these methods are also described.
US08689164B2
A computer-implemented method to generate a placement for a plurality of instances for an integrated circuit (IC) by utilizing a novel weighted-average (WA) wirelength model, which outperforms a well-known log-sum-exp wirelength model, to approximate the total wirelength. The placement is determined by performing an optimization process on an objective function which includes a wirelength function approximated by the WA wirelength model. The method can be extended to generate a placement for a plurality of instances for a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) which considers the sizes of through-silicon vias (TSVs) and the physical positions for TSV insertion. With the physical positions of TSVs determined during placement, 3D routing can easily be accomplished with better routed wirelength, TSV counts, and total silicon area.
US08689161B2
A method of designing an integrated circuit, an EDA tool, an apparatus and a computer-readable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) generating a set of constraint equations representing clock-insertion delay values for the integrated circuit as variables, (2) determining bounds on each of the clock-insertion delay values based on the constraint equations and (3) generating a set of closing commands based on the bounds for driving a design of the integrated circuit to closure, wherein each step of the method is carried out by at least one EDA tool.
US08689156B2
A method of generating a hardware design for a pipelined parallel stream processor. The method includes defining a processing operation designating processes to be implemented in hardware as part of said pipelined parallel stream processor and defining a graph representing said processing operation as a parallel structure in the time domain as a function of clock cycles. The method also includes defining the at least one data path and associated latencies of said graph as a set of algebraic linear inequalities, collectively solving the set of linear inequalities for the entire graph, optimizing the at least one data path in the graph using the solved linear inequalities to produce an optimized graph, and utilizing the optimized graph to define an optimized hardware design for implementation in hardware as the pipelined parallel stream processor.
US08689155B1
Some aspects of the present disclosure provide for a system and method to discover which parts of a design a formal test suite can detect faults in, and thus how much of a design structure is covered by a property set. A mutatable RTL design is defined which allows for modification of a part of an RTL design from its intended behavior to a non-intended behavior, thus introducing unwanted effects. The mutatable RTL design can then be synthesized to produce a functional representation of the design. The property set can be re-run on the synthesized design to see whether the functional representation of the design is sensitive to the unwanted effect and thus whether formal verification can detect the modification.
US08689143B2
A collection of data stored in a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and a plurality of portions of the collection are associated with corresponding identifiers that are associated with positions of an object to be rendered. User selections of positions on the surface of the object are received. The portions associated with the user selected position are determined, and the portions are displayed at their respective position on the surface of the object. The selected portions can be displayed as being connected by graphical elements.
US08689135B2
The invention describes a method of driving an interactive system (1) comprising a user interface system (2) with an inherently sequential input/output modality (12) and comprising a plurality of applications (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An). In this method a first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) is currently controlling the input/output modality (12) for performing an interaction with the user (U), wherein, at least for a certain period of time, a focus level is assigned to the first application (A1, A2, A3, An). The current interaction process of the first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) is only terminated or paused and the control of the input/output modality (12) for performing an interaction is only transferred to a second application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) when an application-switching command (ASC) is received from the user (U) and according to the focus level of the first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An). Furthermore, an appropriate user interface system (2) with an inherently sequential input/output modality (12) and an interactive system (1) comprising such a user interface system (2) is described.
US08689129B1
A method and apparatus for displaying data. In one embodiment, the method displays a summary icon at an intersection of a row and a column in a first display state. The method similarly displays the summary icon and the data represented by the summary icon by expanding a display pane to accommodate the data in a second display state.
US08689119B2
A computer-implemented system may include reception, from a user interface client application, of a user interface request conforming to a user interface component model, translation of the user interface request from the user interface component model to a business object model, execution of interactions associated with the translated request with a backend service layer, the interactions conforming to the business object model, determination of business object node changes and business object property changes conforming to the business object model and corresponding to the interactions, translation of the business object node changes and the business object property changes to user interface data changes and user interface event property changes conforming to the user interface component model, and provision of the user interface data changes and user interface event property changes to the user interface client.
US08689111B1
Techniques, including systems and methods for configuring a bookmark are disclosed. A bookmark is configured such that the bookmark has one or more variables and/or one or more commands associated therewith. A value is dynamically substituted for each variable of the bookmark. The value(s) of the bookmark are used in execution of the bookmark.
US08689100B2
According to this invention, bookbinding data containing pages created by respective applications can be constructed regardless of the type of application. Even when one or more desired pages contained in bookbinding data are selected, image editing is designated, but a non-image page exists in the selected pages, the non-image page can be excluded from editing targets, and the process can shift to image editing. For this purpose, when a plurality of pages are selected and image editing is designated, whether each selected page is an editable image page is determined. An editable page is temporarily stored. After all the selected pages are determined, an image editing application is activated to edit stored editable image pages.
US08689097B2
In enterprises, presentations are designed and made to visiting clients on a routine basis and it is expected that such presentations be effective as much of business depends on right kind of information in right depth and volume made to right audience. The typically followed manual process depends on the capabilities of a person to create such presentations. It is required to obtain as little information as possible to generate presentations as much automatically as possible. The automatic generation of presentations is based on (a) agenda; (b) audience profile; and (c) templates. The system analyzes an agenda and audience profile to obtain adequate information to identify the most appropriate templates and uses the same to generate one or more draft presentation versions that best match the requirements of the agenda. Further, the invention also provides for an automatic generation of (a) slide annotations; (b) presentation theme; and (c) templates.
US08689088B2
A method for encoding data using a parity check matrix is disclosed. The method for encoding data using a parity check matrix comprises generating a fourth base matrix by applying a row permutation pattern and a column permutation pattern to rows and columns of a third base matrix, respectively, the third base matrix including a plurality of indexes, each of the plurality of indexes indicating a sub-matrix; generating the parity check matrix by replacing each index of the fourth base matrix with a corresponding sub-matrix; outputting an encoded bit stream by encoding an input bit stream using the generated parity check matrix; and permuting an order of sequences of the encoded bit stream according to an inverse of the column permutation pattern.
US08689087B2
The invention relates to a method of probabilistic symmetric encryption of a plaintext message element with the aid of a secret key that can be represented in the form of a matrix. It comprises an operation of encrypting the plaintext message element, with the aid of the matrix parametrized by a random vector, so as to obtain an encrypted message element coupled to the random vector. Furthermore, there is envisaged a step of encoding the plaintext message element as a code word with the aid of an error correcting code having a given correction capacity and a step of adding a noise vector. The error correcting code and the noise vector are adapted so that the Hamming weight of the noise vector is less than or equal to the correction capacity of the correcting code.
US08689077B2
A computer system includes a memory controller coupled to a memory module containing several DRAMs. The memory module also includes a non-volatile memory storing row addresses identifying rows containing DRAM memory cells that are likely to lose data during normal refresh of the memory cells. Upon power-up, the data from the non-volatile memory are transferred to a comparator in the memory controller. The comparator compares the row addresses to row addresses from a refresh shadow counter that identify the rows in the DRAMs being refreshed. When a row of memory cells is being refreshed that is located one-half of the rows away from a row that is likely to loose data, the memory controller causes the row that is likely to loose data to be refreshed. The memory controller also includes error checking circuitry for identifying the rows of memory cells that are likely to lose data during refresh.
US08689072B2
Methods and devices are provided where when an online parameter change is requested a data transfer unit is stopped, a parameter change is communicated and the data transfer unit is started with changed parameters to generate new data transfer units.
US08689068B2
An integrated circuit (IC) having a low leakage current mode of operation has a number of modules for running respective applications. The modules have respective cells and respective test scan chain elements. The IC also has a controller for configuring an active module to operate in a functional mode and a selected inactive module to operate in a low leakage current mode. Configuring the selected inactive module to operate in low leakage current mode includes enabling scan mode of the selected inactive module, and applying a low leakage vector of input signals from the controller to the cells of the inactive module using the scan chain. Functional data outputs of the inactive module are disabled during low leakage current mode. In the meantime, the active modules continue to operate in the functional mode.
US08689067B1
A system and method for detecting transition delay faults decouples the test enable pins of the clock gating cells from other elements in the circuitry. The test enable pins are controlled during test mode by a unique signal, allowing the tester to independently control the clock gating logic of the circuitry. By being able to ungate the clock, the tester can ensure that the two clock pulses needed to check for transition delay faults will always be present.
US08689066B2
A method of implementing integrated circuit device testing includes performing baseline testing of a first group of chips using a full set of test patterns, and for chip identified as failing, determining, a score for each test pattern in the full set. The score is indicative of an ability of the test pattern to uniquely identify a failing chip with respect to other test patterns. Following the baseline testing, streamlined testing on a second group of chips is performed, using a reduced set of the test patterns having highest average scores as determined by the baseline testing. Following the streamlined testing, full testing on a third group of chips is performed using the full set of test patterns, and updating the average score for each pattern. Further testing alternates between the streamlined testing and the full testing for additional groups of chips.
US08689065B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus having stacked first and second chips includes a first chip test signal generation unit disposed in the first chip and configured to generate a first chip test signal in response to a first chip compression data determination signal in a test mode, a second chip test signal generation unit disposed in the second chip and configured to generate a second chip test signal in response to a second chip compression data determination signal in the test mode, and a final data determination unit configured to generate a final test signal in response to the first and second chip test signals in the test mode.
US08689064B1
A memory module for operating with a system memory controller comprises a plurality of data ports, a plurality of memory devices organized in ranks, and a plurality of data handlers. Each respective data handler is coupled to a respective set of data ports of the plurality of data ports and to a respective set of memory devices of the plurality of memory devices. Each set of memory devices include at least one memory device from each rank. In a normal mode, each respective data handler is configured to provide write data received from the system memory controller via the respective data ports to the respective set of memory devices. In a test mode, each respective data handler is configured to provide test data generated in the respective data handler to the respective set of memory devices.
US08689062B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes: a data detector circuit, and a reliability monitor circuit. The data detector circuit is operable to apply a data detection algorithm to a data set to yield a detected output that includes soft data. The reliability monitor circuit is operable to determine a proxy error count based at least in part on the soft data, and to modify a parameter governing an operation of the data processing system based at least in part on the proxy error count.
US08689060B2
A method for providing corrections for semantic errors in a process model can be implemented on a computer. The method can include identifying a change in the process model, the process model including one or more process model elements. The method can also include identifying one or more constraint violations for at least one of the one or more process model elements, and identifying one or more correction proposals for each constraint violation identified.
US08689058B2
The centralized reporting of a service outage, where the service is offered over a network such as, for example, the Internet. Upon detecting a service outage, computing system automatically identifies characteristic(s) of the outage. Then, the computing system selects a way of reporting the outage that depends on the characteristic(s) of the outage. For instance, depending on the outage characteristic(s), the computing system might cause a particular communication channel or channels to be selected for reporting the outage. Alternatively or in addition, the content or structure of the report may differ depending on the characteristic(s) of the outage. The reporting mechanism may be centralized and service a number of other services, and even report regarding errors in the framework that supports the service.
US08689056B2
A method and system for providing customer service information provide a central database containing software modules for tasks and services and configurations for the modules. Information is received specifying a procedure to be carried out. Software modules relating to tasks forming part of the procedure are invoked, and the information indicative of appropriate configurations for the specified procedure is passed to the software modules. The software modules access the configurations, and instantiate operational tasks applying the configurations. The operational tasks are consolidated into an operational procedure, and the operational procedure is provided to an operative.
US08689048B1
A distributed reusable framework comprising a non-logging resumable workflow of actions that runs independently in parallel to upgrade each machine of a large distributed cluster of machines. A CHECK process and a RUN process are associated with each action in the workflow. The CHECK process determines dynamically the state of each action, and the RUN process brings an action to a completed state. Following a reboot on a machine, the workflow on the machine sequences back to its start and rechecks each prior action of the workflow to verify that each action is in a completed state before. Upon a failure of the upgrade on a single machine in the cluster, the failed machine can be fixed and the workflow can be resumed without redoing the work already done. Since the actual live state is verified on each machine of the cluster, log files are unnecessary.
US08689047B2
Techniques involving replication of virtual machines at a target site are described. One representative technique includes an apparatus including a virtual machine configured to provide storage access requests targeting a virtual disk. A storage request processing module is coupled to the virtual machine to receive the storage access requests and update the virtual disk as directed by the storage access requests. A replication management module is coupled to the virtual machine to receive the storage access requests in parallel with the storage request processing module, and to store information associated with the storage access requests in a log file(s). The log file may be transferred to a destination as a recovery replica of at least a portion of the virtual disk.
US08689044B2
A technique to track a host controller cache that includes receiving from a host controller a command indicating whether a cache of the host controller has data which is to be stored to a storage system. In the event that the host controller fails, perform an operation to transfer control from the host controller to another host controller based on whether the command indicates that the data of the cache was stored to the storage system.
US08689041B2
A method for protecting data in damaged memory cells by dynamically switching memory mode is provided. The method is adapted to an electronic device having a memory, which has a memory controller and at least one memory module, each of which is consisted of a plurality of memory cells, and the memory cells are divided into a plurality of pages. A power-on self test is executed and a mirror memory mode is activated to protect the data in the memory modules. An uncorrectable error of each page of the memory modules is detected by the memory controller when an operating system reads the memory. If the uncorrectable error in one page is detected, the memory module having the page is determined as a damaged memory module, and the mirror memory mode is switched to a spare memory mode, so as to protect the data in the memory modules.
US08689036B2
Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.
US08689033B2
A data processing device with a power supply and data signal interface circuit has a switch for connecting an external line and an internal node. The power supply and data signal interface circuit also includes a controller for applying an enabling voltage to the switch enabling the switch to supply current between the external line and the internal node in the presence of power supply to the controller and in the absence of the overvoltage condition on the external line. The power supply and data signal interface circuit also includes a voltage reduction connection from the external line for applying a control voltage to the switch in the absence of power supply to the controller. The control voltage from the voltage reduction connection limits a voltage applied to the internal node through the switch in the presence of the overvoltage condition.
US08689030B2
An electronic apparatus includes a display, a display controller that displays an image on the display in accordance with an image signal input from outside, a first power supply unit that coverts an alternating-current power into a first power having a first voltage, and supplies the first power to the display, a shutoff unit that shuts off the alternating-current power being supplied to the first power supply unit, based on the image signal, and a second power supply unit that converts the alternating-current power into a second power having a second voltage, and supplies the second power to the display controller and the shutoff unit.
US08689025B2
An access terminal (AT) in a cellular communication system is configured to operate in an active hold (AH) state, a transitional state between traffic and dormant states. The AT applies power to its transmit chain with a low duty cycle while in the AH state, conserving battery power. To improve robustness of the communications, the radio network may power control the AT to a higher level relative to the power control level of the AT in the traffic state. Transition from the traffic state to the AH state may be initiated after a brief period of inactivity on the reverse link. The AT may remain in the AH state while receiving forward link payload data. Transmission of a reverse link payload packet in the AH state may initiate transition to the traffic state. A prolonged period of inactivity may initiate a transition from the AH state to the dormant state.
US08689019B2
An information processing apparatus that includes a first graphic processing module having a first level of graphic performance and a second graphic processing module having a second level of graphic performance, which is greater than the first level of graphic performance. The information processing apparatus also includes a controller that selects one of the first graphic processing module or the second graphic processing module by determining whether the information processing apparatus is capable of outputting data with the first level of graphic performance or the second level of graphic performance, and detects whether the information processing apparatus is provided with power via a battery or via an external power source.
US08689016B2
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to providing digital copy protection of media using a subscriber/publisher architecture. In one embodiment, a publisher employs various dynamic and/or static tamper detection, including, filter graph change detectors, ICE detectors, screen scraping detectors, debugger detectors, pattern recognizers, or the like. When a tampering event is detected by one or more of the publishers, the tamper event may be published for access by a subscriber. Published tamper events may be pushed to or pulled by the subscribers. When one or more subscribers receive the tamper event, the subscriber(s) may perform one or more tamper response actions according to various business rules, and/or other core rules.
US08689013B2
In one embodiment, a device includes a first interface, a second interface, a memory, and a processor coupled to the first and second interfaces and to the memory. The processor is configured to receive key-management information via the second interface, and to store the key-management information in a protected portion of the memory as stored key-management information. The processor is also configured to perform a challenge-response authentication interaction via the first interface. The challenge-response authentication interaction is based at least in part on the stored key-management information. The device is configured to prevent data in the protected portion of the memory from being modified in response to information received via the first interface.
US08688992B2
System and method for creation and use of an agreement object having content packages and a transportable agreement, including both the content of the agreement and data used to validate the signatories and an audit trail for the agreement.
US08688988B2
Data security devices are provided which store user data and interact with terminal devices to provide information about the stored user data. Security device has memory for storing user data, an interface for transmission of data communications connectable to a data communications network, and a controller. The controller processes a request from the terminal device for information about said user data by first generating a message. The message is generated to permit verification, using secret data, that the message was generated by the controller. The controller sends the message to the terminal device for communication to a publication entity for publication of the message. The controller then receives from the terminal device a cryptographic construction. The controller checks validity of the cryptographic construction for said message, and subsequent supply of the information requested about the user data to the terminal device is then dependent on said cryptographic construction.
US08688985B2
Provided is a data security method and apparatus using a characteristic preserving encryption. The data security apparatus includes an interface communicating with a user terminal or a database server, an input unit receiving information, an output unit outputting information, an encryption unit encrypting data in the data security method, a storage unit storing information, and a control unit controlling functions of the interface, the input unit, the output unit, the encryption unit or the storing unit.
US08688978B2
A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling a message at a sender, then determining a frame type, and including an indication of the frame type in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient and the frame type used to perform a policy check.
US08688977B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for validating a batch of implicit certificates are described. Data for a batch of implicit certificates are received and validated. In some aspect, the data include key-pair-validation values that can be used to validate the public and private keys for each implicit certificate. For example, the key-pair-validation values can include a private key, a public key reconstruction value, a public key of the certificate authority, and a hash of the implicit certificate. The key-pair-validation values are either valid or invalid according to a key-pair-validation function. In some cases, modification values are obtained independent of the key-pair-validation values, and the modification values are combined with the key-pair-validation values in a batch-validation function. The batch-validation function is evaluated for the batch of implicit certificates. Evaluating the batch-validation function identifies whether the key-pair-validation data include key-pair-validation values that are invalid according to the key-pair-validation function.
US08688967B2
A method and an apparatus for executing codes embedded inside a device to verify a code image loaded in a memory of the device are described. A code image may be executed after being verified as a trusted code image. The embedded codes may be stored in a secure ROM (read only memory) chip of the device. In one embodiment, the verification of the code image is based on a key stored within the secure ROM chip. The key may be unique to each device. Access to the key may be controlled by the associated secure ROM chip. The device may complete establishing an operating environment subsequent to executing the verified code image.
US08688962B2
Apparatuses and methods to perform gather instructions are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a gather logic module which includes a gather logic unit to identify locality of data elements in response to a gather instruction. The apparatus includes memory comprising a plurality of memory rows including a memory row associated with the gather instruction. The apparatus further includes memory structure to store data element addresses accessed in response to the gather instruction.
US08688959B2
Method, apparatus, and program means for shuffling data. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a first operand having a set of L data elements and a second operand having a set of L control elements. For each control element, data from a first operand data element designated by the individual control element is shuffled to an associated resultant data element position if its flush to zero field is not set and a zero is placed into the associated resultant data element position if its flush to zero field is not set.
US08688956B2
The execution engine is a new organization for a digital data processing apparatus for highly parallel execution of structured fine-grain parallel computations. The execution engine includes a memory for storing data and a domain flow program, a controller for requesting the domain flow program from the memory, and further for translating the program into programming information, a processor fabric for processing the domain flow programming information and a crossbar for sending tokens and the programming information to the processor fabric.
US08688947B1
In one or more embodiments, an apparatus comprises an alignment module implemented in hardware to identify requested data that is not aligned on a natural alignment boundary of a memory and load at least two sets of neighboring data such that each said set includes at least a portion of the requested data. The alignment module is further configured to extract the requested data from the at least two sets of neighboring data and output the extracted data to a processor.
US08688944B2
An embedded controller includes a microcontroller core and memory control circuitry. The memory control circuitry is configured to communicate with a Central Processing Unit (CPU) chipset over a first Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), for which bus arbitration is not supported, at a first clock rate, to communicate with a memory over a second SPI at a second, fixed clock rate, to relay memory transactions between the CPU chipset and the memory over the first and second SPIs, to identify time intervals in which no memory transactions are relayed on the second SPI and to retrieve from the memory information for operating the microcontroller core during the identified time intervals.
US08688943B2
A method for executing a processing routine that utilizes an external memory is provided. The processing routine requires more than one external memory access. The method comprises the step of distributing the external memory access after a predetermined number of external memory accesses.
US08688940B2
The embodiments described herein generally use a challenge to protect a removable mobile flash memory storage device, where the challenge may be in the form of a “Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart” (“CAPTCHA”). In one embodiment, a method is provided in which a removable mobile flash memory storage device receives a command from a host device, generates a CAPTCHA challenge, provides the CAPTCHA challenge to the host device, receives a response to the CAPTCHA challenge from the host device, determines if the response satisfies the CAPTCHA challenge, and performs the command only if the response satisfies the CAPTCHA challenge. In another embodiment, a removable mobile flash memory storage device is provided for performing these acts.
US08688939B2
Storage system arrangements having status information including both copy group summary status information providing a status of a group of the plurality of copy pairs, and detailed status information detailing a status of a copy pair included in the group; and wherein said status management unit monitors the status information of said plurality of copy pairs, wherein the management computer acquires, from the storage apparatus, the copy group summary status information as summary information for a group of the plurality of copy pairs having a failure status for the group, and displays said summary information on said display, if the summary information indicates a normal status, the management computer displays the summary information only; and if the summary information indicates a failure status, the management computer displays, upon receiving selection of said summary information, detailed status information of a copy pair that belongs to the group.
US08688938B2
A data processing system includes a host and a plurality of locations. A difference recording operation between a first location of the plurality of locations and a second location of the plurality of locations is started. A first operational relationship between a third location of the plurality of locations and the first location is started. A signal is sent in response to the first operational relationship starting after the difference recording operation. A first dataset is updated in response to the host writing data to at least one of the first location or the second location. The first dataset is updated with changes to the first location in response to the signal.
US08688933B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with firmware modification are described. One system embodiment includes modification utility configured to modify a less-than whole portion of the archive based on a modification request. The system embodiment may also include a nonvolatile memory containing an archive of one or more firmware components.
US08688931B2
Methods and systems are described for performing storage operations on electronic data in a network. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a first set of selection logic, a media management component is selected to manage the storage operation. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a second set of selection logic, a network storage device to associate with the storage operation. The selected media management component and the selected network storage device perform the storage operation on the electronic data.
US08688928B2
A portable media device and a method for operating a portable media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, a battery-powered portable media device can manage use of a mass storage device to efficiently utilize battery power. By providing a cache memory and loading the cache memory so as to provide skip support, battery power for the portable media device can be conserved (i.e., efficiently consumed). According to another aspect, a portable media device can operate efficiently in a seek mode. The seek mode is an operational mode of the portable media device in which the portable media device automatically scans through media items to assist a user in selecting a desired one of the media items.
US08688925B2
For optimized communication between two memory-related processes in a computer system, a synchronization function is coupled with an operating system function such that it withholds an output of an operating system message that signals a data end of a file in a memory region of the computer system. It can thus be avoided that a memory read process interrupts the reading of the file because a memory write process has not yet written all data of the file into the corresponding memory region.
US08688922B1
The present disclosure describes a memory block manager. In some aspects a memory block allocation request is received from a packet-based interface, a memory block is allocated to the packet-based interface, and allocation of the memory block to another packet-based interface is prevented. In other aspects a request to free a memory block is received from a packet-based interface and the memory block is freed to allow the memory block to be reallocated.
US08688918B2
According to one embodiment, a program converting device includes an access attribute determining unit, a non-sharing target classifying unit, and a converting unit. The access attribute determining unit calculates exclusive accesses from memory accesses by threads forming a source program and determines a memory access using a cache memory among the calculated exclusive accesses. The non-sharing target classifying unit determines an access data item that does not share a cache line with another access data item among the access data items that are accessed using the cache memories. The converting unit inserts a process that does not share the cache line into the source program based on the determination result of the non-sharing target classifying unit.
US08688916B2
A cache memory is utilized effectively because data redundancy elimination is executed. A controller manages the cache memory by dividing it into a first area and a second area. When receiving a write access request from an access requestor, the controller divides a data block, which is an access target, into a plurality of chunks and searches the first area first and then the storage apparatus based on each chunk. If chunk storage information, indicating that each chunk is stored in the storage apparatus, does not exist in the first area or the storage apparatus, the controller executes chunk storage processing and creates and stores the chunk storage information. If the chunk storage information exists, the controller eliminates the chunk storage processing for storing the chunks. If the chunk storage information does not exist in the first area, the controller stages the chunk storage information from the storage apparatus to the first area on condition that the first area has an unused area.
US08688914B2
For efficient track destage in secondary storage in a more effective manner, for temporal bits employed with sequential bits for controlling the timing for destaging the track in a primary storage, the temporal bits and sequential bits are transferred from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The temporal bits are allowed to age on the secondary storage.
US08688913B2
For movement of partial data segments within a computing storage environment having lower and higher levels of cache by a processor, a whole data segment containing one of the partial data segments is promoted to both the lower and higher levels of cache. Requested data of the whole data segment is split and positioned at a Most Recently Used (MRU) portion of a demotion queue of the higher level of cache. Unrequested data of the whole data segment is split and positioned at a Least Recently Used (LRU) portion of the demotion queue of the higher level of cache. The unrequested data is pinned in place until a write of the whole data segment to the lower level of cache completes.
US08688911B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system on a chip (SOC) comprising a processing core including a core bus agent, a bus interface unit (BIU), and a bridge module operatively coupling the processing core to the BIU, the bridge module configured to selectively route information from the core bus agent to a cache or to the BIU by bypassing the cache. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08688895B2
A data management method includes determining the size of input data, storing the input data in a log block if the size of the input data is determined to be a write unit, and storing the input data in a partial block if the size of the input data is determined to be smaller than the write unit. The log block is a temporary block storing data of same addresses and the partial block is a temporary block storing data regardless of their addresses. The memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller configured to control the nonvolatile memory. The memory controller is configured to temporarily store input data smaller than a write unit in a selected memory block even when the input data have different addresses.
US08688890B2
A method for handling a request of storage on a serial fabric comprising formatting an address for communication on a serial fabric into a plurality of fields including a field comprising at least one set selection bit and a field comprising at least one tag bit. The address is communicated on the serial fabric with the field comprising the at least one set selection bit communicated first.
US08688882B2
Provided is a system on chip (SoC) capable of rapidly processing interrupts generated in various modules without causing an error. The SoC includes a processor configured to process a task, a plurality of modules on the SoC and operationally coupled to the processor through a system bus, and an interrupt proxy processing unit operationally coupled to the processor and the plurality of modules and configured to solely process an interrupt-related task from a first module of the plurality of modules.
US08688880B2
Serializing instructions in a multiprocessor system includes receiving a plurality of processor requests at a central point in the multiprocessor system. Each of the plurality of processor requests includes a needs register having a requestor needs switch and a resource needs switch. The method also includes establishing a tail switch indicating the presence of the plurality of processor requests at the central point, establishing a sequential order of the plurality of processor requests, and processing the plurality of processor requests at the central point in the sequential order.
US08688869B2
A display apparatus, a control method thereof and a control method of an external device are provided. The display apparatus includes a contents processing unit which reproduces contents, a communication unit which communicates with an external device which reproduces contents, and a control unit which receives reproduction information of the contents reproduced in the external device from the external device through the communication unit, and controls the contents processing unit to reproduce contents corresponding to the contents reproduced in the external device, based on the received reproduction information.
US08688863B2
An information processing apparatus that executes security processing for a storage device connected thereto, the apparatus includes a processing command storage unit that stores a plurality of processing commands related to security processing according to a type of the storage device, a determining unit that determines the type of the storage device connected thereto, an obtaining unit that obtains a processing command corresponding to the type determined by the determining unit from the processing command storage unit, and an executing unit that executes the security processing corresponding to the storage device based on the obtained processing command.
US08688855B2
A method is disclosed for performing traffic control in a network, the network comprising at least one link, the method comprising: —measuring the data traffic rate, the data traffic comprising at least one data flow, at at least one link which carries the data traffic; —defining a first and a second threshold value, the second threshold value being larger than the first threshold value; —determining whether the measured data rate is larger than the first threshold value; and if so, starting congestion signaling of a first type, —determining whether the data rate is larger than the second threshold value; and if so, starting congestion signaling of a second type, wherein at least one of the first and the second threshold values are modified over time, based on data traffic information.
US08688844B1
Transparent network devices intercept messages from non-transparent network devices that establish a connection. Transparent network devices modify these messages to establish an inner connection with each other. The transparent network devices mimic at least some of the outer connection messages to establish their inner connection. The mimicked messages and any optional reset messages are intercepted by the transparent network devices to prevent them from reaching the outer connections. Transparent network devices modify network traffic, using error detection data, fragmentation data, or timestamps, so that inner connection network traffic inadvertently received by outer connection devices is rejected or ignored by the outer connection network devices. Transparent network devices may use different sequence windows for inner and outer connection network traffic. To prevent overlapping sequence windows, transparent network devices monitor the locations of the inner and outer connection sequence windows and may rapidly advance the inner connection sequence window as needed.
US08688840B2
A media transmission method and apparatus of a first server using a session-based messaging service in a communication system. The first server sets Media Relay Capacity (MRC) information of a first User Equipment (UE), transmits the set MRC information to a second server, receives a response from the second server after transmitting the MRC information, and notifies the response to the first UE. The response is a response that the second server has received from a second UE after notifying the second UE of the setting of the MRC information.
US08688813B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, system and machine-readable media for dynamically providing identity management or other services. According to one embodiment, dynamically providing services can comprise receiving a request related to an unknown principal. A service to which the principal is known can be selected. Once a service to which the principal is known has been located, an identity management result can be obtained from the selected service. The method can further comprise determining based on the identity management result whether the principal is authorized to access a requested resource. In response to determining the principal is authorized, the requested resource can be accessed.
US08688804B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for transmitting information in a Web-based control system. The control target device of the present invention includes a Web server module, a sound information generation module and an independent communication module. The Web server module transmits a Web page required for device control to a control device through a first communication channel. The sound information generation module generates sound information related to an event, occurring according to variation in status of the control target device. The independent communication module transmits the generated sound information to the control device through a second communication channel that is separate from the first communication channel.
US08688801B2
Syndication feeds for peer computer devices. In one aspect, a request is received at a server for a syndicated feed from a peer on a peer-to-peer network. It is determined whether the peer is currently online or offline; if online, the requested feed is pulled from the peer and served to the requester, and if offline, the requested feed is retrieved from a cache of the server and served to the requester. In one embodiment, an online/offline indicator is inserted in a feed by the server to indicate to the user the online or offline status.
US08688788B2
A system and methods for adding a personal touch to auto-reply email messages is presented herein. The system and method involve a user enabling a personalized auto-reply feature in their email client, the email client communicating such enablement to a related email server, the email server receiving an email message for the user, the email server determining personal identifier of the sender of the email message and the email server sending a personalized auto-reply using the determined personal identifier to compose and send an auto-reply with a personal touch. The email server may determine the personal identifier through searching one of the user's address book or a global address list for an address entry having the reply address found in the received message's header or the email server may search the body of the received email message to determine personal identifier.
US08688777B2
Processing a browser request that specifies a destination network resource generally includes intercepting a browser request that specifies a selected destination network resource and redirecting the browser request to a network server that differs from the destination resource specified by the browser request. Processing a browser request also may include intercepting a browser request received from a client computer at a proxy server when the browser request specifies a selected destination network resource and performing instructions associated with and in addition to instructions performed to download the selected destination network resource.
US08688767B2
In a distributed processing in which multiple operation transportation methods can be used, a method is proposed which efficiently selects an operation transportation method in accordance with conditions of the distributed system. In view of this, a first computer is provided which includes: a first operation transportation portion which conducts multiple transportation methods that transports, for example, processes to a computer to execute them; a second operation transportation portion; and a selection information storing portion storing information used for selection from the multiple transportation methods. Further, a second computer is provided which includes a first operation receiving portion that conducts operations in accordance with the multiple transportation methods. The first computer includes a transportation request portion which detects information from the selection information storing portion for selecting a transportation method that is operable for the second computer and which selects the first operation transportation portion based on the detection result, and the first operation transportation portion selected by the transportation request portion transports, for example, a process to the first operation receiving portion of the second computer.
US08688727B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating query refinements. In one implementation, a method includes dividing a search query into one or more n-grams; determining that each of the one or more n-grams represents a same concept, and in response to the determination: selecting one or more candidate refinement queries; determining one or more categories for the search query; determining one or more categories for each of the candidate refinement queries; determining a respective first score for each of the candidate refinement queries; and identifying as query refinements for the search query one or more of the candidate refinement queries based on the first scores.
US08688714B1
A method includes receiving a query that is unstructured for a plurality databases; determining a service requirement fulfilled by the databases from the terms of the query; determining, for each of the databases, a service requirement score for the database; selecting one of the databases based on the service requirement scores; determining, from the query, parameter values for the service requirement; providing the parameter values for a search operation for the selected database and receiving database search results responsive to the parameter values and the search operation; determining, from the database search results, a search constraint for the search query; revising the search query to include the constraint and providing the revised search query to a search engine; and providing search results identifying resources that the search engine determined to be responsive to the revised query.
US08688711B1
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for displaying search results are disclosed. In an embodiment, this may comprise receiving search results, for a search result, receiving information about search result scores according to a plurality of criteria, allowing a user to select criteria, using the selected criteria to create spokes in a radar chart, associating the search result scores with the spokes in the radar chart, creating a star in the radar chart based on the association of search result scores with the spokes, and displaying the radar chart. Different weight may be given to each search result score. Multiple search results may be displayed in one radar chart, or multiple radar charts may be used.
US08688708B2
Further preferred embodiments of the present invention include methods directed to (a) Active Data Structures, (b) Mobile Devices, (c) Ad-Hoc Device Collections, and (d) Concurrent Massively Parallel Supercomputers. Therein, a distributed, object-oriented database engine utilizing independent, intelligent processing nodes as a cooperative, massively parallel system with redundancy and fault tolerance. Instead of using traditional methods of parallelism as found in most distributed databases, the invention utilizes a messaging system and a series of message processing nodes to determine where attributes and data files associated with objects are stored. The architecture is loosely coupled, each node independently determining if it manages or routes storage and retrieval requests.
US08688702B1
Systems and methods are presented for searching a dynamic data source using a static search engine. In one embodiment, the method includes: determining that a search request for data includes at least one attribute associated with dynamic data, retrieving dynamic data associated with the at least one attribute and corresponding to the search request, combining the retrieved dynamic data with static data that corresponds to the search request, and returning the combined data in response to the search request. The dynamic data may be located separately from the static data, for example, at a remote storage and may be searched in parallel with the static data if necessary. The retrieved dynamic data may be combined with the static data and returned to the user.
US08688691B2
A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product providing ordered search results within a search engine. Items are retrieved from a network satisfying search criteria provided by a user. Computer-related activities performed by the user, including social networking activities, are determined, and the retrieved items are ranked based on the computer-related activities. The ranking of the retrieved items is dependent upon whether any retrieved item has been referenced by the social networking activities of the user, and the search results are provided including the retrieved items in order of the ranking.
US08688689B2
Techniques are provided for automatically recommending alternative execution plans for a SQL statement. Information pertaining to one or more execution plans for a SQL statement can be retrieved from a set of plan sources. The one or more execution plans can include the current execution plan for the statement and one or more historical execution plans. Based on the retrieved information, the performance of the one or more execution plans can be compared to each other. Based on the comparison, a recommendation can be provided to a user indicating that a particular execution plan (e.g., a historical execution plan) should be used in place of the current execution plan to execute the SQL statement.
US08688682B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for query expression evaluation for query optimization. Embodiments include receiving a query including a plurality of predicates; creating a truth table representing the possible solutions to the query; identifying a plurality of intersections of the truth table, the plurality of intersections including each predicate of the query; assigning a selectivity factor to each predicate; determining in dependence upon the selectivity factors for each predicate a selectivity rating for each of the intersections of the truth table; selecting one or more of the intersections in dependence upon the selectivity rating; and determining in dependence upon the selected intersections a percentage of rows in a database table returned by the query; and providing the percentage of rows in the database table to an access plan generator for query optimization.
US08688680B2
A method of locating preferred services includes searching an augmented spatial index, which is based on a user's determined preferred services. Additionally, the method includes indicating a location of a currently-sought preferred service.
US08688678B2
The present invention is related to methods and systems for processing search requests and for performing searches over a network. In an embodiment, a recipient designation is received from a user over a network. The designation indicates that future searches performed by the user are to be associated with the recipient (even if the subject matter of the search is not related to the recipient). A search request is received from the user; causing a search to be performed in response to the search request. An identifier corresponding to the recipient is stored in association with an indication regarding the occurrence of the first search request.
US08688676B2
In an embodiment, a method of operating a software search engine is provided. The method includes populating a software code database from one or more sources of source code. The method also includes receiving a search query for a software code search engine (525). The method further includes searching the software code database with the search query (530). Moreover, the method includes presenting results of the searching (550). Additionally, the method includes tracking reuse of code portions of the software code database. Also, the method includes reporting on usage of code portions of the software code database (560).
US08688672B2
A search apparatus may include the following elements. A provisional search condition inputting unit inputs character string information as a provisional search condition. A character string/position correspondence information holding unit holds character string/position correspondence information including a correspondence between character string information and position information. A position information obtaining unit obtains position information corresponding to the character string information input as the provisional search condition from the character string/position correspondence information. A search object information storage unit stores search object information with additional information including at least position information. A searching unit performs a search for the position information of the search object information stored in the search object information storage means using the position information obtained by the position information obtaining unit as an actual search condition, and outputs search object information having the found position information as a search result satisfying the provisional search condition.
US08688667B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing intent sensitive search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a current query for a current search session that is associated with a user identifier. One or more potential refinements for the current query are identified, each potential refinement being one or more terms and based on previous queries associated with the user identifier and previous queries associated with other user identifiers. One or more secondary queries are generated, each secondary query including the current query and one of the potential refinements, each secondary query matching a query-refinement pair in a trigger map that includes a plurality of query-refinement pairs. Secondary search results are identified for the secondary queries. Search results are provided including at least one of the secondary search results.
US08688662B2
A method for improving the performance of a computer system when it is detected that a process wishes to gain access to and update an object while it is locked for commitment to stable storage. The process wishing to gain access to the object is provided a copy of the existing object, with this copy now being considered as the new primary copy of the object. Updates can be made to this new copy without any impact to the commitment to the stable storage and without a delay to the process making the new updates. Any future searches for the object will return references to this new copy, while the original copy is only maintained for the period required to complete it's commitment to stable storage.
US08688660B1
A block storage service provides block-level storage to a plurality of distinct computing instances for a plurality of distinct users. For each of one or more of the plurality of distinct computing instances, information about data being stored in the block storage service is determined. Based on the information about the data being stored in the block storage service, a block storage transaction enhancement for the data being stored in the block storage service is determined. The block storage service performs the selected block storage transaction enhancement with respect to the data being stored in the block storage service.
US08688658B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for preserving information in time variant data schemas are disclosed. The method includes determining if at least one modification request associated with a database schema has been received. In response to the modification request being received, a metadata table associated with the database schema is updated to include at least one entry associated with the modification request. The entry identifies an instance in time when an action associated with the modification request was performed.
US08688657B1
A computer-implemented method for data loss prevention may include (1) identifying a network configured with a data loss prevention system, (2) identifying a file subject to a data loss prevention assessment within the network, (3) identifying a source of the file, the source of the file causing an entry of the file onto the network, (4) determining, based on the source of the file, that the file is subject to a data loss prevention policy, and (5) applying the data loss prevention policy to the file based on the determination that the file is subject to the data loss prevention policy. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08688654B2
A data storage subsystem having a plurality of data compression engines configured to compress data, each having a different compression algorithm. A data handling system is configured to select at least one sample of data; operate a plurality of the data compression engines to compress the selected sample(s); determine the compression ratios of the operated data compression engines with respect to the selected sample(s); and select the data compression engine having the greatest compression ratio with respect to the selected sample(s), to compress the data. Further, the data compression engines may be in tiers from low to high in accordance with expected latency to compress data and to uncompress compressed data; and a data compression engine is selected from a tier that is inverse to the present rate of access.
US08688643B1
A computer-implemented method for adaptively preferring mirrors for read operations may include identifying a volume of data. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a plurality of mirrors that mirror the volume of data. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying a storage property of at least one mirror in the plurality of mirrors. The computer-implemented method may additionally include identifying at least one attempt to read from the volume of data. The computer-implemented method may also include selecting the mirror for fulfilling the read attempt based at least in part on the storage property of the mirror. The computer-implemented method may further include fulfilling the read attempt from the selected mirror. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08688635B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for a data set connection manager having a plurality of data sets to represent one data set. A request is processed to open a connection to a data set having members, wherein the connection is used to perform read and write requests to the members in the data set. In response to establishing the connection, establishing for the connection a primary data set having all the members; a secondary data set to which updated members in the primary data set are written; and a pending delete data set to pending delete members comprising members that are updated.
US08688634B2
A method and system for providing convergence of data copies in asynchronous data replication in a database system, includes: labeling rows, a copy of identification and propagation controls. In applying communicated changes, conflicting changes are identified and resolved. In this manner, convergence of data copies in asynchronous data replication is provided, and processing and storage costs are significantly reduced.
US08688617B2
Methods, systems, and devices using an algorithm that consists of scoring the bits in the data stream with a periodicity of N, where N is the word-length in bits, and then selecting as the most significant bit the one which receives the highest score after some large number of samples are disclosed. The condition under which bit bk receives a point depends on the binary format.
US08688612B2
A method and apparatus for storing a triple and an inference dependency indexing apparatus appropriate to the method and system are provided. The method of storing a triple related to an inference method for creating other triples by applying an inference rule to the triple includes: (a) adding a serial number to each of triples and inference rules related to inference and storing the triples and the inference rules into a plurality of triple tables and inference rule tables; (b) indexing a triple inferred by applying the triple and the inference rule, using a serial number of the triple and a serial number of the inference rule related to inference; and (c) creating a triple view which allows accessing the triples physically distributed and stored in a plurality of triple storage units (tables) as if the triples are stored in a virtual storage unit (table).
US08688604B2
Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for facilitating communication between a point of sale device and a consumer device. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for communicating with a consumer device at a point of sale (POS) can be provided. The method can include establishing, by a merchant POS device, communication with the consumer device at the point of sale; collecting, by the merchant POS device, transaction-related information from a payment application associated with the consumer device; determining, by the merchant POS device, that the collected transaction-related information does not include both payment-related information and value added services (VAS) information associated with one or more VAS; and collecting, by the merchant POS device based at least in part upon the determination, second transaction-related information from a second payment application associated with the consumer device.
US08688582B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers.
US08688574B2
Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods of processing payment authorisation requests for payment transactions to be conducted via a data communications network. The method allows identification of an issuing bank from a plurality of issuing banks as one which is to be utilised in a given transaction and facilitate a user specifying, in real time in relation to the given transaction, a particular bank account that is to be used to deduct funds for that transaction.
US08688570B2
A funds-transfer system includes a processor and a memory storing control logic for causing the processor to enable a buyer to transfer funds to a seller via a mobile telephone. The control logic includes program code for causing the processor to receive a payment request transmitted from a mobile telephone of the buyer. The payment request is for a transfer of funds from a financial account held by the buyer to a financial account held by the seller, and the payment request is transmitted from a payment application stored in the buyer's mobile telephone. The payment request identifies a purchase amount to be transferred, and information identifying the financial account held by the buyer. The control logic also includes program code for causing the processor to charge the purchase amount to the financial account held by the buyer and to transfer the purchase amount to a financial account held by the seller. Additionally, the control logic includes program code for causing the processor to provide a payment acknowledgment to the buyer's mobile telephone and to the seller.
US08688565B2
A system and method for linking and managing linked orders are described. According to one method, a trader may first link two or more orders into a linked order, and then one or more parameters associated with one of the orders may be dynamically changed based on user inputs or information being received from an exchange. For example, a trader may link any two orders as an order cancel order, and each linked order may be associated with the same or different tradable objects, order quantities, and may be submitted to one or more exchanges. The order quantities may be then dynamically updated based on updates being received from the one or more exchanges and further based on a quantity ratio between the two orders. Further, the linked order may be submitted upon detecting a fill for another order.
US08688561B2
A computer-implemented method for automatic defeasance of a base portfolio of swaps, the base portfolio being held between a first counterpart and a second counterpart, including the steps of: receiving at a portfolio database trade data related to the base portfolio; identifying from the trade data at a matching engine trades that have at least one of matching core attributes and matching trade characteristics so as to compile the base portfolio; grouping at a sub-portfolio generator the identified trades into sub-portfolios; determining at a spread value engine a set of allowable spread values for each sub-portfolio; and for each sub-portfolio, generating at a defeasance portfolio engine a defeasance portfolio of swaps comprising at the most two trades, each of the two trades having a spread value selected from the determined set of allowable spread values so that the defeasance portfolio replicates the base portfolio and minimizes gross notional of the defeasance portfolio.
US08688554B2
An architecture for a contactless smart card or payment device, where the smart card is intended for use in both commerce transaction payment and transit fare payment (or other venue access) environments. The payment device may function as both an electronic wallet for commerce transactions and as a transit system card, for access to and fare payment of transit services. Implementation of both functions may be achieved by use of a dynamic memory management system that permits data for both the payment and transit applications to be stored on the card, with the transit data and storage locations isolated from those used to store data intended for use in paying for commerce transactions. The transit application specific data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use), for example.
US08688547B2
A system and method schedule manufacturing of a product by a requested availability date. Sources of supply are selected for a given material to be used for manufacturing the product. A check is then performed for each source of supply to ensure that a valid-to date of the source of supply is equal or later than a plan start date. Lead times for sources of supply are calculated having a valid-to date equal or later than a plan start date. A source of supply is selected as a function of a validity interval of the source and a validity date.
US08688529B2
A system for associating an electronic request with at least one supplier, including a storage device for storing information regarding a plurality of suppliers of goods or services; a receiver for receiving information regarding an electronic request; a processor for processing information regarding the electronic request and creating an electronic venue; a transmitter for transmitting information regarding the electronic request and the electronic venue to a first supplier if the system determines that the first supplier is authorized to access the electronic venue and the electronic request, and also for transmitting information regarding the electronic request and the electronic venue to a second supplier if the system determines that the second supplier is authorized to access the electronic venue.
US08688524B1
Customers receive advertisements or “impressions” related to brick and mortar merchants while accessing online content. The merchants or other entities track which impressions correlate with customers coming to a physical store and conducting a transaction (e.g., making a purchase) by comparing transaction information with information about the customer that is provided by the source of online impressions. In one implementation, the merchant creates a hash from the customer's name and account number on a payment card. This hash is compared with a hash from the impression provider that is generated using the same technique. When a match is found, it is inferred that exposure to the online impression caused the customer to make a purchase at the physical store. Merchants may pay the impression providers an advertising or referral fee based on the matches.
US08688521B2
A system and method to facilitate matching of content to advertising information in a network are described. A request for advertising information is received over a network, the advertising information to be displayed for a user entity in association with content information within a web page requested by the user entity. Advertising information related to one or more themes of the content information on the web page is further determined, the themes representing subject matter contextually related to the content information. Advertisements are further selected from the advertising information based on keywords and metadata stored within the web page and based on a set of predetermined parameters stored within the data storage module. The selected advertisements are further ranked to obtain a ranked list of advertisements. The ranked list of advertisements is subsequently optimized based on feedback data to obtain a list of optimized advertisements to be displayed for the user entity on the requested web page.
US08688512B2
The invention provides a computer system and method for managing electronic transactions. A plurality of consumer and merchant accounts are stored in a data store. Each consumer account has a first consumer account identifier. Each merchant account has a merchant account identifier. A merchant offer is stored in the data store in association with the merchant account having the respective merchant account identifier. A push module associates the merchant offer with the consumer account identifier. A communication and routing module receives a charge request over the network interface device, the charge request including an amount and a second consumer account identifier and identifies a selected one of the consumer accounts by associating one of the first consumer account identifiers with the second consumer account identifier. A transaction processing system that processes the charge request based on an account detail of the selected consumer account.
US08688511B2
A consumer tracking and rewards system and related methods that provide for consolidating two or more merchant-branded rewards accounts into a single source. A single unique identifier referred to as a consumer number used to track and credit purchases with respect to multiple retail establishments. The consumer number may exist simply as a data element in the system or may be printed, bar coded, or programmed onto any physical medium or device. Components of the system include a consumer rewards platform, a merchant-consumer rewards system and potentially a card vendor system. The consumer rewards platform facilitates communication and the transfer of data between the various components of the system. A cross-reference between single consumer numbers and one or more merchant rewards program numbers is used to accommodate the trading and linking of information among participating merchants. Consumers may communicate with the various system components through a consumer web portal. A website is also available to merchants so they may view statistical information regarding rewards program participation.
US08688510B2
Method for charging position usages of vehicles in a road toll system including acquiring an identifier of a vehicle device, a transaction value and an identifier of a payment card as a payment transaction, authorization a payment transaction system and transmitting associated authorization data with the vehicle device identifier to a toll server, generating a substitute identifier assigned to the card identifier and transmitting the substitute identifier with the authorization data to the toll server, associating the substitute identifier and the vehicle device identifier based on the respective received authorization data, calculating toll values based on position usages of vehicles, based on the card identifier assigned to substitute identifier, the transmitted toll values and the transaction value.
US08688508B1
Embodiments of a system and method for evaluating correction submissions with supporting evidence may include, subsequent to a submitter being provided with item description information for an item offered for sale, receiving a correction submission specified by the submitter. The correction submission may specify a proposed modification to an attribute(s) in the item description information. Embodiments may include generating a measure of risk associated with performing the proposed modification to the item description information. Embodiments may also include, based on an evaluation of the measure of risk and one or more risk criteria, generating an indication that specifies whether the proposed modification to the item description information is permitted to be performed. Embodiments may also include receiving information for confirming the validity of the correction submission, which may include an image (e.g., a product image), or a network address (e.g., a URL to manufacturers website), or other information described herein.
US08688502B2
Novel tools and techniques for providing decision support to enterprises. Certain of these tools analyze and/or display information, including, in a particular aspect, revenue and/or other financial information, in novel ways. These features can provide users with enhanced insight into the performance of various product lines and/or into opportunities to enhance such performance, including (but not limited to) insight into the performance of two or more product lines in conjunction with one another. In another aspect, certain tools provide heretofore unavailable facilities for evaluating the success of an acquisition, for example, by providing insight into the market compatibility of an acquired product line with an existing product line.
US08688500B1
Techniques for assessing a resiliency level in an information technology system and architecting the information technology system in accordance with the resiliency level are disclosed. An estimated resiliency level may be estimated from different system characteristics to obtain an estimated resiliency level for the information technology system. The cost and the degree of effort to design for the information technology system may be estimated from the estimated resiliency level. The resiliency level may be further determined from different system factors. Consequently, a specification for a resiliency feature is obtained by accessing a set of resiliency guidelines based on the resiliency level and a technology theme. The resiliency feature may then be applied to the information technology system.
US08688495B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing time recording. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing component that is responsible for structuring, planning, and executing measures or projects, a Time and Labor Management process component that supports the definition of employees' planned working time as well as the recording or the actual working times and absences, an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions, and a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component that includes the Goods and Service Acknowledgement business object, which is a document that states the recipient's obligation to pay the supplier for goods received or services rendered.
US08688493B2
The present invention provides an Attachment alignment measurement system, method and tool, for identifying the level of Attachment Variance in a relationship between a caregiver and a subject (e.g. new member) in the social structure. Attachment Variance is the degree of alignment (or misalignment) between a subject's (e.g. new member) actual Attachment to the social structure compared with the Attachment of the subject as perceived by the caregiver. The Attachment alignment measurement method for measuring attachment variance in social structure, including the steps of measuring a Subject's actual Attachment to a social structure (Actual Attachment), measuring a primary carer's perception of the Subject's Attachment to a social structure (Perceived Attachment), and comparing Actual Attachment and Perceived Attachment such that Attachment Variance is assessable, wherein Attachment Variance provides an indication of alignment between a Subject's Actual Attachment the Perceived Attachment and the programming instructions for performing the steps.
US08688483B2
Provided are systems, machines, non-transitory computer medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, and computer-implemented methods for providing a premium or an indemnity for a supplemental crop insurance policy. The methods including providing for display of a supplemental crop insurance policy information content page including one or more loss parameter fields to be populated by a user with a corresponding set of supplemental crop insurance parameters, receiving a set of supplemental crop insurance parameters submitted by a user via populating the one or more parameter fields of the supplemental crop insurance policy information content page, determining a premium or an indemnity for the supplemental crop insurance policy based at least in part on the set of supplemental crop insurance parameters, and providing for the display of a supplemental crop insurance policy content page including the premium or the indemnity for the supplemental crop insurance policy.
US08688481B2
Systems and methods for providing dividends to customers are disclosed. The system includes a database for storing data and a business logic processor for determining a dividend to provide to a customer. The stored data includes eligibility criteria for membership in one of a plurality of group dividend plans, data about customers assigned to the plans, and premium payments associated with the customers. The business logic processor receives eligibility data related to a customer's eligibility for assignment to a group dividend plan. The business logic processor uses the received data to identify a dividend group plan that a customer is eligible to join and assigns the customer to the identified plan. Finally, the business logic processor calculates a dividend to provide to the customer based on the assigned plan.
US08688477B1
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a narcotics use indicator to enable a physician, or other prescriber, to quickly review a numerical score that reflects a patient's past drug use and is indicative of proper, or improper, future drug use. This score analyzes many aspects of a patient's past activities to determine multiple individual indicator values that may be selectively weighted to create a final narcotics use indicator. Such individual indicator values may include a usage related indicator factoring in the patient's past drug use, particularly the type of narcotics and controlled substances used; an instruction related indicator that may consider the patient's past use of prescribers, quantity of prescriptions, or the number of open prescriptions from different prescribers; a dispensing related indicator that examines a patient's use of pharmacies, in filling prescriptions; or even an auxiliary indicator that may reflect the patient's number of active prescriptions.
US08688472B2
A system includes a test device at a test location, a recipient computer at a diagnosis center, and a server operatively connected to the test device and the recipient computer remote from the test location and diagnosis center at a different facility. The test device can generate test data. The recipient computer is configured to receive the patient data from the test device and display the test data to a medical specialist for entry of a diagnosis. The server can send a signal to the recipient computer after the test device produces test data, and further transmit input indicative of the diagnosis to the computer at the test location. The billing computer is configured to receive billing information from the test device and recipient computer, and transmit signals conveying information indicative of billing signals to a payer computer selected as a function of insurance information contained in the patient record.
US08688461B1
An electronic registry stores information relating to a transferable electronic record and the controller of an authoritative copy of the transferable electronic record. The electronic registry includes information for authenticating a true copy of the authoritative copy of the transferable electronic record. The electronic registry also facilitates registration of the transferable electronic record and transfer of legal rights associated therewith.
US08688457B2
The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder creating an encoded content signal by encoding the content, a generator generating sign language word identification information corresponding to chronologically-ordered sign language words appearing in a speech in the content, a creating unit creating control information containing the generated chronologically-ordered sign language word identification information, a storage unit storing sign language word images for displaying a sign language video corresponding to the sign language words by grouping the sign language word images into a plurality of modules according to a frequency of appearance of the sign language words in the speech in the content, a multiplexer creating a data stream by combining the encoded content signal with the control information and by repeatedly replicating the plurality of modules at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of appearance, and a transmitter transmitting the created data stream.
US08688453B1
According to example configurations, a speech processing system can include a syntactic parser, a word extractor, word extraction rules, and an analyzer. The syntactic parser of the speech processing system parses the utterance to identify syntactic relationships amongst words in the utterance. The word extractor utilizes word extraction rules to identify groupings of related words in the utterance that most likely represent an intended meaning of the utterance. The analyzer in the speech processing system maps each set of the sets of words produced by the word extractor to a respective candidate intent value to produce a list of candidate intent values for the utterance. The analyzer is configured to select, from the list of candidate intent values (i.e., possible intended meanings) of the utterance, a particular candidate intent value as being representative of the intent (i.e., intended meaning) of the utterance.
US08688447B1
A method for processing transcriptions using natural language processing (NLP), the method includes obtaining transcriptions corresponding to an utterance from a user device, where each of the transcriptions is a different speech-to-text conversion of the utterance. The method further includes tagging a first transcription with at least one entity tag and a first transcription-level tag to obtain a first tagged transcription, tagging the second transcription with at least one entity tag and a second transcription-level tag to obtain a second tagged transcription, determining a highest probability transcription-level tag from the first transcription-level tag and second transcription-level tag. The method further includes identifying a subject-matter domain using the highest probability transcription-level tag, retagging the first transcription and the second transcription using entity tags associated with the subject-matter domain to obtain retagged transcriptions, performing, using the retagged transcriptions, an action to obtain a result, and sending the result to the user device.
US08688441B2
One provides (101) a digital audio signal having a corresponding signal bandwidth, and then provides (102) an energy value that corresponds to at least an estimate of out-of-signal bandwidth energy as corresponds to that digital audio signal. One then uses (103) the energy value to simultaneously determine both a spectral envelope shape and a corresponding suitable energy for the spectral envelope shape for out-of-signal bandwidth content as corresponds to the digital audio signal. By one approach, if desired, one then combines (104) (on, for example, a frame by frame basis) the digital audio signal with the out-of-signal bandwidth content to provide a bandwidth extended version of the digital audio signal to be audibly rendered to thereby improve corresponding audio quality of the digital audio signal as so rendered.
US08688440B2
There is disclosed an encoding device capable of improving similarity between the high frequency band spectrum of the original signal and a new spectrum to be generated while realizing a low bit rate when encoding a wide-band signal spectrum. The encoding device has sub-band amplitude calculation units for calculating the amplitude of the respective sub-bands for the high frequency band spectrum obtained from the wide-band signal. A search unit and a gain codebook select some sub-bands from a plurality of sub-bands and only the gain of the selected sub-bands is subjected to encoding. An interpolation unit expresses the gain of the sub-band not selected, by mutually interpolating the selected gains.
US08688435B2
A method and system for processing input media for provision to a text to speech engine comprising: a rules engine configured to maintain and update rules for processing the input media; a pre-parsing filter module configured to determine one or more metadata attributes using pre-parsing rules; a parsing filter module configured to identify content component from the input media using the parsing rules; a context and language detector configured to determine a default context and a default language; a learning agent configured to divide the content component into units of interest; a tagging module configured to iteratively assign tags to the units of interest using the tagging rules, wherein each tag is associated with a post-parsing rule; a post-parsing filter module configured to modify the content component by executing the post-parsing rules identified by the tags assigned to the phrases and strings. The context and language detector, tagging module, learning agent and post-parsing filter module are configured to iteratively process the content component and modifications thereto until there are no further modifications or a threshold number of iterations are performed.
US08688434B1
A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
US08688430B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that simulates a load on a computer system. The system starts by collecting a set of sampled values from one or more monitors in the computer system during the execution of program code. Next, the system uses the set of sampled values to determine if one or more repeating computational phases occurs during the execution of the program code. If one or more repeating computational phases occurs, the system subsequently simulates a load on the computer system by executing portions of the program code that caused each repeating computational phase one or more times.
US08688425B2
Transport property data calculated from derivative seismic rock property data for transport modeling
At least one transport property for a subsurface region is calculated from derivative seismic data by generating a model relating at least one derivative seismic rock property of a subsurface region to at least one transport property for the subsurface region. At least one transport property is calculated by applying the generated transport property model. Transport phenomena may be simulated with a transport model using at least one transport property generated by applying the model. A model describing evolution of the at least one transport property may be generated within the subsurface region over time, e.g., to facilitate basin modeling of the subsurface region.
US08688421B2
A design method for optimizing the shear layer of a shear band for use in a tire is provided. The shear layer has a honeycomb configuration and the design method optimizes the dimensions of the honeycomb.
US08688413B2
A computer-implemented method for sequential placement of cooling resources in a data center comprises: defining a weighted, higher-order cooling metric, , representing an overall performance of the cooling resources in the data center; enumerating all possible locations in the data center for placing an additional c cooling resources; and placing the c cooling resources in locations in the data center for which is closest to an optimum value. For a performance metric Mi, the weighted, higher-order cooling performance metric can be defined as M ^ = ∑ k = 0 C - 1 ∑ i = 1 R a ( i , k ) M i ( k ) , where R represents a number of racks in the data center, C represents a total number of cooling resources placed in the data center, i represents one of the R racks in the data center, Mi(k) represents a value of metric Mi when k cooling resources are shut down, and a(i,k) is a weighting function for rack i with the k cooling resources shut down. A system performing the method and computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions causing a processor to perform the method are also provided.
US08688411B2
A method and system disclosed herein provides generating an architectural diagram describing an architectural layout of a building, wherein one or more walls of the building are designated as standardized structural walls, automatically positioning each of the standardized structural walls to a geometric grid, and mapping (or “placing”), using a computer, one or more of a plurality of standardized structural components, including standardized panels, standardized columns, and standardized trusses to coordinates of the geometric grid.
US08688409B2
A method for determining arrangement data which represents an arrangement of measurement points on an anatomical structure of a patient, wherein the arrangement data is individually determined for different regions of the anatomical structure.
US08688401B2
In certain embodiments, determining an endoilluminator output includes calculating an illuminator contribution of an endoilluminator system and a fiber contribution of one or more optical fibers of the endoilluminator system. The endoilluminator output is determined from the illuminator contribution and the fiber contribution. The illuminator contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as an illuminator leg efficiency, an attenuator factor, an initial lamp performance, and/or a lamp performance degradation factor of the lamp. The fiber contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as a fiber coupling factor and/or fiber transmission ratio of the optical fibers.
US08688400B2
A device and method for generation of Intersymbol interference (ISI) effects on serial data by direct digital synthesis is described. The features of the present invention allow a user to set parameters such as data rate, voltage amplitude, encoding scheme etc. as per requirements. An ISI parameter value is selected and applied to the serial data to produce ISI effects in the serial data. Alternatively according to another feature the patterns may be set as per industry standards.
US08688398B2
Described herein is a method and apparatus for performing calibrations on robotic components. In one embodiment, a method for performing robotic calibrations includes moving the calibrating device across a target (e.g., a wafer chuck). Next, the method includes measuring distances between light spots from the sensors and a perimeter of the target using the sensors located on the calibrating device. Next, the method includes determining a displacement of the calibrating device relative to a center of the target. Then, the method includes determining a rotation angle of the calibrating device relative to a system of coordinates of the target. Next, the method includes calibrating a robot position of the robot based on the displacement and rotation angle of the calibrating device with respect to the target.
US08688394B2
A data center energy management (DCEM) server configures a power supply in the data center. The DCEM server sums input alternating current (AC) power of the power supply to a total AC power of the data center, wherein the total AC power of the data center is a sum of AC power of a plurality of power supplies. The DCEM server sums output direct current (DC) power of the power supply to a total DC power of the data center and reports a ratio of total AC power to total DC power as data center power conversion efficiency. The DCEM server sets a preset power supply efficiency threshold. The DCEM server determines that a real-time power efficiency level is below the power supply efficiency threshold. The DCEM server, responsive to a determination that real-time power efficiency level is below the power supply efficiency threshold, may remedy the power supply.
US08688393B2
A system includes a capacitance adjustment module and a control module. The capacitance adjustment module is configured to connect one or more of N capacitors in parallel with one of a first and second capacitance. The control module identifies the smaller of the first and second capacitances and identifies the larger of the first and second capacitances. Subsequently, the control module, during each of M iterations, instructs the capacitance adjustment module to connect at least one of the N capacitors across a set of nodes in parallel with the smaller identified capacitance, and determines whether the capacitance associated with the set of nodes is greater than the larger identified capacitance. After the M iterations, the control module approximates the difference between the first and second capacitances based on which of the N capacitors are connected across the nodes. M and N are integers greater than or equal to 1.
US08688371B2
The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance. The final instruction sets for navigating to the destination are presented along with a map that identified the departure points.
US08688367B2
A navigation system accepts driver input that extends the navigation capabilities of the navigation system, while permitting the driver to navigate using a digital map that indicates vehicle position. The driver input may identify a new point of interest, an icon for the new point of interest, and location information for the new point of interest. The navigation system supplements a pre-configured navigation database with the driver input. During a subsequent trip, when the vehicle approaches the new point of interest, the navigation system alerts the driver of the new point of interest.
US08688366B2
A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide geographic location information is provided. The method comprises receiving a query text string representing a query for a geographic location and providing a plurality of candidate geographic locations for the queried geographic location from a geographic database. The method receives a selection of one of the candidate geographic locations from a user and records the candidate geographic location that was selected in a use history database. The method increases a usage pattern weight for the candidate geographic location that was selected and increases a usage pattern weight for a parent geographic feature that includes the candidate geographic location that was selected.
US08688357B2
The present invention relates to a control device for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder pressure sensor and aims to facilitate optimal control of a combustion state even in a situation where an operating condition is variable.A predetermined combustion-related parameter whose value is uniquely determined by behavior of a change in cylinder pressure relative to a crank angle is used as a control value. Ignition timing is calculated based on the control value in accordance with a calculation rule determined according to a current or target operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The control value resulting from calculation based on a target value of a predetermined physical quantity relating to torque of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined calculation rule is used as a base value and is corrected by feeding back an output value of the cylinder pressure sensor.
US08688345B2
An electric motor includes one or more separate coil sets arranged to produce a magnetic field of the motor. The electric motor also includes a plurality of control devices coupled to respective sub-sets of coils for current control. A similar arrangement is proposed for a generator. A coil mounting system for an electric motor or generator includes one or more coil teeth for windably receiving a coil for the motor and a back portion for attachably receiving a plurality of the coil teeth. A traction control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels independently powered by a respective motor. A suspension control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel being mounted on a suspension arm of the vehicle and being independently powered by a respective motor.
US08688341B2
A braking system for an aircraft with electric brakes comprising plural electromechanical actuators (2). The system comprises a braking control unit (20) delivering a normal braking setpoint (21) for one or more controllers (10) of the actuators, and selection logic (15) for causing the braking system to operate in a plurality of modes. The system includes: a normal braking mode where the control unit generates a normal braking setpoint (21) for the controller(s); an ultimate braking mode, having priority over the normal braking mode, being responsive to a parking control member, and controlling actuators to respond to the actuation of the parking control member; and a parking braking mode, applied in response to the parking control member and only if the aircraft is stationary, in which the actuators are controlled to apply a force in response to the parking control member being actuated and are then blocked in position.
US08688333B2
An agricultural implement is provided that includes a ground engaging tool configured to engage soil in a working position and to disengage the soil in a non-working position. The agricultural implement also includes an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position based on a flow of fluid from a fluid supply system. In addition, the agricultural implement includes at least one sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and a controller configured to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the signal.
US08688330B2
A first operator control function is activated if it is detected by means of a first sensor that a first physical variable is higher than a predetermined first threshold value. In a similar way, a second operator control function is activated if it is detected by means of a second sensor that a second physical variable is higher than a predetermined second threshold value. A third operator control function is activated if it is detected by means of the first sensor that the first physical variable is higher than a predetermined third threshold value and if at the same time it is detected by means of the second sensor that the second physical variable is higher than a predetermined fourth threshold value, the third threshold value being higher than the first threshold value.
US08688311B2
An apparatus includes a plurality of first inputs, corresponding to changeable vehicle state variables, manipuable to simulate changes in vehicle state. The apparatus includes a plurality of second inputs, corresponding to vehicle system controls, manipuable to simulate activation of vehicle controls. Also, in this embodiment, the apparatus also includes one or more bus inputs, configured to receive vehicle CAN bus signals and one or more bus outputs, configured to output vehicle CAN bus signals. Further, the apparatus includes a communication connection, configured to connect to a vehicle computing system module (VCSM) and to provide and receive signals from the VCSM allowing for testing of hardware and software in conjunction with the VCSM under various vehicle environments.
US08688302B2
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for hybrid power system braking. In one embodiment, a deceleration input is received. In response to receiving the deceleration input, a target negative torque trajectory is determined. To achieve the target negative torque trajectory, a regenerative braking device and an electrical energy dissipation device are activated.
US08688300B2
The invention provides a hybrid vehicle and a control method thereof with which, in a case where a vehicle speed V obtained by a vehicle speed sensor equals or exceeds a first determination vehicle speed V1 at a time of occurrence of an internal combustion engine-related abnormality, which is when an abnormality relating to motors MG1 and MG2 is determined not to have occurred but an abnormality relating to an engine is determined to have occurred while the engine is operative, the motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled such that traveling torque is output to a ring gear shaft serving as a drive shaft from the motor MG2 while the engine is motored by the motor MG1 such that a crankshaft rotates at a target rotation speed until the vehicle speed V subsequently falls to or below a second determination vehicle speed V2.
US08688299B2
In a hybrid vehicle in which a mode change between an electric drive mode and a hybrid drive mode is carried out based on information concerning an operating condition and a driving status, an impairment of operability due to a change of the drive mode at a reverse travel of the vehicle is prevented. Upon a start of the reverse travel, the drive mode before the start of the reverse travel is continued at the start of the reverse travel.
US08688295B2
Frequency multiplexed command signaling that permits a single pilot command interface (e.g. control stick) to serve as a multiple response mode interface for piloting a craft conforms with natural interface operation of most pilots. Highly augmented modes receive lower frequency components of the command signaling, and less augmented modes receive higher frequency components. This avoids the requirement for pilots to switch response modes. An embodying control system can be produced by running feedback control loops encoding the respective response modes in parallel, and multiplexing the command signaling to each response mode, filtering each copy of the command signaling respectively according the respective feedback control loop, and then combining the output of each feedback control loop to compute actuation demand.
US08688287B2
Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for a controller for a power circuit that interfaces distributed power generation with a power distribution grid, comprising: a first portion, including a maximum power point tracker, that receives signals corresponding to the distributed power generation voltage and current, and outputs to the power circuit a signal for controlling the voltage of the distributed power generation; a second portion, including a current reference generator, a current controller, and a dc voltage controller, that receives signals corresponding to a dc voltage of the power circuit, the power distribution grid voltage and current, and the inverter current, and outputs signals for controlling the power circuit output voltage; wherein the current reference generator includes nonlinear circuit elements and generates a current reference signal from the dc voltage of the power circuit and the grid voltage and current; such that substantially harmonic-free power is injected into the power distribution grid. The distributed power generation may be, for example, a photovoltaic module or a wind turbine.
US08688285B2
The total electric power limiting/controlling device comprises: a total allocated electric power inputting portion for receiving information on the total allocated electric power; a heating time estimating portion for estimating a heating time when an operating quantity of an individual controlled loop has been set from its present value to a specific output value; electric power limiting portions for estimating a required output that is the operating quantity that is required in order to change the controlled quantity for an individual loop in accordance with a change in a setting value during the heating time, for finding a required output wherein the electric power use total quantity does not exceed the total allocated electric power, and for setting, as an operating quantity output upper limit value for an individual controlled loop, the required output that has been found; and a controlling portion that is provided for each individual controlled loop.
US08688277B2
An apparatus that generates brewed beverages by performing one or more chemical and/or mechanical processes may receive requests to produce specified brewed beverages. The apparatus may include a master controller that initiates and controls performance of the chemical and/or mechanical processes to produce the specified beverages. The master controller may adaptively apply one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the chemical or mechanical processes to accelerate the process or to achieve a desired qualitative or quantitative characteristic for a beverage or a component thereof. The adaptive application of one or more process accelerators may be dependent on a multiple-variable process profile developed for the process and/or a specified beverage. For example, the pressure in a steam wand and/or the depth of the wand may be varied during a process to froth milk in order to produce frothed milk having a desired temperature.
US08688273B2
A walking control apparatus of a robot includes a joint portion provided in each of a plurality of legs of the robot, a pose sensing unit to sense the pose of the robot, a walking state determination unit to determine a walking state from the pose of the robot, a knot point compensation value calculator to determine a Center Of Mass (COM) of the robot from the pose of the robot and to calculate a knot point compensation value, a desired angle trajectory generator to generate a reference knot point of the joint portion corresponding to the walking state, to compensate for the reference knot point using the knot point compensation value so as to generate a desired knot point, and to generate a desired angle trajectory of the joint portion using the desired knot point. The knot point which is the angle command of the joint portion of each of the legs to perform the next step is compensated for based on the COM, and the compensated desired knot point is smoothly connected using the spline curve such that the robot walks similar to a human. In addition, in order to maintain balance while walking, the angle of the joint portion of the intermediate point of the current step is fed back and the knot point of the next step is predicted and adjusted, such that the robot stably and smoothly walks.
US08688266B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically-capturing a destination address of a package and for using the destination address to automate a package pre-load operation. An embodiment of the invention includes a compression system for compressing the destination address as a compressed MaxiCode symbol, a smart shipping label system for generating a shipping label with a compressed MaxiCode and a pre-load assist system for generating package handling instructions from the electronically-captured destination address.
US08688254B2
A method and system for simultaneously processing multiple substrates through an imaging beam process is provided. The system includes a plurality of direct write substrate exposure modules configured to receive a writing instruction from a data processing unit. The system and method of the invention utilizes multiple exposure modules receiving writing instructions from a single common data processing unit.
US08688249B2
A method of reproducing a stereo output signal (having a left field and a right field) represented as digital samples such that said stereo signal emulates the production of said audio signal from a specified audio source location relative to a listening source location (an indicated location). A left channel signal is produced by convolving an audio input signal with a broadband response file, selected from a plurality of stored files derived from empirical testing, dependant upon the indicated location. A right channel signal is also produced in this way. The left and right channel signals are each duplicated for playing through each of a plurality of displaced left field loudspeakers and displaced left field loudspeakers displaced right field loudspeakers respectively. Apparatus for reproducing a stereo output signal. A data storage facility having a stereo output signal.
US08688248B2
A method and system for content sampling (106) and identification is presented. A data stream is recorded, and samples of the stream are identified. Samples (106) can be initially taken at random for identification. Once a sample (106) is identified and segmented within the data stream, the next time to sample (106) may be calculated to be outside the time frame of the identified sample (106). Thus, the sampling period can be adaptively adjusted to be at times after identified tracks.
US08688247B2
A remote lock-out, tag-out system for controlling multiple buckets in a motor control center employs a safety network providing serial communication between one or more remote lock-out, tag-out stations and individual buckets of the control center permitting remote disconnection of power without the need for protective gear.
US08688231B2
A medical probe is provided that has a single longitudinally uniform interconnect that provides a connection between a distal end and a proximal end of the probe. The interconnect is obtained by forming a thin uniform film as a spiral on a wafer and subsequently applying this spiral as a helix on a base element of a medical probe. The thin film spiral is manufactured with multiple connecting wires to enable connection between an electronics module and a multiplicity of electrodes (an electrode array) at the distal end of the medical probe.
US08688228B2
The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy. In one embodiment of the invention a medical device and associated apparatus and procedures are used to treat dermatological conditions using microwave energy.
US08688226B2
Some embodiments are directed to MRI/RF compatible medical interventional devices. A plurality of spaced apart high impedance circuit segments are configured to have a high impedance at a high range of radiofrequencies and a low impedance at a low range of frequencies. The high impedance circuit segments may comprise co-wound coiled inductors and can reduce, block or inhibit RJ-transmission along the lead system (20) during exposure to RF associated with a high-Held magnet MRI systems, while permuting passage of low frequency physiologic signals, treatments and/or stimuli. The devices can include at least one electrode.
US08688213B2
An apparatus comprises a cardiac signal sensing circuit configured to sense an electrical cardiac signal from at least one of an atrium or ventricle of a heart of a subject, a therapy circuit configured to provide electrical pacing therapy and electrical autonomic neural modulation therapy to the subject, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to initiate delivery of the autonomic modulation neural therapy, and the control circuit includes a signal detection circuit configured to detect delivery of the autonomic neural modulation therapy in the sensed cardiac signal. The control circuit is configured to change, in response to detecting the delivery, a sensitivity of the cardiac signal sensing circuit during delivery of the autonomic neural modulation therapy.
US08688212B2
A method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation is provided. An implantable neurostimulator configured to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation in both afferent and efferent directions of a patient's cervical vagus nerve is provided. An operating mode is stored, which includes parametrically defining a maintenance dose of the electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore cardiac autonomic balance through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses. The maintenance dose is delivered via a pulse generator through a pair of helical electrodes via an electrically coupled nerve stimulation therapy lead independent of cardiac cycle. The patient's physiology is monitored, and upon sensing a condition indicative of bradycardia, the delivery of the maintenance dose is suspended. A progressively increasing amount of time is spent waiting via a controller and, upon sensing a condition indicative of an absence or termination of the bradycardia, a progressively increasing partial maintenance dose is delivered via the pulse generator.
US08688194B2
A medical imaging system is provided. The medical imaging system includes a patient positioning table and a patient examination area that is open on at least three sides and accessible from a front side. The patient positioning table is able to be moved into the patient examination area. At least one positioning motor is arranged on a rear side and is separated from the front side by a rear wall element. The at least one positioning motor is operable to adjust the position of a framework. The patient positioning table is disposed on the framework.
US08688190B2
An adherent device is configured to adhere to the skin of the patient with an adherent patch, for example breathable tape, coupled to at least four electrodes. The device comprises impedance circuitry coupled to the at least four electrodes and configured to measure respiration of the patient to detect sleep apnea and/or hypopnea. The impedance circuitry may be used to measure hydration of the patient. An accelerometer can be mechanically coupled to the adherent patch such that the accelerometer can be coupled to and move with the skin of the patient. Electrocardiogram circuitry to generate an electrocardiogram signal may be coupled to at least two of the at least four electrodes to detect the sleep apnea and/or hypopnea.
US08688187B2
A pulse oximeter includes a housing defined by at least a first housing portion and a second housing portion wherein the second portion includes a passage. A sensor module disposed in the housing and proximate the passage includes at least one light emitting diode and at least one photodetector. A processing module also disposed in the housing and configured to communicate with the sensor module includes at least a processor, a network interface, and a power supply. The pulse oximeter further includes a pad having at least a bottom surface and a pad passage, as well as an adhesive configured to be disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface of the pad. The housing is configured to releasably engage the pad wherein the housing passage and the pad passage are substantially aligned with one another.
US08688174B2
An integrated, detachable ear bud system that is attached to an associated wireless phone. The integrated, detachable ear bud system may be one ear bud, or pair of ear buds, or ear bud or ear buds including a microphone. In certain embodiments an integrated, detachable, attached auditory device is physically connected to its associated wireless phone via an extendable and retractable electrical cord, and integrated into the case of the associated wireless phone, to forcibly keep with the wireless phone even when not in use, preventing misplacement, loss, or even inadvertent separation from the wireless device. The ear buds may connect to a recharge port on the wireless phone, and be charged when the wireless phone is charging. When in its attached home position, the ear-mountable speaker may tuck into a mating cavity. A latch or magnet may assist in attaching the integrated, detachable ear bud to the wireless phone.
US08688172B2
The present disclosure allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.
US08688169B2
A portable terminal comprising first and second identity modules, the first module serving as a master module, wherein a processor of the portable terminal is arranged: at power up of the portable terminal, to read data from the first module and to store it in a memory; and to access, in the memory, the data from the first module, before data from the second identity module is read into the memory.
US08688168B2
A system is disclosed including a docking mechanism and mobile device having a resident client application are used to establish a network connection between the mobile device and a local area network such as an enterprise Private Branch Exchange (PBX). Once docked, the client application, a mobile unified communication integrated dialer (MUCID), is able to be used to select between carrying a communications call over a land line (through the PBX system) or a mobile telephone line (through a cellular communication network). User mobility is provided by allowing a docked mobile device to be undocked after transfer of an active call being carried over the PBX onto the mobile device. Communications protocols are provided between the MUCID and the docking station.
US08688159B1
Disclosed is a mechanism for efficient channel selection in a wireless communication system. A wireless communication device (WCD) receives from a radio access network (RAN) a channel list message that specifies channels on which the RAN communicates in a coverage area. Further, the WCD receives from the RAN for at least a given one of the channels an expected delta value indicating an expected difference in signal strength between that channel and another channel. The WCD may then take an actual measurement of signal strength on the other channel and apply the expected delta to predict a signal strength of the given channel. Based on the predicted signal strength being threshold low, the WCD may then select a channel other than the given channel on which to communicate with the RAN, and the WCD may then communicate with the RAN on the selected channel.
US08688158B2
To effectively suppress interference on other radio stations located in the vicinity, when the radio station performs radio communication with a registered radio station. A femto base station 1 stores a history of connection requests issued by an unregistered radio station that is not pre-registered in the femto base station 1. Then, the femto base station 1 determines the need of a adjustment of a radio resource used in communication with a registered radio station that is pre-registered in the femto base station 1 itself by using connection request frequencies each for one of unregistered radio stations obtained from the connection request history as an index.
US08688155B2
What is described is a circuit arrangement and a method for synchronizing the communication signals between a repeater station (S) of a single-frequency simulcast radio communication network (N) and user terminals (T) with respect to a universal reference signal sent by a central station (M) of the network (N) communicating with the repeater station (S). A frequency offset is determined between a universal frequency reference signal received from the central station (M) and a local frequency reference signal of the repeater station (S), and in the repeater station (S) there are provided a first feedback control loop for supplying a signal for controlling a local oscillator of the repeater station (S) on the basis of the said determined frequency offset, and a second direct control loop for supplying a signal for compensating the residual synchronization difference of the local oscillator (16) to which the transmitter device of the station (S) is tuned.
US08688148B2
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing resource and/or location-based matching services between a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone) user and one or more resources. A novel infrastructure supports resource and/or location based matching services over a wireless network. A back-end system includes a database, server, and match engine that are configured match a user with one or more resources based on the user's characteristics, preferences, and/or location. Such resources include (1) other users, (2) targeted advertising, (3) businesses/networking opportunities, and/or (4) locate a nearby service or store. A flexible database architecture supports application-specific resources which facilitate the deployment of various matching services. Application developers are thus able to implement different resource-matching applications for wireless devices through a common back-end infrastructure. Additionally, the match engine may include a feedback mechanism that permits the match engine to learn a user's preferences.
US08688146B2
A method begins by a processing module receiving a safety status request for a safety status level associated with a user device and determining whether to generate a safety status response. When generating a safety status response, the method continues with the processing module obtaining the safety status level associated with the user device and determining whether to include location information in the safety status response. When including the location information, the method continues with the processing module obtaining location coordinates corresponding to the user device, obtaining street address location information based on the location coordinates, generating the location information based on the location coordinates and the street address location information, generating the safety status response to include the safety status level and the location information, and outputting the safety status response to a requesting entity.
US08688145B2
A method for a user equipment to transmit a message in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a first message containing an information on at least one service from a network and transmitting a second message indicating a specific area and a specific service to the network in response to the first message, if wishing to receive the specific service of the at least one service or being interested to receive the specific service of the at least one service. Preferably, the present invention further includes the step of receiving system information for providing information on at least one area.
US08688144B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses to configure mobile communication and applications based on location detection. A method for operating a mobile terminal includes storing operational configurations in association with locations in the mobile terminal, detecting a location of the mobile terminal, determining an operational configuration based on the detected location, and configuring the mobile terminal according to the determined operational configuration. The operational configurations include communication configurations and application configurations.
US08688142B2
A modulated video signal, received from a satellite, in a transceiver of a ship and of other water based communication devices, is demodulated and processed in a processor into a baseband processed video signal. The baseband video signal is processed and modulated into a Gaussian Minimum Shift Keyed (GMSK) or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or a Orthogonal Division Multiple Access (OFDM) modulated video signal. Receiving in a receiver a location finder information signal. Receiving and transmitting in a cellular phone one or more OFDM modulated signals in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system. Processing, cross-correlating and modulating, in a processor, a cross-correlator and a modulator of a cellular phone, an input signal into a processed, cross-correlated and modulated signal.
US08688136B2
A wireless communication network includes an apparatus and method for dynamically allocating frequencies of a femto Base Station (BS). An operation of the femto BS includes measuring received signal strength on system Frequency Allocations (FAs) of a plurality of macro BSs, determining maximum received signal strengths for the respective FAs, and determining an available FA set by using a result obtained from comparison between the maximum received signal strengths for the respective FAs with a first threshold.
US08688128B1
Methods and systems of providing toll-free services access from a telecommunications network to a mobile device supported by toll-free telecommunications networks entail placing a called telephone number on a service provider's telecommunications network by identifying the called telephone number as a toll-free call, querying a database for called telephone number information for routing to a destination number, and routing the called telephone number using the called telephone number information through the service provider's telecommunications network to a wireless telecommunications network. The called telephone number is routed through the wireless telecommunications network by mapping the called telephone number and information to a mobile service identification number that identifies a mobile device hosted by a mobile switching center. A connection between the mobile switching center and the mobile device using the mobile service identification number is established to connect the toll-free call to the mobile device.
US08688127B1
An inter-frequency handoff of a mobile station engaged in a call via wireless network is effected by gradually changing a carrier frequency of a forward link signal from a first-channel frequency, corresponding to a first frequency channel, to a second-channel frequency, corresponding to a second frequency channel. Initially, a first transmitter in the wireless network transmits the forward link signal in the first frequency channel. A second transmitter then transmits the forward link signal while changing the carrier frequency from the first-channel frequency to the second-channel frequency at a specified tuning rate. The tuning rate may be dynamically adjustable in response to requests from the mobile station. Once the second-channel frequency is reached, a third transmitter continues transmitting the forward link signal in the second frequency channel. The mobile station may also gradually change the carrier frequency of the reverse link signal that it transmits for the call.
US08688119B2
When a user equipment (UE) is in a CONNECTED state with a base station of a wireless network and is also in a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, a DRX parameter such as DRX period for the UE is compared with a threshold. If the DRX parameter is at or below the threshold, the UE applies a network controlled mobility mode with UE assist where the network controls handover of the UE to another cell. If the DRX parameter is above the threshold, the UE applies a UE controlled mobility mode in which the UE is free to select a best cell. In this way, DRX benefit of reduced power consumption is maintained while the time period in which the UE is unreachable is minimized.
US08688104B2
Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods providing remote management over a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) using short messages are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device may include an in-band processor, a wireless transceiver configured for communications over a WWAN, and an out-of-band (OOB) processor capable of communicating over the WWAN using the wireless transceiver irrespective of an operational state of the in-band processor. The OOB processor may be configured to receive a short message via the wireless transceiver, determine whether the short message originated from a trusted remote computing device, and execute at least one operation indicated by the short message in response to determining that the short message originated from a trusted remote computing device.
US08688103B2
One embodiment of the invention is a method that includes a mobile device receiving via a wireless communication channel a request for an identifier corresponding to a network device. The mobile device transmits the identifier. The mobile device receives a network identifier corresponding to the network device. The mobile device utilizes the network identifier to establish communication with the network device via the wireless communication channel.
US08688100B2
A method for managing appointments using a wireless device includes receiving scheduling data for a future appointment including a time associated with the future appointment. A current location of the wireless device is determined, and a reminder for the future appointment is provided at a time prior to the future appointment based on the current location of the wireless device. For example, the reminder may be provided at a time that varies based on the current location of the wireless device, a location associated with the future appointment, and an estimated travel time between the current location of the device and the location associated with the future appointment. Related methods, devices, and computer program products are also discussed.
US08688098B2
A method and apparatus for provisioning a third party mobile device emulator from desktop provisioning software, the method having the steps of: designating a common file space between the third party mobile device emulator and the desktop provisioning software; writing files to the common file space from one of the third party mobile device emulator and the desktop provisioning software; and reading the files from the other of the third party mobile device emulator and the desktop provisioning software.
US08688096B2
An apparatus having a picture caller identification (“CID”) feature provides enhanced entertainment value and is also capable of preventing screen burn. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a memory operative to store data indicating an association between a first plurality of pictures and a first phone number, and a processor operative to enable display of the first plurality of pictures in response to receiving a phone call from the first phone number.
US08688088B2
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
US08688085B2
A method for targeted advertising is disclosed. The method includes accessing at least one piece of demographic information associated with a user of a portable device, selecting an advertisement to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the demographic information, and initiating communication of a version of the advertisement configured for presentation at the portable device.
US08688081B2
To automatically determine the availability status of the user of a handheld communication device, various conditions of the device may be checked, which imply whether the user is likely Available, or Unavailable or the equivalent. Normally, the conditions are checked only if the user has not explicitly or semi-explicitly set his or her status to Unavailable. The conditions to be checked can vary, but generally include anything from which it might be inferred or implied that the user is likely Available or Unavailable or the equivalent. Such conditions can include, for example, whether or not a specified timeout for use of a mechanical feature has elapsed; whether a real-time application is in use; and preferably any one or more of other conditions, one further example being whether there are any unattended-to notifications such as an unanswered phone call, or a missed e-mail, or other message.
US08688078B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for validating communication for a wireless communications device. The system and method may include receiving a geographic location of a wireless communications device. A database comprising records correlating the geographic location with permissions may be accessed in order to determine, based upon the received geographic location information and the accessed database record, if there are restriction on communication associated with the wireless communications device. An indicator may be communicated in response to the determined restriction, effectively providing the information needed to inform the wireless communications device of any current restrictions.
US08688077B2
The invention relates to a communication system and a method for providing a mobile telecommunication service. A communication network transmits messages on the basis of at least one internet protocol. A network connection computer connects an access network for mobile computers and the communication network. The access network is equipped with several access points comprising corresponding access point connection computers, which are configured to create a communication connection between variable access points and the mobile computers. An authorization verification computer establishes and manages trusted relationships between several communication elements. The network connection computer and the access point connection computer are configured to execute packet filtering during the receipt and transmission of messages for the secure protection of the communication system.
US08688073B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for measuring, on a per-QoS-class basis, the average number of user devices active on the uplink of a wireless communication system are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a number of mobile terminals with buffered data for transmission to a base station is estimated based on received buffer status reports. An estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is calculated, based on the received buffer status reports and a number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted. In some embodiments, the estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is estimated on a per-traffic-class basis, in which case the technique includes calculating first and second estimated quantities, corresponding to mobile terminals having active data bearers for first and second traffic classes, respectively, based on the received buffer status reports and the number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted.
US08688058B2
Exemplary embodiment are directed to preserving transmitter linearity in RF transceivers while reducing RX band noise for use with low-power voltage supplies. In one aspect, a programmable attenuation element may be provided on-chip at the output of a driver amplifier, prior to a matching network. In another aspect, the programmable attenuation element may include a plurality of switchable capacitors.
US08688056B2
Methods and apparatus for selectively switching one or more antennas in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array so as to mitigate interference with another RF interface within the same space-constrained device, based on radio frequency isolation. In one embodiment, the MIMO interface comprises a WLAN interface having a 2×2 or 3×3 array of antennae which are placed in a wireless device in an asymmetric fashion with respect to the antenna of the second interface, and the other interface comprises a PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface operating in an overlapping frequency band (e.g., ISM band). When both interfaces are operating, interference is mitigated through selectively switching off one or more of the MIMO antennae, and using the remaining antenna(e) having the best isolation from the Bluetooth antennae. This approach allows simultaneous operation of both interferences without significant degradation to user experience or the operation of either interface, and may also provide power savings critical to mobile device battery longevity.
US08688044B2
Aspects of a method and system for selective equalization enablement based on modulation type are disclosed. One such method includes receiving a signal via an RF channel, detecting a modulation type of the signal, and selecting an equalization circuit for processing the signal based on the modulation type.
US08688033B2
An antenna transmission control device has a base-station-side and an antenna-side multiplexer circuit. There is an alternating protocol transfer between these two multiplexer circuits to control components close to the antenna. The current-alarmed or protocol-alarmed signals present at the antenna-side terminals of the multiplexer provided on the antenna side can be measured or detected by the multiplexer circuits and supplied to the transmission link together with a terminal-dependent or load-dependent protocol.
US08688032B2
A repeater installed in a moving object is provided, in which a link antenna module has a plurality of link antennas steered to predetermined directions, for wirelessly communicating with a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a link antenna path setting module selects at least one of the plurality of link antennas of the link antenna module and connects a path between the selected link antenna and a rear end, a service antenna module has at least one service antenna installed within the moving object, for wirelessly communicating with Mobile Stations (MSs) within the moving object, a relay signal processing module is connected to the link antenna module through the link antenna path setting module and processes transmission and reception relay signals between the link antenna module and the service antenna module, a movement information module measures current movement information about the moving object and provides the current movement information, a received signal measuring module measures a received signal of the link antenna module and providing current propagation environment information, and an antenna control module detects a current movement state and a current propagation environment based on the information received from the received signal measuring module and the movement information module, stores and/or updates the information in an internal propagation environment information storage, and controls the link antenna path setting module to select a link antenna that receives the best signal from a serving BTS at each location according to the stored information.
US08688029B2
A device may receive a signal strength indicator associated with a connection between a mobile device and a first base station. The signal strength indicator may indicate a strength of a radio signal received by the mobile device from the first base station. The device may transmit the signal strength indicator to a network device, and may receive, from the network device, a first notification to activate a second base station based on the signal strength indicator. The device may activate the second base station based on the first notification. The second base station may provide temporary wireless connectivity for the mobile device.
US08688027B2
An outdoor broadband unit receives a current time and maintenance mode parameters from a network device. The outdoor broadband unit also determines a mode associated with selection of an antenna beam, provided on an antenna of the outdoor broadband unit, based on at least one of the current time and the maintenance mode parameters. The outdoor broadband unit further selects an antenna beam or a serving cell to use based on the determined mode.
US08688019B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately curing curl which is apt to be generated at a fixing-completed sheet.An intersection angle θ2 between respective axis lines 81c, 82c of an upper conveying roller 81 and a lower conveying roller 82 in a conveying apparatus 80 is set to be in the opposite direction to an intersection angle θ1 between respective axis lines 50c and 51c of a fixing roller 50 and a pressure roller 51 in the fixing apparatus 40. Accordingly, curl generated at a sheet S at the time of pressure fixing at the fixing apparatus 40 can be returned into a state before fixing as being appropriately corrected in the opposite direction by the upper conveying roller 81 and the lower conveying roller 82.
US08688009B2
There is described an applicator for use in an image forming apparatus. The applicator includes an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein. The applicator includes an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with a surface, and a second position. The actuator moves the applicator from the first position to the second position at a frequency of from about 10−5 Hz to about 10 kHz wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.
US08688008B2
An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a casing and a developer roller having an axis L1, with the developer roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1. The cartridge also includes a first gear connected to the developer roller and a second gear in meshing engagement with the first gear. The cartridge further includes a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member having (i) a first end portion connected to the second gear and operatively connected with the developer roller so as to be capable of transmitting a rotational force to the developer roller via the first and second gears, (ii) a second end portion having a recess formed therein and including at least two projections provided at diametrically opposed positions, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion.
US08687998B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
US08687997B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that has: a fixing roller heated by induction and a pressing roller brought into press-contact with the fixing roller to fix a toner image borne on a paper sheet conveyed toward the fixing device by a conveyor unit. When a paper sheet having a width smaller than a width of a maximum-width recording medium that can be passed through the fixing device is passed through the fixing device, a non-paper passing region is formed at each end portion of each of the fixing and pressing rollers. Sirocco fans cool the non-paper passing region at a part of an outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller. The pressing roller is disposed opposed to the outer side of the main body of the image forming apparatus.
US08687959B2
A system and method for discovering configuration errors in an optical network is disclosed. The neighbors of each node are discovered. An information model of the optical network is formed, which may be used to determine configuration errors. In one embodiment, each node exchanges node identification messages with neighboring nodes to discover its neighbors, publishes the node neighbor information to the optical network, and forms its own information model from the node neighbor information published by the nodes.
US08687947B2
An example composer to author a variable video includes a builder to create scenes, a content retriever to assign content to the scenes, a library interface to point to the content for the scenes, a labeler to tag the scenes with at least one vector based on the content, a receiver to obtain first relevance data from first intended viewer of a first version of the variable video and to obtain second relevance data from a second intended viewer of a second version of the variable video, a mapper to chart a first sequence of two or more scenes based on a vector and the first relevance data and to chart a second sequence of two or more scenes based on a vector and the second relevance data, and a publisher to publish the variable video as a single file based on the first sequence and the second sequence.
US08687946B2
An approach is provided for enriching media with meta-information blocks. Specifically, one or more segments of one or more media files are processed to determine meta-information (e.g., topics, annotations, meta-data, etc.) related to the one or more segments. Based on the determined meta-information, other media or related meta-information is determined, analyzed, and appended to the original media as one or more meta-blocks. One or more relationships among the original and other media is then determined. Based on the determination of the one or more relationships, topic blocks (i.e., multi-topic links) are generated and associated with the original and other media. The addition of the meta-blocks and topic blocks to the original media enables either a renderer or a service to generate one or more composite media (e.g., a video mashup) based on the navigation and analysis of media determined as a result of traversing the one or more topic blocks.
US08687936B2
Provided is an inexpensive low-loss optical fiber suitably used in an optical transmission network. An optical fiber includes a core, an optical cladding, and a jacket. The core has a relative refractive index difference between 0.2% and 0.32% and has a refractive index volume between 9%·μm2 and 18%·μm2. The jacket has a relative refractive index difference between 0.03% and 0.20%. Glass constituting the core has a fictive temperature between 1400° C. and 1560° C. Stress remaining in the core is compressive stress. A cutoff wavelength measured on a fiber having a length of 2 m is 1300 nm or more and a cutoff wavelength measured on a fiber having a length of 100 m is 1500 nm or less. An effective area at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 110 μm2 or more. A attenuation at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 0.19 dB/km or less.
US08687931B2
The present invention relates to an optical fiber having a structure to enable both prevention of resin coating combustion due to leaked light, and low-loss light transmission. The optical fiber comprises a core region, and a cladding region. The cladding region is constituted by an optical cladding which affects the transmission characteristics of light propagating in the core region, and a physical cladding which does not affect the transmission characteristics of light propagating in the core region. Particularly, a leakage reduction portion is provided in the physical cladding so as to surround an outer periphery of the core region through the optical cladding. The leakage reduction portion functions to suppress propagation of the leaked light propagating from the core region toward outside the cladding region.
US08687924B2
Approaches for managing a library of digital images and information about any editing operations performed on those digital images are provided. A managed library of digital images and a referenced library of digital images may be maintained. Digital images may be moved from the managed library of digital images to the referenced library of digital images, and vice-versa. A preview digital image data may also be generated from master digital image data. Rather than performing image operations directly on the master digital image data, change data that identifies one or more operations to perform to a digital picture represented by either the preview digital image data or the master digital image data may be stored, thereby allowing operations to be performed on the preview digital image data when the master digital image data is not accessible. Digital image may be automatically renamed based on rules for doing so.
US08687920B2
A method for the recognition of objects in at least one digital image includes: a) simulating from the digital image a plurality of digital rotations and at least two digital tilts different from 1 in order to develop a simulated image for each rotation-tilt pair; and b) applying an algorithm generating values that are invariant in translation, rotation and zoom onto the simulated images in order to determine so-called SIF (scale invariant features) local characteristics used for recognizing objects. The SIFT method can be used in step b.
US08687917B2
A method (100) and an apparatus (200) are disclosed for registering an input image and an atlas. The atlas is warped (130) using non-rigid registration. In particular, boundary displacements of structures in the atlas are calculated (132) which register those structures with equivalent structures in the input image. The boundaries of structures in the atlas are then warped (133) according to their respective boundary displacements using topology preserving propagation of boundary points of the structures.
US08687911B2
A method for providing an output image based on an input image, the method comprising determining a location of an output pixel with respect to an input image, determining values of elements of a filter array such that the effective width of the filter array depends on the density of exposed input pixels within the input image, and determining the value of the output pixel by performing a sum-of-products operation between non-zero values of the elements of the filter array and the values of input pixels of the input image located at respective positions, when the filter array is superimposed on the input image such that the center of the filter array corresponds to the location of the output pixel.
US08687907B2
An image processing apparatus creates a basic-structure component image representing an image that an input image except edge is smoothed while preserving the edge in the input image; and creates a detail component image representing an image that the basic-structure component image is subtracted from the input image. Subsequently, the image processing apparatus decomposes the detail component image into a plurality of frequency-band images through multiresolution transform processing, and performs noise removal on the obtained frequency-band images. After that, the image processing apparatus performs inverse multiresolution transform processing of combining the noise-removed frequency-band images, thereby creating a noise-removed detail-component image.
US08687894B2
In an embodiment, a device comprises a plurality of elements configured to apply a filter to multiple groups of pixels in a neighborhood of pixels surrounding a particular pixel to generate a matrix of filtered values; compute, from the matrix of filtered values, a first set of gradients along a first direction and a second set of gradients along a second and different direction; determine how many directional changes are experienced by the gradients in the first set of gradients and the gradients in the second set of gradients; compute a first weighted value for a first direction and a second weighted value for a second direction; and based, at least in part, upon the first and second weighted values, compute an overall texture characterization value for the particular pixel, wherein the overall texture characterization value indicates a type of image environment in which the particular pixel is located.
US08687890B2
A city directory, having a listing of names and associated information of residents in a city (or similar location), is digitized. Zones of text having information not useful to users of the digitized directory are removed, and lines of information corresponding to residents are reconstructed, to make the digitized directory more easily accessed and reviewed.
US08687886B2
An image based document index and retrieval method is described. During document indexing, each source document is analyzed to generate index information at document, page, region and unit levels. Region and unit level index information is generated by segmenting each text region into units, constructing unit length or unit density histograms, and analyzing the units in a few most frequent bins of the histogram. The index information and the source document images are stored in a database. During document retrieval, a target document is analyzed to generate target index information in the same way as during document indexing. The target index information is compared to stored index information in a progressive manner (from higher to lower levels) to identify source documents with index information that matches the target index information. Fuzzy logic is used in the comparison steps to increase the robustness of the document retrieval.
US08687884B2
An image processing apparatus adapted to perform tone correction of luminance of an image, comprises: a image dividing unit configured to divide the image into a plurality of blocks; a calculation unit configured to calculate a plurality of feature amounts of each of the blocks including a luminance value and calculate a saturated feature amount based on the plurality of calculated feature amounts, wherein the saturated feature amount represents color deviation tendency when the tone correction is applied to the image using a reference tone correction characteristic; a changing unit configured to change the reference tone correction characteristic according to the calculated saturated feature amount; and a correction unit configured to perform the tone correction based on the changed reference tone correction, wherein the changing unit weakens a degree of the reference tone correction characteristic when the saturated feature amount indicates a stronger tendency toward color deviation.
US08687875B2
A method for comparator based quantization acceleration for an encoding process. The method includes computing coefficients for a discrete cosine transform encoding operation and determining a quantization step for use with a quantization operation for each of the coefficients. The method further includes determining each of the coefficients that are less than or equal to one half the quantization step by using a comparator configured in accordance with the quantization step. For the coefficients that are less than or equal to one half the quantization step, a quantized output value is transmitted to the encoding process. For the coefficients that are greater than one half the quantization step, the quantized output value is determined by executing multiplication logic to compute the quantized output value and transmit the computed quantized output value to the encoding process.
US08687874B2
A method of inspecting an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device which includes pixels each of which includes an organic electroluminescence (EL) element includes: imaging the pixels for a predetermined time with a reverse bias voltage being applied to the pixels; identifying light emitting points which produce, in the imaging, light leakage that is greater than or equal to threshold intensity, the light emitting points being located within the pixels; and determining that a pixel including one light emitting point is a defective pixel when, after plural iterations of the imaging and the identifying, the light emitting point is identified in twice or more in the plural iterations of the identifying.
US08687872B2
A method for remote rework imaging a part for an inconsistency is provided. The part is scanned with a nondestructive inspection device. An image of a part inconsistency is communicated from the nondestructive inspection device to a programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is viewed with the programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is edited with the programmable device using an input device in communication with the programmable device. The edited image is communicated from the programmable device to a visible light projector. The edited image is projected onto the part inconsistency using the visible light projector.
US08687867B1
Systems and methods are presented that detect and classify mass-like regions exhibiting spiculated and/or dense characteristics with high sensitivity and at acceptable false positive rates. One or more suspicious masses are identified in medical imagery of the breast. In certain embodiments, a quantitative measure of spiculation and quantitative measure of density are computed for each suspicious mass located. At least one classification scheme, developed using true and false positives with similar quantitative measures, is then selected for each suspicious mass according to both quantitative measures. In certain other embodiments, a measure of breast location is computed for each suspicious mass. In one embodiment, the location determines whether a suspicious mass appears inside or outside of the parenchyma region of the breast.
US08687857B2
Systems and methods for extracting information about an organism of interest, such as an atlas of the organism of interest; a storage device for at least temporarily storing an image of the organism of interest; and an operating device that automatically creates a map of the image of the organism of interest and automatically compares the map of the image to the atlas of the organism.
US08687854B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a detection unit that detects, as edge pixels, a plurality of pixels in a contour of a head of a person in an image in which the head appears; a determination unit that, for each of the edge pixels, determines, as ellipse candidates, a plurality of ellipses that pass through the edge pixel in a parameter section including predetermined parameters that define an ellipse; a calculation unit that, for each of the edge pixels, calculates an evaluation value based on, for each of the ellipse candidates determined for the edge pixel, a position of the edge pixel in the ellipse candidate; an accumulation unit that accumulates the evaluation values for each of the ellipse candidates; and a selection unit that selects an ellipse candidate having the highest accumulated evaluation value from the ellipse candidates as the head ellipse.
US08687853B2
The present disclosure relates to a method, system and computer-readable recording medium for providing an electronic map-based service. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of recognizing a shape included in image data associated with an electronic map includes: acquiring region information corresponding to first image data; determining a candidate region on the electronic map using the region information; determining at least one candidate image using the candidate region; and recognizing a shape included in the first image data using the candidate image.
US08687847B2
A parameter for each of a plurality of images captured in time series is computed based on information obtained from the image, and a normal reference image (an image captured before an image targeted for processing is stored). A degree of similarity between the image targeted for processing and the normal reference image is computed, and a parameter to be used in image processing applied to the image targeted for processing is computed by performing weighted addition such that a parameter computed from the normal reference image has a higher weight than a parameter computed from the image targeted for processing the higher the degree of similarity.
US08687838B2
A speaker unit is realized which directly drives a vibration plate having a low density, light weight, yet sufficient rigidity with a digital audio signal, and can thereby transmit vibration of a voice coil thereof to a carbonaceous acoustic vibration plate without loss. The present invention provides a digital speaker unit including a speaker body (14) comprising a carbonaceous acoustic vibration plate (25), a delta-sigma modulator (11) and a thermometer code conversion section (12) that convert a multi-value bit digital audio signal supplied from a digital sound source (10) to a digital signal with required bits, a plurality of voice coils (24) that cause to vibrate a plurality of the carbonaceous acoustic vibration plates (25) provided in accordance with the number of digital signal bits and a driver circuit (13) that individually drives each voice coil (24) based on the digital signal.
US08687837B2
A frame has a notch having an opening at a side plane of the frame. A diaphragm is vibratably attached to one plane of the frame. A voice coil is attached to the diaphragm. A terminal is attached to the other plane of the frame. A lead is connected to the voice coil, drawn from one plane to the other plane through the notch, and connected to the terminal. One of intersection points at which a normal to the side plane that passes through the position of the lead in the notch and the side plane intersect that is closest to the opening and the lead in the notch are intervened therebetween by the frame.
US08687834B2
An audio source device may be used with a garment such as a hooded garment by passing the audio wires into a channel in the hood and having them exit the hood inside hollow lanyards with earbuds at the ends. A means to fix the wires and the lanyards to each other inside the hood is shown; and a means is shown to prevent lateral movement inside the hood. The wires and lanyard are crimped at the earbuds to prevent relative movement, the wires also being slacked inside the lanyard. The wire inside one or both of the lanyards can have an activatible microphone and the a source device can be a Bluetooth equipped device.
US08687833B2
Input parameters or information for the fitting process of individually shaped or customized hearing devices and/or ear pieces of a hearing device are provided by storing fitting relevant data during the manufacturing process of an ear piece for the use with a hearing device into storage means, the data storage means being arranged at/or in the ear piece and/or a storage means kept or linked to the ear piece of the hearing device.
US08687831B2
An external device for a hearing implant system and a hearing implant system having an external device is described. An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver including a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver. A data word pause controller controls the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule.
US08687830B2
According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a housing, a skeletal member, a speaker, a speaker holder, and a sound guiding mechanism. The housing is provided with an emission opening. The skeletal member is housed in the housing and fixed to the housing. The speaker is arranged inside the housing. The speaker holder is attached to the skeletal member with an engagement mechanism while holding the speaker. The sound guiding mechanism includes the speaker holder, and guides sound produced from the speaker to the emission opening.
US08687825B2
Main and sub assignable controls are provided for each channel strip. Predetermined screens, each including a parameter display, are displayed dividedly or separately on first and second display devices. Thus, any one of a plurality of parameters included in the predetermined screen, being displayed on the first display device, is variably assigned to the main assignable control, while any one of a plurality of parameters included in the predetermined screen, being displayed on the second display device, is variably assigned to the sub assignable control. Further, when a predetermined pop-up screen, including at least a parameter display, is to be further displayed, in response to a screen display switching instruction, over the predetermined screen being displayed on the first display device, a parameter included in the pop-up screen is fixedly assigned to each of the main and sub assignable controls. In this way, the plurality of assignable controls can be used properly in accordance with a screen display.
US08687824B2
There is provided an acoustic processing device capable of maintaining volume and reproducing audio signals with good sound quality independent of the media audio encoding format, sound source type or sound source volume setting. In the acoustic processing device (1), a limiter control signal generation section (5) generates a limiter control signal for applying rapid variation correction determined based on a short-term signal level variation of an audio signal of a sound source and slow variation correction determined based on a long-term signal level variation of the audio signal of the sound source, and volume control sections (7) and (8) apply the generated limiter control signal to the audio signal and control the volume of the sound source.
US08687822B1
An improved filtering system for loudspeaker equalization is comprised of two filtering sections, a single pole filtering section having single pole filters for shaping the frequency response of the audio signal over the operative bandwidth of the equalized loudspeaker system, and a parametric filtering section that provides for localized parametric equalization for compensating for room or other environmental resonances. The filtering system of the invention can be used to create a wide variety of useful filter shapes, while minimizing phase distortion that can harm the transient response of phase-aligned loudspeakers of a loudspeaker system.
US08687810B2
The present invention provides a method for a data encryption device to perform network communications, the method comprising obtaining an indexed array of encryption keys, wherein the indexed array of encryption keys is shared with a data decryption device; obtaining a message to be encrypted; using a first random or pseudorandom number to determine an index; obtaining a first key from the array of encryption keys, wherein the first key corresponds to the index; selecting a second key from the plurality of encryption keys; encrypting the message using the first key and a second random or pseudorandom number; encrypting the index using the second key and a third random or pseudorandom number; transmitting the encrypted message and the encrypted index to the data decryption device.
US08687807B2
Systems and methods for performing cascading dynamic crypto periods are disclosed. In embodiments, a control word and a set of functions is transmitted between a head-end and recipient devices at the beginning of a crypto period. The crypto period is divided into a discrete number of sub-crypto periods. The control word used to encrypt and decrypt the broadcast content is changed during each sub-crypto period. At the end of the first sub-crypto period, a derived control word is generated by passing the original control word to a function in the set of functions in order to generate a derived control word at the first transition between sub-crypto periods. The derived control word is used for encryption and decryption of the broadcasted content during the second sub-crypto period. Upon transitioning to the third sub-control-period, the derived control word is input into another function to produce a second derived control word.
US08687803B2
In the field of computer enabled cryptography, such as a keyed block cipher having a plurality of sequenced rounds, the cipher is hardened against attack by a protection process. The protection process uses block lengths that are larger or smaller than and not an integer multiple of those of an associated standard cipher, and without using message padding. This is operative in conjunction with standard block ciphers such as the AES, DES or triple DES ciphers, and also with various block cipher cryptographic modes such as CBC or EBC.
US08687799B2
When an encryption processing circuit encrypts data, a current flows in the encryption processing circuit. A noise current generated by a noise generation circuit is superimposed on the current consumed by the encryption processing circuit. The present invention is applicable to an IC chip that encrypts plaintext data using a key, thus preventing the key from being broken by DPA attacks based on analysis of the current consumption to provide high security.
US08687797B2
Methods and systems for a dual echo canceller (EC) are disclosed and may include cancelling echo in utilizing a dual echo canceller, wherein said dual echo canceller includes an active echo canceller and an adaptive echo canceller. Filter coefficients may be copied from the adaptive echo canceller to the active echo canceller for the cancellation, based on whether said adaptive echo canceller has converged. The coefficients may be copied utilizing copy logic, which may comprise divergence detection and/or echo path change detection. The coefficients may be reset to default settings utilizing the copy logic. The coefficients may be calculated utilizing normalized block least mean squares (NBLMS), and may be calculated when the NBLMS is enabled by update logic. The coefficients may be calculated utilizing linear predictive coefficient (LPC) filtered uplink and downlink signals.
US08687796B2
A method and an electronic device for communication quality improvement based on ambient noise sensing are provided for improving communication quality. The method includes: during a call, dynamically setting a noise reduction mode in response to the varying of an ambient noise amount of at least one audio signal received by the electronic device. The setting step includes: during the call, dynamically determining whether the ambient noise amount indicates the needs of the application of noise reduction. If the ambient noise amount indicates the needs of the application of noise reduction, then one of a plurality of noise reduction levels is selected according to the ambient noise amount, and the noise reduction mode is set according to the selected noise reduction level, wherein the noise reduction levels include at least two levels corresponding to two different amounts of noise reduction.
US08687795B2
A method of predicting expected performance of a processing center system is accessed. The method includes receiving performance information from a performance monitoring system associated with the processing center system. A computer model of the processing center system is developed based on the performance information. The method further includes generating predictions based on the computer model, and analyzing the predictions to generate performance scenarios for the processing center system.
US08687790B2
An apparatus and methods for a call routing system is disclosed whereby the call routing service provider is associated with a series of partners. By providing a system supporting not only the main user, but also the partners, efficiencies are gained through cost-spreading. Agents can be qualified to field calls for multiple business entities. Cross-selling and proactive servicing based on caller demographic and profile data can be effectuated. The system employs a centralized or global bank of shared Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units so that unnecessary post-routing and call site interflow are reduced. The system comprises a central server system that interfaces with a long distance provider so that route requests are received, caller data is retrieved from one or more databases, routing and handling strategies are developed, load balancing is effectuated, and calls are appropriately routed to one of a plurality of geographically separated call center systems with queues staffed by agents. Each call center system is designed to support various queues, and agents may be qualified or assigned to various queues based on their skill sets and skill levels.
US08687789B2
An application server system is provided having a core engine connecting one or more protocol providers to one or more applications. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more applications run on a respective one or more virtual machines having their own execution threads. A thread pool may be used to spawn instances of applications or scripts. Preferably, the core engine, the protocol providers, and each of the one or more virtual machines run in separate AppDomains. In another embodiment, a visual designer is provided preferably having XML conversion capability and interactive debug capability.
US08687788B2
A method, apparatus and system for call leg selection is provided. In an embodiment, a call manger is provided which is connected to telephones that have the same telephone number. When the call manager receives an incoming call identifying that telephone number, the call manager sends a query to each of the telephones inquiring as to which telephone should receive the call. Depending on the response, the call manager will route the call to the appropriate one of the telephones.
US08687770B2
One embodiment is a method for performing 2-wire line imbalance measurements. The method comprises receiving a probe signal and based on the probe signal, determining one of more of: an estimated transverse conversion loss (TCL) coupling transfer function and an estimated transverse conversion transfer loss (TCTL) coupling transfer function.
US08687767B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an x-ray image from an x-ray imaging apparatus using a digital radiography receiver installs a retrofit connection apparatus that adapts the x-ray imaging apparatus for use with the digital radiography receiver by forming a receiver interface channel for communicating signals to and from the digital radiography receiver, forming an operator interface channel for routing at least an input expose signal from an operator control to the connection apparatus and forming a generator interface channel for transmitting at least an output expose signal from the retrofit connection apparatus to an x-ray generator of the x-ray imaging apparatus. An input expose signal over the operator interface channel initiates a reset of the digital radiography receiver over the receiver interface channel before the output expose signal to the x-ray generator is transmitted over the generator interface channel.
US08687755B1
One embodiment relates to an interpolator-based clock and data recovery (iCDR) circuit. The iCDR circuit includes an automatic gain control circuit arranged to generate an interpolation jump size signal when a targeted sampling detection signal is asserted. The targeted sampling detection signal may be asserted when sampling by the phase detector of the iCDR circuit is within a targeted range. The interpolation jump size signal may indicate a number of phase steps to shift an interpolation state signal if a jump is indicated by a filtered feedback signal. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08687753B1
A method of syncing a serial data stream includes the step of providing a data stream having frames and sub-frames. Each sub-frame is provided with an expected SYNC Word, and there is an expected offset between the SYNC Words in each sub-frame. The data is sent to a plurality of sync modules. Each sync module searches for an expected and different one of the SYNC Words. The sync modules identify an expected SYNC Word, then look for a different one of the SYNC Words at said expected offset from its expected SYNC Word to verify that it has properly identified a SYNC Word.
US08687740B2
A receiver for receiving a layer-modulated signal includes: a base layer decoding unit configured to calculate a bit metric including code bit information of a base layer based on the reception signal and decode an information bit of the base layer; and at least one enhancement layer decoding unit configured to decode an information bit of an upper layer of a lower layer based on the decoding results of the lower layer, wherein the base layer decoding unit and the at least one enhancement layer decoding unit are sequentially connected according to the order of the corresponding layers.
US08687739B1
A quadrature bandpass-sampling radio frequency (RF) receiver is provided. The receiver bandpass-samples and quantizes an RF signal to provide an in-phase bi-level digital signal based on an in-phase clock and a quadrature bi-level digital signal based on a quadrature clock. The in-phase clock frequency and the quadrature clock frequency are equal to the RF signal carrier frequency. The quadrature clock is ninety degree out of phase with respect to the in-phase clock.
US08687734B1
System (200) and methods (800) for reducing a PAPR of an OFDM signal (204). The methods comprise: routing the OFDM signal to first and second signal processing paths (FSPP and SSPP); time delaying the OFDM signal traveling along FSPP (206); and determining whether an instantaneous signal magnitude value of the OFDM signal traveling along SSPP (208) is greater than a threshold value that would force a power amplifier (250) into a non-linear operational region. If it is determined that the instantaneous signal magnitude value is greater than the threshold value, then a magnitude of at least one complex symbol sample of the OFDM signal which has been time delayed is scaled to a level that precludes the power amplifier from entering its non-linear operational region. If it is determined that the instantaneous signal magnitude value is not greater than the threshold value, then the complex symbol sample is output without modification to the magnitude thereof.
US08687729B2
A radio device including a plurality of antennas transmitting and receiving a signal a reception band filter which controls a pass frequency band a measuring circuit which measures a reception level of the signal received by each of the plurality of antennas in a preamble in the signal received through the reception band filter an antenna switch which switches the plurality of antennas based on a measurement result from the measuring circuit and a processor which controls transmission and reception of the signal of the radio device and a pass frequency band of the reception band filter, and which transmits, based on a packet density, an instruction for changing the preamble from a first data length to a second data length to the other radio device and for changing the pass frequency band of the reception band filter from a first band to a second band.
US08687717B2
Varying embodiments of the present invention describe a closed loop system for processing the beamforming information, qualifying the expected performance, activating and deactivating the beamforming system. A first embodiment is a method for closed loop beamforming in a wireless communication system, the system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising initiating beamforming on a communication channel between the transmitter and the receiver, monitoring the communication channel, periodically determining a condition of the communication channel and controlling beamforming based on the condition of the communication channel.
US08687707B2
A method is provided for encoding a multi-layer video signal by using an extended macro-block skip mode. The method includes generating a bit stream of a base layer; generating a bit stream of an enhanced layer by referring to a frame of the base layer; setting a syntax item for an extended macro-block skip mode in an area of the bit stream of the enhanced layer, wherein the syntax item indicates if information of the base layer is used as it is while a frame of the enhanced layer is skipped.
US08687705B2
One embodiment provides a moving picture decoding device for decoding a compression-coded video stream, including: an inverse-quadrature-transformer/dequantizer configured to perform inverse-quadrature-transformation/dequantization processing on each frame to be decoded; a load detector configured to detect a magnitude of an apparatus processing load including a processing load for decoding; a judging module configured to judge whether the magnitude of the apparatus processing load detected by the load detecting module is small; and a controller configured to control the inverse-quadrature-transformer/dequantizer so as to skip at least part of the inverse-quadrature-transformation/dequantization processing if the judging module judges that the magnitude of the apparatus processing load is not small.
US08687701B2
A method and a device for arithmetic code package outputting. The method comprises: acquiring the 7-bit output string of the upper bits according to the CodLow value, i.e., the starting position of the probability space to be updated, and using the 7-bit ID string to identify the output characters with undetermined state in the 7-bit output string; acquiring the number of valid bits according to the CodRange value, i.e., the length of the probability space to be updated, wherein the number of valid bits indicates the number of valid bits of output characters in the 7-bit output string according to the CodLow value to be updated; extracting the valid output characters in the 7-bit output string according to the number of valid bits, identifying the output characters with undetermined state among the extracted valid output characters according to the 7-bit ID string; and processing the extracted valid output characters, acquiring and outputting the coding output bytes.
US08687699B1
A method for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of (A) generating a plurality of residual blocks by performing motion compensation on a current block of a video signal comprising a series of frames, where each frame comprises a plurality of blocks, (B) generating a plurality of rate-distortion costs for a plurality of bitstream segments generated for each of the residual blocks using a first transform, (C) determining a residual block having an optimal cost, and (D) transforming the selected block with the optimal cost using a second transform, where the first transform has a lower complexity than the second transform.
US08687687B2
A mobile station transmits a physical address given to the mobile station to a connection device via a base station when subscribing to a communication system. The connection device previously stores the physical address given to the mobile station and an IP address in a table of the connection device in association with each other, searches the table for the IP address corresponding to the physical address transmitted from the mobile station from the address storage section, generates a header compression rule in accordance with the IP address searched for, and transmits the generated header compression rule to the mobile station via the base station.
US08687685B2
Techniques are described for efficient transcoding from a first format that supports I-units, P-units and B-units to a second format that supports I-units and P-units but does not support the B-units. In particular, techniques are described for converting B-frames or B-slices of the first format into P-frames or P-slices of the second format. The techniques avoid the need to decode and re-encode that frames or slices. Instead, residuals associated with the B-video blocks in the first format are augmented and made to be dependent upon only one of the two lists associated with the B-video blocks so that such B-video blocks in the first format can be redefined as P-video blocks in the second format.
US08687681B2
A receiver includes a CDR circuit, serial-to-parallel converter, and test module. The CDR circuit is for receiving the test signal groups inputted in series and following transmitting frequency of the test signal groups to obtain a clock signal, wherein the clock signal is used to provide an operational frequency of the receiver. The serial-to-parallel converter is for receiving the test signal groups outputted by the CDR circuit and converting the serially-inputted test signal groups into a plurality of test bytes outputted in parallel, wherein each of the test bytes has multi-bit of data. The test module is for receiving the test bytes and the clock signal and comparing two adjacent bytes of the test bytes to determine whether the two adjacent test bytes are completely the same.
US08687663B2
The laser device includes a semiconductor laser element having an emission surface from which laser light is emitted, an optical fiber having an end part facing the emission surface, and an optical fiber supporting member which (i) supports the optical fiber and (ii) has a bonding pad to which the optical fiber is fixed by solder. The optical fiber supporting member includes a beam part having (i) a first main surface on which the bonding pad is provided and (ii) a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and a pillar part which is fixed to a base and is joined to the beam part on an end portion of the beam part such that the second main surface and the base face each other while being spatially away from each other.
US08687661B2
In order to maintain a constant laser output pulse power in a RF-energized, sealed-off, diffusion cooled, pulsed, CO2 gas-discharge laser, each laser output pulse is generated by train or burst of shorter RF pulses. When the time between laser output pulses becomes short enough that the power in one pulse would be reduced by gas-discharge heating effects of a previous pulse, power in the RF pulse trains is varied by varying the duration or duty cycle of pulses in the bursts, thereby keeping output-pulse power in the laser output pulses constant. RF pulses in any burst can have a different duration for tailoring the temporal shape of a corresponding laser-output pulse.
US08687659B2
A system (100) for generating a millimeter wave signals from heterodyning wavelengths from a multi-wavelength signal generated by a Brillouin-Erbium fiber laser (101). The Brillouin-Erbium fiber laser (101) includes a source laser (105) that transmits a seed signal. An optical directional coupler (110) has a first input that receives the seed signal from the source laser and a first output. An Erbium doped fiber amplifier (115) has an input connected to the first output of the optical directional coupler and an output. The Erbium doped fiber amplifier amplifies the seed signal. A four port circulator (120) has a first port that receives the seed signal from the Erbium doped fiber amplifier. A Brillouin gain medium (135) is connected to a second port and a third port of the circulator. The seed signal propagates through the Brillouin gain medium in a first direction and a first order Stokes signal propagates through the Brillouin gain medium in a second direction to generate a second order Stokes signal propagating in the first direction. A fourth port of the circulator is connected to a second input of the optical directional coupler. The optical directional coupler receives the signal from the fourth port of the circulator and outputs a portion of the signal to a first output and a second portion to a second output of the optical directional coupler. Two wavelengths from the second output are then received by a photodiode (150) that heterodynes the signal to generate a millimeter wave signal.
US08687657B2
A base station apparatus determines which mode of a subframe bundling mode (second mode) and a non-bundling mode (first mode) should be used by a user apparatus for communication, and reports a determination result. In the first mode, RTT period is a first period, and each of transmission and retransmission of the signal is performed every 1 TTI. In the second mode, RTT period is a second period that is longer than the first period, and each of transmission and retransmission of the signal is performed every plurality of TTIs. A radio resource to be used for retransmission is determined according to a first frequency hopping pattern in the first mode, and is determined according to a second frequency hopping pattern that is different from the first frequency hopping pattern in the second mode.
US08687652B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate allocating uplink resources to mobile devices to employ to signal acknowledgment indicators. Persistently scheduled mobile devices can be explicitly assigned uplink resources. Dynamically scheduled mobile device can utilize a one-to-one mapping to identify uplink resources based upon a downlink control channel index. The one-to-one mapping can be revised to remove associations between downlink control channel indices and resources allocated to persistently scheduled users and/or reserved for other control signaling in a mixed resource block. In addition, downlink control channel indices can be selected to avoid collisions between dynamic and persistent users.
US08687651B2
A method and apparatus for interfacing a synchronous core network with an asynchronous radio network in a next-generation mobile telecommunications system is disclosed. The method includes: a) selecting a function necessary to map a synchronous message to an asynchronous message; b) determining whether the synchronous message is to be transmitted to the mobile station or not; c) storing information necessary to map the synchronous message to the asynchronous message if the synchronous message is to transmitted to the mobile station, d) mapping parameters in the synchronous message to those in the asynchronous message, thereby generating the asynchronous message; e) discarding the message not to be transmitted to the mobile station after storing parameters included in the message not to be transmitted onto a predetermined device; and f) transmitting the asynchronous message to the radio resource controller.
US08687641B2
A method for automated conversion and delivery of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) images, comprising: storing a plurality of NDE images, metadata associated with the plurality of NDE images, converted NDE images, a plurality of standardized format specifications for a plurality of destination devices and services, and a plurality of message templates; receiving a NDE image file via a communications interface; determining whether the NDE data includes NDE image data; determining an output destination type; correlating the output destination type with one or more of the plurality of standardized format specifications and with one or more of the plurality of message templates; converting the NDE data format associated with the NDE data based on the standardized format specifications that correlate with the output destination type; and assembling at least one output message that includes the converted NDE data based on the message templates that correlate with the output destination type.
US08687629B1
A network device includes a hybrid switch fabric configured for switching packets and circuits that includes a packet switching portion that distributes packets across a plurality of packet ports of fabric chips within the hybrid switch fabric and operates in accordance with packet switching behavior requirements, and a circuit switching portion for switching circuits, wherein the circuit switching portion of the hybrid switch fabric directly connects a single input of the hybrid switch fabric to a single output of the hybrid switch fabric via a pre-determined path through the fabric chips and operates in accordance with circuit switching behavior requirements. The packet switching portion and the circuit switching portion include one or more fabric chips, wherein the fabric chips each include a plurality of ports each dynamically configurable as one of a packet port for receiving and outputting packet-switched data and a circuit port for receiving and outputting circuit-switched data.
US08687627B2
One embodiment provides a communication apparatus including: a first storage which stores connection information and an address; a connection information reading portion which reads connection information from the first storage upon reception of a packet transmission start instruction; a header generating portion which generates a header of a packet from the read connection information; a second storage which stores data at the address; and a data reading portion which reads data corresponding to the read connection information from the second storage, wherein the connection information reading portion is constituted by a first hardware, wherein the header generating and data reading portions are constituted by a second hardware, and wherein, while the data reading portion is reading data of a first packet or while the header generating portion is generating a header of the first packet, the connection information reading portion reads connection information of a second packet.
US08687622B2
Systems and methods for discovering SCTP associations between devices communicating in a network are described. A method comprises monitoring packets communicated among a plurality of source and destination devices, determining a combination of source EP address, source port number, destination IP address, and destination port number that defines an association between a source device and a destination device, and resolving a combination of source and destination verification tags that further defines the association based upon the combination of EP addresses and port numbers. The method further comprises ascertaining whether a subsequently monitored packet belongs to the association based at least in part upon an element of the combination of verification tags after at least one element of the combination of EP addresses and port numbers has changed during the ongoing communication.
US08687612B2
An IP communication architecture between a ground computer connected to a main router and a mobile computer which is located on board a train and which is connected to a mobile router on the train. The architecture includes at least one infrastructure having base stations equipped with radio communication devices and base routers on the ground which are connected to the infrastructure. Each mobile router has a radio communication device suitable for establishing a wireless link with one of the base stations of the infrastructure, a storage device means comprising having the IP address of the base routers connected to the infrastructure, and a connection device for initiating a connection with a base router on the basis of the list of base routers, after a wireless link has been established.
US08687607B2
Feedback from user stations to the base station for a multicast/broadcast transmission is performed by decoding multicast/broadcast data received from a transmitter on a downlink resource, forming a feedback message corresponding to the reception of the multicast/broadcast data, and queuing the feedback message for transmission to the transmitter on an uplink resource. The uplink resource used corresponds to the downlink resource used for the multicast/broadcast transmission. For unicast transmissions the uplink resource is dedicated to an uplink transmission corresponding to a downlink transmission on the downlink resource.
US08687604B2
A method and apparatus for improved initial cell acquisition with reduced frequency error impact. The method determines the slot timing of a transmission, identifies the primary scrambling code and frame timing using the common pilot channel, and provides a path profile using a pseudorandom noise (PN) search. An apparatus using a cell searcher that performs the method is also described.
US08687582B2
A method and device for transmitting semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) data reduces the probability of retransmitting a semi-persistent service, and increases the system throughput. The method includes: determining an initial transmission carrier for transmitting SPS data according to channel condition information of each carrier in multiple carriers and a gain of a match of a multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) antenna unit; instructing, to a user, the determined initial transmission carrier for transmitting SPS data; and transmitting the SPS data to the user through the instructed initial transmission carrier for transmitting SPS data. The method and device are mainly applied to a process for transmitting SPS data in a carrier aggregation scenario.
US08687574B2
Provided is a system and method that may allocate channels with respect to multiple traffic channels. A channel request apparatus may determine a correlation between traffic streams to which channels are allocated, and to determine whether the traffic streams are related to each other, may generate a channel allocation request message that simultaneously requests channel allocation with respect to related traffic streams that are related to each other, and may transmit the channel allocation request message to a channel response apparatus to request the channel allocation with respect to the related traffic channels.
US08687573B2
The present invention is related to a method for allocating resources in a communications system. The method includes receiving a matrix of priorities assigned to a plurality of services at a plurality of user levels; and allocating resources to a bearer for a station of the communication system based at least in part upon the priority assigned to a service provided over the bearer at the user level associated with a subscriber.
US08687565B2
A method allowing a terminal with data to be transmitted in an uplink direction to transmit a radio resource allocation request message to a base station by effectively using radio resource(s) to its maximum level is disclosed. In particular, the method allows the terminal to select a radio resource allocation request message of a proper format according to a situation of radio resource(s) or the amount of data of each channel and transmit the same to the base station.
US08687559B2
The present document relates to radio transmission. In particular, it relates to the mapping of frames in a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN). A GERAN base station comprising a transceiver is described. The base station is operable to communicate with a first mobile station via a first VAMOS channel; to communicate with a second mobile station via a second corresponding VAMOS channel; and to use a control channel of the second VAMOS channel which is offset by 4 or 8 TDMA frames with respect to a control channel of the corresponding first VAMOS channel.
US08687546B2
According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method is disclosed that allows an AP to efficiently poll various information from STAs belonging to a SDMA group. Each STA may transmit uplink frames using uplink SDMA mechanism.
US08687543B2
A method for facilitating communication between a wireless client and a network is disclosed. The method comprises communicating information between the wireless client and the network prior to associating the wireless client to the network. The information can be related to setup features or services.
US08687542B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that provide conditional assignments to access terminals over resources assigned to other access terminals. Further, methods and apparatuses are disclosed for processing resources to determine whether an access terminal should utilize resources that have bee conditionally assigned.
US08687535B2
A CMTS may receive a request that a network device be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation. In response, the CMTS may enter a power-saving mode of operation wherein MAC management messages, transmission opportunities for the sleeping network device, and/or contention periods on one or more channels occur at independently determinable intervals. The CMTS may then transmit a message granting the network device permission to enter the power-saving mode of operation. The CMTS may start a sleep timer upon transmitting the MAC management message and may deregister the network device if no communication is received from the network device prior to expiration of the sleep timer. The CMTs may buffer traffic destined for the network device in a buffer of the CMTS while the network device is in the power-saving mode of operation, and may wake the network device upon the amount of buffered traffic reaching a threshold.
