US08985907B2

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the rapid and precise removable installation of a substrate-penetrating device that facilitates underground delivery of various utilities to and/or from devices mounted thereon.
US08985902B2

A system for treating an excavation activity includes a distribution network in fluid communication with the excavation activity. A foaming agent and a reagent are supplied to the distribution network to form a reagent-foam mixture. The reagent is selected to react with at least one of sulfides, bacteria, or heavy metals or to coat particulate materials. A method for treating an excavation activity includes flowing a foam through a distribution network in fluid communication with the excavation activity and selecting a reagent to react with at least one of sulfides, bacteria, or heavy metals or to coat particulate materials. The method fluffier includes mixing the reagent with the foam flowing through the distribution network to form a reagent-foam mixture and dispersing the foam-reagent mixture over at least a portion of the excavation deposit.
US08985900B2

A civil engineering work (1) comprising a front face (9), a facing (3) having a back surface (32) and a front surface (31) that is substantially the same as said front face (9) of the work, a fluid-tight covering (4) on the back surface, a fill (2) arranged behind said fluid-tight covering (4), and an anchoring device (6) ensuring a mechanical linkage between the facing (3) and the fill (2), with said facing (3) comprising a cavity (5) inside of which a portion of the fluid-tight covering (4) is arranged to form a recessed space into which is inserted an anchoring element (16) that is a part of said anchoring device (6), and a method for implementing such a work.
US08985898B2

A pneumatic anchoring system for installation and anchoring of wick drains in a material to be consolidated such as soil, sand, ore or the like, comprising an excavator or crane having an elongate support mast and a tubular wick drain mandrel supported by the mast for downward penetration of the material/soil. The mandrel is capped at one end. A sled fixedly attached to the mandrel and slidable along the mast rides with the mandrel downward as the mandrel penetrates the material to be consolidated. The sled supports a compressed air storage tank, and the compressed air storage tank supplies compressed air through a venturi into the mandrel to jet compressed air therein. When the mandrel is at its deepest point, the operator releases a jet of air into the mandrel to disengage the wick drain anchor into the material to be consolidated, and then maintains a constant airflow rate into the mandrel during extraction to equalize the pore pressure of the drainage void and prevent collapse.
US08985883B2

A cosmetic applicator comprising a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive; an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle; and a control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive. The control surface may be rotatable about a control surface axis through a plurality of positions and the control surface axis may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle. The control surface may be moveable through a plurality of positions. The applicator may comprise an additional control surface, such as a second control surface or temporary control surface, which may be operated independently or in combination with the first control surface.
US08985882B2

A retractable pen includes a cartridge partially received in a recess of a cap such that a first end of the cartridge is fixedly attached to the cap. An elongate barrel includes first and second open ends and a through channel fluidly interconnecting the first and second open ends. A portion of the barrel is snugly and threadedly received in the recess such that the cartridge is received in and extends through the through channel, and the barrel and the cap are rotatingly movable relative to each other via the threaded engagement between an extended position in which the second end of the cartridge extends through and out of the second open end of the barrel, and a retracted position in which the second end of the cartridge is disposed within the barrel.
US08985873B2

A connector component is provided as one compatible with conductor coupling and fiber coupling. A receptacle 1 is a connector component to be coupled to a USB connector 3 incorporating a plurality of conductor wires, and a ferrule 4 holding distal ends of optical fibers, and is provided with connections 18 to be connected to the plurality of conductor wires, a light emitting device 23 to emit light toward the ferrule 4, and a light receiving device 24 to receive light emitted from the ferrule 4.
US08985870B2

A semiconductor laser module includes a laser diode array, an optical fiber array, a fiber array fitting for fixing the optical fiber array, a casing, and a support fitting for fixing the fiber array fitting and casing. The fiber array fitting and support fitting have a first contact section that is in line-contact or surface-contact with the plane section parallel with the light emission surface of the laser diode array, and are laser-welded and fixed to each other at the first contact section. The support fitting and casing have a second contact section that is in line-contact or surface-contact with the plane section vertical to the light emission surface of the laser diode array, and are laser-welded and fixed to each other at the second contact section.
US08985869B1

Designs of pluggable optical passive devices are described. Such a pluggable optical passive device can be inserted into an existing configuration. According to one embodiment, the pluggable optical passive device is formed as an elongated enclosure with one or two first connectors on one side thereof and one or two second connectors on the other side thereof. The first connectors are provided to be coupled to female pluggers while the second connectors are provided to be coupled to male pluggers. Depending on implementation, the first and second connectors may be glued onto or skewed into the enclosure through holes, and may be further extended by a flexible pigtailed dual LC connector.
US08985859B2

A cage 11 for holding a plurality of rolling elements 20 incorporated between an inner ring and an outer ring by a plurality of pockets with their centers arranged at regular intervals in the revolving direction of the rolling elements 20 includes at least one drive pocket 14 having a smaller clearance 22 in the revolving direction of the cage 11 and rolling elements 20 than the clearances of the remaining non-drive pockets 15 in the cage 11. Thus, drive power to be applied to the cage 11 can be always maintained constant and the swinging motion of the cage 11 during revolution can be prevented, thereby being able to reduce cage sounds.
US08985844B2

A device (1) that is used to disperse or homogenize according to the flow-through principle, that includes at least one tool having a rotor (2) and a stator (3), expediently, several tools of this type that are arranged in an axial manner behind one another, that are arranged in a chamber (4) through which a medium that is to be treated flows. The rotor(s) is/are driven by a motor (6) via a magnetic coupling (5) and the magnetic coupling (5) has a stationary separating can (9) between a drive-sided, rotationally-driven drive coupling part (7) and a driven coupling part (8), such that expensive cooled shaft seals can be avoided. The drive coupling part (7) that is on the drive side engages in a recess-shaped or hollow cylindrical driven coupling part (8) that is on the driven side and the separating can (9) is arranged between the coupling parts. As a result, the driven coupling part (8) and the separating can are cooled by the medium that is processed.
US08985838B2

A hand held stick mixer device has a motor housing, a stem and a blade housing. The blade housing has an interior sidewall below the floor having a distance across a transverse axis that is smaller than a distance across a perpendicular axis.
US08985833B2

The present invention provides a backlight module, containing an edge-lit backlight source; a light guide plate having a light incident surface and a light emitting surface where the light incident surface faces directly towards the backlight source; an optical film set positioned on a top side of the light guide plate facing directly towards the light emitting surface of the light guide plate; a reflection plate on a bottom side of the light guide plate; and a thermal conductive layer on a bottom side of the reflection plate conducting heat produced from the backlight source at least to the center of the reflection plate. The backlight module raises the temperature in the center of the panel, thereby preventing the cross talk resulted from having lower temperature in the center of the panel. There is no significant change to the existing backlight modules and therefore the cost is low.
US08985829B2

The present invention provides a side-edge backlight module, which includes a backplane, a backlight source arranged inside the backplane, and a light guide plate arranged inside the backplane. The backplane and the backlight source receive an aluminum-extruded heat sink arranged therebetween. The aluminum-extruded heat sink includes a first mounting section and a second mounting section perpendicularly connected to the first mounting section. The backlight source is mounted on the first mounting section. The first mounting section forms a slope surface at a location close to the second mounting section. The slope surface is arranged to extend from connection of the first and second mounting sections toward the backlight source. The side-edge backlight module forms a slope surface at a lower end of the first mounting section of the aluminum-extruded heat sink to eliminate potential interference issue of assembling occurring in the known techniques.
US08985826B2

A backlight module includes a back cover, a light source located on the back cover, an optical fiber located on the back cover and over the light source and having a light-incident hole facing the light source and a plurality of light-emergent windows opposite to the light-incident hole. A plurality of light shutters correspondingly covers the light-emergent windows. A controlling device is provided for controlling the open and close of the light shutters. Light emitted from the light source and entering the optical fiber is permitted to leave the optical fiber from the light-emergent windows whose light shutters are opened. The light is not permitted to leave the optical fiber from the light-emergent windows whose light shutters are closed.
US08985819B2

An aircraft light for emitting light in a desired spatial angular region and with a desired light distribution, comprises a reflector having an upper reflector portion and a lower reflector portion both being symmetrical to a plane. A first row of LEDs are face away from the reflector. A second row of LEDs face towards the reflector. Each of the upper and lower portions of the reflector comprises first, second, and third reflective surfaces with the first reflective surface being convexly shaped, the second reflective surface being substantially flat, and the third reflective surface being partially parabolically shaped.
US08985817B1

A light guard that includes a planar base plate having a center hole sized to permit the passage of a light socket and opposing side slots disposed substantially 180 degrees apart from one another, the base plate having an outer circumference sized substantially the same as the outer dimension of a selected electrical outlet box. The base plate also includes a keyhole slot proximate said outer circumference of the base plate and a transverse slot proximate the outer circumference of the base plate, each of the slots sized to accommodate screws for securing and mounting the base plate onto an outlet box or a plaster ring mounted on the outlet box. Spokes of substantially equal length extend from the base plate, and at least two rings connect the spokes to form a light bulb cage with an open bottom end, thereby providing free access to an installed light bulb.
US08985814B2

A lamp assembly providing a three dimensional lamp image may be animated by driving the mirror portion with an electromechanical device responsive to a varying input signal. The three dimensional image can then be reshaped in response according to a preferred input signal.
US08985813B2

An energy consumption device includes a housing that supports a first and second terminal. An energy consuming module, which may include a light emitting diode array, is supported by the housing and is thermally coupled to a thermal bridge that extends below a lower surface of the housing. A cover can be positioned so as to secure the energy consuming module between the cover and the housing. A plurality of magnets can be configured to secure the energy consumption device to a rail that supports powered contacts so that the first and second terminals engage the powered contacts and the thermal bridge is pressed against the rail.
US08985811B2

A LED luminaire includes a body portion having a lighting module and an optical structure formed integrally with the body portion. The optical structure is formed within the body portion and located in a light-projection direction of the lighting module. The optical structure substantially is a sheet-like structure with a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has at least two side portions with a first curvature, and the second surface has a second curvature. The first curvature is greater than the second curvature. Thereby, the view angle of the light is increased as the light generated from the lighting module passes through the optical structure.
US08985810B2

An illumination apparatus and method of manufacture of the same in which an array of light-emitting elements is aligned to an array of optical elements to achieve a thin and efficient light source that can also be arranged to provide directional and/or programmable illumination.
US08985801B2

A light guide plate fixing structure and a backlight module using the same, comprising a first abutting wall formed at the side edge of the light guide plate, a second abutting wall formed on the backplane, and a constant-force spring arranged between the first abutting wall and the second abutting wall; the constant-force spring has a fixing end and a support end, the fixing end being fixed on the first abutting wall, the support end forming an elastic foot that abuts against the second abutting wall, with the light guide plate being fixed with the help of the elastic force produced by bounce of the constant-force spring after being pre-compressed: when the light guide plate is expanded, it can push the spring away and be released and expanded; when the light guide plate is contracted, rebound of the spring will make the spring move with the light guide plate.
US08985799B2

An object is to prevent or reduce uneven brightness in a direct-type lighting device. A lighting device according to the present technology includes LEDs 28 arranged in a matrix on a bottom plate of the chassis and a reflector 26 including first and second side walls 26a, 26b each arranged between the LEDs 28 adjacent in a Y-axis direction and an X-axis direction, respectively. The LEDs 28 are configured to emit light toward an opening of the chassis. The first side wall 26a has a side surface 26a rising from a front surface 30a of an LED board 30 toward the opening of the chassis while being inclined. The first side wall 26a extends straightly along the X-axis direction and has a triangular cross-sectional shape taken along the Y-axis direction. The second side wall 26b has a prism-like shape rising from the front surface 30a toward the opening and has a rhombic outline in a plan view.
US08985783B2

To provide a projector which enables a stable projection for a long period of time, there is provided a projector comprising a light source unit, a display device, a projection-side optical system, a light guiding optical system and a projector control unit, wherein the light source unit comprises an excitation light source unit comprising an excitation light source and a microlens array and a rectangular green luminescent plate which receives light emitted from the excitation light source to emit light in a green wavelength band, and the microlens array is disposed between the excitation light source and the luminescent plate and has a plurality of micro convex lenses which each have a similar shape to the shape of the luminescent material layer are arranged into a matrix, so as to convert light from excitation light source into a plurality of pencils of light to shine them onto the luminescent plate.
US08985771B2

An image capturing apparatus including a plurality of image sensing modules and at least a light source is provided for capturing an image of an eye. Each of the image sensing modules includes an image sensor and a lens. The light source emits an illumination light, and the illumination light irradiates the eye. The eye reflects the illumination light into an image light. The image light includes a plurality of sub-image beams, and the sub-image beams are transmitted to the image sensors of the image sensing modules through the lenses of the image sensing modules, respectively. A capturing method is also provided.
US08985767B2

A method for designing a progressive lens is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a wavefront measurement of an eye, determining an initial design for the progressive lens based on the wavefront measurement, determining information about how changes in one or more higher order aberrations of the eye affect a second order correction for the aberrations of the eye based on information derived from the wavefront measurement, modifying the initial design of the progressive lens to provide a final progressive lens design, and outputting the final lens design.
US08985764B2

Provided is a contact lens of double thin type ensuring a comfortable wearing sensation, enabling improvement of oxygen permeability and tear exchange, and having a novel structure. An optical zone having no deviation of a center of gravity by a prism is formed. A pair of thin portions extending circumferentially and having a constant thickness are formed on both upper and lower sides of a peripheral zone, and a pair of thick portions extending circumferentially and having a thickness larger than that of the thin portions are formed on both left and right sides. One or more concavities are positioned symmetrically in a left-right direction during wear in a posterior surface of each of the thick portions. A minimum thickness at a portion where the concavity is formed is larger than the thickness of the thin portions.
US08985760B2

A recording medium after printing which is discharged from a main body of a printer is guided from the main body to a support surface of a discharge support portion extending to a lower anterior side, and is wound as a roll body by a winding unit in a path that passes a tension roller. A tape-shaped elastic member is fixed on an end portion of a downstream side in a transport direction of the discharge support portion so as to extend in a width direction. An elastic friction surface is formed on the end portion of the downstream side in the transport direction of the support surface. A friction coefficient between the elastic friction surface and the recording medium is higher than the friction coefficient between a portion at an upstream side in the transport direction from the elastic friction surface in the support surface and the recording medium.
US08985755B2

Provided is an ink for ink jet including a first pigment and a second pigment. Each of the first pigment and the second pigment comprises a self-dispersible carbon black in which a functional group containing two phosphonic acid groups is bonded to a particle surface. The average particle size of the first pigment is smaller than the average particle size of the second pigment. The introduced amount of the functional group of the first pigment is higher than the introduced amount of the functional group of the second pigment.
US08985750B2

The invention relates to an ink jet device and to an associated method. Said device (1) comprises a chamber (60) comprising at least one ink jet head (10), an inlet (66) for a gas having a lower molar mass than air, and at least one outlet (21) for said gas, said head (10) being arranged in the chamber (60) in such a way that the gas can be injected around the head (10) and removed from the chamber along with the ink supplied by the head.
US08985743B2

A printing fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body, an electric interface, and a support member at which the electric interface is provided. The cartridge body is configured to hold the support member, such that the support member is movable relative to the cartridge body. A cartridge mounting portion includes a sandwiching portion configured to sandwich the support member.
US08985741B2

A liquid ejection head includes ejection ports for ejecting liquid, recesses respectively accommodating the ejection ports in the insides thereof, ejection sections operating as passages directed to the respective ejection ports, and liquid channels for supplying the respective ejection sections with liquid. The ejection sections and the liquid channels are arranged in rows extending in respective directions that intersect each other, and the connection sections respectively connecting the ejection sections and the corresponding liquid channels represent an elliptic contour having a major axis and a minor axis as viewed from the corresponding one of the ejection ports, while the recesses also represent an elliptic contour having a major axis and a minor axis.
US08985740B2

An inkjet printing apparatus includes a purge unit having a sheet member that purges ink deposited on an orifice face of a print head and a winding unit that winds the sheet member. By using the number of ink ejections executed between a first purge operation and a second purge operation, the amount of winding of the sheet member is controlled after the second purge operation is completed.
US08985729B1

A method and apparatus for handling a time based error condition in an imaging apparatus. The method includes transporting a first media sheet from the media input tray towards the transfer nip of the imaging apparatus; and determining, when the first media sheet reaches a predetermined point in the media path, whether the print engine of the imaging apparatus is ready to transfer a first image of the plurality of images to the media sheet at the transfer nip. Upon a determination that the print engine is not ready, the first media sheet is transported through the transfer nip without transferring the first image thereto, until the first media sheet is placed in the output area, and a second media sheet is transported to the transfer nip, a first image is transferred to the second media sheet and the second media sheet is transported to the output area.
US08985728B2

A printing apparatus includes a printing section that forms a plurality of unit images on a print medium and forms marks that are references for specifying positions of the unit images on the print medium, in which the marks include a different-color image capable of being visually recognized of which a color is different from a background color of the marks.
US08985724B2

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording head for forming an image by discharging single color ink from plural nozzle sequences. The image forming apparatus includes a profile generating unit configured to generate a profile including discharging characteristics of the corresponding nozzle sequences and information indicating a positional relationship among the plural nozzle sequences, based on individual images of a predetermined pattern that have been formed by the corresponding nozzle sequences and images that have been formed by the nozzle sequences; and a driving condition determination unit configured to determine drive conditions of the corresponding nozzle sequences by referring to the profile.
US08985722B2

A printing apparatus includes: a liquid discharge head which includes a nozzle which discharges a liquid, and a discharge energy applying section which applies a discharge energy to the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle; a drive section which drives the discharge energy applying section; and a controller which controls the drive section based on a parameter about a usage amount of the discharge energy applying section; and when one dot is formed on a printing medium by discharging the liquid, if a predetermined threshold value is not exceeded by the parameter, the controller controls the drive section to drive the discharge energy applying section so that a first discharge energy is applied to the liquid, and otherwise, the controller controls the drive section to drive the discharge energy applying section so that a second discharge energy lower than the first discharge energy is applied to the liquid.
US08985711B2

The invention relates to a method for operating a brake device, in particular of a motor vehicle, wherein the brake device comprises a service brake and a mechanical parking brake, wherein the parking brake can be actuated by means of a mechanical actuating element, comprising at least the steps of establishing that the actuating element has been moved from an idle position into a position of use, simultaneously controlling a pressure-increasing element, so that a hydraulic pressure is generated, which hydraulic pressure acts on a brake element that is common with the holding element, blocking the common brake element of the service brake and the parking brake with a mechanical block of the mechanical parking brake.
US08985707B1

A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.
US08985698B2

A seat belt for a motor vehicle front seat is provided with a belt having a lower branch that has one end designed to be connected to an anchor point in the motor vehicle and is thickened via an additional element; the additional element is arranged on just one of the faces of the belt, along a rear edge of the lower branch, and comprises a bar, which is substantially parallel to said rear edge and is fixed to the belt.
US08985691B2

A vehicle seat includes an operating link rotatably mounted to a base, a bracket that is provided on a seat back, and is arranged to be pressed against the operating link due to rotation of the seat back, so as to push and rotate the operating link, and an operating mechanism arranged to be operated by the operating link when the operating link is pushed and rotated. The bracket and the operating link are engaged with each other such that one of the bracket and the operating link sandwiches the other of the bracket and the operating link in rotational directions thereof, so that the above-indicated one of the bracket and the operating link abuts on the other thereof in both of the rotational directions.
US08985688B2

An office chair mechanism provided with a device for adjusting the swivel force includes a fixed part secured to the chair base, movable parts secured to the seating portion and to the back rest (22) of the chair, and an elastic element which opposes the weight of the chair user, a lever having contact surfaces which interact with said fixed part by means of a fulcrum having a movable contact element interposed between the end acting on the elastic element and the other end to which the movable parts are pivoted, and an adjustment element which causes only the movable contact element to move but without modifying the position of the elastic element and of the lever.
US08985687B2

An infant chair apparatus includes a support frame, a seat pivotally connected with the support frame about a pivot axis and provided with a coupling member, and a swing drive assembly connected with the seat and the support frame. The swing drive assembly includes a spring having a first end affixed with the support frame and a movable second end, wherein the spring is operable to apply a spring force that is converted into a driving torque applied on the coupling member to impart a swing motion to the seat, and a torque adjusting mechanism respectively connected with the second end of the spring and the coupling member, the torque adjusting mechanism being operable to adjust a position of the coupling member relative to the seat.
US08985683B2

A roof apparatus includes a movable panel, a guide rail, a first rail portion and a second rail portion which are provided at the guide rail in a manner that at least a part of the first rail portion and at least a part of the second rail portion are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction, a front side guide member including a guide groove, a front side link member including a support protruding portion which is movable along the second rail portion or along the guide groove which is inclined in a vehicle upward direction towards a vehicle rear direction, and a transmission member which is movable along the first rail portion, and is linked to a rear side link member connected to the movable panel and is linked to the front side link member.
US08985678B2

A body front structure for an automobile includes: fenders; an engine compartment; a bonnet; a cowl grille; a center seal which is installed on an upper portion of a vertical wall section of the cowl grille; and side seals which are made from a material that is more flexible than the vertical wall section of the cowl grille. A void where the vertical wall section is not present is formed between each fender and an outside end portion of the vertical wall section of the cowl grille in the vehicle width direction. The side seals each have a seal section which abuts against the bonnet in a closed state and a supporting section which supports the seal section from below, and extend substantially in the vehicle width direction so as to close off the void.
US08985671B1

A V shape bumper extension for a vehicle is provided where the V shape member has an extension member and a support member. The extension member extends linearly away from a bumper and the support member is positioned at an acute angle with respect to a crush can. The support member includes an outer edge spaced apart from the crush can and is connected to the crush can through at least one breakable attachment.
US08985670B2

A soft top for motor vehicles having an apparatus for the replaceable introduction of a pane, and to a soft top of this type having a pane. The soft top has an apparatus for the replaceable introduction of a pane, comprising a flexible roof element and having a pane receiving gap. The roof element is folded over toward the pane receiving gap in an end region which faces the pane receiving gap. An insert element is provided in a pocket which is formed by the folded-over roof element, and a holding element is provided which extends on a first side of the pane receiving gap between a side of the insert element, which side faces away from the pane receptacle, and the roof element and on a second side of the pane receiving gap, which second side lies opposite the first side.
US08985662B2

A cover affixed to an expansion room of a recreational vehicle (RV) to cover and seal a gap in between the expansion room and a wall of the RV. The cover has a transverse wall to attach to the expansion room. The cover may have one or two bulb seals, and/or a flat seal affixed to the cover and/or the transverse wall to improve the seal against the wall of the RV. An end abutting the wall of the RV may be curved towards the RV to further cover the gap. A secondary cover may be used to cover any exposed fasteners. A plurality of covers may be provided so that when the expansion room is against the wall of the RV, the plurality of covers form an attractive covering frame between the RV and the walls of the expansion room.
US08985650B2

A bumper (10) created using a resistive implant welding process. The bumper includes a mounting plate portion (12) and a composite bumper portion (14). The mounting plate portion (12) is connected to the composite bumper portion (14) using a resistive implant welding process. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a bumper for a vehicle having a mounting plate (12) and a bumper portion (14). The bumper portion (14) includes at least one flange (24) formed as part of the bumper portion (14), a first contact area (28) formed as part of the mounting plate (12), and a second contact area (30) formed as part of the flange (24). A connection point is used to bond the first contact area (28) and the second contact area (30) such that the mounting plate (12) is connected to the bumper portion (14).
US08985646B2

The present disclosure provides a locking device for restricting access to a hatch of a pressure vessel, and, more specifically, a locking device that is responsive to the internal pressure in the pressure vessel so as to minimize the ability of one to open the hatch while the vessel is still pressurized. In some embodiments, the locking device comprises first and second portions of the locking device configurable between an open and a closed configuration and a pressure-responsive locking member in fluid communication with an outlet port of the pressure vessel and arranged to automatically retain the first and second portions in the closed configuration when the pressure inside of the pressure vessel is above a predetermined threshold, wherein in the closed configuration the first and second portions restrict manipulation of the hatch and/or a locking mechanism of the hatch.
US08985645B2

It would be beneficial to have a means for securing a door or portal, or for opening a door or portal such that it cannot be opened from the other side, in which the securing means could be operated without the use of the person's hands. Latching system 250 comprises latching device 255 and receiving device 265. Latching device 255 may be movably attached to door 220, preferably at the bottom of door 220 and latching device 255 is used to secure door 220 to door frame member 205. Latching system 250 is located substantially near the bottom of door 220 so that it may be operated by means of a person's foot. Receiving device 265 is affixed to door frame member 205. Receiving device 265 is configured to receive latching device 255 when latching device 255 is rotated towards receiving device 265.
US08985642B2

A method for applying a component of a package for a substance for infusion having a filter bag for containing a substance and a pickup tag for manually picking up the filter bag includes a method for knotting a string to at least one of the components, which has the steps of interposing, between a string which is held taut along a first axis and a needle having an open lateral eye and angled transversally to the axis of the string, at least one of the components of the package, the component being angled so that the plane in which it lies is substantially parallel with the axis of the string; hooking the string with a single needle and using a sequence of passes through the plane in which the component lies forming stitching, which knots at least two loops of the string that are linked together one after another; and tightening the stitching to stably knot the string to the one or each component of the package.
US08985640B2

A threaded pipe connection is shown which features a pressure energized flex-seal structure. The connection includes a first box member having a box end, the box end having an end opening defining an interior surface with internal threads, the internal threads being defined by crests and roots and opposing flanks. A second, mating pin member has a pin end with a pin nose, the pin end having an exterior surface with mating external threads, the external threads also having crests and roots and opposing flanks, at least selected ones of which move into engagement with the internal threads of the box when the connection is made up. A flex-seal region is located on either the box and interior surface or the pin end which forms a primary containment seal upon make up of the connection.
US08985633B2

A foldable and unfoldable pop-up article with a tensioning member.
US08985632B1

A bracket has an elongate portion of a predetermined length. The elongate portion terminates in a clamp end that includes a downward sloping portion connected to a curved contact portion. The curved contact portion is configured to contact a tunable bead of a sheet metal portion of a vehicle body structure such as a pillar. The sheet metal portion comprises a generally planar mating surface, an opening in the depression, and a bead rising from the mating surface, wherein the height of the bead is configured for a top surface of the bead to contact a bottom portion of a clamp when the clamp is in a secured position.
US08985626B2

The invention relates to a fixing element for locking a hinged hand crank on the input shaft of a support winch for semi-trailers, wherein the hand crank is fastened to the input shaft in an articulated manner and can pivot between at least one folded-in rest position and at least one folded-out usage position. According to the invention, said fixing element has a fastening section for fastening to the hand crank and a spring bar connected to the fastening section on which at least one locking section is formed, wherein the locking section reaches over the end face of the input shaft in a form-fitting manner in a folded-out usage position of the hand crank and is simultaneously pulled against said end face of the input shaft.
US08985625B2

An airbag arrangement includes a middle side airbag confined between an arm-rest and a seat. The middle side airbag protects a driver of a vehicle and a passenger from the collision between the driver and the passenger upon vehicle collision. A cushion inflated from a back part of a driver seat is firmly fixed between the driver seat and an arm-rest to restrict the movement of occupants. The middle side airbag includes vertical sewed lines to vertically form a partition, or includes inclined sewed lines to inflate the middle side airbag toward at an expected collision position between the driver and the passenger. An inflator is provided on a lateral surface of a back part of the driver seat. As soon as air is injected into the middle side airbag, the middle side airbag is inflated while forming contact parts confined in the space between an arm-rest and a seat.
US08985622B1

A personal protection assembly for restraining a user's head in a vehicle includes a head rest operationally coupled to a vehicle seat. An upper wing is operationally coupled to the head rest and selectively restrains the user's head. An upper air bag is operationally coupled to the upper wing. A lower wing is operationally coupled to the seat in the vehicle and selectively restrains the user's body. A lower air bag is operationally coupled to the lower wing. An actuator is coupled to the vehicle seat. The actuator is operationally coupled to the upper and lower wings. The actuator selectively actuates the upper and lower wings into the extended position. A sensor is coupled to the vehicle seat. The sensor is operationally coupled to the head rest. The sensor detects the user when the user sits in the vehicle seat. The head rest adjusts to the user.
US08985619B2

A wheelbarrow conversion kit is used to convert a wheelbarrow structure to a pull wagon or to accommodate a push blade. The handles of the wheelbarrow are removed and an adaptor is preferably inserted where the handles were removed. The pull wagon adaptor includes a pair of steerable wheels and handle for pulling of the wagon. Other embodiments provide additional functionality for use of the wagon in a gardening type application. The push blade assembly is removably attached to the frame of the wheelbarrow at a front edge thereof.
US08985607B2

A human-powered-system utilizing an arm lever assembly and/or a pedal assembly to be adapted to or incorporated into other mechanisms including, but not limited to, wheelchairs and vehicles. The arm lever assembly includes an arm lever that is reciprocated to provide power and rotated left or right to provide steering control. Both assemblies are operatively connected to a converter, utilizing gears and one-way clutches that receives the reciprocal movements of the arm lever and converts them into a unidirectional output, to be utilized in combination or independently. The arm lever is further telescoping and when utilizing a slide mechanism operatively connected to the converter representing a first class lever offers a range of various leverages by correspondingly changing the length of the force and load end when extended and retracted.
US08985603B2

Provided is a skateboard having a transparent or translucent deck, elongated along a longitudinal axis, and having top and bottom surfaces. First and second wheel assemblies are respectively attached to the bottom front and bottom rear portions of the board. Each wheel assembly comprises a truck and two wheels. Each wheel is associated with an axle and has (i) a rotational axis aligned with the wheel axle, (ii) a transparent or translucent wheel covering having a surface conforming to a mathematical surface defined by revolving a continuous, smooth curve about the axis, and (iii) a wheel interior defined by the rotational axis and the wheel covering. This interior houses a generator electrically coupled to light emitting devices. The light emitting devices emit light when the generators generate electricity, thereby illuminating a graphic on the deck in a manner visible from the top surface of the deck through the deck.
US08985594B2

A spring constant of each of four suspension springs and a shared load on each of four wheels are adjusted so that a sprung resonance frequency corresponding to two front wheels and a sprung resonance frequency corresponding to two rear wheels are mutually different. From among the four shock absorbers, only two shock absorbers provided corresponding to two wheels of lowered sprung resonance frequency, from among the two front wheels and the two rear wheels have respectively damping coefficient modification mechanisms that modify a damping coefficient serving as a reference of the magnitude of the damping force generated by the two shock absorbers. The behavior of the entire vehicle body can be effectively curbed by controlling the damping force exerted on the comparatively large movement of sprung sections corresponding to the two wheels. Thus a vehicle having both enhanced steering stability and enhanced ride quality can be configured comparatively inexpensively.
US08985586B1

An apparatus and method for sealing an electrical connection, such as a connection between two electrical extension cords, thereby protecting the electrical connection from moisture or water intrusion. The electrical connection is surrounded by a flexible, substantially water-impermeable material, such as a plastic sheet. The sheet has strips of adhesive around its perimeter. The sheet is wrapped around the electrical connection such that adhesive on one portion of the sheet is joined to adhesive on another portion of the sheet to form a sealed volume that surrounds the electrical connection. The electrical connection also may be sealed within a plastic sleeve having adhesive strips along the inside edge of the opening at each end of the sleeve. The sealing apparatus is a temporary, disposable, one-time use item that quickly and easily seals connections between extension cords, such as three-prong plug-in type extension cords used outdoors at concert venues, sporting events, construction sites and the like.
US08985583B2

Typically, games are created for entertainment purposes involving trivia information or games are created for educational purposes focused on particularized subjects. Currently, there exists a need for a game that challenges players with questions from a broad range of topics useful for everyday life that are non-trivia.
US08985558B2

The subject of the invention is a diffuser for saturation of water with gas, comprising a diffusion element (1) for diffusing the gas run through the diffuser, wherein the diffusion element (1) is made of charcoal. The invention also refers to a set for saturating water with gas, as well as a method for saturation of water with gas, and the use of charcoal as a diffusion element.
US08985553B2

A pressure protection valve (10) is provided featuring a swivelable output port fitting (40) and a valve element (60) having a portion (64) configured to redirect a portion of the fluid flow toward the fixed seat (30) upon initial opening of the valve (10). The valve element (60) is in a portion of the fitting that is inserted into a pressure container so as to be protected from external forces. The valve (10) may also include a vent cover (110) sealing the vent port (80), the vent cover (110) movable to vent pressure through the vent port (80) when the valve (10) opens and to relieve pressure through the vent port (80) when the valve (10) closes.
US08985548B2

A composite valve has a communication path communicating a first valve chamber with a second valve chamber, a second valve port communicating the second valve chamber with an outflow port, and a pilot passage communicating a back pressure chamber with the outflow port. In the case that a lift amount of a second valve body for a small flow rate control is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the pilot passage is closed by a pilot valve body, and a first valve port is closed by a first valve body, thereby taking a small flow rate control state. In the case that the lift amount of the second valve body goes beyond the predetermined amount, the pilot valve body is moved up in conjunction with the upward movement of a valve shaft so as to open the pilot passage, thereby taking a large flow rate control state.
US08985546B2

A system for accelerated manufacturing of concrete modular housing units including a first deck platform including a plurality of exterior movable wall forms. A second deck platform including a plurality of exterior movable wall forms. A first concrete slab is placed on the first deck platform. At least one core including a plurality of core walls placed on the first concrete slab. The exterior movable wall forms of the first deck platform are positioned proximate the core walls to define a wall space there between configured to receive wet concrete and create a first concrete modular housing unit. A second concrete slab is placed on the second deck platform. Wet concrete in the wall space is allowed to set a until it is partially cured and then the at least one core is removed from the first concrete slab and placed on the second concrete slab such that the at least one core can be reused one or more times during a predetermined amount of time to create a least a second concrete modular housing unit while the first concrete modular housing unit is still curing.
US08985545B2

A supporting assembly is disposed to a case of an electronic device. A window is formed on the case for communicating an inner surface and an outer surface of the case. The supporting assembly includes a fixed part, a latching post, and a support body. The fixed part is disposed to the inner surface. The latching post includes a fixing end and an inserting end. The fixing end runs through the window and is fixed to the fixed part. A first stopping block is disposed to the inserting end. The support body includes a supporting side and a combination side. A combination hole is formed at the combination side for the inserting end to insert therein. The support body further includes a second stopping block protrudly disposed in the combination hole, for stopping the first stopping block to prevent the inserting end from escaping from the combination hole.
US08985543B2

An apparatus and/or systems related to a case for a mobile device. A protective case may include a stand portion which slides out to an open position for propping up the mobile device at a predetermined angle for viewing by a user. The stand portion has springs which hold the stand portion in the open position or a closed position. As the user switches the viewing orientation of the mobile device (e.g., by physically rotating the mobile device 90 degrees), the stand portion continues to prop up the mobile device at the predetermined angle.
US08985534B1

A flat panel television console and support kit allows the consumer to employ any of three modes of support, namely stand mount, console mount, and wall mount. The console assembly has upper and lower shelves on upper and lower shelf supports, which are supported between a pair of legs. A bridge receptacle is located on the upper end of each leg. A bridging structure has ends that can be received in the bridge receptacles. A vertical column having a lower end is detachably secured to the bridging structure at a joint so that the vertical column extends upwardly from the bridging structure, providing an elevated support for a flat panel television. A cap structure can be received in the bridge receptacles when the bridging structure is not used, and a flat panel television may be mounted on a stand on the console or on a wall mount.
US08985527B2

A bracket supports the weight of stand-off standard-width rack-mount equipment and can collapse flat for storage or shipping. An embodiment comprises a back member along the bracket's mounting plane and two stand-off arms each having portions extending along the plane and extending normal to it. Each arm moveably attaches to permit positioning the arm when the bracket is not installed so as to decrease the arm's normal dimension, and each arm comprises at least one anchor permitting attachment to a supporting structure. Another embodiment concerns a method of installing a bracket with a back member and moveably connected stand-off arms, comprising moving each arm in a manner that increases the arm's extension in a direction normal to the mounting plane, and attaching to at least one supporting structure each stand-off arm at at least one anchor.
US08985521B2

The subject of the invention is a control unit (A), which comprises actuation units (F) such as a rudder and brakes for a pilot in an aircraft, which comprises a rotating shaft (2) mobile in rotation around an axis (40); said shaft is driven in rotation when the pilot performs an action on the actuation units (F), in particular the brake pedals, by mechanical transmission between said shaft and said actuation units, and which comprises a device for generating resistive torque (1) designed to be fastened along the rotating axis of the control unit; the device for generating resistive torque comprises a friction disk (3, 4, 5) mounted axially and fastened to the rotating axle (2), a first annular track (6, 7, 8) fastened to a frame element (9) of the control unit; and means of support (10, 11, 12).
US08985520B1

A parachute canopy system includes a canopy having a skirt and a suspension line system, where each suspension line of the suspension line system is attached to the skirt. A pair of first line members is attached to the canopy, the pair of first line members extending in a substantially radial direction away from the skirt towards a center of the canopy. A first end of each line member in the pair of first line members is connected together to the suspension line at the skirt. A first end of the second line member is connected to adjacent second ends of adjacent pairs of first line members that extend towards the center of the canopy.
US08985514B2

Structural panel assemblies include first and second composite panels positioned in edgewise alignment, with at least one tab extending from a mating edge of the first panel and including an exterior surface in facing registration with a corresponding portion of an interior surface of the second composite panel. The corresponding portion includes a recessed area to interfit with the tab or is otherwise configured to receive the tab. The exterior surface of the tab is spaced from the corresponding portion, to receive a bonding material therebetween for bonding the composite panels.
US08985511B2

A method of positioning landing gear of an airplane is provided that includes providing the landing gear including a shock strut, a truck beam operatively pivotally connected to the shock strut, first and second interconnected links operatively connected to the truck beam and a third link extending between the shock strut and the first and second links with the third link pivotally connected to the second link at a third pivot. When the landing gear is commanded to a lowered position, the third pivot is positioned in a first position to support a taxi mode, a take-off mode and a landing mode if the landing gear is operational and in a second position to support an alternate landing mode if the landing gear is not fully operational. When the landing gear is commanded to a raised position, the third pivot is in the second position to support a stow mode.
US08985503B2

A method of modifying a helicopter includes providing a tail boom of the helicopter. The tail boom includes a first side located on an opposite side of the tail boom from a second side of the tail boom. A main rotor blade of the helicopter approaches the second side of the tail boom during rotation. The first side and the second side of the tail boom include asymmetrical surface profiles about a vertical plane of the tail boom. The method further includes securing a plurality of vortex generators to the first side of the tail boom.
US08985496B2

A drum assembly having a post, and first and second spoke frames. Each of the first and second spoke frames includes expandable spokes and immovable spokes, extending away from the post. Each expandable spoke includes a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A plurality of first drum segments each are mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame. A plurality of second drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame. Mechanical actuators, extending between the post and either the expandable spokes or the first drum segments, move the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions.
US08985495B2

An welding wire entanglement prevention device disposed in an upper portion of the welding wire stacked unit for preventing the welding wire from being entangled when the welding wire stacked as continuous plural loops, is drawn out from a container, comprises a wire pressing section arranged at an upper portion of a welding wire stacked unit received in a container and in which a central cavity is formed wherein the wire pressing section comprises an upper plate-shaped flexible member made of a magnetic unit and a lower plate-shaped flexible member disposed in a lower portion of the upper plate-shaped flexible member, and the welding wire is drawn out into the cavity between the upper plate-shaped flexible member and the lower plate-shaped flexible member.
US08985494B2

The invention relates to a cable drum for automatically winding up a cable having an inner drum part (2), an outer drum part (1) and a back panel (3). The inner drum part (2) is connected to a hollow cylindrical link (23), whose inner wall has at least one vaulting (24), wherein a brake lever (6) is mounted in a radially moveable manner to the back panel (3), having at least one slot hole (63), in which the axis (71) of a brake wheel (7) is guided, which protrudes into the link (23) and abuts on its inner wall, wherein the at least one slot hole (63) is positioned angularly in a way that the brake wheel (7) during rotation of the link (23) is pressed against the inner wall of the link in winding direction of the cable drum and wherein a locking element is arranged at the brake lever (6) downstream of the brake wheel (7) in winding direction of the cable drum, which interacts with at least one tuck bar arranged at the inner drum part (2) in a manner that it is only locked when passing the tuck bar in winding direction of the cable drum.
US08985480B2

A controller may drive a solenoid switch valve to switch the same between a first connecting state and a second connecting state in a state where an electric pump is stopped. In the first connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a rear washer nozzle. In the second connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a camera washer nozzle. The controller may also display a captured image of an onboard camera and a camera wash touch panel switch on a display when the controller receives a reverse mode signal. The controller may drive the pump to feed the washer fluid to the camera washer nozzle when the controller receives a command signal from the camera wash touch panel switch.
US08985479B2

A framed freshener provides a thermal formed cavity, or thermoplastic shell, carrying scented gel that fits into a picture frame. The present invention locates a fragrant gel in a thermal formed cavity or thermoplastic shell or container which is then placed within a suitably designed picture frame. Coupling a fragrance with a photo in a frame, the present invention seeks to foster memories in those who view the frame. Additionally, the shell carrying gel makes the frame a decorative air freshening device. The picture frame and the opening for the fragrance container can be die cut to any shape. An alternate embodiment has the shell supported in a wire frame upon a base.
US08985477B2

A system and method is described generally for providing a high altitude structure including an elongated structure coupled to the ground and extending skyward. The elongated structure at least partially supported by buoyancy effects, the elongated structure including at least one lumen, the at least one lumen configured to transport at least one material and to vent the at least one material to the atmosphere. The system and method also include a gas having a density that is less dense than that of the atmosphere outside of the elongated structure; the gas is disposed in one or more voids of the elongated structure. The system and method includes the use of an introducer configured to provide the gas into the one or more voids. The system and method further include a payload coupled to the elongated structure and being held aloft by the elongated structure.
US08985472B2

A rotary aluminum kiln temperature regulation system comprising a temperature sensing device in the kiln that is configured to take temperature readings in an area of the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device. The system including a wireless transmitter operatively associated with the temperature sensing device and a receiver wirelessly associated with the transmitter, such that the transmitter and receiver wirelessly transmit the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensing device from the transmitter to the receiver. The system also including a control unit operatively connected to the receiver that is configured to receive the transmitted temperature readings and determine when the transmitted temperature readings exceed a predefined temperature setpoint. The control unit is operatively connected to a heat flow control device that can adjust heat flow inside the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device, such that the control unit regulates the heat flow control device to maintain a desired level of heat flow in the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device in response to the temperature readings transmitted from the temperature sensing device.
US08985471B2

The invention relates to a security tag made unique by randomly distributing a mixture of large numbers of multicolored small objects, such as two colored glass balls, into a regular geometric array or pattern onto a substrate and encapsulating those objects. The objects in the regular array on the substrate will create a unique, non-reproducible pattern. The data, saved to a secure database, can be processed and calculated quantities can be derived from the field of binary data, which can be affixed to the document or manufactured part that the stamp is affixed to. The regular array can be read out by scanner, quantities calculated, and compared to the values printed on the part or document. Additionally, the regular array can be read out by optical scanner and parts or all of the data compared to the data stored in the secure database.
US08985466B2

A multi-function Radio-Frequency device integrated into a computer system is disclosed and includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a touchpad area disposed on the first surface of the substrate for generating a touch signal according to a touch situation, an antenna disposed on the first surface and/or the second surface of the substrate for receiving and transmitting a Radio-Frequency signal, and a control module disposed on the second surface of the substrate and coupled to the touchpad area and the antenna for generating a touch control signal according to the touch signal and generating an identification signal according to the Radio-Frequency signal to the computer system.
US08985462B2

A method includes the following: (1) detecting light from a target object to capture multiple images of the target object while substantially maintaining the distance between the target object and the imaging lens arrangement that is configured to have a focus position thereof changed with a lens-driving-parameter; (2) processing the at least one of the multiple images to determine a feature-size in an aiming pattern; (3) processing at least two of the multiple images to find an optimal lens-driving-parameter that results in the maximum image sharpness; and (4) storing both the feature-size and the optimal lens-driving-parameter into a memory.
US08985459B2

A decodable indicia reading terminal can comprise a laser-based scanner, an imager-based scanner, a central processing unit (CPU), and an illumination assembly. The laser-based scanner can include a laser source, a photo-detector, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The laser source can be configured to emit a laser beam onto a substrate bearing decodable indicia. The photo-detector can be configured to receive a beam of a variable intensity reflected by the decodable indicia, and to output a first analog signal representative of the variable intensity. The A/D converter can be configured to convert the first analog signal into a first digital signal. The imager-based scanner can include a multiple pixel image sensor, an imaging lens, and an A/D converter. The imaging lens can be configured to focus an image of the decodable indicia on the image sensor. The A/D converter can be configured to convert into a second digital signal a second analog signal read out of the image sensor and representative of light incident on the image sensor. The CPU can be configured to output a decoded message data corresponding to the decodable indicia by processing the first digital signal and/or the second digital signal. The illumination assembly can include an indicator light bar and an illumination light bar. The ON/OFF state and color of the indicator light bar can reflect the state of the decodable indicia reading terminal. The illumination light bar can be configured to generate a high intensity illumination for illuminating the substrate bearing the decodable indicia. The wavelength of the light generated by the indicator light bar can be substantially equal to the wavelength of the light generated by the illumination light bar, and the light generated by the illumination light bar can have a very low perceived intensity.
US08985450B2

Provided is a card insertion unit for a card reader which, without weakening a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generating device in order to prevent reading of magnetic data by a magnetic head for skimming, is capable of reducing the effect of the magnetic field upon the reading of the magnetic data by way of the magnetic head for data reading. This card insertion unit may be provided with a notch formed at a point at which a magnetic stripe passes at insertion time of the card a projecting portion which projects toward the upstream side of the insertion direction of the card and a magnetic field generating device disposed in the interior of the projecting portion.
US08985446B2

Apparatus and methods for identifying and counting objects having identifiers entering and exiting a surgical field are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an entry scanner, a hand held scanner and an exit scanner for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. In another embodiment, the apparatus has a plurality of lower antennas and an upper antenna for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. Various surgical devices with identifiers and methods for preventing electromagnetic coupling between and protecting objects and identifier are also provided. The invention further provides apparatus and methods comprising a handheld scanner and a mat adapted to underlie a patient during a surgical procedure.
US08985430B2

A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components, femoral hip components, and/or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a solid metal substrate; providing a porous metal structure; contouring a surface of the porous metal structure; placing the porous structure against the substrate such that the contoured surface of the porous metal structure is disposed against the substrate, thereby forming an assembly; applying heat and pressure to the assembly in conjunction with thermal expansion of the substrate in order to metallurgically bond the porous structure and the substrate; and removing mass from the substrate after the porous structure is bonded to the substrate, thereby finish processing the assembly.
US08985425B2

A fluid supply control device and a gas combustion type nailer including the fluid supply control device are provided. The fluid supply control device includes a gauging chamber configured to be charged with a fluid, an inlet port through which the fluid flows into the gauging chamber, an outlet port through which the fluid flows out from the gauging chamber, a first valve element arranged inside the gauging chamber to close the inlet port, a second valve element arranged inside the gauging chamber to close the outlet port, an electromagnetic biasing structure configured to electromagnetically bias the first valve element and the second valve element, and an elastic biasing structure configured to elastically bias at least one of the first valve element and the second valve element. The first valve element and the second valve element are independently movable and are actuated with a time difference.
US08985419B2

The present disclosure describes a kit of parts, system and method for providing survival assistance in an emergency, the kit of parts includes a sealable container for storing emergency tools and materials therein, a lid that removably attaches to the sealable container, a collapsible band that, when expanded, slidably engages the exterior circumference of the sealable container and that, when collapsed, is stored within the sealable container, a carabiner that attaches to the collapsible band, a first reshaped paper clip that attaches to the collapsible band and edible material, a second reshaped paper cip that attaches to the collapsible band and an edible material and a wire saw that attaches to the collapsible band.
US08985415B2

A rack for holding a wheeled vehicle within the bed of a pickup truck includes a frame and an upper arm and a lower arm attached to the frame. The upper and lower arms are movable with respect to one another to allow a wheel of the bicycle or other vehicle to be inserted or removed from the arms. The frame may be adjustable to snugly retain it within the bed of a vehicle.
US08985413B1

Apparatus and method for a clip-like device for attaching the head of a hammer or like tool to the belt which is being worn about the waist of a user. Various embodiments are shown wherein the clip may be attached to the head of the hammer in various ways.
US08985394B1

The present invention involves the field of numerous types of compounds including tooth whitening compounds and in particular, to specific apparatus which are used to retain tooth whitening compounds and then dispense them either into a dental tray where the tray is placed over the patient's teeth for a period of time or the tooth whitening compound is directly applied to the patient's teeth by the dentist or the dental assistant. More broadly described, the present invention includes compound and applicators used to dispense the compounds including tooth whitening compounds, dental bonding and filling compounds, adhesives, finely ground powder, jells, creams and paints.
US08985390B2

A composition dispensing apparatus which can deliver an repeatable and accurate unit dose of a composition including: a compressible container; a unit dose delivery system comprising an entry element, an exit element, side walls and a dosage chamber; a dispensing aperture; wherein the linear movement ratio of the exit element to the entry element is about 1 or less.
US08985384B2

A container (10) has a base (12) on a cap (14). The container (10) has a chamber (38) for liquid. The base (12) on the cap (14) are arranged to be interengaged so as to seal hermetically the chamber (38). The base (12) and the cap (14) have multi-sided portions which interengaged to form the hermetic seal. The cap (14) has outwardly flared sides so that as the cap (14) is rotated relative to the base (12) the cap is caused to move out of the base and the hermetic seal is broken so that the contents of the chamber (38) may be accessed.
US08985382B2

A food container includes a base and a lid, and the lid may have a recess configured to receive a second container. The base may comprise a formed cavity that provides a bowl into which food or other items may be placed. The recess in the lid may receive a cup containing another item, such as a condiment or topping. The cup with the condiment or topping may be inserted into the recess, and removed from the recess, without removing the lid from the base. The lid and/or the base may be formed from any suitable materials, such as a transparent or non-transparent plastic material, and/or a compostable material.
US08985371B2

A resealable beverage container includes a cap that moves between storage, opening, removal and resealing positions. Ramps are used to enhance an opening force generally delivered by the engagement between the socket and the cap. An elastomeric sealing element is disposed between the cap and the socket so that when the cap is in the fully seated or sealed position, an airtight or at least substantially airtight seal is created to prevent the contents of the container from leaking out. Further enhancements are disclosed that include a score line structure in the socket bottom wall that facilitates a predictable and repeatable opening of the container along the score line. A grip is provided that includes a gap or space into which a coin or other implement can be inserted to allow the consumer a better grip to provide adequate opening force.
US08985370B2

Certain embodiments of the present invention include a drink bottle with a removable lid including an inner lid attached to the mouth of the bottle and an outer lid pivotably mounted to the inner lid. A drink spout extends from the inner lid. The outer lid may be latched into a closed position covering the drink spout. A push button can be selectively actuated to release the latched outer lid, permitting the outer lid to open to access the drink spout. The push button moves a lid slide containing a catch extension that engages a catch notch in the outer lid to latch the outer lid closed. Actuating the push button moves the catch extension out of engagement with the catch notch, thereby opening the outer lid. A push button lock selectively prevents the push button from being depressed and the lid slide from being actuated, thereby locking the outer lid in a latched and closed position.
US08985360B2

A cap for a drain hose and a plurality of bottles with different opening sizes is provided. The cap includes a main body and an extension body. The main body includes a main sleeve, a sleeve for drain hose and a leakage-proof part, wherein the main sleeve is for engaging with a first bottle, the sleeve for drain hose is for engaging with the drain hose, and the leakage-proof part is for closely sealing the opening of the first bottle. The extension body is formed integrally with the main body and extends outwardly from the main body, the extension body including an extension sleeve for engaging with a second bottle, the opening size of the second bottle being larger than the opening size of the first bottle.
US08985351B1

A display device is provided which may be used to display surfboard fins and related product literature. In one example, a display device includes a plurality of tubes and machined parts which may be assembled and configured as further disclosed herein. Such a display device may be used, for example, to hold and secure surfboard fins to facilitate display of the fins and permit the handling of the fins by consumers. Advantageously, the display device may also be implemented to prevent the fins from being completely detached from the display device without the use of an appropriate security device. The display device may also be implemented to hold and secure information (e.g., product literature) associated with the fins.
US08985348B2

An organizer for keeping bras and accessories organized in a closet. The organizer is able to be hung in the closet and contains storage compartments that make the bras visible for color selection. A series of holders from either side of the organizer provides sufficient storage space for storing one bra or multiple stacked bras. The holders contains a pair of bra cavities which allow the sitting of the bra cups in their pretended wear form so as to expand in their natural form without deforming the bra cups.
US08985347B2

A spice rack is adapted to hold a plurality of spice containers. The rack includes opposing back-to-back rows of compartments, with each compartment having resilient sidewalls for holding at least one spice container. The back-to-back pairs of compartments are integrally formed, with laterally adjacent pairs of compartments having mating edges which couple together. Any number of compartments can be added so that the rack has any desired linear length.
US08985341B2

Apparatus and methods for grading products and forming predetermined mixes of graded products. Graders sort products into different grades. The graded products are formed into batches of known quantity. Each batch is designated for deposit in a bin specified to have a certain mixture of graded products. A conveyor conveys the batches to the designated bin. The quantity of each batch is determined by count or weight.
US08985339B2

In a method and an arrangement for treating a light fraction that is produced during the treatment of plastic-rich waste that is low in metal, at least the following steps are carried out consecutively: the light fraction is stressed by percussion and/or bashing, the light fraction is classified into at least two light fraction classes, at least one light fraction class is separated into at least one light material fraction and a heavy material fraction, at least one light material fraction is cleaned. The cleaning of the light material fraction (fibrous material), obtained after the separation, provides a very clean initial substance to be obtained, resulting in clearly improved material recycling and energy recovery.
US08985338B2

A package for bedding includes a blank of material formed into a loop, the loop having an enclosed top side, an enclosed bottom side, first and second enclosed lateral sides extending between the enclosed top side and the enclosed bottom side, a first openings at a first end of the loop, and a second opening at a second end of the loop. A section of the enclosed top side is joined together to form handle that extends along a top side of the loop between the first opening at the first end of the loop and the second opening at the second end of the loop. The package has a central opening defined by the enclosed top side, the enclosed bottom side, and the first and second enclosed lateral sides of the loop, the central opening extending from the first opening at the first end of the loop to the second opening at the second end of the loop. A box is disposed within the central opening of the loop.
US08985337B2

Display packaging for plush toys or dolls that allows the packaged toy to be neatly displayed on a retail shelf in an upright, sitting position so that the toy's features can be readily seen is described. In particular, the display packaging facilitates, and encourages, a child accompanying an adult purchaser at a retail location to hug or cuddle the toy without the display packaging impeding that experience. The display packaging also uses much less packaging material than previous packaging for similar products.
US08985332B2

The present invention relates to an assembled packing case, which comprises a bottom component with a criss-cross underside, corner components embedded to vacant corners of the bottom component, and limiting holes provided at embedding positions between the bottom component and the corner components; wherein the assembled packing case further comprises fasteners inserted into the limiting holes to define the relative position between the bottom component and the corner components; the bottom component and the corner components are set as mortise and tenon structures at the embedding positions, and the mortise and tenon structures limit the relative displacement between the bottom component and corner components in the vertical direction; and the corner components are embedded to the bottom component to form a case body by the mortise and tenon structures. The structure of the assembled packing case is simple and the cost is low.
US08985292B2

A clutch operating device includes a drive mechanism and an assist mechanism. The drive mechanism is configured to generate a driving force and transmit the driving force to a clutch device. The assist mechanism is a mechanism for assisting the drive mechanism and includes a pressure mechanism and a toggle mechanism. The pressure mechanism is configured to generate a pressing force. The toggle mechanism is configured to convert the pressing force of the pressure mechanism into an assist force gradually increased from a power blocked state to a power transmitted state of the clutch device.
US08985291B2

A vehicle differential unit (DU), including: a torsional damper assembly having a plurality of independently sprung damper assemblies positioned with respect to the DU, each damper assembly configured to reduce noise or vibration generated by the DU in a predetermined frequency range.
US08985285B2

The railway vehicle brake disc includes a cylindrical hub, friction ring, and bell-shaped flange connecting the hub with the friction ring. The cylindrical hub defines a central axis and has an axial width and an outer diameter. The surface at the outer diameter defines an outer hub periphery. The friction ring includes two opposed annular members each having an outer braking surface and an inner surface. The annular members are connected to each other by a plurality of fins extending from the inner surface of one annular member to the inner surface of the other annular member. The bell-shaped flange has an inner portion connected to the hub, an outer portion connected to the fins, and a radial portion connecting the inner portion to the outer portion. The hub, friction ring, and bell-shaped flange are formed integrally from a single material.
US08985279B2

Disclosed is a method for feeding a grease composition for grease-feeding to bearing units comprising 35 to 85 wt. % of fluorine-based grease and 65 to 15 wt. % of fluorine-based organic solvent; the method comprising jetting the grease composition into an inner portion of a bearing unit, such as a bearing for a conveyor chain having a grease-feeding hole, so as to feed the fluorine-based grease in an amount accounting for 10 to 45 volume % of the space volume in the bearing. According to the grease-feeding method, the grease composition for grease-feeding can be effectively applied to a bearing unit having a grease-feeding hole (nipple), thereby can be sufficiently supplied to a lubrication part, and allows grease-feeding without leakage from the bearing unit.
US08985277B2

A case comprises a radially inner case hub, a radially outer case section with an outer wall, a plurality of circumferentially distributed struts extending radially between the inner hub and the outer case section, and a lubricant scavenge passage disposed circumferentially apart from a bottom dead center (BDC) position of the case. The lubricant scavenge passage includes an inner scavenge section extending radially through a first one of the plurality of struts.
US08985276B2

A portable pathway apparatus for providing a path over an earthen surface that includes a pliable frame member comprising one or more layers; a row of mating holes disposed on each side of the pliable frame member; a set of independently adjustable steps coupled to the pliable frame member in a first orientation direction; wherein each independently adjustable step comprises an adjustment mechanism, and wherein each independently adjustable step is coupled to the pliable frame member with a mount that aligns with the row of mating holes on each of the corresponding sides of the pliable frame member, whereby each of the independently adjustable steps is also movable along a length of the pliable frame member.
US08985274B2

A mobile platform has a separate and independent linear actuator pivotally connected near each opposite end of the platform where there is a contact limit switch that when triggered by contact with the side of a flatbed, stops movement of the actuator, and thus stops movement of the platform, toward the side of the flatbed. Because each of the two actuators is pivotally connected to its respective end of the platform and moves independently of the other, each end of the platform can stop moving toward the flatbed before or after, depending on how the flatbed is misaligned, the other end of the platform stops moving toward the flatbed. In this way the platform self-aligns to the alignment of the flatbed and avoids the need to reposition a flatbed that is not precisely aligned parallel to the central axis of the loading bay.
US08985268B2

A speaker enclosure may include a speaker enclosure frame with a back wall, a first, inner wall and a second, outer wall extending from the back wall. The first, inner wall may be longer than the second, outer wall such that a baffle attaches to the first, inner wall, but only attaches to the second, outer wall via the first, inner wall and the back wall.
US08985266B2

A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing including a cylinder portion and a casing, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod, the casing including at least one opening portion that opens in parallel to the rod and a communication hole provided separately from the opening portion, the casing positioned surrounding the rod extending from the cylinder portion and being fixed to the cylinder portion, a cover member joined to the casing to seal the opening portion of the casing, a controller housed in the casing, a power line and a signal line electrically connected to the controller in the casing, and a thermal shrinkage tube surrounding the power line and the signal line to retain thereof. The power line and the signal line are liquid-tightly supported in the communication hole of the casing via the thermal shrinkage tube.
US08985259B2

In a fuel cell vehicle, the power generation amount of a fuel cell into which air is introduced from a front side of a vehicle and from which air is discharged to a rear side of the vehicle is increased while the fuel cell is protected when an impact force acts on the vehicle. A fuel cell case (24) is arranged in a cage-shaped sub frame (32) surrounding a front, rear, left, and right side portions of the fuel cell case (24), a drive unit (7) formed by coupling a drive motor (5) and a gear box (6) to each other is joined to a rear side portion of the sub frame (32), and left and right end portions of the sub frame (32) and the drive unit (7) are supported on a vehicle body (15) respectively by mounting devices (33, 34, 35).
US08985258B1

A body on frame vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a small offset impact load management system including upper and lower rear blocker structures and a reinforcement blocker structure for managing impact loads applied to the wheel and tire of the vehicle from being directed further toward the body. The reinforcement blocker structure includes a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending angularly outwardly and located rearward and distal the wheel and tire and proximal a longitudinal cross frame member for transferring the small offset impact loads transferred by the wheel and tire in a cross vehicle direction.
US08985252B2

A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. Each driven wheels is driven by a hydraulic motor with a continuous adjustment of the motor displacement, with the motor being driven by a pump also having continuous displacement. The motor displacement is controlled by an electronic controller in response to stroking of the speed control lever to manage the displacement to provide required drive torques at different points in the stroke. There is provided an automatic steering system having a guidance controller arranged to receive GPS position information which controls the steering by differentially adjusting the displacement of the motors so that the automatic steering is independent of the manual steering which controls the pumps.
US08985248B2

Cutting elements comprise a multi-portion polycrystalline material. At least one portion of the multi-portion polycrystalline material comprises a higher volume of nanoparticles than at least another portion. Earth-boring tools comprise a body and at least one cutting element attached to the body. The at least one cutting element comprises a hard polycrystalline material. The hard polycrystalline material comprises a first portion comprising a first volume of nanoparticles. A second portion of the hard polycrystalline material comprises a second volume of nanoparticles. The first volume of nanoparticles differs from the second volume of nanoparticles. Methods of forming cutting elements for earth-boring tools comprise forming a volume of superabrasive material, including forming a first portion of the superabrasive material comprising a first volume of nanoparticles. A second portion of the superabrasive material is formed comprising a second volume of nanoparticles, the second volume differing from the first volume.
US08985245B2

The present invention relates to a drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools comprising a percussion bit (1) having a head portion (3) formed with an axially extending stub shank (32); axially extending splines (36) on the stub shank (32) slideably engageable with complementary splines (35) formed on a drive chuck (4) whereby rotational drive from the chuck (4) may be transmitted to the stub shank (32); bit retaining means adapted for engagement with complementary retaining means on the stub shank to retain the stub shank in the drill bit assembly; and engagement means on the chuck (4) adapted for connecting the chuck (4) to a drive means (5) of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool. The bit retaining means comprises a bit retaining ring (41), and the complementary retaining means comprises a retaining shoulder (37) on the stub shank, wherein the bit retaining ring is arranged to engage the retaining shoulder to retain the stub shank in the drill bit assembly. A portion (42) of the bit retaining ring (41) adapted to engage the retaining shoulder (37) to retain the stub shank (32) in the drill bit assembly is disposed within the chuck (4).
US08985241B2

The present invention is an articulating hand power tool with a main housing having a longitudinal axis, a head portion rotatably engaged with the main housing for placement at a plurality of angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main housing, an integrated circuit board located within the main housing and at least one controller accessible from outside of the main housing for controlling the integrated circuit board.
US08985231B2

Methods and systems are provided for selectively displacing water from a hydraulically continuous water zone in a porous geological formation. The target zone to be displaced is defined by a hydrodynamically maintained pressure differential, which has been shown to be capable of confining an expanding injected gas zone. One or more gas injection wells and water production wells are located within the zone. During pressurized gas injection within the zone, the gas displaces water downward within the confined zone such that water is selectively produced from the target zone and the injected gas zone is confined within the hydraulically continuous water zone.
US08985217B2

A method, device, and system for determining whether liquid enters a subsea system includes a flow line having an inside bore capable of carrying producing fluids from a subsea wellhead to a floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO). An annulus is defined between an innermost sheath that surrounds the inside bore and an outermost sheath at an exterior of the flow line. The device further includes a housing element disposed within the annulus and in hydraulic communication with the annulus; a sensor element disposed at a predetermined location within the housing element; and data acquisition equipment capable of: determining environmental characteristics of the annulus based on measurements made by the sensor element, and determining at least one of the presence, location, and rate of collection of liquids in the subsea system based on the environmental characteristics of the annulus.
US08985214B2

A method for reducing corrosion on the exterior or interior surface, for example coiled tubing and casing, includes mixing a selected surfactant and particles of a polymer in oil, then adding the oil to water and contacting the surfaces of the tubing with the mixture.
US08985207B2

A completion assembly is run downhole into a well. The assembly includes a valve and a material that is adapted to initially configure the valve to prevent fluid flow through the valve in at least one direction. The technique includes performing a downhole completion operation in the well and disintegrating the material to allow the prevented fluid flow through a nozzle of the valve. The nozzle is used to regulate production or injection in the well.
US08985196B2

A heat dissipation device with mounting structure includes a main body and a plurality of mounting elements. The main body includes an internally defined chamber having a first side and an opposite second side; a plurality of supports located in the chamber and respectively having two ends connected to the first side and the second side of the chamber; a working fluid filled in the chamber; and a plurality of connection sections in the form of recesses formed on an outer surface of the main body at positions corresponding to the supports in the chamber. The mounting elements are connected to the connection sections. With these arrangements, the heat dissipation device with the mounting elements connected to one outer surface thereof can maintain the chamber in the main body in an airtight state and ensure tight contact of it with a heat-generating element.
US08985194B2

A radiating fin and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The radiating fin includes a main body having a first side and an opposite second side, and being provided with at least one through hole to extend between the first and the second side for a heat pipe to extend therethrough; and at least one extension being formed on at least one of the first and the second side of the main body to locate around the at least one through hole and axially project from the main body. The extension is crimped to form a plurality of circumferentially alternate ridge portions and valley portions for tightly pressing against an outer surface of the heat pipe, so as to firmly bind the radiating fin to the heat pipe. A thermal module can be formed by sequentially binding a plurality of the radiating fins to the heat pipe.
US08985183B2

The invention relates to a screen tensioning system having a mesh screen and a U-shaped channel that engages an edge of the mesh screen. A clamp engages the U-shaped channel and the mesh screen. A frame having a substantially H-shaped cross section, wherein parallel side members converge to define a longitudinal slot permit the mesh screen to extend through the longitudinal slot, yet the clamp remains secured within the frame. A plurality of fasteners secure the clamp to the frame and are tightened to apply varying degrees of local tension to the screen. Preferably, no fasteners are used to secure the screen to the clamp.
US08985158B2

A fabric tube with two passages comprises a fabric tube sheet. A first fabric weld strip with right and left flanges extending laterally from a bottom edge of a weld fin is welded to a first surface extending the length of the fabric tube sheet at a distance D1 from the first edge thereof. A second fabric weld strip is welded to an opposite second surface and extends the length of the fabric tube sheet between the first fabric weld strip and the second edge of the fabric tube sheet at a distance D2 from the second edge of the fabric tube sheet. The first edge of the fabric tube sheet is welded to the weld fin of the second fabric weld strip and the second edge of the fabric tube sheet is welded to the weld fin of the first fabric weld strip to form two passages.
US08985154B2

The invention includes systems and methods for heating a fluid and transporting the fluid at an elevated temperature. The system includes a fiber reinforced spoolable pipe. This spoolable pipe may include an inner layer, at least one reinforcing layer, at least one heating element, and at least one insulation layer. The heating element may be located external to the inner layer. The invention also includes methods of deploying and rehabilitating a spoolable pipe for transporting a fluid at elevated temperature.
US08985145B2

A combination flow control and reverse flow check valve controls the flow of fluid in a desired downstream direction and limits undesired backflow of liquid in an upstream direction into a fluid source such as a reservoir. The flow control and reverse flow check valve may include a housing having a fluid conveying channel with an upstream end configured for mounting to the liquid source and a downstream end for discharging fluids, a flow control valve positioned between the ends, and a check element positioned in the channel between the flow control valve and the downstream end. The check element is advantageously positioned between the flow control valve and the downstream end of the housing to prevent possible contaminants in a backflow liquid from reaching the flow control valve.
US08985141B2

In order to achieve seal durability and bring about a damping action for a piston-type pressure regulating valve, a pressure regulating valve of the present invention is characterized by a valve moving member moving in such a manner as to cause communication or block communication between a primary chamber and a secondary chamber within a case, wherein a plurality of central members are arranged between the case and the valve moving member and the plurality of central members are taken to be different materials. It is then possible to bring about both a damping action and seal durability using the central members by providing central members of different materials.
US08985137B2

Mounting assemblies for use with fluid control devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a bonnet to be coupled to a valve and a mounting assembly including a first side to be coupled to an actuator and a second side to be rotatably coupled at an end of the bonnet to enable a rotational position of the mounting assembly to change relative to the bonnet.
US08985126B2

A wash arm arrangement (20) for a dishwasher is disclosed. The wash arm arrangement comprises a central arm (21) adapted to be rotatably connected with a first shaft (23) through which liquid under pressure is fed into the central arm during operation. A second shaft (24) is arranged on the central arm to provide liquid to a satellite arm (22) which is rotatably connected with the second shaft. The satellite arm comprises a collimating nozzle (25) with an exit. The collimating nozzle is arranged for providing a collimated jet for distributing liquid to a washing area of the dishwasher. The inventive concept is based on an understanding that by utilizing a collimated liquid jet with sufficient pressure and flow a good cleaning performance is achieved with a reduced water consumption.
US08985124B2

The invention provides a composition for topical treatment of hair loss/alopecia including three natural, active ingredients, caffeine, saw palmetto berry extract, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The invention also provides methods for using this composition to treat hair loss.
US08985122B1

A fingernail decoration kit includes a pair of pivotally-joined handles that reciprocate in a scissors-like fashion. The handles open and close a pair of jaws that are each configured to releasably retain any one of a plurality of manicuring dies for either shaping or piercing a nail, or crimping a jewelry item thereto.
US08985121B2

A method and a device for minimally invasive treatment of diseased deep and superficial venous valves are disclosed. Treatment seeks to repair/rejuvenate dysfunctional valve by reducing the circumference of dilated valve rings and by restoring their original shape and function using laser energy to make physical suture points and shrink collagen in selected points. Real time monitoring is by angioscopic view and endovenous echographic control. In a preferred embodiment, system comprises a specific catheter-like device for endovenous insertion that allows for real time view of energy emission and venous surface to be corrected. Catheter flexibility is such that viewing angle and direct energy emission can be oriented properly. Catheter can comprise channels for irrigation or for interchange of laser fibers according to desired irradiation pattern. A preferred embodiment of catheter device also comprises cuffs for temporary occlusion, by inflation and deflation. In preferred embodiments, 1470 nm, 1550 nm or 1900 nm laser energy is applied. This treatment can be applied to venous valves of the deep venous system, as well as valves of the sapheno-femoral junction, terminal valve and pre-terminal valve.
US08985116B2

Described herein are nasal devices. In particular, layered nasal respiratory devices are described. Layered nasal device may include a layered airflow resistor that is configured to resist airflow in a first direction more than airflow in a second direction and that includes a flap valve adjacent to a flap valve limiting layer and an adhesive holdfast layer that is configured to secure the layered airflow resistor in communication with the subject's nasal cavity. Methods of using and methods of assembling layered nasal device are also described.
US08985108B2

Indicating fit status of a mask in communication with a respiratory assistance device is disclosed. Upon initiating a therapeutic gas delivery from the respiratory assistance device to the mask, one or more measurements from respective one or more sensors of the respiratory assistance device is received. A leakage value from these measurements is derived, and a mask fit index is assigned. This is based at least upon a correlation of the leakage value to a particular sub-range of predetermined leakage values that corresponds to the mask fit index. The particular sub-range of predetermined leakage values is one among a plurality of sub-ranges, which together comprises an overall mask fit range defined at least by an ideal mask fit region, a loose mask fit region, and a tight mask fit region. A mask fit status based upon the assigned mask fit index is output to an indicator interface.
US08985106B2

Automated methods provide hypopnea detection for determining a hypopnea event and/or a severity of a hypopnea event. In some embodiments, a calculated short-term variance of a measured respiratory flow signal are compared to first and second proportions of a calculated long-term variance of the measured flow signal. A detection of the hypopnea may be indicated if the first measure falls below and does not exceed a range of the first and second proportions during a first time period. In some embodiments, a hypopnea severity measure is determined by automated measuring of an area bounded by first and second crossings of a short-term measure of ventilation and a proportion of a long-term measure. The detection methodologies may be implemented for data analysis by a specific purpose computer, a detection device that measures a respiratory airflow or a respiratory treatment apparatus that provides a respiratory treatment regime based on the detected hypopneas.
US08985105B2

The present invention provides a gas delivery device and system and methods for delivering humidified pressurized gas through a conduit to a subject. The configuration of the elements of the gas delivery device enable the device to be conveniently oriented from a horizontal to vertical position to suit the needs of a user. The gas delivery device may incorporate a Helmholtz resonator for dampening sound of the motor. The conduit may incorporate concentric tubes to allow it to conveniently engage the humidifier at a single aperture. The invention includes a method of operating a blower motor for a gas delivery device using a single Hall sensor.
US08985103B2

A dry powder inhaler includes a dose container assembly having a dose container disk with opposing upper and lower surfaces, a first row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a first radius and a second row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a second radius. The dose containers have dry powder therein and are sealed via a first flexible sealant over apertures in the upper surface and a second flexible sealant over apertures in the lower surface. A piercing mechanism includes two reciprocating piercers that serially alternate between the two rows of dose containers in the dose container disk. A rotatable ramp disk includes first and second sets of circumferentially spaced-apart ramp elements in staggered, concentric relationship that are configured to move the first and second piercing members between retracted and extended positions.
US08985101B2

The present disclosure provides an inhaler having a vibration element for aerosolizing medicament contained in a blister pack, wherein individual blister packs are positioned within the housing to be simultaneously engaged with the flow channel and the vibration element. The flow channel includes a blister pack clamping surface that engages the blister pack near the top of the crown and allows the blister three rotational degrees of freedom. The advantages of this arrangement include improved consistency and higher airspeed of the synthetic jet, as well as other advantages.
US08985100B2

For use in premature babies and infants, in particular for administering surfactant to the lungs, the inhalation therapy device described herein comprises an aerosol generating device 1, a respiratory air flow generating means 3 and a nebulising chamber 5 into which the generated liquid droplets 2 and the respiratory air flow 4 are supplied. The nebulising chamber 5 comprises a tapering area 52 which ends in a tubular intubation means 6. The intubation means 6 is designed such that the intubation end 6b can be positioned in such a manner that the liquid droplet/respiratory air mixture conveyed via the intubation means is released behind those areas of the respiratory tract that filter out to a great extent the liquid droplets from the mixture.
US08985095B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to water heaters adapted to be mounted on or proximate the roof of a structure such as a building (e.g., residential home, commercial building, etc.). The liquid to be heated can be water, or other liquid, in different example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, at least one vacuum insulated glass (VIG) unit is provided as part of the water heater structure in order to help preserve heat that has been absorbed and/or generated.
US08985092B2

A grill and a burner assembly therefor. The burner assembly utilizes a V-shaped firebox having a V-shaped combustion chamber containment wall, which defines a combustion chamber of significantly reduced volume. The burner assembly can also have a V-shaped outer insulating wall which is positioned outside of the combustion chamber containment wall such that an insulating gap is formed between the inner V-shaped wall and the outer V-shaped wall. A burner element preferably extends longitudinally within the combustion chamber of the firebox above the bottom of the V-shaped combustion chamber containment wall.
US08985087B2

An air intake system for an internal combustion engine has a valve body that can open/close a passage cross section of a part of an air intake passage; a rotation shaft that extends to both sides of the valve body and supports rotation of the valve body; a valve accommodating recess that is formed on an inner wall surface of the air intake passage and accommodates therein the valve body; and a protruding line that is formed on an outer peripheral side surface of the valve body, which faces the valve accommodating recess, and extends along a shaft direction of the rotation shaft. The air intake system further has a communication passage that directly connects the valve accommodating recess and an intake port of the internal combustion engine.
US08985086B2

A method for controlling an engine includes, when the engine is operating within a particular range with comparatively low engine speed and high load, setting an effective compression ratio of 10:1 or above, retarding ignition timing by a predetermined amount and retarding the ignition timing within a first, relatively low engine speed range more than within a second, higher engine speed range, setting an injection mode of an injection valve to divided injections performed at least twice in a period from an intake stroke to an earlier-half stage of a compression stroke, performing, within the first engine speed range, a final injection in the earlier-half stage of the compression stroke, and performing, within the second engine speed range, the final injection in a late stage of the intake stroke and at least one injection other than the final injection in a middle stage of the intake stroke.
US08985070B2

The present variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine is a variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine which joins cylinder blocks of two cylinder groups and makes the joined cylinder block move relatively to a crankcase, wherein the engine is provided with a first relative movement mechanism which is fastened to a first cylinder group side of the joined cylinder block through a plurality of supports and a second relative movement mechanism which is fastened to a second cylinder group side of the joined cylinder block through a plurality of supports. The number of the supports in each of the first relative movement mechanism and the second relative movement mechanism is made at least a number greater by exactly one than the number of cylinders of the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group, respectively.
US08985060B2

A retrieving device includes a body with at least one respiratory passageway formed in it through which a dog can breathe when holding the device in its mouth during retrieval. In some embodiments, the body includes two radially-large end sections that are harder for dogs to grasp with their mouths, two radially-midsize lateral sections positioned therebeween each defining lateral respiratory passageways for side-breathing by the dog, and a radially-narrow middle section positioned therebeween defining a forward/transverse respiratory passageway for front-breathing by the dog. In use, the respiratory passageways decrease obstructions to enable the dog to breathe more freely to avoid overheating and associated problems. In addition, one or more flotation elements can be provided in the body so provide buoyancy for the retrieving device in the event it's launched into water during retrieving activities.
US08985056B2

A detecting platform for holding a tiny insect includes a main body forming a containing space, which passes through the main body and is surrounded by side walls of the main body. A first side wall and a second side wall of the side walls are opposite to each other, and the area of the second side wall is smaller than that of the first side wall. The main body forms a first opening and a second opening passing through the first side wall and the second side wall respectively for the tiny insects entering and leaving the containing space. A bottom plate covers a first through surface of the containing space to form a bottom surface and a detecting area is configured thereon to holding the tiny insects. Accordingly, the tiny insects can stay on the detecting area so as to detect the characteristics of the tiny insects expediently.
US08985052B1

A bird feeder of the tube-type having a vertically disposed hollow body portion formed of a clear plastic material. The body portion has a plurality of inverted, truncated funnel members or baffles positioned therein in a vertically spaced-apart relationship which maintain a certain amount of feed at that level even though the main feed supply has dropped below that funnel member or baffle. The baffles direct feed to feed openings formed in the body portion.
US08985049B2

Pressure maskers for masking at least one passageway of an article include a body portion that surrounds at least a portion of the article around the at least one passageway, at least one fluid inlet connected to the body portion that provides a conduit for pressurized masking fluid to pass from an exterior of the pressure masker to an interior of the pressure masker, wherein the article is at least partially disposed within the interior of the pressure masker, and at least one seal that seals the body portion at least partially around the article such that the pressurized masking fluid that enters the interior of the pressure masker is at least partially forced through the at least one passageway.
US08985046B2

A streamer steering device to be attached to a streamer or a source of a marine seismic survey system. The streamer steering device includes a casing configured to be attached to the streamer or to the source; a wing assembly connected to the casing and having an active surface used to control depth and/or lateral position of the streamer; and an actuating mechanism located inside the casing and connected to the wing assembly, the actuating mechanism being configured to change a state of the wing assembly from an operational state to a folded state. The active surface has substantially the same area during the operational state and the folded state.
US08985044B2

A watertight door system that provides for subdivision of cargo holds, and having a door frame assembly with a sliding door. Conveyor support stringers are movably connected to the sliding door and conveyor idlers are movably connected to and the conveyor support stringers. A linear actuator associated with the door frame assembly selectively actuates the door between an open and closed position, whereby actuation of the door by the hydraulic cylinder causes the conveyor support stringers to move with the door, and the conveyor idlers to be lowered without removal thereof. Belt side plugs are positioned on either side of the door frame assembly, and can move both inwardly against a conveyor belt edge and outwardly from the conveyor belt edge.
US08985038B2

A feeder movement compensation algorithm for use within a processor controlled sewing machine. The sewing machine configured with a reciprocating needle and thread, and including a stitch plate upon which fabric to be sewn is positioned beneath the needle and thread. The machine also includes a feeder mechanism driving a feed dog thru a movement. The feed dog movement pushes the fabric along the stitch plate and the reciprocating needle and thread form stitches in the fabric. During the stitch cycle, the feed dog movement completes at least one feeder stroke. The feeder stroke includes a portion of the feed dog extending above the stitch plate and moving along the direction of feed. The feeder stroke thus pushes the fabric along the stitch plate. The compensation algorithm calculates a theoretical feeder stroke length based upon a desired stitch. The compensation algorithm then calculates a modified feeder stroke length using the theoretical feeder stroke length and at least one feeder calibration data element. The modified feeder stroke length is then performed by the feed dog during the stitch cycle to form the stitch.
US08985037B2

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation view of a single row unit (10) of a conventional row crop planter such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. As is well known in the art, the row units (10) are mounted in spaced relation along the length of a transverse toolbar (12) by a parallel linkage (14), comprised of upper and lower parallel arms (16, 18) pivotally mounted at their forward ends to the transverse toolbar (12) and at their rearward end to the row unit frame (20).
US08985036B2

A soil opener has a frog mount adapted to be coupled to a shank or other mounting member of a farm implement. A spreader is removably coupled to the frog mount and includes forward and rearward product delivery channels that are intended to be flow-coupled to product delivery tubes or hoses of the farm implement. A tip is removably coupled to the spreader. The leading edges of the frog mount, the spreader, and the tip, as well as the geometry between these components are such that drift is minimized even when the soil opener is pulled through the soil at higher speeds, e.g., excess of 5 mph. The soil opener may be equipped with an optional soil gathering module that gathers soil lifted by the tip and redirects the soil to a position generally rearward of the opener.
US08985031B2

A desktop elevator for providing a platform at an elevation adjustable by a user. The desktop elevator is positioned on a support surface and is provided with left, right, front and back frame members orthogonally attached to one another end to end. A platform is vertically adjustable to and from the support employing front and back rotatable brace members positioned on opposing frame members. The brace members together with channels, cutouts, locking pins and locking arms, enable the platform to be selectively distanced from the support upon moving the platform to and from it when locking latches are disengaged from the locking pins, the platform being drawn to and remaining adjacent to the support when pressure is supplied to the platform toward said support.
US08985029B2

A car wash dolly of the type used in connection with multi-tier car wash conveyors comprises, in mirror image arrangement, first and second pairs of stainless steel journals having external bearing surfaces and polymeric rollers mounted for rotation on said bearing surfaces wherein the journals are nitro carburized and mechanically polished prior to assembly.
US08985024B2

A liner for a shaped charge is provided for improved penetration of a target formation. The liner is formed from a combination of high density particulate and low density particulate.
US08985016B2

A device and method are described for the easy and rapid loading and unloading of flexographic sleeves from flexographic processing machines. The device includes internal chucks that hold on to the end of a sleeve or sleeve adapter. The chucks are rotatably mounted within a flexographic processing machine to permit sleeve processing. In addition, the chucks may move to accommodate a large range of sleeve or adapter diameters and lengths. The method permits the loading and unloading of sleeves with a minimum amount of sleeve handling and without additional end pieces or adapters.
US08985013B2

A gravure printing system is disclosed. The gravure printing system of the present disclosure is provided with a central roll having a plurality of discrete cells disposed upon an outer surface thereof. A first of the plurality of discrete cells receives a first fluid from a first position internal to the central roll and a second of the plurality of discrete cells receives a second fluid from a second position internal to the central roll, the first fluid being different from the second fluid. The first and second cells are disposed adjacent each other upon the outer surface.
US08985012B2

An apparatus for printing leather including an ink acceptor applicator that applies ink directly onto a surface of the leather; an ink applicator that applies ink to the ink acceptor and/or the leather surface; an additive applicator that applies additive onto the ink acceptor, the ink and/or the leather surface; a barrier having a surface configured to contact the acceptor, ink and additive on the leather surface; and a heater that heats the surface of the barrier to a predetermined temperature or a temperature within a selected temperature range such that the barrier, which is substantially impervious to the ink and has a melting point higher than the select temperature range, contacts at least the acceptor ink and additive on the surface directly to liquefy the acceptor ink and additive into the leather and the acceptor, ink and additive fuses and penetrates into the leather.
US08985010B2

A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a blade assembly. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly. The rotating disk includes a blade support having a plurality of slots that receive a flange of the blade assembly.
US08985002B2

A method of designing a wearable air blast wave energy protection device includes computer modeling at least two candidate reflective materials for a first human-protective and primarily reflective response to a specified incident air blast wave energy. The method includes selecting a layer of a first material from the at least two candidate reflective materials based at least partially on the computer modeling of the at least two candidate reflective materials. The method includes computer modeling at least two candidate attenuative materials for a second human-protective and primarily attenuative response to the specified incident air blast wave energy transmitted through the selected layer of the first material. The method includes selecting a layer of a second material from at least two candidate attenuative materials and electronically maintaining informational data corresponding to the selected layer of the first material and the selected layer of the second material.
US08985000B2

Inductive or capacitive transmission of energy to a projectile is disclosed. A waveguide can be used to transmit the energy, the electric field being concentrated in the waveguide. The thus used energy transfer system includes at least one waveguide which is arranged or integrated in the region of the muzzle, for example between a muzzle brake and a gun barrel. A transmission coupler for transmission is fed by a signal generator. The projectile comprises at least one sensor which captures the signal and a store in the projectile is charged. Assemblies of the system are used for a V0 measurement as well as to program the projectile.
US08984996B2

A full-automatic optical fiber container connected with an optical fiber cutting unit includes a first shell and a second shell. The first shell includes a bottom case for containing optical fiber, and a cover pivotally connected with a top of the bottom case. An upper fiber collecting shaft is set at the cover and a lower fiber collecting shaft is set at the bottom case. The two shafts are rotationally connected to an opening of the first shell. The second shell includes a container driving unit that connects with the fiber cutting unit's top cap fixedly, a transmission unit that connects with the container driving unit and the lower fiber collecting shaft, and only engages one-way transmission; and a container lever that is flexibly connected with the first shell's cover. The three parts are set in the second shell with flexible connection respectively.
US08984993B1

A one handed locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, a toggle link, a power link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw is retained in a first end of the fixed handle. The movable jaw is pivotally retained in substantially the one end of the fixed handle. An adjustment screw is retained in a second end of the fixed handle. An end of the adjustment screw engages a first end of the toggle link and a first end of the power link is pivotally engaged with a second end of the toggle link. The movable handle includes a handle portion and an actuation portion, which extends from the handle portion. The movable jaw is pivotally engaged with a first end of the actuation portion and the power link is pivotally engaged with a second end of the actuation portion.
US08984988B2

In a lower end of a finisher having a substantially I-shape, an extending portion extending along a rim is provided. The finisher has an upper locking portion to be locked to an upper spoke and a lower locking portion provided in the extending portion and to be locked to a lower spoke. The lower locking portion has a protruding portion and a locking piece both standing upright from a back surface of the extending portion. The protruding portion and the locking piece are arranged away from each other in an up-down direction. The lower spoke has an engagement receiving portion for the protruding portion to be fitted and for the locking piece to be engaged.
US08984984B2

The steering apparatus includes an inner column, a left-right pair of outer column half bodies, a fixing bracket having fixing side portions, and a clamping tool. In a condition where the inner column is clamped fixedly via the clamping tool, the inner column is held by the holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies, and an upper recessed indentation portion and a lower recessed indentation portion that do not contact the inner column are formed on the respective holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies. Strip-form contact portions that contact the inner column are formed in locations on either circumferential direction side of the upper recessed indentation portion and the lower recessed indentation portion, the strip-form contact portions being formed in at least four locations on the two outer column half bodies.
US08984977B2

A transmission generally includes a shaft member having a cylindrical outer surface in which longitudinal grooves are formed. Rolling members are disposed in the longitudinal grooves. A gear member having lobes the lobes is disposed between the rolling members and over the shaft member. A clutch spring that at least partially encircles the rolling members and the lobes is also disposed. The clutch spring includes a reduced torque condition that at least defines the clutch spring stretching to accommodate the rolling members leaving the longitudinal grooves and moving to the outer cylindrical surface such that the clutch spring forms a generally elliptical shape in the reduced torque condition.
US08984973B1

A power take off drive train for a utility vehicle, comprising first (31, 59), second (35, 55) and third (23, 68) parallel gear pairs, with an input shaft (8) coupled to a gear (31) of the first gear pair. First (K1) and second (K2) connector means, suitably clutches, each operate to couple a gear (31, 59) of the first gear pair with a respective gear (35, 55) of the second gear pair. A third connector (10, 11) couples a first gear (35) of the second gear pair with a first gear (23) of the third gear pair, and a selector mechanism (12) operates to couple a PTO output shaft (7) with either a second gear (55) of the second gear pair or a second gear (68) of the third gear pair.
US08984972B2

A power take-off system for an internal combustion engine that has a drive gear positioned within a crankcase includes a housing. The housing is coupleable to the internal combustion engine. The system also includes an input gear with a drive gear engagement portion, a toothed portion, and a shaft extending between the drive gear engagement portion and the toothed portion. The input gear is coupled to the housing such that the driver gear engagement portion is positioned within the crank case and the toothed portion is positioned within the housing. The input gear also includes a vent conduit that extends through the shaft. The vent conduit includes a first end open to the housing and a second end open to the crankcase.
US08984970B2

The product efficacy apparatus includes a roller having an outer surface and a test bed having a test surface. The roller may be affixed to a rotatable shaft having opposing end regions. The shaft may be rotatably connected to an arm at each end of the end regions of the shaft. Each arm is pivotally connected to a drive member that is rollingly connected to a stationary track. In operation, a cleaning product may be affixed to the outer surface of the roller. A controlled insult may be applied to the test surface. The arms pivot toward the test surface in order to direct the cleaning product on the outer surface of the roller into contact with the test surface. The drive members direct the roller over the controlled insult. The shaft rotates the roller over the test surface and the arms pivot the roller away from the test surface.
US08984962B2

A torque-measurement device that has a rotational axis, and wherein the torque-measurement device includes an inner tubular structure, an outer tubular structure, and a plurality of ribs that each have a length dimension in a rib-length direction parallel to the rotational axis, a rib-width dimension in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending radially rotational axis, and a minimum rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction, wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension and the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension, wherein each of the plurality of ribs has a center plane that lies in the rib-length direction and the rib-width direction, and wherein a torque applied between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure results in an angular displacement of inner tubular structure relative to the outer tubular structure.
US08984961B2

A pressure differential flow meter for determining the flow rate of a fluid comprises a constriction device, wherein the constriction device is capable of creating at least a first area of constriction and a second area of constriction having cross-sectional areas that are different, wherein the constriction device automatically moves from the first area of constriction to the second area of constriction when the pressure differential increases above or falls below a predetermined range, and wherein the pressure differential is based on the fluid velocity of the fluid flowing in the flow meter. A method of determining the flow rate of a fluid using the pressure differential flow meter comprises flowing the fluid through the flow meter.
US08984952B2

Pressure sensors and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor may include: a tubular probe body; a capacitive sensor disposed at the distal end of the probe body; a lead electrically coupled to the sensor extending along an interior space of the probe body; and at least one support formed of a material having a relatively low dielectric constant disposed within the probe body to support the lead and space the lead away from an inner wall of the probe body. This may help to minimize shunt capacitance and changes in shunt capacitance due to radial movement of the lead. In other embodiments, a pressure sensor may include a channel formed in a wall of the probe body, a temperature sensor disposed at a distal end of the probe body, and a temperature sensor lead disposed in the channel and connected to the temperature sensor.
US08984950B2

A capacitor for use in sensors includes opposed first and second capacitor plates, wherein the second capacitor plate is mounted to the first capacitor plate by a flexible attachment. The flexible attachment is configured and adapted so that flexure of the attachment causes a change in the spacing between the first and second capacitor plates to cause a change in the capacitance thereacross.
US08984946B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a property of construction material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge operable to determine a property of construction material is disclosed. The gauge may include an electromagnetic sensor operable to measure a response of construction material to an electromagnetic field. Further, the electromagnetic sensor may be operable to produce a signal representing the measured response by the construction material to the electromagnetic field. An acoustic detector may be operable to detect a response of the construction material to the acoustical energy. Further, the acoustic detector may be operable to produce a signal representing the detected response by the construction material to the acoustical energy. A material property calculation function may be configured to calculate a property value associated with the construction material based upon the signals produced by the electromagnetic sensor and the acoustic detector.
US08984945B2

A device for acoustic measuring in a medium in a borehole such as velocity of sound in the medium or velocity of the medium, includes at least a first acoustic array situated in a first, slanted sidewall of a measuring area and operating to emit a series of acoustic waveforms across a measuring area. In one form, the device includes a second acoustic array situated in a second, slanted sidewall of the measuring area and operating to receive an acoustic signal resulting from the emitted series of acoustic waveforms or to receive said acoustic signal and emit a second series of acoustic waveforms. A the processor measures a time between when a predefined portion of one of the series of acoustic waveforms was emitted and when a predefined portion of the received acoustic signal corresponding to the predefined portion of one of the series of acoustic waveforms is received by the acoustic receiver, and correlates the measured time to a reference time, then outputs a correlation factor for determining the velocity of sound in the medium in the measuring area. The processor may also calculate transit time for the two emitted acoustic signals or echoes from the first emitted acoustic signals to determine medium flow velocity.
US08984944B2

The invention relates to a method of estimating the internal state of a first electrochemical system for electric power storage, such as a battery, wherein at least one property relative to the internal state of the first electrochemical system is estimated from acoustic emission measurements.
US08984936B2

A monitoring device for tires for vehicle wheels includes: an electronic unit; a connecting member configured for constraining the electronic unit to a tire, the connecting member being of one piece construction and including: a first and a second base portion, mutually separated by a separation region, each of the base portions having a respective base surface associable with an inner surface of a tire; and a housing portion in cooperation with the base portions defining a cavity for the electronic unit. The connecting member is deformable between an insertion condition of the electronic unit into the cavity and a retaining condition of the electronic unit in the cavity. The connecting member in the insertion condition is configured for enabling insertion of the electronic unit in the cavity when the base portions are not fastened to the inner surface of the tire. The connecting member in the retaining condition is configured for preventing extraction of the electronic unit from the cavity in any direction when the base portions are fastened to the inner surface of the tire.
US08984931B2

A sensor system that measures at least one parameter of water includes an electronics subsystem and includes a sensor housing electrically and mechanically coupled to the electronics subsystem. The sensor housing encloses a chamber that receives water via at least one inlet and that releases water via at least one outlet. At least one sensor has at least one electrode exposed to water in the chamber. A flow generator causes water to flow through the chamber. A plurality of objects within the chamber move in response to the water flow and abrasively clean the at least one electrode. Preferably, the sensor system includes a chlorine sensor having at least two electrodes. The electronics subsystem applies a first differential voltage between the two electrodes during a measurement interval and then applies a second differential voltage between the two electrodes during an interval following the measurement interval.
US08984922B2

The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for positioning a tool (21) in a profile rolling machine, comprising a base (10) and at least one spindle (30) extending in a first bore (17) of the base as abutment for the tool (21). A retraction rod (25) serves as connection between the base and the tool (21). A tractive force for the retraction rod (25) is generated by an actuator (50) and the tool is pulled by the retraction rod (25) against a tool stop (23). The first bore (17) is locally expanded to form a cylinder chamber (12). A piston (40) is mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the chamber (12). A pressure medium (M) is introduced via a pressure connection (46) into the base (10) into the cylinder chamber (12) between the base and the piston (40) for applying a force (F1) on the piston (40).
US08984917B2

A washing machine in accordance with the present invention includes a mounting member disposed between a stator and a bearing housing. Thus, when a motor is rotated according to an operation of the washing machine, the transmission of vibration, which is generated by a repulsive force of the stator, to the bearing housing can be reduced efficiently. Accordingly, a tub coupled to the bearing housing can be prevented from vibrating due to the vibration of the stator, and noise due to the vibration of the tub can be reduced.
US08984898B2

A pressure wave generator (40) for driving one or more cryogenic refrigerator systems. The pressure wave generator (40) comprises a housing with one or more inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which generated pressure waves of gas may pass through to drive a cryogenic refrigerator system or systems connected to the inlet/outlet ports (57,58). The pressure waves are generated by at least one pair of opposed diaphragms (41,42) located in the housing that are moveable in a reciprocating motion within the housing to create pressure waves in gas spaces (55,56) associated with each diaphragm (41,42). The gas spaces (55,56) each having associated inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which the pressure waves may pass. An operable drive system is also provided to move the pair of diaphragms (41,42) in a reciprocating motion.
US08984897B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide for a system that removes excess thermal energy from a datacenter. In one embodiment, the system includes a holding container with highly thermally conductive surfaces installed in the warmest area(s) of the datacenter. Two substances are released into the holding container and are mixed creating a liquid solution and causing an endothermic reaction. The resulting reaction transfers thermal energy from the datacenter air to the new solution. The liquid solution is then pumped out of the datacenter, where it can be passed through a dialyzing membrane or an evaporation chamber, which separates the liquid solution into its two original substances.
US08984893B2

A system for augmenting gas turbine power output includes a compressed air supply, and a compressed air storage plenum in fluid communication with the compressed air supply. The compressed air storage plenum is configured to store a compressed air from the compressed air supply for later use. The system further includes an inlet plenum sealingly coupled to an inlet of the gas turbine. The inlet plenum is in fluid communication with the compressed air storage plenum so as to route the compressed air from the compressed air storage plenum into the inlet of the compressor during augmented operation of the gas turbine.
US08984881B1

A Steam Engine Powered System is provided which, when integrated with an internal combustion engine, generates hydrogen gases to provide an additional fuel source. The System's hydrogen is created by electrolysis from electrical power supplied from an external generator powered by the steam engine which in turn is powered by the radiant heat of the engine without putting a drain on the existing electrical system. The system will also store external canisters of separated Hydrogen and Oxygen for later use of various needs.
US08984875B2

The present disclosure is a construction machine, such as an excavator, which comprises a plurality of hydraulically driven actuators, in which some of the actuators are provided in a one-to-one pump system where hydraulic pumps are connected to the respective actuators such that a working fluid is supplied from the respective pumps, and the remaining actuators are provided in an auxiliary control valve system where the working fluid is distributed by an auxiliary control valve connected to one or more pumps. When an amount of the working fluid of an actuator associated with the auxiliary control valve is insufficient, the actuator associated with the auxiliary control valve is connected to a pump of the one-to-one pump system to share the pump of the one-to-one pump system.
US08984874B2

A power transmission device that transmits power from a motor to a wheel via a hydraulically driven friction engagement element and that includes a mechanical pump driven by the motor to produce a hydraulic pressure that is regulated by a pressure regulating valve; an electric pump that produces a hydraulic pressure; a switching mechanism that either switches an output pressure of the regulating valve or an output pressure of the electric pump to a servo of the engagement element based upon a signal pressure, and a drain valve that opens to drain oil when a hydraulic pressure of a preset pressure or more is applied, and the switching mechanism connects to the drain valve to allow communication between the electric pump and the drain valve in the first state, and shut off communication between the electric pump and the drain valve.
US08984867B2

A method for assessing NO2 generation efficiency in a diesel engine after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) downstream of the engine generating the NO2 and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst downstream of the DOC converting NOX with the aid of the NO2. Engine exhaust gas flow is passed into the AT system and a reductant is injected into the gas flow between the DOC and the SCR catalyst. SCR inlet gas flow temperature is monitored during transient engine operation and DOC inlet and SCR catalyst outlet NOX concentrations are detected when the SCR catalyst inlet gas flow temperature is in a predetermined range. SCR catalyst NOX conversion efficiency is determined using the detected DOC inlet and SCR catalyst outlet concentrations of NOX. Additionally, whether the NO2 generation efficiency is at or above threshold efficiency is assessed by comparing the determined and threshold NOX conversion efficiencies.
US08984865B2

The invention relates to an exhaust control device of an engine (10) comprising a catalyst (45) in an exhaust passage (40). In this invention, the active element transforms as a solid solution in the carrier when a catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined solid solution temperature and an atmosphere in the catalyst is an oxidation atmosphere and the active element precipitates from the carrier when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined precipitation temperature and the atmosphere in the catalyst is a reduction atmosphere. According to this invention, an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst is controlled to an air-fuel ratio leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the active element solid solution degree is smaller than a target solid solution or a lower limit of a target solid solution degree range and the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to the predetermined solid solution temperature, and the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst is controlled to an air-fuel ratio richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the active element solid solution degree is larger than the target solid solution degree or an upper limit of the target solid solution degree range and the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to the predetermined precipitation temperature.
US08984855B2

A rotating inlet cowl for a turbine engine, having a rotation axis and for which the forward end is arranged to be eccentric relative to this rotation axis. Furthermore, a forward cone of the cowl is truncated by a truncation surface defining the forward end of the inlet cowl.
US08984843B2

A dome cover supporter is capable of improving durability of a product and extending a life span thereof by preventing roof panels from protruding upwardly by supporting a dome cover used in a storage tank, achieving resistance against a load by decreasing surface roughness, and extending a life span by preventing gaskets from being exposed to ultraviolet rays. The dome cover supporter includes a supporter including supporter main body formed in a vertical direction, a base formed in lower portion of the supporter main body to support the supporter main body against the ground, and horizontal extending pieces bent in an upper portion of the supporter main body to be extended; and a fixing member fastened to an upper portion of the supporter to maintain a seal by fixing and pressing roof panels.
US08984841B1

The low cost roofing techniques provide techniques for construction of low-cost roofing. The techniques reduce the proportion of cement by employing substitute (low-cost) materials that may be readily available to mix with the cement. These substitute materials include, but are not limited to, suitable agricultural wastes, such as rice husk ash, crushed used brick rubble, and pozzolana. The techniques involve forming a plurality of supports spanning the open space between the walls of the structure and mounting a plurality of dome-shaped sheet metal elements on the supports, forming a series of ceiling vaults. The concave surface of the dome-shaped elements forms the ceiling. The convex or outer surface of the dome-shaped elements forms the inner layer of the roof. The cement mixture is deposited on the convex or outer surfaces of the dome-shaped elements to form a second layer for the roof.
US08984840B2

A method and system for covering industrial wood plank or wood block floors that can be installed quickly without creating a hazardous environment or hazardous wastes and without the necessity of removing installed equipment. Sand is swept over the wood to fill voids and cracks. Next metal lath is stapled to the wood. A first layer of epoxy is poured onto the metal lath. After this is cured, a second coat of finish epoxy can be installed on the first epoxy layer. When this dries, the job is done and operations can be restarted, or an optional topcoat can be applied. The epoxy material used can be self-leveling for ease of application and the final floor is approximately level. The finished floor is flexible to not crack under heavy loads and to absorb shock.
US08984839B2

A revolution-of-a-parabolic-curve is sliced by two planes to form a reflecting-parabolic-splice-solar-smelter so as to focus the sun's noon light to a crucible for smelting rocks, glass and metals and for processing of chemicals, using zero degrees of freedom. (50 words)
US08984824B2

A concealed fastening system that utilizes a slide and receiver interlocking mechanism for attaching building finishing elements to a building structure is provided. In some implementations, the system includes a slip tab and a receiver that are configured to slidably engage and interlock with each other upon application of a linear motion. The system facilitates installation of building finishing elements such as trim components, fascia boards, frieze boards, belly band boards, and the like to an underlying structure.
US08984820B1

An adaptable 3-piece, light-weight, adaptable window system, which can be installed by do-it-yourselfers in multiple unit arrays in various geometric patterns, includes a first polymeric molded window element with an outwardly extending mounting flange having a geometric profile that permits adjacent window units of the array of window units to interdigitate, aligning the adjacent window units and allowing the outwardly extending flange of each said adjacent window unit to be secured to a common intervening stud. The second and third window elements include exterior and interior trim portions.
US08984810B2

A device for sliding door leaves with co-planar closure, particularly for furniture and the like, including a bracket system for connection to each one of the door leaves and with which a first pair of wheels is associated in a lower region.The device includes a second pair of wheels which are, together with the first pair of wheels, slideably engaged with the head respectively of a first guide and of a second guide which are T-shaped in cross-section, arc-shaped in plan view and the stem of which protrudes from the top of the piece of furniture.
US08984806B2

The present invention discloses an apparatus to simplify an air supply path without damaging the merit of conventional culture apparatus. The apparatus is a culture apparatus which includes a row of a plurality of box-shaped containers for plant cultivation, and a row of lower stage containers arranged in the lower portion of the row, holding the upper stage container spaced as high as the height after growth of the plants to be cultivated. In each container, a support, a blocking film stretched between front and rear, right and left supports of the container are provided. In the one end of the rows of the containers, an air conditioner is arranged, and in another end, a turnaround chamber is provided.
US08984803B2

Locks for use with pest-control devices such as bait stations or other loadable devices, kits that include a lock and key, and pest control devices that include a lock.
US08984802B1

A rodent bait station has a plastic base with a bottom opening which receives a removable bait receptacle which is engaged by two resilient fingers to the base, and secured by a downward projection from the lid, which offers a child-resistant latch, such that the bait receptacle can only be removed for rebaiting by simultaneously deflecting the downward projection and the two fingers while extracting the receptacle.
US08984801B2

The present invention provides a bait station and method for securing it using a receptacle for holding a weight to weight a bait enclosure and by stakes formed as a unitary part of the enclosure for securing the enclosure.
US08984800B2

An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.
US08984796B2

A scope adjustment system includes a turret cap assembly, a saddle assembly, and a quick spanner assembly. The turret cap assembly includes a ring with a plurality of regularly spaced apart teeth residing circumferentially around the ring. The saddle assembly includes a transportation element in mechanical communication with a plunger. The saddle assembly includes a click element to engage the teeth of the ring. The quick spanner assembly includes a bolt that may be coupled to the transportation element, a cam lock hinged to the bolt, and a pressure plate residing between the bolt and the cam lock. The bolt can be screwed into the transportation element, and the cam lock can be set to apply a force on the pressure plate such that the transportation element engages the plunger. When engaged, the plunger is responsive to rotations of the turret cap to adjust, e.g., an aiming reticle.
US08984794B1

This trigger guard roll pin tool makes it possible to safely and quickly install or remove the trigger guard roll pin on a conventional M16/M4 family weapon. In the disassembly or reassembly of the trigger guard on such weapons the handling of the trigger guard roll pin element is often a manually challenging and painstaking activity that can result in damage to the weapon if done incorrectly. This disclosed tool handily is an assist in such activities. The trigger guard roll pin tool makes it possible to remove and install the trigger guard roll pin without risking breakage of the roll pin flanges on the lower receiver.
US08984789B2

A foregrip for a firearm may comprise a mounting device configured to attach to a mounting rail of a firearm and a grip body. The grip body may include a top portion configured to be removably attached to the mounting device and a lateral side portion configured to be gripped by the hand of a person using a firearm. A cavity may be disposed within the grip body, and a blade may be disposed at least partially within the cavity, wherein the blade is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position relative to the grip body.
US08984762B2

The invention relates to a dryer for drying of garden waste, particularly of chopped lop and other bulk material, comprising an elongated lying container with a cross section which is at least partially round; the container comprises at its one end an inlet and at its other end an outlet for the material; the container wall is perforated at least over parts of its length; the perforations are connected to pressurized air; there are provided conveyer means which seize the material in the ascending quadrant of the container wall and transport the same upwardly over a certain length of path.
US08984757B2

According to one embodiment, a tracking apparatus includes a spherical body, three or more spherical driving units, a hold unit, a control unit. The three or more spherical driving units are connected to the movable body and kept in contact with portions of the spherical body to move the movable body in a desired direction. The hold unit connects the third gimbal to the movable body, and holds the spherical driving units pressed against the spherical body. The control unit controls the spherical driving units to track the target, using the first to fourth rotation angles.
US08984756B2

A shaving razor includes a cartridge having a cartridge housing and a handle. The cartridge housing has a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge. One or more shaving blades are located on the housing and between the front edge and the rear edge. A connecting member is connected to the cartridge housing and includes a deflectable element defining at least a portion of an opening extending through the connecting member. The handle includes a handle interconnect member that includes a protrusion having an enlarged distal end and angled side surfaces extending from the distal end to a base.
US08984754B1

An apparatus for cutting toenails and fingernails includes a frame member that includes an upper frame member and a lower frame member. One of a pair of cutting blades is attached to a front of the upper frame member and a remainder of the pair of cutting blades is attached to a front of the lower frame member so that a cutting edge of each of the pair of cutting blades are in alignment and face each other. According to certain preferred embodiments, the device is disposable. According to certain other preferred embodiments each of the pair of cutting blades can be replaced with a new replacement blade assembly. Various embodiments are shown sufficient to illustrate a portion of the versatility and benefits that are possible including the use of plastic to form the frame member, steel or other suitable material to form the pair of cutting blades, low manufacturing cost, lightweight, offering of the apparatus in different styles and colors, it use for advertising, and less likely to be detected by airport security personnel.
US08984753B2

A method of making a filter cartridge, which method includes: (a) providing first and second filter media layers that each contain active particulate that is bonded together and that each comprise a perimeter; (b) stacking the filter media layers in a spaced apart relationship; and (c) securing a roll based housing sidewall to at least a portion of the perimeter of each filter media layer. The resulting filter cartridge is light in weight but has increased volume that provides an improved service life. The cartridge has a very good service life to weight ratio.
US08984742B2

A three dimensional soft magnetic metal mass suitable for milling is formed wrapping soft magnetic metal ribbon into a three dimensional shape and then applying adhesive to the three dimensional shape. The adhesive permeates the three dimensional shape. The adhesive is then cured. If the soft magnetic metal mass is made as a toroid, then it could be processed into an electromechanical component. The electro-mechanical component would then be suitable for use in very high frequency electric motors.
US08984735B2

The inventive concept is a device which is used to secure a sheath or stack of papers contained in an architectural sheet rack clamp. The device is essentially a three-tiered rectangular structure forming two parallel, length-wise channels within the spaces defined by the three tiers. One channel, situated as the upper clamp retaining channel, is structured so as to securely accommodate the typical sheet clamp used to store such materials as architectural drawings, maps, and other similar over-sized sheets. The second, or lower desk anchoring, channel of the device, contains two adjustable fastening means, enabling attachment of the lower desk anchoring channel to a desk, draftsman's stand, or table.
US08984727B2

Actuator levers, collets and collet tools for use in process control devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a tool for installing or removing a collet from an actuator lever. The example tool comprises a tool body and at least one of a plurality of inner-diameter threads, a plurality of outer-diameter threads, or a plate to removably couple the tool to at least one of an actuator lever or a collet. The tool is configured to apply a force to at least one of the actuator lever, the collet, a valve shaft, or an intervening structure to install the collet in or remove the collet from the actuator lever.
US08984722B2

A clamp assembly includes a body having a base and first and second jaw guides extending outwardly from the base. A trough has first and second ends formed between the first and second jaw guides. First and second jaws are movably received in the trough for receiving a cable therebetween. The first jaw engages the first jaw guide. The second jaw engages the second jaw guide. The first jaw engages the second jaw such that the first and second jaws move together. A pin is disposed in the body proximal the first end of the trough. A spring has a first end connected to the pin and a second end connected to the second jaw to bias the first and second jaws toward the first end of the trough.
US08984710B2

A blower apparatus includes: a housing has a discharge port for discharging an air current generated by a fan; and an air conveying tube which includes a plurality of tubular members including first and second tubular members which are connected to each other and which guides the air current discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction. The first tubular member includes an outer circumferential surface which is formed so as to gradually decrease in diameter. The second tubular member includes an inner circumferential surface which is formed so as to gradually increase in diameter. The first and second tubular members are connected to each other through the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface. One of the tubular members which is connected to the housing is configured to be connected to the housing at a plurality of rotational positions about an axis of the tubular member.
US08984708B2

A cleaning system includes a robotic cleaner and an evacuation station. The robotic cleaner can dock with the evacuation station to have debris evacuated by the evacuation station. The robotic cleaner includes a bin to store debris, and the bin includes a port door through which the debris can be evacuated into the evacuation station. The evacuation station includes a vacuum motor to evacuate the bin of the robotic cleaner.
US08984705B2

The present invention provides a fragrance dispenser assembly in the inside of an outer shell. The dispenser includes a bracket, a shelf and a fragrance dispensing unit located within an outer shell. The shelf may have a releasable attachment mechanism for the fragrance dispenser unit. The invention also includes the fragrance dispenser unit and a fragrance source.
US08984692B2

A laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry and configured to perform one or more cycles of operation and method for actively dehumidifying the treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance to retard or eliminate the adverse effects of moisture-laden laundry remaining in the treating chamber or moisture remaining in the treating chamber or other areas of the laundry treating appliance.
US08984691B2

A laundry machine and a control method thereof are disclosed. The disclosed laundry machine includes a drum rotatably installed in a cabinet, a substance supply device for supplying moisture to the drum, a water supply device separably mounted to the cabinet, to supply water to the substance supply device, a sensor for sensing whether or not water is supplied to the water supply device, and a controller for controlling the substance supply device in accordance with a sensing signal from the sensor.
US08984689B1

A spring mattress structure comprises a mattress body with a top bed surface and a bottom bed surface developed by a plurality of shaft levers which are regularly arranged and separated by a spacing: each of the shaft levers on which a plurality of springs are installed allows each spring's two bottom ends to be positioned at two adjacent springs; each of the springs has a hollow space corresponding to the spacing developed by two adjacent shaft levers and makes its bottom fixed on a shaft lever with a spring-loaded locating piece; the spring-loaded locating piece comprises a locating part on which a shaft lever is fixed; the locating part has elastic fasteners extending from both sides and used to clamp spring coils of springs so that the springs are stably connected to shaft levers.
US08984688B1

An inflatable resting pillow comprises two inflatable compartments, the lower compartment providing a base to support the attached upper compartment; both compartments being separately inflatable. The upper compartment provides an opening facing the user for receiving the user's head with a number of inner support surfaces providing lateral, longitudinal and vertical stability. The upper compartment also includes lateral passageways allowing air circulation to the implanted face of the user, and other passageways for the user's arms by which to keep the device in stable contact with the user's body and to also provide means for the user to rest on the forearms to provide a stable and comfortable resting position with the person's head and upper body leaning forward upon the upper compartment; the combination of support structures designed to render stable support of the reposing user while achieving and maintaining optimum spinal alignment.
US08984677B1

A device for use in a swimming pool includes an insert and a piston having a nozzle. The piston is carried in the insert for reciprocal movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which the piston is in one of a plurality of indexed orientations and the nozzle is above the insert. The piston rotates to an adjacent indexed orientation in response to reciprocation of the piston between the raised and lowered positions in response to the cyclical application of water through the insert. Upper and lower engagement assemblies prevent rotational movement of the piston in the raised and lowered positions. The upper engagement assembly includes upper teeth, lower teeth, and channels formed in the upper teeth which guide the lower teeth through the upper teeth as the piston moves from the lowered position to the raised position.
US08984676B2

An odor eliminating toilet with an air passage and enclosed ventilating fan is disclosed. Odors are removed from the toilet bowl during use by an air passage connecting the toilet bowl with the sewer outflow. The air passage contains a ventilating fan for removing said odors.
US08984674B1

A training urinal attachment mountable to the bowl of a toilet. The attachment includes a resiliently collapsible shell having an intake opening that receives a flow of urine from a standing child and a discharge opening that directs the flow into a collection area of the bowl. The shell is mounted on the rim of the bowl in an area that is covered by the seat of the toilet when lowered. When the seat is lowered, the shell compresses to a collapsed configuration in the area between the seat and the rim. When the seat is raised, the shell expands to an erected configuration in which the intake opening extends above the rim to receive the flow of urine. The discharge opening is visible through the intake opening to provide the child with a target to aid in training.
US08984671B2

A head-mounted device to be worn on a user's head includes a first pressing member to press, for example, an occipital region, a second pressing member to press, for example, a parietal region, and first and second linear members connected to the first and second pressing members respectively. The first and second linear members are guided so that a change in lengths of the first and second linear members causes the first and second pressing members to move in the first and second directions respectively. An adjustment unit to adjust the lengths of the first and second linear members includes first and second wind-up units connected to a rotational operation member and to wind up the first and second linear members respectively.
US08984666B1

A protective outer garment apparatus is disclosed which incorporates an at least one viewing window therein. Thus, as user is able to keep a handheld item positioned underneath or otherwise within an interior of the garment while still being able to safely view the item through the viewing window from an optimal viewing angle.
US08990959B2

A manipulable human interactive proof (HIP) displays at most a portion of verification information. A user performs at least one manipulation on the HIP display to obtain full verification information.
US08990948B2

Instrumented networks and platforms having target subjects (devices, transactions, services, users, organizations) are disclosed. A security orchestration service generates runtime operational integrity profiles representing and identifying a level of threat or contextual trustworthiness, at near real time, of subjects and applications on the instrumented target platform. Systems and methods use a graphical user interface (GUI) console to orchestrate operational integrity of a platform. In an embodiment, a method presents a data center-level runtime operational integrity dashboard and remediation controls for infected systems in a display of a platform having a network trust agent, an endpoint trust agent, and a trust orchestrator. The method receives runtime integrity metrics for trust vectors and displays risk indicators based on the confidence level of received integrity metrics in the GUI. The method provides remediation controls for threat containment and risk mitigation and displays remediation status and progress results and malware analytics in the GUI.
US08990935B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating activity signatures and detecting activity replays. In one aspect, a method includes accessing activity data first and second activity sequences; generating a first activity sequence signature from the first activity sequence, and generating, for each second activity sequence, a respective second activity sequence signature from the second activity sequence; for each second activity sequence, determining a similarity measure that is a measure of similarity of the first activity sequence to the second activity sequence from the signatures; for each second activity sequence having a similarity measure that meets a threshold, determining that a security violation occurred during the second user session of the second activity sequence; and for each second activity sequence having a similarity measure that does not meet the threshold, determining that a security violation did not occur during the second user session.
US08990932B2

The present invention relates to data encryption and more particularly to data encryption for prevention of malware attacks designed to access user data. The present invention protects user data against regular malware and advance malware like rootkit attacks, zero day attacks and anti-malware disabler attacks. In one embodiment, the present invention uses encryption, application whitelisting, and application binding to prevent malware from accessing a victim's data files. In another embodiment, the present invention uses application path binding to further contain the malware from accessing the victim's data.
US08990931B2

System-on-chip (SoC)-based apparatus for detecting malicious code in portable terminal is provided. SoC-based apparatus includes SoC including central processing unit (CPU) configured to generally control respective units of SoC for SoC-based malicious code detection, SoC memory-based firewall configured to classify packets input from outside through network interface unit, perform filtering operation, such as allowing operation and dropping operation, on the classified packets according to a predetermined setting, and output the result of the filtering operation to an application memory or an anti-malware engine, the SoC memory-based anti-malware engine configured to detect malicious code by performing a pattern-matching operation between a code pattern in a file input from the firewall and a pattern of malicious code registered in a malware signature database (DB) of a mobile device application unit, and an SoC memory-based control module configured to control operation of the firewall and the anti-malware engine in connection with the CPU.
US08990922B2

An access control system includes a mobile device, a control device and an electronic lock module. The mobile device includes an input module, an identification module, a display module, a storage module, a battery module, a wireless transmission module and a central processor. The control device connects with the mobile device wirelessly and includes a wireless transceiver module, a power module, a memory module, an electronic control module and a microcontroller. The electronic control module of the control device is electrically connected with the electronic lock device. The identification module captures the biological characteristic of the user so as to make the identification module identify the biological characteristic of the user, so as to lower an identification burden of the access control system and ensure a usage security of the access control system.
US08990918B2

The present invention provides a system and method for providing a closed or secure network on another closed or secure network. The system enables linking at least one acquirer network operating a closed network to at least one operator by a central server. The acquirer network includes one or more terminals and optionally an acquirer server. The central server is linked to the acquirer network and to the operator. The central server is configurable to communicate with at least a subset of the one or more terminals, and also with the operator, and to establish one or more serve; communication links between the operator and the one or more terminals. The central server acts as a trusted intermediary between the acquirer network and the operator for enabling the operator to communicate with the one or more terminals via the closed acquirer network.
US08990915B2

A system for providing local access by means of a local data appliance to data collected from remote monitors and sensors is described. The system includes a plurality of remote monitors and sensors, the remote monitors and sensors reporting data over a wide area communications network, and a data collection center receiving the data from the remote monitors and sensors, the data collection center operable to process the data and generate customer defined reports based on the data. A local data appliance placed in the customer's network operates to receive the data from the data collection center, and to process the customer data, generate reports based on the data and send instructions to the remote monitors and sensors. The appliance resides behind the customer's firewall but is separate from the customers network and data center equipment.
US08990914B2

Devices and methods for authenticating a user of a mobile computing device to a content server include establishing a communication session between a target computing device and the content server that is identified by a session ID. The target computing device generates a pairing token using the session ID, which pairing token may be a two-dimensional bar code such as a quick response (“QR”) code, and presents the pairing token to the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device captures the pairing token and authenticates the user of the mobile computing device to an authentication server. The target computing device receives an authentication token from the authentication server in response to the mobile computing device successfully authenticating the user to the authentication server. The target computing device accesses content on the content server using the authentication token. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08990907B2

Embodiments are directed to establishing separate security identities for a shared service and shared service instances, and to managing shared and service instance credentials. In one scenario, a computer system establishes a shared credential for a shared service that includes multiple shared service instances, where the shared credential uniquely identifies the shared service. The computer system establishes a service instance credential for each shared service instance that uniquely identifies each shared service instance and maintains a relationship between the service instance and the shared service. The relationship provides service instance access to the shared credentials as the shared credentials are updated over time. Then, upon determining that the shared credentials have been updated and are no longer valid, the shared service instance accesses the updated shared credentials using the established relationship.
US08990906B2

A method for replacing a shared secret over a network is provided that includes determining that a security breach could have occurred, determining that a shared secret of a user is to be replaced, and transmitting a renewal message to an authentication system requesting a new shared secret and an associated effective life for the user. Moreover, the method includes generating a new shared secret and an associated effective life at the authentication system for the user, and replacing the shared secret and associated effective life in an enrollment data record of the user with the new shared secret and associated effective life. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting the new shared secret and associated effective life to a communications device associated with the user, and replacing a shared secret and associated effective life stored in the communications device with the new shared secret and associated effective life.
US08990898B2

Aspects herein describe brokering hosted resources in a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) using connection leases to reduce demand on connection brokers and to allow hosted services to be maintained even in the event of a broker outage. When a client device desires to connect to a hosted resource (e.g., a hosted desktop or a hosted application), the client device may present a lease token to the session host. The lease token is a self-sustaining package of data from which a session host can determine whether the requesting client device is authorized to access one or more resources hosted by that session host. The lease token may be cryptographically signed to ensure its contents have not been altered, and further that the lease token originated from a trusted source. Lease tokens may be stored independently from a connection broker, thereby still being usable if the connection broker goes offline.
US08990894B2

A system and method for quality assured analytical testing is disclosed. A user is prompted by the system questions which relate to an analytical test to be conducted or an analytical instrument to be employed. Input received by the system from the user is evaluated to determine to which degree the inputs are correct. The user is certified if the determined degree is above a preset threshold. Next, the user is prompted by the system for a user identification and if the user is a certified user, access is provided to a testing routine of the analytical instrument.
US08990892B2

Techniques are provided for adaptive routing of authentication packets in a network, such as a wireless mesh network. At an authenticated device in the network, an authentication packet is received over the network from a device that is seeking authentication. The authentication packet is encapsulated for transmission in Layer 3 packets over an Internet Protocol (IP) tunnel to an authenticator device associated in the network. Similarly, for an authentication packet encapsulated in Layer 3 packets from the authenticator device over the IP tunnel, the authentication packet is decapsulated from the Layer 3 packets and transmitted over the network to the device seeking authentication.
US08990890B2

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a presence server in a home network is provided, the method comprising: receiving a request for presence information; sending an event notification to all subscribed control points informing them of the request for presence information; receiving an action from one of the subscribed control points accepting or rejecting the request for presence information; and if the action received from the one of the subscribed control points accepts the request for presence information, causing presence information regarding the one of the subscribed control points to be sent to the entity that sent the request for presence information.
US08990877B2

The disclosure relates to a system and method having a common interface to manage and integrate secure information traversing a network with disparate domains. The system and method are capable of rapidly taking external data sources (for example, systems, databases, streams, repositories, websites, etc.) and fusing them under a mediated meta-data layer that allows for data mining, manual and automated analysis and various visualization capabilities in a single application. The system allow for the capability of using data sources, and making secure and appropriate visualization and interoperability functions available in a single portal or interface.
US08990871B2

A system for servicing a display device is performed remotely through a network server. The server establishes a connection with the display device, transmits a first signal through the connection to instruct the display device to automatically perform a predetermined function, receives a captured image derived from a screen of the display device after performance of the predetermined function, and transmits a second signal through the connection to control at least one feature of the display device.
US08990869B2

Methods and apparatus for selectively caching (and de-caching) video content in network so as to reduce content transformation requirements and also cache storage requirements. In one embodiment, a content caching controller associated with a content server differentiates content requests based on content attributes such as the requested codec format (e.g., MPEG or Windows Media), resolution, bitrate, and/or encryption type or security environment. If the content requested by a user is not available with the requested attribute(s), the content server transfers to content to the user by first transforming it. The content server also speculatively caches the transformed content locally, so that a future request for the same content with the same attributes can be filled by transferring without the intermediate transformation step. The controller allows the network operator to optimize use of available storage and transcoding resources.
US08990868B2

A display terminal and a method for displaying content on the display terminal are embodied and broadly disclosed herein. The method may include displaying an indicator that indicates a presence of at least one new content available in a channel; displaying a list of the at least one new content in response to an acknowledgement request corresponding to the indicator; and connecting to the channel to display the at least one new content in response to an input, wherein the input is a selection of one or more of the at least one new content in the displayed list.
US08990864B2

A signal receiver may be configured to determine when signal generation changes affecting signals being received by the signal receiver may cause performance related changes; and to modify its (the signal receiver) configuration to handle the performance related changes. In this regard, the modifying of configuration may comprise determining characteristics of performance related changes, and controlling operations of the signal receiver based on the determined characteristics of the performance related changes. The performance related changes may comprise amplitude glitches, phase glitches, and/or bit or packet errors. The signal generation changes may comprise channel-to-frequency reassignment. Controlling operations of the signal receiver based on determined characteristics of the performance related changes may comprise adjusting such parameters as amplification gain and/or tracking loop bandwidth, and/or determining whether (or not) to ignore bit/packet errors—i.e. not reacquire (e.g., based on determination that tracking loops used in the signal receiver remain locked).
US08990858B2

An exemplary method includes receiving a program guide data search request, associating a time block with the program guide data search request, identifying a set of program guide data associated with the time block, searching the set of program guide data associated with the time block to identify at least one matching media content instance based on the program guide data search request, and generating data representative of a search-based program guide view for display in a graphical user interface, the search-based program guide view exhibiting graphical data representative of the at least one matching media content instance. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises generating a virtual search channel associated with the program guide data search request and providing graphical data representative of the virtual search channel for display in the search-based program guide view. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08990856B2

According to this invention, a user may capture a media link on any PC and perform this capture function at any physical location, then save the media link in a playlist, and subsequently play the media located at the media link on a TV server. The TV server may be controlled from a local device—typically a PC or a handheld remote control. Playlists may be maintained on a Web playlist function. Software on a local controller device can then select a media link from a Web playlist through the Internet, and the Web playlist function can then pass that link to a local TV server, thus avoiding the need for the controller device and the TV server to communicate through a LAN. Additionally, a playlist may include targeted advertisements shown physically adjacent to related playlist items.
US08990854B2

A system and method in a television for providing user-selection of objects in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
US08990850B2

A system and method for providing personal broadcast channels are provided. In one embodiment, one or more users interact with a local broadcast agent hosted by a local server to define profiles for a number of personal broadcast channels. The profiles include information identifying types of content to be broadcast on the personal broadcast channels and optionally formats for the personal broadcast channels. Based on the profiles for the personal broadcast channels, the local broadcast agent generates a request for content types desired for the personal broadcast channels and provides the request to a content distribution agent hosted by a master server. Based on content provided to the local server in response to the request and the profiles of the personal broadcast channels, the local broadcast agent generates the local broadcast channels.
US08990847B2

A method, a computer program product, and apparatus are provided for delivering information and commands regarding a media program. An advertisement is provided that allows a user to request more information about the media program by clicking on or otherwise selecting the advertisement. The information may be based on the identity of the user. The information may include programming guide information regarding the media program that is available to an associated set top box of the user. The user may also be able to send commands, such as record the media program or set up a reminder about the media program, through a DVR scheduling facility to the set top box. The set top box may be able to send an acceptance of the command or a notice of conflict to the user through the DVR scheduling facility.
US08990841B2

Provided is an optical disc drive including a tray disposed in a case of the optical disc drive. The tray includes a guide fixed to the case, and a rail connected with the tray. The guide guides the rail as the tray is moved in and out of the optical disc drive. The rail further includes a supporter that is configured to stably support the rail with respect to the guide to prevent derailment of the rail from the guide.
US08990839B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling runtime access to application programming interfaces Embodiments of the invention allow library developers to more precisely and easily control which of their libraries' APIs can be called dynamically. Thus, their servicing and versioning burden can be more appropriately controlled. Further, application developers can control which such APIs to further exclude from dynamic calling scenarios, to minimize the runtime support overhead (e.g., preventing generation of metadata).
US08990832B2

A method and system for handling requests from a user and rendering a resulting page in HTML useful in effectuating aspects of an order management system, which reduces the redundancy in the underlying code required to effectuate the HTML page. An embodiment of the present invention modularizes various parts of an HTML page, effectuating the re-use of certain portions of code, advantageously reducing redundancy. In one embodiment, the present invention associates each HTML page with a form mapped to a servlet in a system backend. The servlet performs appropriate action based on corresponding user action. Each user action calls a set of re-usable helper class methods. Upon completion of processing, the servlet calls a render method. The active render method internally calls re-usable render methods in helper classes. These populate NTV data used by a JSP to generate a new HTML page accordingly.
US08990827B2

Systems and methods for managing a processor and one or more co-processors for a database application whose queries have been processed into an intermediate form (IR) containing kernels of the database application that have been fused and split; dynamically scheduling such kernels on CUDA streams and further dynamically dispatching kernels to GPU devices by estimating execution time in order to achieve high performance.
US08990821B2

A method and system is disclosed for dispatching tasks to multiple processors that all share a shared memory. A composite queue size for multiple work queues each having an associated processor is determined. A queue availability flag is stored in shared memory for each processor work queue and is set based upon the composite queue size and the size of the work queue for that processor. Each queue availability flag indicates availability or unavailability of the work queue to accept new tasks. A task is placed in a selected work queue based on that work queue having an associated queue availability flag indicating availability to accept new tasks. The data associated with task dispatching is maintained so as to increase the likelihood that valid copies of the data remain present in each processor's local cache without requiring updating do to their being changed by other processors.
US08990809B1

Technology is disclosed for generating a virtual appliance (“vApp”) for an application using an existing installation manifest of the application. The installation manifest can be part of a traditional installation package that is used to install the application on a computer system. The installation manifest contains configuration information for installing the application using the installation package. A vApp builder analyzes the installation manifest to identify and/or determine various configuration information of the application that may be required to generate the vApp. The configuration information can include information regarding the application components of the application, packages/dependencies on which the execution of the application components depend, an operating system on which the application components and/or their packages execute. The vApp builder generates the vApp using the information obtained from the installation manifest. The vApp can be executed as a virtual machine on a host computer system with a supporting hypervisor.
US08990808B2

A data relay device includes a memory and a processor. The processor executes a data relay process includes determining that determining whether or not a storage device, which stores a virtual machine identifier of a virtual machine operated by the server connected with the computer and a port, stores the received virtual machine identifier in association with another port. The data relay process includes transferring that transfers the setting request of the port profile to a data relay device of an upper level higher than the data relay device in a communication path through which the virtual machine represented by the virtual machine identifier performs communication when it is determined that the received virtual machine identifier is not stored in association with the other port.
US08990803B2

A method and system for providing a guest with virtual media that can be read by the guest with an emulated media drive. A hypervisor hosted by a computer system presents a guest-to-host channel to a guest in the computer system. The hypervisor receives content from the guest via the guest-to-host channel, and then receives a request from the guest indicating that the guest is to read the content. The hypervisor provides the content for the guest to read by emulating a media drive and an insertion of removable virtual media. The removable virtual media contains the content and is readable by the guest with the emulated media drive.
US08990802B1

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for implementing and executing computer processes in an efficient manner. In an apparatus embodiment of the present invention, a pinball virtual machine (PVM) (99) is adapted to implement multiple PVM atomic threads (1040) within a single instance of an execution of a single method within an executable software process, said PVM (99) comprising: a code transformer (100) adapted to transform executable computer code (107) to PVM atoms (1020), a PVM graph (102), and PVM code segments (104); and coupled to the PVM graph (102), a PVM atomic threads manager (1011) implemented to control execution of a plurality of PVM atoms (1020) organized in PVM atomic threads (1040).
US08990795B2

A method for updating an application on a mobile device includes accessing, at the mobile device, application management information. The application management information identifies a plurality of applications installed on the mobile device and one or more granted permission settings associated with each installed application. The method also includes sending, from the mobile device to a server, a request for update information regarding each installed application and receiving, at the mobile device from the server, the update information. The update information identifies an update package for a respective application of the plurality of installed applications. The method also includes installing the update package without user interaction from a user of the mobile device if one or more required permission settings associated with the update package are included in the one or more granted permission settings associated with the respective application of the plurality of installed applications.
US08990794B2

In an embodiment, an approach is provided that differences a source topology model associated with a source platform and a target topology model associated with a target platform. This differencing is performed by a processor and results in a topology difference. An operation in a workflow model is obtained from an asset library, the operation being associated with the topology difference. At least a portion of the asset library is stored in a persistent storage medium. The operation to deploy a portion of a solution is transmitted for deployment. The deployed portion of the solution includes a target image compatible with the target platform.
US08990789B2

Disclosed here are methods, systems, paradigms and structures for optimizing generation of intermediate representation (IR) for a script code by eliminating redundant object reference count operations from the IR. An IR of the script includes (a) a set of first code that increments a reference count of an object when a programming construct refers to the object, and (b) an associated set of second code which decrements the reference count of the object when a reference to the object is removed. The IR is analyzed to identify a subset of the set of second code which, upon execution, does not decrement the reference count of the object to a zero value. The subset of second code and the first code corresponding to the subset is removed from the IR to generate an optimized IR. The optimized IR is further converted to an executable code.
US08990786B2

An apparatus having a transactional memory enabling exclusive control to execute a transaction. The apparatus includes: a first code generating unit configured to interpret a program, and generate first code in which a begin instruction to begin a transaction and an end instruction to commit the transaction are inserted before and after an instruction sequence including multiple instructions to execute designated processing in the program; a second code generating unit configured to generate second code at a predetermined timing by using the multiple instructions according to the designated processing; and a code write unit configured to overwrite the instruction sequence of the first code with the second code or to write the second code to a part of the first code in the transaction.
US08990775B2

In a distributed system that includes a debug server and debug clients coupled for data communications through a data communications network, where the debug server includes a debug administrator, a message router, a back-end debugger, and a debuggee, collaborative software debugging includes receiving application-level messages, including receiving, a request to establish a chat session associated with a location in source code of the debuggee; routing the application-level messages among the debug clients, the debug administrator, and the back-end debugger; returning client-specific debug results, including sending, to the debug clients, a notification of an established chat session; and administering, by the message router, chat content for the established chat session among debug clients. Debug clients display the chat content in a chat box at the location in source code when the view of source code includes the location.
US08990767B2

A method, system, and article of manufacture for solving ordinary differential equations described in a graphical model with nodes as blocks and dependencies as links using the processing of a computer with a plurality of processors. The method includes: generating segments of block with or without duplication for each block with an internal state and for each block without any output by traversing the graphical model from each block with an internal state to each block without any output; merging the segment to reduce duplication; compiling and converting each segment from the merged results in an executable code; and individually allocating the executable code for each segment to a plurality of processors for parallel execution.
US08990766B2

Object-oriented programming (OOP) design patterns are constructed at least partially by delegating their behaviors to preconstructed OOP patterns to implement the behaviors. A new OOP pattern having one or more behaviors is defined. Each of at least one of the behaviors is delegated to a preconstructed OOP pattern, the preconstructed OOP pattern therefore implementing the behavior. The new OOP pattern is thus constructed at least partially by delegating at least one of its behaviors to the preconstructed OOP patterns. Delegating a behavior to one of the preconstructed OOP patterns can be accomplished within a graphical user interface (GUI). Graphical representations of the new OOP pattern and of the preconstructed OOP patterns are displayed. Dragging the graphical representation of a selected preconstructed OOP pattern onto the graphical representation of the new OOP pattern causes a behavior of the new OOP pattern to be delegated to the selected preconstructed OOP pattern.
US08990764B2

The automated analysis of a code developer's profile comprises gathering data relating to code repository updates by a developer, analyzing the gathered data to determine profile attributes of the developer to provide a behavior analysis of the developer and analyzing, using a microprocessor, the profile attributes of the developer with respect to role descriptions.
US08990757B2

An interface design for a hybrid IC that utilizes dedicated interface tracks to allow signals to interface distributively with the logic blocks of the FPGA portion providing for faster and more efficient communication between the FPGA and ASIC portions of the hybrid IC.
US08990749B2

Testing of memories is done using an optimized memory built-in-self-test (MBIST) approach, including the generation of compact models for memory. Cost functions are constructed from estimated parameters affecting MBIST, and a user is able to assign relative weights to the parameters. Estimated parameters include MBIST area, wiring congestion, and timing overhead, as well as power consumption and timing. The cost functions are minimized using optimization techniques, resulting in an optimized grouping of memory devices and an optimized schedule for MBIST testing. The estimated parameters may be derived from a compact model constructed from data experimentally-derived from various memory devices. This approach allows a circuit designer to generate and revise groupings and schedules prior to running a full design flow, saving time and cost, while still achieving high-quality results.
US08990739B2

A system and method tests for functional equivalence prior to automatically retiming a high-level specification. An Intermediate Representation (IR) includes one or more graphs or trees based on the high-level specification. A functional equivalence (FE) analyzer determines whether one or more components in the graph meet certain value and state conditions and thus is a candidate for retiming. A bounded scheduler then retimes only those components that pass the FE analysis.
US08990735B2

A computer displays on a user interface a hierarchical view of the data within the tree structure. The tree structure includes a plurality of nodes. The computer receives input via the user interface that at least one node of the plurality of nodes has been selected, wherein the computer sets the at least one node that has been selected as an active node. Responsive to the at least one node that has been selected as an active node, the computer displays on the user interface a selectable display element including one or more navigation elements configured to navigate between sibling nodes, and the computer displays on the user interface data related to the active node.
US08990734B2

A method for controlling a food ordering terminal assembly includes dividing a display into first and second display portions. The method includes dividing the second display portion into a plurality of sections including a first section and a second section immediately adjacent the first section. The method includes introducing a first set of food items for selection in the first section. The method includes, in response to selection of one of the first set of the food items, moving the first set of the food items across the second display portion from the first section to the second section such that (i) a second set of food items appears for consideration and selection in the first section, and (ii) in the second section, the first set of the food items remains visible and available for reselection.
US08990733B2

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an application-launching interface for multiple modes. This interface enables a user to quickly and easily select to launch applications associated with different modes. A user may avoid wading through multiple interfaces, making multiple selections, and/or a cognitive load associated with deciding on a mode with which to interact.
US08990730B2

At step ST2, an assign key changing item is selected from menu items. At step ST3, an assign key to which a function is assigned is selected. At step ST4, a function to be assigned is selected. The selected function is assigned to the selected assign key. At step ST5, a setting result indication screen appears. When one of two paired functions is assigned, a message which prompts a user to assign the other function. After the message has appeared for a predetermined time, the latest assigned states appear. At step ST6, the latest assign key information is stored to a non-volatile memory. To quit an assigning process, a menu button 8 is pressed and the menu is closed (at step ST8).
US08990729B2

A method for manipulating display of multiple ordered and at least partially overlapping display objects on a display device includes: recording the current position in a stacking order of each of the multiple display objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier; changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object; recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order; and changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order.
US08990721B2

A mobile terminal includes a display, a communication unit receiving, from other electronic devices, information related to contents being executed at the other electronic devices, and a controller controlling displaying of widgets individually corresponding to a respective one of the electronic devices on the display. Each of the widgets displayed on the display of the mobile terminal represents information relating to contents that is being executed at a corresponding one of the other electronic devices.
US08990719B2

Particular embodiments display a first object in a series of objects in its entirety on a screen of an electronic device; and in response to a user interacting with the first object by moving the first object towards a first side of the screen for a distance less than a predetermined threshold distance, gradually move the first object towards the first side of the screen until a portion of the first object is displayed within a first portion of the screen on the first side of the screen; gradually move a second object onto the screen towards the first side of the screen until a portion of a second object is displayed within a second portion of the screen on a second side of the screen for the user to preview the second object; and display shading around the portion of the second object.
US08990717B2

Methods, program products, and systems for displaying context-aware charts are described. In context-aware charts, content of a chart can reflect a context of the chart. A charting object can be defined using a data series. The system can dynamically determine what subset of a data source should be used for the data series, depending on where the chart object is placed in a layout, form or other display area. Therefore, a single chart definition can be used to display various charts based on the context of the chart. When a chart object is moved from one data area to a new data area, the system can change the source of the data series such that the data series of the chart corresponds to a different subset of the data source.
US08990703B2

A remote menu control function mapping set including user interface control commands that control operation of a second device is obtained at a first device from the second device. The user interface control commands are encoded using a shared cross-communication library that defines a user interface sharing protocol. A menu that maps the encoded user interface control commands to menu items using the shared cross-communication library is generated. The generated menu is displayed on a display of the first device. A selection of a menu item from the displayed menu is detected. An encoded user interface control command that is mapped to the selected menu item is sent to the second device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08990700B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a search query for ratable entities, identifying at least one ratable entity responsive to the search query, and sending a webpage to a client device, the webpage including instructions that cause the client device to display one of a plurality of interfaces of a rating card for the at least one ratable entity, including instructions to initially display a first interface having a first graphical user interface (GUI) element for receiving a rating input, and instructions to display a second interface having a second GUI element upon receiving input in the first GUI element of the first interface.
US08990698B2

Social network service synchronization techniques are described. In an implementation, a determination is made by a client that a browser has been used to navigate to a website. A prompt is displayed by the client, responsive to the determination, that is selectable to cause data that describes activities that are performable in conjunction with the website to be communicated to a social network service to be stored in conjunction with a user account of the user at the social network service.
US08990691B2

In one embodiment, presenting a video in a user interface in a first presentation mode of a plurality of presentation modes, each presentation mode has a specific size for presenting a visual portion of the video and a specific volume for presenting an audio portion of the video; and in response to a user interaction with the video in the first presentation mode, transitioning the video to a second presentation mode, comprising: changing the visual portion of the video from a first size of the first presentation mode to a second size of the second presentation mode; and changing the audio portion of the video from a first volume of the first presentation mode to a second volume of the second presentation mode.
US08990689B2

A user can toggle between GUI input and touch screen input with the GUI hidden using touch gestures correlated to respective hidden GUI elements and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto. When in the GUI input mode, an animated hand can be presented on the display moving through the touch gesture corresponding to a selected GUI element to train the user on which touch gestures correspond to which GUI elements (and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto.)
US08990687B2

Method, article of manufacture and apparatus for playing back recorded database activity in a graphical user interface. Chronologically ordered database event information is dynamically displayed in a user interface having user-selectable graphical elements associated with predefined playback controls.
US08990685B1

A system and a method for loading and displaying content from a plurality of content sources on a user computer is disclosed. The content is placed on a web document having a first web page and at least one other web page. The contents in the first web page are loaded and displayed on the user computer and the contents of the other web pages are loaded in cache and displayed on the first web page after the contents have been fully loaded.
US08990679B2

Extensible markup language layout and rendering behaviors are disclosed. A core engine provides existing layout and rendering behaviors for a predetermined markup language, such as HTML. External components are designed to provide extended layout and/or rendering behaviors, in addition to the behaviors of the core engine. A mechanism, which can be part of the core engine, extends the existing behaviors with the behaviors of the external components. The behaviors of the external components can participate with the behaviors of the core engine.
US08990676B2

A method for processing application forms comprising extracting content from filled first forms of consumers, each of the first forms comprising one or more fields, arranging the extracted content of one or more fields of the plurality of fields of the plurality of filled first forms in a first matrix; encoding the content of each of the rows of the first matrix to define a second matrix; and disposing the encoded content of the second matrix in multiple empty second forms such that content of one column is disposed on only one of the empty second forms, each of the second forms includes the same type and number of fields as that of one of the filled first forms, further wherein the number of the filled second forms is based on the number of the one or more fields in the filled first forms.
US08990668B2

Embodiments of decoding data stored in solid-state memory arrays are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple read operations are performed while taking inter-cell interference (ICI) into account. Soft-decision information, such as log-likelihood ratios (LLRs), is determined by using known data and its corresponding multi-read output. Soft-decision information is provided to a detector. Reliability is improved and performance is increased.
US08990667B2

An error check and correction method employs a circuit which includes a data storage unit configured to store a data string; a syndrome calculation unit configured to calculate a syndrome from the data string; an error coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate coefficients of an error location search equation using the syndrome; a latch unit configured to store the coefficients; a substitution value calculation unit configured to calculate a substitution value using the coefficients stored in the latch unit and an address; a Chien search unit configured to output an error detection signal indicating for each bit of the data string whether an error exists, in response to a result obtained by substituting the substitution value in the error location search equation; and an error correction unit configured to correct the error in response to the error detection signal indicating that the error exists.
US08990660B2

In a data processing system having a plurality of error coding function circuitries, a method includes receiving an address which indicates a first storage location for storing a first data value; using a first portion of the address to select one of the plurality of error coding function circuitries as a selected error coding function circuitry; and using the selected error coding function circuitry to generate a first checkbit value, wherein the selected error coding function circuitry uses the first data value to generate the first checkbit value. When the first portion of the address has a first value, a first one of the plurality of error coding function circuitries is selected as the selected error coding function circuitry. When the first portion of the address has a second value, a second one of the plurality of error coding function circuitries is selected as the selected error coding function circuitry.
US08990658B2

Data that are stored in cells of a multi-bit-per cell memory, according to a systematic or non-systematic ECC, are read and corrected (systematic ECC) or recovered (non-systematic ECC) in accordance with estimated probabilities that one or more of the read bits are erroneous. In one method of the present invention, the estimates are a priori. In another method of the present invention, the estimates are based only on aspects of the read bits that include significances or bit pages of the read bits. In a third method of the present invention, the estimates are based only on values of the read bits. Not all the estimates are equal.
US08990657B2

Error correction code (ECC) checkbits are generated for each write access to a memory address based on both the data to be written (the write data) and the memory address. The data processing device employs multiple-mapped or multi-port memory, whereby different memory addresses can be associated with the same memory location. To generate the ECC checkbits the data processing device selects a mask for each write access based on the write address and determines the ECC checkbits based on the write data, the write address, and the mask.
US08990652B2

A method and apparatus for controlling iterative decoding in a turbo decoder are provided, in which a maximum number of iterations is determined for current data to be decoded based on at least one of current HARQ information necessary for a HARQ operation of the current data, previous HARQ information about previous data, and early stop information indicating whether iterative decoding of the previous data was early stopped. A turbo decoder iteratively decodes the current data within the maximum number of iterations.
US08990644B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including a method of programming involving determining an error rate for the memory cells, and programming the memory cells using a charge state level for a charge state that is based at least in part on the determined error rate.
US08990643B2

In a data processing system, a selection is made, based at least on addresses of previously detected errors in a memory subsystem, between at least a first timing and a second timing of data transmission with respect to completion of error detection processing on a target memory block of the memory access request. In response to receipt of the memory access request and selection of the first timing, data from the target memory block is transmitted to a requestor prior to completion of error detection processing on the target memory block. In response to receipt of the memory access request and selection of the second timing, data from the target memory block is transmitted to the requestor after and in response to completion of error detection processing on the target memory block.
US08990634B2

Methods and a computing device are disclosed. A computing device may include a managed device having embedded firmware. When a failure occurs with respect to the managed device, drivers within the computing device may collect failure data from a driver stack of the computing device and from the managed device. The computing device may send the collected failure data to one or more second computing devices to be stored and analyzed. The computing device may include a health monitor for periodically collecting telemetry data from the computing device and the managed device. When the health monitor becomes aware of conditions indicative of a possible impending failure, the health monitor may trigger collection of sickness telemetry data from the computing device and the managed device. Collected data from the managed device may be made available to a vendor of the managed device.
US08990633B2

Complex on-chip interconnect fabrics, particularly those that include point-to-point interconnects and coherent routing networks, can present significant challenges for conventional trace techniques that may be applied in an effort to efficiently provide an external debugger with visibility into on-chip interconnect transactions. Embodiments described herein generate and supply separate in-circuit-trace messages including address messages and data messages, which are sent out (i.e., off-chip) to external debug tools generally without delay and coincident with the distinct, but related, trace events within address and data paths of the interconnect fabric. These separate message instances embed appropriate tag and mark values to allow the message instances to be post-processed and correlated by the external debug tools so as to reconstruct the transaction information for operations performed in the on-chip interconnect.
US08990629B2

A system for automated testing of functionally complex systems, comprising a test manager module operating on a server computer, a test data storage subsystem coupled to the test manager module and adapted to store at least test results, a test execution module operating on a server computer, and a test analysis module operating on a server computer and adapted to receive test data from the test data storage subsystem. The test manager module causes tests to be executed by the test execution engine, and on detection of an anomalous test result, the test manager module at least causes additional testing to be performed and causes the test analysis module to analyze the results of at least some of the additional testing in order to isolate at least one component exhibiting anomalous behavior.
US08990623B2

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are presented that remove BIST intrusion logic from critical timing paths of a microcircuit design without significant impact on testing. In one embodiment, BIST data is multiplexed with scan test data and serially clocked in through scan test cells for BIST testing. In another embodiment, BIST data is injected into the feedback path of one or more data latches. In a third embodiment, BIST data is injected into the result data path of a multi-cycle ALU within an execution unit. In each embodiment, BIST circuitry is eliminated from critical timing paths.
US08990610B2

A computer implemented method, and computer program product for requesting resources. The computer receives an assignment of an Internet protocol address. The computer compares a computer context of a client computer with an intranet access criterion to form a comparison result. The computer selects at least one preferred uniform resource identifier based on the comparison result, indicating the intranet is accessible. The computer transmits a request to a server using at least one preferred uniform resource identifier using a packet network.
US08990607B2

A memory interface circuit for read operations is described. The circuit includes one or more controller circuits, one or more read data delay circuits for providing CAS latency compensation for byte lanes. In the system, control settings for the read data delay circuits for providing CAS latency compensation are determined and set using controller circuits according to a dynamic calibration procedure performed from time to time. In the system, determining and setting the control settings for the read data delay circuits for providing CAS latency compensation is performed independently and parallely in each of a plurality of byte lanes.
US08990606B2

Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for providing a constant frequency timer signal for a microprocessor that operates with varying core clock signals. The apparatus and/or method utilizes a code generator, such as a gray code generator, operating on a reference clock signal that allows the constant frequency timer signal to be either faster or slower than the core clock frequency. More particularly, the apparatus and/or method may compute a difference between previous gray code samples and add the calculated difference to a software visible reference clock signal such that constant frequency timer signal may be faster or slower than the core clock signal. Through the use of the apparatus and/or method, a core clock signal may be reduced as needed to provide operational power savings to the microprocessor and the computing system employing the techniques described herein, while maintaining synchronization between the executing programs of the computing system.
US08990605B2

A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a preamble disable memory and a memory controller. The preamble disable memory is arranged to store preamble disable data. The preamble disable data includes an indication as to whether a read preamble should be enabled or disabled. In response to a read command, if the preamble disable data includes an indication that the read preamble should be enabled, the memory controller provides the read preamble. Alternatively, in response to the read command, if the preamble disable data includes an indication that the read preamble should be disabled, the memory controller disables the read preamble.
US08990603B2

An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive an input regarding a print process from a user; a setting unit configured to set the apparatus to normal or energy saving mode based on the input from the user, the normal mode causing the apparatus to be operated by the power supplied from a power supply unit, the energy saving mode causing the apparatus to be operated by the power supplied from the power supply unit or a secondary battery so that power consumption of the apparatus is less than that in the normal mode; a calculation unit configured to calculate a charging amount of the battery based on an energy saving time for which the apparatus has been in the energy saving mode; and a charging unit configured to charge the battery with the power from the power supply unit by the charging amount.
US08990599B2

The present invention relates to power control optimization in a communication network aiming at increased flexibility for controlling the power consumption in a network node (10). The network node (10) forwards operational state information to a power control module (18). The power control module (18) generates a power control recommendation as a proposal for the power control configuration of the network node (10) to optimize power consumption thereof. The power control recommendation is then forwarded to the network node (10) for subsequent optimization of the controlling of power consumption in the network node (10).
US08990597B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a core with decode logic to decode an instruction prescribing an identification of a location to be monitored and a timer value, and a timer coupled to the decode logic to perform a count with respect to the timer value. The processor may further include a power management unit coupled to the core to determine a type of a low power state based at least in part on the timer value and cause the processor to enter the low power state responsive to the determination. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08990593B2

A mobile device communicates with an authenticator affiliated with a recharging facility, to identify itself. To confirm that the mobile device is connected to the correct facility, the authenticator instructs the mobile device to draw electrical charge according to an identifiable pattern. Upon detecting a charge being drawn according to that pattern, the authenticator has confirmation that the identified device is connected to the facility, and permits the charging to proceed. The amount of electricity drawn during the charging procedure can be metered, and then billed to a party associated with the identified mobile device.
US08990584B2

A client hosted virtualization system includes a task oriented device, a processor, and non-volatile memory with BIOS code and virtualization manager code. The virtualization manager initializes the client hosted virtualization system, authenticates a virtual machine image, launches the virtual machine based on the image, receives a transaction targeted to the task oriented device, prioritizes the transaction, sends the transaction to the task oriented device, receives a response from the task oriented device, and sends the response to the virtual machine. The client hosted virtualization system is configurable to execute the BIOS or the virtualization manager.
US08990577B2

According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a power supply state control unit, a cryptographic key movement unit, a communications unit, an information input determination unit, a communications state determination unit, and a cryptographic key control unit. The cryptographic key movement unit is configured to move at least part of the cryptographic key data stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit before a shift from a power-on state to another power supply state. In the other power supply state, the cryptographic key control unit returns the cryptographic key data from the second storage unit to the first storage unit if it is determined that there is an input of information which matches the information stored in the second storage unit and it is determined that communications are enabled between the communications unit and a base-station apparatus.
US08990567B2

A digital signature of a message originator of a message is validated by a processor on message retrieval by a message recipient as a first-tier validation of the message. In response to a successful first-tier validation of the digital signature of the message originator, a transaction token and a message originator identifier are extracted from a message payload of the message. Communication is initiated with a verification service within a secure messaging environment of the message originator as a second-tier validation of the message using the extracted transaction token and the extracted message originator identifier to confirm whether the secure messaging environment of the message originator generated the transaction token and inserted the transaction token into the message payload. Results of the second-tier validation of the message with the verification service within the secure messaging environment of the message originator are determined.
US08990561B2

A package identifier for a package from which an application is installed on a computing device is obtained. The package identifier is assigned to each of one or more processes created for running the application and, for each of the one or more processes, whether the process is permitted to access a resource of the computing device is determined based at least in part on the package identifier.
US08990559B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a method, system, and apparatus for creating a policy compliant environment on a computer. In an embodiment of the invention, an encrypted file can be loaded into memory of a computing. The encrypted file can define a security policy for the computing device. The method can further include validating the encrypted file to ensure an authenticity of the encrypted file and updating the security policy of a target computing device in response to a successful validation of the encrypted file according to the validated encrypted file.
US08990552B2

A transmit portion of a network device including a medium access control (MAC) module configured to receive a frame of data to be transmitted from the network device in accordance with a MAC security (MACsec) protocol. In response to the frame of data being a precise time protocol (PTP) frame, the MAC module is configured to encrypt the PTP frame in accordance with the MACsec protocol, and associate an identifier with the encrypted PTP frame. A physical layer module includes a transmit module configured to transmit the encrypted PTP frame from the network device at a particular time. A PTP module configured to, based on the identifier associated with the encrypted PTP frame, generate a time stamp indicating the particular time that the transmit module transmits the encrypted PTP frame from the network device. The time stamp is transmitted from the network device along with the encrypted PTP frame.
US08990550B1

Methods and apparatus are provided for securing communications between a node and a server, for example, during a boot process. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method is provided for securing communications between a node and a server, comprising: dynamically gathering hardware-related metadata for the node using a process running in memory; generating a unique identifier for the node using the hardware-related metadata; generating a public/private key pair for the node using the unique identifier; and securing communications between the node and the server using the public/private key pair. The process comprises, for example, an in-memory microkernel executing on a boot node. The hardware-related metadata comprises, for example, information about physical characteristics of the node. The unique identifier for the node can optionally be further based on information obtained from a Trusted Processing Module. The node can be authenticated using the public/private key pair.
US08990549B2

A method and system for booting an electronic device from a NAND flash memory includes a NAND flash controller that receives an event trigger for fetching a pre-boot code stored in the NAND flash memory. Based on the event trigger type, booting parameters are loaded into the controller including a boot frequency of the NAND flash memory. The controller searches for a good memory block in which the pre-boot code is stored by checking the first and second or the first and last pages of a memory block and fetches a portion or the entire pre-boot code based on the event trigger type at the boot frequency.
US08990544B2

A method and apparatus are described for using a previous column pointer to read a subset of entries of an array in a processor. The array may have a plurality of rows and columns of entries, and each entry in the subset may reside on a different row of the array. A previous column pointer may be generated for each of the rows of the array based on a plurality of bits indicating the number of valid entries in the subset to be read, the previous column pointer indicating whether each entry is in a current column or a previous column. The entries in the subset may be read and re-ordered, and invalid entries in the subset may be replaced with nulls. The valid entries and nulls may then be outputted.
US08990526B2

Responsive to an instruction to collapse a derivative version of an ancestor data volume into the ancestor data volume, it is determined if a characteristic of the derivative version of the ancestor data volume satisfies a criteria relative to a characteristic of the ancestor data volume. If the characteristic of the derivative version satisfies the criteria, the ancestor data volume is merged into the derivative version of the underlying data to form an updated derivative version. The updated derivative version is established as the ancestor data volume.
US08990525B2

A virtual memory management apparatus of an embodiment is embedded in a computing machine 80 and is provided with an application program 21, an operating system 22, a volatile memory 11, and a nonvolatile memory 12. The volatile memory 11 is provided with a plurality of clean pages. The nonvolatile memory 12 is provided with a plurality of dirty pages and a page table memory unit 51. The operating system 22 is provided with a virtual memory management unit 23 which includes a page transfer unit 25.
US08990512B2

A processor includes a core to execute instructions and a cache memory coupled to the core and having a plurality of entries. Each entry of the cache memory may include a data storage including a plurality of data storage portions, each data storage portion to store a corresponding data portion. Each entry may also include a metadata storage to store a plurality of portion modification indicators, each portion modification indicator corresponding to one of the data storage portions. Each portion modification indicator is to indicate whether the data portion stored in the corresponding data storage portion has been modified, independently of cache coherency state information of the entry. Other embodiments are described as claimed.
US08990510B2

A method, system and computer program product for managing requests for deferred updates to shared data elements while minimizing grace period detection overhead associated with determining whether pre-existing references to the data elements have been removed. Plural update requests that are eligible for grace period detection are buffered without performing grace period detection processing. One or more conditions that could warrant commencement of grace period detection processing are monitored while the update requests are buffered. If warranted by such a condition, grace period detection is performed relative to the update requests so that they can be processed. In this way, grace period detection overhead can be amortized over plural update requests while being sensitive to conditions warranting prompt grace period detection.
US08990506B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a cache memory including cache lines that each have a tag field including a state portion to store a cache coherency state of data stored in the line and a weight portion to store a weight corresponding to a relative importance of the data. In various implementations, the weight can be based on the cache coherency state and a recency of usage of the data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08990502B2

A method of writing data units to a storage device. The data units are cached in a first level cache sorted by logical address. A group (Gj) of sorted data units is transferred from the first level cache to a second level cache embodied in a solid state memory device. Data units of multiple groups (Gj) are sorted in the second level cache by logical address. The sorted data units stemming from the multiple groups are written to the storage device.
US08990501B1

A multiple processor system is disclosed. The processor system includes a first cluster including a first plurality of processors is associated with a first cluster cache, a second cluster including a second plurality of processors associated with a second cluster cache, and a cluster communication network between the first cluster and the second cluster for sharing data between the first cluster and the second cluster. The first cluster includes a first unshared connection to the cluster communication network and the second cluster includes a second unshared connection to the cluster communication network.
US08990493B1

A disk drive comprising a rotatable disk, a head actuated over the disk, and a controller is disclosed. The controller is configured to write a first force unit access write data to the cache as part of the cache data, write the first force unit access write data and a first metadata corresponding to the first force unit access write data to the first location by using the head, transmit a first write complete status to a host, and maintain the first force unit access write data in the cache as part of the cache data. The controller is also configured to store write data as part of the cache data. Furthermore, the controller is configured to write the cache data to a third location, and a metadata corresponding to the cache data to the disk.
US08990489B2

A transparent four rank memory module has a front side and a back side. The front side has a third memory rank stacked on a first memory rank. The back side has a fourth memory rank stacked on a second memory rank. An emulator coupled to the memory module activates and controls one individual memory rank from either the first memory rank, the second memory rank, the third memory rank, or the fourth memory rank based on the signals received from a memory controller.
US08990488B2

The present memory system includes a memory buffer having an interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes being written to or read from the RAM chips residing on a DIMM by a host controller. The memory buffer further includes at least one additional interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes between the host controller or RAM chips and one or more external devices coupled to the at least one additional interface. For example, the memory buffer may include a SATA interface and be arranged to convey data between the host controller or RAM chips and FLASH memory devices coupled to the SATA interface. The additional interfaces may include, for example, a SATA interface, an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, and/or a radio interface.
US08990486B2

Methods and apparatus relating to a hardware and file system agnostic mechanism for achieving capsule support are described. In one embodiment, content associate with a capsule are stored in a non-volatile memory prior to a cold reset. A capsule descriptor may also be constructed, prior to the reset, which includes information about the physical location of the capsule content on the non-volatile memory. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08990479B2

An approach to determine a power-on-hour offset for a memory device that is newly-installed into a computer system is provided, which subtracts a current power-on-hour count of the memory device from a current power-on-hour value of a power supply that supplies operative power to the memory device within the computer system. In response to the computer system powering down, an accumulated power-on-hour for the memory device is determined by subtracting the power-on-hour offset of the memory from a current power-on-hour value of the computer system power supply. The determined power-on-hour offset and accumulated power-on-hour values are saved into one or more designated bytes of a free area of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory of the memory device that are available for data storage by a memory controller, and wherein data stored therein persists after operative power is lost to the memory device, the memory controller or the computer system.
US08990476B2

The present disclosure includes methods for operating a memory system, and memory systems. One such method includes updating transaction log information in a transaction log using write look ahead information; and updating a logical address (LA) table using the transaction log. The write look ahead information can include information about the location where data would have next been written to a memory system.
US08990471B2

A modular integrated circuit includes a hub module that is coupled to a plurality of spoke modules via a plurality of hub interfaces. The plurality of hub interfaces provide a plurality of signal interfaces between the hub module and each of the plurality of spoke modules, wherein each of the plurality of signal interfaces is isolated from each of the other signal interfaces of the plurality of signals interface, and wherein each of the plurality of signal interfaces operates in accordance with a common signaling format.
US08990470B1

A communication interface hub includes multiple ports, where one of the ports is an upstream port operative to be in direct and/or indirect communication with a host and at least one other of the ports is a downstream port operative to be in direct and/or indirect communication with at least one device. At least one hub core is coupled to the ports and implements at least one physical hub, and at least one virtual hub core is coupled to the ports and implements at least one virtual hub. The virtual hub is detectable as at least one physical hub by the host to cause the host to allocate an additional time delay in waiting for responses to signals output by the host.
US08990469B2

A universal docking station for portable electronic devices is disclosed. In some embodiments, the docking station may utilize a universal interface to communicatively couple a portable electronic device to one or more inputs, displays, and/or accessory devices. In some embodiments, the universal interface may be a high-speed and/or super-speed universal data interface. In further embodiments, the universal docking station may be configured to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device. By utilizing a universal data interface, the universal docking station may be utilized with any portable electronic device having the universal data interface regardless of the manufacturer of the portable electronic devices.
US08990463B1

Transferring storage device functionality includes providing a device coupled to the storage device, where the device is separate from the storage device, having the device handle I/O requests between an application and the storage device, and, in response to the application issuing an I/O request, having the device determine if the request corresponds to functionality being transferred and, if so, having the device provide the functionality. The device may be a host computer. The application may run on the host computer. A driver on the host computer may provide the functionality. The functionality may include read only functionality, data compression, data encryption, mirroring, and/or status reporting.
US08990458B2

According to one embodiment, a memory controller includes a mode selection part that selects one of a MLC-mode and a SLC-mode, after a write command is decoded by a command decode part, and a write part that executes a data writing to a storage memory by using one of the MLC-mode and the SLC-mode selected by the mode selection part. The mode selection part is configured to check whether a first data wrote from a host to a buffer memory is a time-continuous data that is wrote continuously during a predetermined period, execute the data writing of a second data from the buffer memory to the storage memory in the MLC-mode, when the first data is the time-continuous data, and execute the data writing of the second data from the buffer memory to the storage memory in the SLC-mode, when the first data is not the time-continuous data.
US08990455B1

An apparatus includes an array of universal digital blocks (UDBs) and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the array of UDBs via a bus. The UDBs may be coupled together to perform tasks, operations or functions that may be offloaded from the CPU to the array of UDBs.
US08990451B2

The subject of the invention is in particular the direct transfer of data between first and second peripherals connected via a communication bus. For this purpose, the first peripheral comprises a controller for direct access to a memory having means (425) for initiating at least one command for direct access to a region of a memory external to said first peripheral and means (400) for receiving at least one command for direct access to a region of a memory of said first peripheral, said command being received from said at least one second peripheral, and means (415) for transmitting said at least one received direct access command to a component of said first peripheral. The controller thus allows a controller of direct access to a memory of said at least one second peripheral to carry out a direct transfer of at least one data item to or from a memory of said first peripheral from or to said second peripheral.
US08990448B2

Methods, systems and processor-readable media are disclosed for implementing a “smart” discovery process in a data transfer regime having one or more expanders and one or more initiators. Data traffic associated with such a discovery process can be reduced and one or more of the initiators can be prevented from blocking input/output to particular components in communication with the data transfer regime, thereby improving and completing the discovery process in an optimal time frame while enhancing the performance of the initiator(s).
US08990433B2

Network devices include hosted virtual machines and virtual machine applications. Hosted virtual machines and their applications implement additional functions and services in network devices. Network devices include data taps for directing network traffic to hosted virtual machines and allowing hosted virtual machines to inject network traffic. Network devices include unidirectional data flow specifications, referred to as hyperswitches. Each hyperswitch is associated with a hosted virtual machine and receives network traffic received by the network device from a single direction. Each hyperswitch processes network traffic according to rules and rule criteria. A hosted virtual machine can be associated with multiple hyperswitches, thereby independently specifying the data flow of network traffic to and from the hosted virtual machine from multiple networks. The network device architecture also enables the communication of additional information between the network device and one or more virtual machine applications using an extended non-standard network protocol.
US08990429B2

An HTTP-based synchronization method includes obtaining a first response sent by a source server or a cache in response to an HTTP request for obtaining a file; determining time when the first response is sent in local time at server, according to a value of a Date field and a value of an Age field in the first response; determining time when the first response is sent in local time at client, according to the client time of an event related to the first response; and determining time offset between the server time and the client time according to the time when the first response is sent in local time at server and the time when the first response is sent in local time at client, and setting up a synchronization relationship between the client time and the server time.
US08990425B1

Methods and systems for managing encrypted network traffic using spoofed addresses. One example method includes sending a domain name resolution query including a domain name; receiving a domain name resolution response including a network address; determining a current network location of the computing device based on the received domain name resolution response; and applying to the computing device either an internal network configuration or an external network configuration depending on the determined current network location of the computing device.
US08990414B2

A Service Interaction Manager in a Packet Based Multimedia System (PBMS) for initiating a session with a terminal utilizing a temporary virtual subscription when the terminal does not have a subscription with the PBMS. A table stores temporary virtual subscriptions. A Coupling Function connected with a Network Access Gateway and the table utilizes the table to select an available virtual subscription and to store in the table, a temporary association between an identifier of the terminal and the available virtual subscription. A Correlation Function connected with a requested service, the table, and a PBMS access gateway receives from the PBMS access gateway, a session start request message with the terminal identifier, and utilizes the table to correlate the session start request message with the available virtual subscription based on the terminal identifier.
US08990407B2

Mechanisms are provided to accelerate Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) setup messages. A client transmits an RTSP request to a server. The server responds to the request and preemptively responds with acknowledgements for messages not yet received. For example, a server responds to an RTSP describe message with an RTSP describe acknowledgement, an RTSP setup acknowledgement, and an RTSP play response before setup and play messages are received by the server or even transmitted by the client. The client processes the anticipatory responses and transmits setup and play responses when the anticipatory responses are processed.
US08990391B2

An events interface is described, and the events interface includes event sequences that indicate software application events that occur in relation to each other along an adjustable continuum. Each of the event sequences corresponds to a software application that is executable on one or more computer devices, such as a hosted application by the computer devices, where modules of the software are each executable on the computer devices. The events interface also includes past event indicators along the event sequences that each present as a past software application event that occurred on at least one of the computer devices.
US08990390B2

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by processors, cause the processors to perform: at a management computer, receiving, from a gateway located in a managed network, device information about devices in the managed network; for a particular device: determining a match between the device capabilities of the particular device and features of a particular network software application configured to control the particular device, and determining a particular protocol endpoint configured to communicate control instructions from the particular network software application to the particular device; receiving, from the gateway, aggregated data that reflects network utilization by the devices located in the managed network; for the particular device: based at least in part on the aggregated data, using the particular network software application, determining control instructions for the particular device; causing the particular protocol endpoint to transmit the control instructions for the particular device to the device.
US08990381B2

A method and apparatus for managing common and application specific presence information, wherein the apparatus programs a computer to perform the method, which includes: receiving a publication message comprising presence information from a presentity; partitioning the presence information into common presence information and application specific presence information; storing the common presence information in a common presence information database, wherein authorization for access to the common presence information database is controlled by the presence server; and forwarding the application specific presence information to an external application, wherein the external application controls storage of the application specification presence information and authorization for access to the application specific presence information.
US08990376B1

Example apparatus and methods manage membership in a collection of servers participating in providing a service. An example device may provide a user interface that provides a single coherent view of the in-service state (e.g., in-service, out-of-service) of members of the collection of servers. The example device may also provide a request monitor that selectively blocks a membership request to a target device when the membership request will cause the set of functionalities to be suspended. If a service manager tries to take the only in-service server out-of-service, the action may be selectively blocked and the service manager may receive a notification of the potential result of the action. Taking a server out-of-service may include stopping messages from flowing to the server.
US08990375B2

Disclosed is a method and system for publishing subscriptions in a publish-subscribe system in accordance with subscription groups. Embodiments may include (i) determining a consumption characteristic by which each of a plurality of subscribers in a publish-subscribe system consumes a subscription published by a publisher; (ii) identifying the subscribers whose consumption characteristics satisfy a specified similarity criterion; (iii) defining a plurality of subscription groups, each of which includes subscriptions of those of the subscribers whose consumption characteristics satisfy the specified similarity criterion; and (iv) transmitting the subscriptions to the subscribers in accordance with the subscription groups. Embodiments may also include moving a subscription of the subscriber, from a first subscription group having subscriptions of those of the subscribers whose consumption characteristics correspond to a first specified similarity criterion, to a second subscription group having subscriptions of those of the subscribers whose consumption characteristics correspond to a second specified similarity criterion.
US08990373B2

An information processing apparatus, which is connected via a network to plural execution apparatuses, includes a receiving unit configured to receive function validity information from the execution apparatuses; a reception unit configured to receive an execution request for requesting the execution apparatuses to execute a requested function, which execution request does not include information identifying one of the execution apparatuses where the requested function is to be executed; a determining unit configured to determine execution apparatuses where the requested function is valid based on the function validity information; a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display information indicating the determined execution apparatuses where the requested function is valid based on the determination result; and a transmitting unit configured to send the execution request to a selected execution apparatus when a reception instruction to receive the execution request is entered on the selected execution apparatus.
US08990371B2

Methods and arrangements for facilitating virtual machine migration across data centers. A virtual machine is designated for migration from a first data center to a second data center, the virtual machine including a real identifier. A pseudo identifier is assigned to the virtual machine, and the pseudo identifier is mapped to the real identifier at a controller of the first data center. The real identifier is replaced in a data packet with the pseudo identifier for a routing task. Communication is maintained between the controller of the first data center and a controller of the second data center, and the controllers are synchronized to update a correct location of the virtual machine. The virtual machine is migrated from the first data center to the second data center.
US08990369B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing collaborative quality of service (“QoS”) for service-oriented architectures are described. The application services in the service-oriented architecture implement a QoS application-programming interface (“API”) in addition to the traditional service API. The QoS API may include a QoS reporting interface for reporting values of QoS metrics of the application service, a QoS mechanism interface that exposes details of dependability mechanisms utilized by the application service, and/or a QoS negotiation interface that allows dynamic negotiation of what QoS properties the application service provides and how the QoS properties are provided. Service consumers may utilize the QoS API of the various application services in the service-oriented architecture to collect dependability information regarding the application services and make service provider selection decisions during discovery and dynamic binding.
US08990364B2

Apparatus and methods for collaboratively presenting content that is distributed among a plurality of communication devices are disclosed. The method includes providing a control service at a player device to enable communicatively coupled controller devices to control playback of media on the player device, and creating a single play queue at the player device that includes identifiers of media content selected by the controller devices. A stream of particular media content from one of the multiple source devices is received when the particular media content is identified at a top of the single play queue, the particular media content is rendered at the player device, and the rendered media content is presented to users associated with the controller devices.
US08990359B1

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for unobtrusively determining previous actions and information associated with a user via an RGB string and generating web page content based upon previous actions and stored information.
US08990356B2

A method, system, and computer-readable memory containing instructions include receiving a DNS request containing information related to user-specific information, device-specific information, and/or authentication information, analyzing the information, determining an appropriate action to take based on analyzing the status, and taking the appropriate action. Actions may include responding with an individualized network layer address or service location address, delaying sending a response message, sending a network layer address or service location address corresponding to a site containing authentication information, and sending a response with a network layer address or service location address with a web address configured to mimic the website related to the requested resource.
US08990354B2

A computer-implemented method and system for caching multi-session data communications in a computer network.
US08990353B2

The present invention relates to a method, processing system and a computer readable medium for determining a recommended alteration to a client processing system. In one aspect, the processing system comprises: a server processing system; a community application data store, in communication with the server processing system, having stored therein application data indicative of one or more applications used by a plurality of processing systems; a computer readable medium in communication with the server processing system, wherein the computer readable medium, when used by the server processing system, causes the server processing system to: determine, based on the community application data store, a recommended alteration to a client processing system, the client processing system being one of the plurality of processing systems; and transfer the recommended alteration to the client processing system.
US08990348B2

Provided is an information processing system capable of preventing leakage of business data from an information device for personal use such as a portable telephone and false access to an in-house system. The information processing system includes an information device for personal use having a control means and server device having an individual data holding means for holding individual data transferred to the information device, and accessible by the information device and a relation data holding means for holding data about the relation between the status of the information device of when access to each set of the individual data is requested and the operation permitted about the set of the individual data. The information device transmits the status thereof to the server, and the server transfers individual data to the information device if permitted. The control means makes a control not to perform an operation other than the operations represented by the relation data and permitted.
US08990347B2

When a one or more identifiers and a plurality of data request types is received, a first data request from the one or more identifiers and from a first data request type can be generated and performed. When at least one first result from the first data request can be received, a second data request from the one or more identifiers and from a second data request type can be generated and performed at any time after receiving the one or more identifiers and the plurality of data request types, and then the at least one second result from the second data request can be retrieved either one of a before, during, and after the at least one first result from the first data request is presented. The correspondence between identifiers and request types may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many relationship. A response type may employ a plurality of response methods to access multiple network resources corresponding to any generated and/or selected identifiers and/or request types.
US08990344B2

A computing device may determine a geographic location of the computing device. The computing device may receive information associated with a user. The information may include a search history, a browsing history, an electronic communication message, a social media profile, and a geographic location history. The computing device may determine, based on the information associated with the user, a predicted interest of the user. The computing device may determine, based on the predicted interest of the user, events within a threshold distance from the geographic location of the computing device. The computing device may determine, based on a strength of a relationship between the predicted interest and respective event information associated with each of the events, a ranking of the events. The computing device may output, based on the ranking, at least a portion of the event information for at least one of the events.
US08990343B2

The disclosed subject matter relates to computer implemented methods for transferring a state of an application from a first computing device to a second computing device. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first request from a first computing device to transfer a state of a first application from the first computing device to the second computing device. The method further includes sending to the second computing device, a second request for an approval to initiate the transfer. The method further includes receiving from the second computing device an approval to initiate the transfer. The method further includes receiving from the first computing device, based on the received approval, the state of the first application. The method further includes sending the received state of the first application to the second device.
US08990338B2

A photo is received from a mobile device. The photo is stored at an intermediary server. The photo is formatted at the intermediary server for at least one content provider website. The photo is transmitted to the at least one content provider website. Another method downloads a photo. The method receives in an intermediary web server, content from a content provider website. The content includes at least a photo. The intermediary server determines if the photo is new. If the photo is new, the intermediary server determines if the photo is properly formatted for the mobile device client program and sends the content including the photo to a user device including the client program.
US08990325B2

A system and method is provided to enable clients to interact with a content resource (e.g., a webpage) in real-time, so that contributions from each client terminal is communicated to the other client terminals in real-time. Each client terminal can respond to real-time updates by locally updating the content resource to include most recent contributions.
US08990322B2

Systems and methods for controlling how text messages are archived. A system identifies a text message for delivery over a mobile network, and identifies protection information for controlling archiving of the text message. The system inserts the protection information in the text message, and transmits the text message with the protection information towards a destination. The same or another system, such as a message center, receives the text message, and identifies the protection information inserted in the text message. The receiving system further identifies an end user associated with the text message, and identifies privacy policies provisioned for the end user. The receiving system then processes the privacy policies and the protection information to determine if the text message is authorized to be archived, such as in an archive server.
US08990320B2

A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for refusing to process messages from a sender at a queue manager associated with a receiver when the receiver is inactive. It is identified whether a first destination has been selected. This first destination provides an indication of whether the receiver is active. If a first destination has been selected, it is determined using this first destination whether the receiver is active. If the receiver is inactive, the queue manager refuses to process messages intended for the receipt by the receiver.
US08990319B2

A computer-implemented method for negotiating a time and a medium for communications between users is described. The method is performed at a server including one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs. The method includes receiving a request from a first user to negotiate a time and a medium for communication with a second user. The request includes a plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method also includes generating a first notification based on the request. The first notification includes the plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method furthermore includes transmitting the first notification to the second user, and receiving a response to the first notification from the second user. The response indicates whether the second user has accepted one of the acceptable mediums of communication.
US08990315B2

Methods, apparatus and articles for sending emails to a plurality of recipients comprising a group of blind carbon copied recipients. A graphical user interface (GUI) screen comprising a TO field, a carbon copy field, and at least one blind carbon copy group (BCC-G) field may be provided for entering a list of recipients for the email. The email may be transferred to the recipients such that the identities of a plurality of recipients in the at least one BCC-G field are disclosed only to the recipients within the BCC-G field.
US08990314B2

In one embodiment, a method includes engaging in real-time communications using a first application, and dynamically granting permissions that enable a second participant to a tool associated with a first participant through the first application. The real-time communications involve a plurality of participants that include the first participant and the second participant. The permissions are dynamically granted using the first application.
US08990306B2

The present invention pre-fetches objects, textures and scripts (collectively referred to herein as items) through analysis of the communications of an avatar. Furthermore, if an object, texture or script is not pre-fetched upon arrival to a region the virtual universe's object, texture and script download system is augmented to prioritize objects the user may be interested in based on the avatar's communications and previously stated priorities. The present invention may improve user experience of virtual world by prioritizing the download and caching of objects, textures, and scripts that are likely to interest the user. Such a prioritization enhances the user experience by reducing wait times for the rendering of objects of interest.
US08990267B2

A method of synchronizing artifacts of a first domain with artifacts of a second domain is provided. The method includes: loading a first set of transformed artifacts and a first artifact map from a first domain into a second domain; generating an association model based on an evaluation of the first artifact map and a second artifact map; comparing a first transformed artifact of the first set of transformed artifacts with a second artifact of a second set of artifacts corresponding to the second artifact map based on the association model; determining differences based on the comparing; and selectively updating the second artifact map based on the differences.
US08990257B2

Several different embodiments of a segmented object storage system are described. The object storage system divides files into a number of object segments, each segment corresponding to a portion of the object, and stores each segment individually in the cloud storage system. The system also generates and stores a manifest file describing the relationship of the various segments to the original data file. Requests to retrieve the segmented file are fulfilled by consulting the manifest file and using the information from the manifest to reconstitute the original data file from the constituent segments. Modifying, appending to, or truncating the object is accomplished by manipulating individual segments and the manifest file. In further embodiments, manipulation of the individual object segments and/or the manifest is used to implement copy-on-write, snapshotting, software transactional memory, and peer-to-peer transmission of the large file.
US08990254B2

A loan origination and processing system is described. The system can reside on a server computer that is coupled to a data store storing data related to a borrower. The server computer is further coupled to a brokerage network that comprises a loan officer client, a loan processor client, and a broker manager client. Each brokerage client computer executes a unique interface to the loan origination and processing system.
US08990248B1

In one embodiment, network devices such as IP phones may be upgraded with a set of files. A master network device in the set of network devices is identified. The master network device retrieves or receives one or more files in the set of files. The master network device then distributes the file(s) to one or more network devices in the set of network devices, thereby enabling the file(s) to be distributed in a hierarchical manner to remaining network devices in the set of network devices.
US08990239B2

Systems and methods for photograph mapping are disclosed herein. In one embodiment a first digital image and at least one user-generated datum is received from at least one user. The first image is geographically organized according to the at least one datum. The first image is associated with at least one location and at least one direction. The first image is provided from a first person perspective to a user in response to a request.
US08990236B2

A system, computer program product and a system for analysis of data, the method includes: extracting a concise representation of a content a sample of a first dataset, wherein the extracting is executed without being mainly based on a-priory knowledge of a content of the sample of the first dataset; querying a queried dataset using at least a portion of the concise representation of the content of the sample of the first dataset, to provide query results; and generating a concise representation of a content of the query results.
US08990235B2

A system and method for automatically providing content associated with captured information is described. In some examples, the system receives input by a user, and automatically provides content or links to content associated with the input. In some examples, the system receives input via text entry or by capturing text from a rendered document, such as a printed document, an object, an audio stream, and so on.
US08990234B1

An efficient fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The efficient fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information efficiently and/or provides a status of the information.
US08990231B2

A cooperation-based method and system of managing, displaying, and updating DNA sequence data including receiving annotation data inputted by a user for an anchor corresponding to at least one base of a DNA sequence, and storing the received annotation data in an annotation data table which includes one or more columns for annotation data; receiving data about a position of an anchor which corresponds to at least one base of a DNA sequence in the DNA sequence, and displaying the position of the anchor on a DNA sequence map based on the received data; and getting input of a position at which an annotation is to be input on a DNA sequence map, displaying an annotation input interface which includes an edit region for inputting an annotation, and transmitting annotation data including annotation contents inputted through the edit region and the inputted position to a DNA sequence data storage device.
US08990227B2

Techniques for providing a consolidated view of directory changes across different directory servers. In one set of embodiments, a changelog record can be received from a directory server, where the directory server is associated with a proprietary changelog format, and where the changelog record is formatted according to the proprietary changelog format. The received changelog record can then be translated into a virtualized changelog record that is formatted according to a standard changelog format, and the virtualized changelog record can be sent to a consuming client. In a further set of embodiments, a “changelog cookie” can be generated for a virtualized changelog record prior to sending the record to a client. In various embodiments, the changelog cookie can act as a globally unique identifier—i.e., an identifier that distinguishes the virtualized changelog record from other virtualized changelog records.
US08990218B2

A computer system configures data elements based on textual sources by identifying subunits of a textual source, indexing the subunits into a sequence comprised of terms, identifies based on a target a base subsequence of the sequence, and stores the terms in such a way that they can be expanded or contracted and a user can rapidly and efficiently derive relevant information and context even from a vast amount of information including by navigable display to the user. Other methods and systems of configuring and displaying data elements from textual sources are provided.
US08990200B1

A topical search computer system identifies topics from various definitional (i.e., data) sources. The system generates a catalog of different topics from the data sources. Topics with similar names are differentiated by the system based on the context in which each topic is used. The context for a topic is represented by a context vector, which describes the co-occurrence relationships between the topic and other topics derived from the data sources. Because the system has computed a context for each topic, the system can provide improved search results responsive to user queries for information.
US08990197B2

A distributed information network is constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, i.e., the Internet. The distributed information network preferably includes a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each represented by metadata. A network browser delivers an information search request to the root server, which in response develops a profiled information search request. The information provider of each of the distributed sites stores metadata corresponding to information content that is retrievable in response to the profiled information search request for search results derivable from the information content to which the metadata correspond. A profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distribution sites enables formation of a path for delivery of the search results to a destination site, from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request.
US08990194B2

Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for adjusting content delivery based on user submissions. The method includes analyzing user submissions comprising photographs, the analyzing comprising: for each of the user submissions: identifying a time the user submission occurred; identifying objects represented in the photograph; determining a subject matter of the user submission based at least in part on the objects; determining a geographic location associated with the subject matter of the user submission; determining clusters of the user submissions, each user submission in a particular cluster being similar to each other user submission in the particular cluster based on the times the user submissions occurred, the subject matters of the user submissions, and the geographic locations associated with the user submissions; and adjusting content delivery to members of a network based on the determination of one or more of the clusters.
US08990192B2

Provided are a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for ranking search results. It is determined that a find operation with a find keyword has been issued for a page. In response to determining that the find keyword has been located on the page, the find keyword is stored in an index as relevant text for the page. In response to receiving a subsequent search request for which the page is retrieved, the page is ranked based on the find keyword.
US08990191B1

A method and system to determine a category score of a social network member is described. An example system comprises a sample selector, a weight value module, a storing module, an access module, and a category score module. The sample selector selects a random sample of member profiles from the profiles maintained by an on-line social network system. The weight value module obtains respective weight values associated with various phrases present in the random sample of member profiles. The access module accesses a member profile and the weighted phrases associated with a certain category. The category score module determines a category score for the member profile based on a presence of one or more phrases from the plurality of weighted phrases in the member profile.
US08990190B2

Techniques are described for displaying help articles, for a web page, that are related to the context of the web page. A help article provider has access to a database of help articles, each of which are associated with target-context data that may include content identifiers for the help article and/or user profile attributes for users that the help article targets. The help article provider identifies content identifiers for a viewed web page based on one or more of: metadata and a URL for the web page. The help article provider searches the help article database using the identified content identifiers. The help article provider may filter the help articles based on an authenticated user's attributes. An ordered list of the identified help articles is displayed, with the most relevant or important help articles displayed at or near the top of the list.
US08990188B2

Methods and systems for managing assessment of media content electronically submitted to a network-based media distribution system. A submitter can prepare a media package that is associated with a particular media asset (e.g. media title), and then electronically submit the media package to the media distribution system. The media distribution system can then process the media package to produce various components that are used by the media distribution system to electronically distribute media content of the media asset. According to one aspect, the media distribution system can manage a review process on the various components so that the components can be individually approved or rejected. According to another aspect, embodiments pertain to a reviewer's workspace that can assist a user in reviewing the submitted media content. According to still another aspect, embodiments can utilize a plurality of reviewers to review various media assets that have been submitted.
US08990183B2

The deep application crawling technique described herein crawls one or more applications, commonly referred to as “apps”, in order to extract information inside of them. This can involve crawling and extracting static data that are embedded within apps or resource files that are associated with the apps. The technique can also crawl and extract dynamic data that apps download from the Internet or display to the user on demand, in order to extract data. This extracted static and/or data can then be used by another application or an engine to perform various functions. For example, the technique can use the extracted data to provide search results in response to a user query entered into a search engine. Alternately, the extracted static and/or dynamic data can be used by an advertisement engine to select application-specific advertisements. Or the data can be used by a recommendation engine to make recommendations for goods/services.
US08990182B2

Some embodiments relate to performing a search for content via the Internet, wherein user input specifying a search query is supplied to a mobile communications device, such as, for example, a smartphone. The mobile communications device separately issues the search query to a plurality of search engines and can receive the results from each search engine and display the results to the user. Thus, the user does not have to separately issue the query to each of the plurality of search engines.
US08990174B2

A system and method for organizing media assets of a media project. The method includes storing a plurality of versions of media assets of the media project, including an original version of the media asset and at least one modified version of the media asset. Each of the plurality of versions of the media assets include a plurality of components, and the modified versions of the media assets include at least one modified component. Metadata for each of the plurality of components is generated. The metadata indicates whether each of the plurality of component is a modified component, and the metadata of the modified component indicates a type of modification made to the modified component.
US08990167B2

A system and method for storing and providing metadata. Metadata may be retrieved from multiple sources. The metadata is stored in facets in a repository and tagged to indicate one or more of the source, a time frame, or an associated data object. In response to receiving a request for metadata, a system selects metadata based on the specified object, source, or time frame. Access permissions corresponding to the requester are used to select and provide metadata for which the requester has permissions.
US08990165B2

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to archive data are disclosed. An example method to archive data disclosed herein comprises determining an initial data model representing functional dependencies among attributes of the data, the initial data model having fully interdependent functional dependencies among all attributes of the data, pruning one or more functional dependencies from the initial data model to determine a verified data model, and archiving a transaction included in the data to memory according to the verified data model.
US08990162B1

Metadata generate for incremental backup is disclosed. A subset of blocks used to store file system metadata are identified in a set of blocks changed since a last backup. File system metadata stored in the subset of blocks is used to obtain file system metadata associated with file system objects that have been created and/or modified since the last backup. The file system metadata associated with file system objects that have been created and/or modified since the last backup is used to generate file system metadata files for the incremental backup.
US08990160B2

Indexing functionality can be shifted to one or more backup servers in a backup system. In one implementation, a backup server can receive one or more data backups from one or more production servers. The backup server can then build or create one or more indexes at the backup server, which correspond to the contents of the one or more data backups. In one implementation, one or more management agents can also identify any appropriate components that might be needed to read the backup data at the backup server pursuant to building the one or more indexes. In either case, the one or more indexes can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as to manage data usage quotas at the one or more production servers, as well as to retrieve data from the backup server based on specific file requests.
US08990157B2

A method, system and computer readable storage medium for replicating structured data stored in a database. The method includes identifying the stored structured data, mapping the data to an unstructured data type, and sending the mapped data to one or more replicate databases as unstructured data.
US08990156B2

In various embodiments, a machine-implemented process of digital asset management is disclosed. The process comprises, at a first physical location: storing master digital asset files; generating at least one derivative digital asset file from each master digital asset file; storing the derivative digital asset file; and uploading copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files to a second physical location. The process of digital asset management further comprises, at the second physical location, storing the uploaded copies of a subset of the stored derivative digital asset files.
US08990154B2

A method and system for providing temporary storage associated with a duplication request. The method includes authenticating a user accessing a system. A service request for performing service functions is received. Specified data associated with performing service functions is received from a third party vendor and description metadata is added to the specified data. The service functions are executed using the specified data. Results of the executed service functions are generated. An additional service request for performing additional service functions is received and intercepted. The description metadata is compared to previous service requests stored in a temporary storage system.
US08990152B2

A method includes receiving an entity record, wherein the entity record comprising at least one entity field element, and resolving the entity record to an authority record being associated with an initial authority file, wherein the authority record comprising at least one authority field element. The method further includes calculating a field element update measurement, the field element update measurement being associated with the at least one entity field element and the at least one authority field element and if the field element update measurement meets or exceeds a threshold, updating the authority record, or if the field element update measurement does not meet or exceed a threshold, not updating the authority record. The method further includes developing, in response to updating the authority record, an updated authority file associated with at least one updated authority record. The method also includes incorporating an additional authority record to the updated authority file.
US08990135B2

A method for assessing whether a patient is at risk of developing a clinical condition includes receiving training data representing a set of patient-related variables for each of a plurality of patients; generating model data based on the received training data; receiving target data representing the set of patient-related variables for a target patient; determining a risk level for the target patient of developing the clinical condition; and indicating the risk level of the target patient, where the set of patient-related variables consists of a first set of variables when the clinical condition is a mortality condition and a second set of variables when the clinical condition is a morbidity condition.
US08990130B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to a neural network system comprising a single memory block for multiple neurosynaptic core modules. One embodiment comprises a neural network system including a memory array that maintains information for multiple neurosynaptic core modules. Each neurosynaptic core module comprises multiple neurons. The neural network system further comprises at least one logic circuit. Each logic circuit receives neuronal firing events targeting a neurosynaptic core module of the neural network system, and said logic circuit integrates the firing events received based on information maintained in said memory for said neurosynaptic core module.
US08990121B1

Disclosed is a technique for establishing a secure communication session between a mobile device and a card reader. The technique can involve using a trusted, remote validation server to validate security information of both the card reader and a POS module in the mobile device prior to, and as a precondition of, the card reader and the POS module establishing a secure communication session with each other. In certain embodiments the POS module sends the security information of both the card reader and the POS module to the validation server. The security information can include cryptographic keys of the POS module and the card reader and additional security information related to the POS module and its software environment.
US08990111B2

An auctioning system and methods interacting with multiple devices are set forth that includes a main server, remote terminals, and remote individual communication devices that communicate with one another and are adapted to display information to a user about a product or service for sale, and information pertaining to predefined auction parameters for the user to attempt to purchase said product or service.
US08990110B2

A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include a kiosk configured to receive a PIN and to collect payment from a user for rental of a securable device from among multiple securable devices. A lock unit associated with the securable device and in communication with the kiosk may be configured to receive the PIN from said kiosk. After receiving the PIN, the kiosk may be configured to operate autonomously with respect to the kiosk to enable the user to access the securable device in response to the user entering the PIN into the lock unit.
US08990108B1

A computer-implemented method for presenting content based on information detected in real time includes: receiving first information corresponding to detection of at least attendance at a physical location; selecting, in real time with the detection, at least one winning bid based on the first information, the at least one winning bid conditioned on the first information meeting an attendance criterion; and providing at least one winning content item associated with the selected winning bid to a content presentation device at the physical location.
US08990104B1

A multimedia product placement marketplace is provided. A media player presents primary media content received over a first channel. A media component presents auxiliary media content received over a second channel, and selects a portion of an auxiliary media content related to the primary media content, which may have been presented by the media player during a previous time period. If the selected portion of the auxiliary media content is associated with at least one item of information, the media component receives the information over a second channel, and displays the received information via a user interface on the handset. The received information includes a link to a commerce server that provides a commercially available product and/or a commercially available service related to the selected portion of the auxiliary media content to enable a transaction. The link may be based on a highest value bid within a period of time.
US08990101B2

A customizable situational awareness system is described that allows a user to customize the type of information that the user receives through a user interface, e.g., a dashboard, displayed by the system. In particular embodiments, the system can allow the user to configure alerts that are sent to the user's mobile or other device based on situational awareness events. In further embodiments, the customizable situational awareness system receives user configuration data related to flight events, maintenance events, and alerts. When the system receives situational awareness data, the system can retrieve the user's configuration data and display the situational awareness data based on the user's configuration data. Thus, aspects of the customizable situational awareness system allow the user to access information that is more relevant to the user and to filter out less relevant information.
US08990094B2

An electronic device for coding a transient frame is described. The electronic device includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device obtains a current transient frame. The electronic device also obtains a residual signal based on the current transient frame. Additionally, the electronic device determines a set of peak locations based on the residual signal. The electronic device further determines whether to use a first coding mode or a second coding mode for coding the current transient frame based on at least the set of peak locations. The electronic device also synthesizes an excitation based on the first coding mode if the first coding mode is determined. The electronic device also synthesizes an excitation based on the second coding mode if the second coding mode is determined.
US08990083B1

A method is provided in one example and includes receiving data propagating in a network environment, and identifying selected words within the data based on a whitelist. The whitelist includes a plurality of designated words to be tagged. The method further includes assigning a weight to the selected words based on at least one characteristic associated with the data, and associating the selected words to an individual. A resultant composite is generated for the selected words that are tagged. In more specific embodiments, the resultant composite is partitioned amongst a plurality of individuals associated with the data propagating in the network environment. A social graph can be generated that identifies a relationship between a selected individual and the plurality of individuals based on a plurality of words exchanged between the selected individual and the plurality of individuals.
US08990082B2

A method for scoring non-native speech includes receiving a speech sample spoken by a non-native speaker and performing automatic speech recognition and metric extraction on the speech sample to generate a transcript of the speech sample and a speech metric associated with the speech sample. The method further includes determining whether the speech sample is scorable or non-scorable based upon the transcript and speech metric, where the determination is based on an audio quality of the speech sample, an amount of speech of the speech sample, a degree to which the speech sample is off-topic, whether the speech sample includes speech from an incorrect language, or whether the speech sample includes plagiarized material. When the sample is determined to be non-scorable, an indication of non-scorability is associated with the speech sample. When the sample is determined to be scorable, the sample is provided to a scoring model for scoring.
US08990074B2

A method of noise-robust speech classification is disclosed. Classification parameters are input to a speech classifier from external components. Internal classification parameters are generated in the speech classifier from at least one of the input parameters. A Normalized Auto-correlation Coefficient Function threshold is set. A parameter analyzer is selected according to a signal environment. A speech mode classification is determined based on a noise estimate of multiple frames of input speech.
US08990072B2

Provided are an apparatus and a method for integrally encoding and decoding a speech signal and a audio signal. The encoding apparatus may include: an input signal analyzer to analyze a characteristic of an input signal; a first conversion encoder to convert the input signal to a frequency domain signal, and to encode the input signal when the input signal is a audio characteristic signal; a Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) encoder to perform LPC encoding of the input signal when the input signal is a speech characteristic signal; a frequency band expander for expanding a frequency band of the input signal whose output is transmitted to either the first conversion encoder or the LPC encoder based on the input characteristic; and a bitstream generator to generate a bitstream using an output signal of the first conversion encoder and an output signal of the LPC encoder.
US08990069B1

A computer-implemented technique includes receiving, at a server including one or more processors, a phrase table for statistical machine translation, the phrase table including a plurality of phrase pairs corresponding to one or more pairs of languages. The technique includes determining, at the server, a redundant set of phrase pairs from the plurality of phrase pairs and calculating first and second probabilities for each specific phrase pair of the redundant set. The second probability can be based on third probabilities for sub-phrases of each specific phrase pair. The technique includes determining, at the server, one or more selected phrase pairs based on whether a corresponding second probability for a specific phrase pair is within a probability threshold from its corresponding first probability. The technique also includes removing, at the server, the one or more selected phrase pairs from the phrase table to obtain a modified phrase table.
US08990066B2

Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements to perform automated translation from a source language to a target language. For example, an out-of-vocabulary word may be identified and a morphological analysis may be performed to determine whether the out-of-vocabulary word reduces to at least one stem. If the out-of-vocabulary word reduces to a stem, the stem may be translated. The translated stem may be inflected if the out-of-vocabulary word is inflected. If the out-of-vocabulary word has any affixes, the affixes may be translated. In some cases, the translated affixes may be reordered before being combined with the inflected and translated stem. If the out-of-vocabulary word is misspelled, the spelling of the out-of-vocabulary word may be corrected before performing the morphological analysis. If the out-of-vocabulary word is a colloquial form of a formal word, the out-of-vocabulary word may be replaced with the formal word before performing the morphological analysis.
US08990065B2

A set of stories may be related in a set of messages (e.g., news articles, weblog posts, or messages exchanged in a social network). Presented herein are techniques for automatically generating a summary of respective stories that may be used as a headline or title. These techniques involve identifying the entities referenced in each message, clustering the messages based on similarly referenced entities to generate a cluster of messages associated with each story, and identifying facts of the story that appear in many of the messages, which may be used to generate a perspective-independent summary of the story. Additionally, metadata regarding each message may be detected (e.g., the entities involved in each story, a meta-story of the story, and the perspective of the author in relating the story), and may be used to fulfill requests to filter the set of stories and/or messages based on these criteria.
US08990063B1

A hammer system and method thereof for monitoring an organization platform to detect system level problems of one or more applications. The hammer system may include a hammer device, an enhanced trunk group poller, and a client-specific application hammer. The client-specific application hammer may be structured as a simulator that is operable to periodically place calls into the organization platform and emulate real call scenarios. The simulator may include D-channel polling logic.
US08990062B2

The present invention is achieved as software which operates on a computer system and which performs calculation by receiving various data as inputs, and which outputs values. The present invention is applicable to a coarse-grained system architecture model including the foregoing event-driven simulation and receives, as inputs, execution time T and the number of memory accesses, N, in the simulation step of the model. Thus, various estimates at the occurrence of memory access conflict are obtained at a simulation speed sufficient for evaluating the effect of the memory access conflict and comparing it with many alternative architectures without information on the correct timing of memory accesses in consideration of memory synchronous accesses and arbitration. The results of this simulation are estimated simulation-step execution time T′ under memory access conflict and memory-bandwidth utilization factors {U′i} in individual simulation steps under memory access conflict.
US08990059B2

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining information from an amplification curve of a target nucleic acid sequence or sequences by defining at least one model function that describes the amplification curve and that contains at least one parameter that is related to a physical quantity that influences the signals recorded, fitting said model function to the amplification curve, and obtaining information with respect to said physical quantity by identifying the value of said parameter that results in the best fit of the model function.
US08990040B2

A soft-field tomography system includes a plurality of transducers configured for positioning at a surface of an object. An excitation driver is configured to generate a precomputed default excitation pattern for the plurality of transducers. A processor stores the precomputed default excitation pattern and a corresponding predicted response for the precomputed excitation pattern. The processor further stores one or more precomputed fault excitation patterns and corresponding predicted response for the fault excitation patterns corresponding to one or more fault conditions of the plurality of transducers. A response measurement device is configured to measure a response at one or more of the transducers to determine if a fault condition exists. If a fault condition exists, the processor at least one of instructs the excitation driver to generate a precomputed fault excitation pattern or uses a predicted response that corresponds to the fault condition for a soft field tomography process.
US08990039B2

A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to accept a probe so that a distal tip of the probe presses against a point in the fixture and produces first measurements indicative of a deformation of the distal tip relative to a distal end of the probe, in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip. A sensing device is coupled to the fixture and is configured to produce second measurements of a mechanical force exerted by the distal tip against the point. A calibration processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the probe, to receive the second measurements from the sensing device and to compute, based on the first and second measurements, one or more calibration coefficients for assessing the pressure as a function of the first measurements.
US08990033B2

A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product monitors operational conditions of a cargo ship. A baseline composite vibration pattern is established from readings generated by multiple smart sensors. Each of the multiple smart sensors is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers that have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and each smart sensor includes a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration. Subsequent readings are then taken from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern. In response to the new composite vibration pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration pattern, the new composite vibration pattern is matched with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern.
US08990032B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed that may be configured to respond to vibrations in a pavement induced by the travel of a vehicle on the pavement. The apparatus may include vibration sensor nodes embedded in the pavement and systems using the response of the sensor nodes to generate vehicle parameters, weight estimates, pavement deflection estimates and vehicle classifications. From these and other data, traffic ticket, tariff and insurance messages about the vehicle may be generated. Processors and processor-units are disclosed. Delivery mechanisms to configure the processor units and entities controlling and/or benefiting from the deliveries are disclosed.
US08990027B2

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of a foundation supporting a building (I) and embedded in the ground, consisting of using a plurality of sensors (4, 5) arranged on the building to acquire a set of measurements (mi1, mi2) relating to the foundation and/or to the building according to a predetermined acquisition mode; calculating, from said set of measurements, a set of condition indicators (iJ1,iJ2) characteristic of an embedding rigidity of the foundation; and making a comparison between a set of values derived from the set of calculated condition indicators and a set of thresholds.
US08990026B2

A power generation plant including a plurality of combustor cans, one or more sensors configured to measure acoustic vibrations from the plurality of combustor cans, and a controller that includes a processor. The processor is programmed to identify a dominant tone of the measured acoustic vibrations, the dominant tone being a frequency where a highest amount of energy lies, determine, for each of the plurality of combustor cans, a frequency of the dominant tone at predefined time intervals, and determine a degradation status of at least one of the plurality of combustor cans based on the frequency of the dominant tone at each of the predefine time intervals for the at least one of the plurality of combustor cans.
US08990025B2

Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.
US08990020B2

A system and method for use in a downhole tool having a fluid density measurement device positioned therein are provided. In one example, the method includes deploying the downhole tool at a first station in a borehole. The downhole tool is moved from the first station to a second station in the borehole. A plurality of fluid density values of fluid within the borehole between the first and second stations are measured using the fluid density measurement device in the downhole tool. The plurality of fluid density values may represent a continuous log of fluid densities between the first and second stations.
US08990018B2

A kit includes a swallowable capsule (1, 45) with a potentiometric sensor (3), such as a pH sensor, with an unfilled electrolyte cell (31). The kit further includes a separate container (46) containing a liquid electrolyte. The kit can, e.g., be packed in a blister package. After unpacking the capsule the electrolyte cell (31) is filled with the electrolyte.
US08990012B2

A map update data supply device includes: a request update data extraction unit that based on an update request extracts a request update section, and a latest version of an overwrite update data file for overwrite updating; and a safeguard update data extraction unit that extracts a safeguard update section that safeguards a network between adjacent sections, and up to an update safeguard version of a difference update data file, wherein the extracted data files are supplied to a navigation device.
US08990008B2

The disclosure relates to a method for identifying points of interest, or POIs, in a vicinity of a predetermined location on the basis of digital cartographic data and a predetermined search time and a predetermined number of POI hits. The method comprises the steps of identifying, on the basis of cartographic data, an initial search field that includes the predetermined location, searching for a POI in the search field, and iteratively enlarging the search field and searching for the POI in the enlarged search field until the predetermined search time has elapsed or the predetermined number of POI hits has been attained.
US08990003B1

A webpage for a GPS device enables sending information automatically to the GPS device. The user can search on the search engine, and receive results. The results in the form of addresses or named in the automatically exported to the GPS device. The exporting may be wirelessly or via a portable hard drive.
US08990000B2

A method for estimating a location of a center of gravity (CG) of a sprung mass of a vehicle includes steps of a) determining whether the vehicle is stationary or moving; b) if the vehicle is stationary, calculating estimated x and y coordinates of the CG; c) storing the estimated coordinates in memory; and d) repeating steps a)-c) until the vehicle is no longer stationary.
US08989998B2

A visual/graphical air traffic display tool to aid flight crews in determining future heading/track and position of ownship based on current climb rate, bank angle and groundspeed under current meteorological conditions. The tool displays symbols which indicate the predicted future position and heading/track of ownship on a traffic display unit. The tool is also capable of using ownship's predicted position and information received from surrounding traffic to identify a future conflict at ownship's predicted position and then display a future conflict warning on the traffic display unit. In one embodiment, the future conflict warning takes the form of a change in the coloration of the ownship position and heading/track indicator being displayed.
US08989997B2

A map display system and method are provided. The display system includes a map information acquiring unit that acquires map information and a congestion level acquiring unit that acquires a congestion level for each road section within the map. The system also includes a route line display determining unit that determines whether a route line is displayed superimposed on any road line, the route line representing a planned travel route, each road line representing a road section within the map. The display is controlled such that if the route line is displayed superimposed on any road line a congestion line is displayed at a position by a first off-set distance from the road line on the display part and if the route line is not displayed superimposed on any road line, the congestion line is displayed at a second off-set distance from the road line on the display part.
US08989989B2

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a temperature estimation module and a fuel control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a piston temperature associated with a cylinder based on engine operating conditions. The fuel control module controls at least one of injection timing associated with the cylinder, injection pressure associated with a cylinder, injection location associated with a cylinder, and a number of injections per engine cycle associated with the cylinder based on the piston temperature.
US08989986B2

A method is provided for determining the approach of the lean blow off (LBO) of a gas turbine engine having at least one combustion chamber into which a fuel is supplied and burnt generating a flame. The method includes determining a value indicative of the gas temperature in recirculation areas adjacent to the flame, and identifying the lean blow off (LBO) approach on the basis of this value. A device for determining the approach of the lean blow off (LBO) is also disclosed.
US08989984B2

A method of controlling an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system of a vehicle. The method including determining a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining a torque of a transmission of the vehicle, calculating an idle force of the vehicle, obtaining a maximum tolerable gradient, obtaining an actual gradient of a surface the vehicle is on, and turning off the adaptive cruise control when the actual gradient exceeds the maximum tolerable gradient.
US08989982B2

A velocity calculation device includes: a vertical direction acceleration detection portion that is mounted on a vehicle and detects an acceleration in a vertical direction generated correspondingly to undulation of a road surface; a horizontal direction angular velocity detection portion that is mounted on the vehicle and detects an angular velocity about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a travel direction of the vehicle generated correspondingly to the undulation of the road surface; and a velocity calculation portion that calculates a velocity in the travel direction of the vehicle on the basis of the acceleration in the vertical direction and the angular velocity about the horizontal axis.
US08989979B2

A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a clutch that is able to allow and interrupt transmission of driving force to a propeller shaft, and a traction control unit that controls at least one of the driving force generated by an engine and braking force applied to right and left front wheels to suppress a slip of the right and left front wheels. When the drive mode is switched from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode, if the relative rotational speed between a first rotary member and a second rotary member constituting a clutch is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an ECU outputs a control command signal for suppressing the slip of the right and left front wheels to the traction control unit.
US08989969B2

An object of the invention is to provide a traction control apparatus capable of suitably controlling an error, if it occurs, between an estimation of a vehicle speed and an actual vehicle speed. A traction control apparatus according to the invention includes a vehicle speed estimator and a driving-force controller. The traction control apparatus includes a vehicle state determiner that determines whether the vehicle speed of the construction vehicle estimated by the vehicle speed estimator and the driving-force control by the driving-force controller are balanced, and a driving-force control changer that changes a driving-force control by the driving-force controller when the vehicle state determiner determines the vehicle speed and the driving-force control to be unbalanced.
US08989967B2

A vehicle seat device includes a lock mechanism, a drive source, which has an output portion, a cancellation detection portion, which detects the cancellation of restriction by the lock mechanism, and a restriction detection portion, which detects restriction by the lock mechanism. When cancelling restriction on the basis of operation of the operation switch, current is supplied to the drive source such that the output portion moves in the forward direction until the cancellation detection portion has detected cancellation, and when the cancellation has been detected, the supply of current to the drive source is stopped. When performing the restriction on the basis of operation of the operation switch, current is supplied to the drive source such that the output portion moves in the reverse direction until the restriction detection portion has detected restriction, and when restriction has been detected, the supply of current to the drive source is stopped.
US08989961B2

The present disclosure provides a method of controlling interaction between a mobile electronic device and a in-vehicle electronic system, a mobile electronic device using the same method, and a in-vehicle electronic system unit using the same method. The method may include establishing a connection between the mobile electronic device and the in-vehicle electronic system. The mobile electronic device may then receive a profile setting from the in-vehicle electronic system through the connection which could be a cable connection or a wireless connection. The mobile electronic device would control transmission and reception of data to the in-vehicle electronic system based on the profile setting of the in-vehicle electronic system, wherein the setting varies based on the role of the in-vehicle electronic system.
US08989941B2

A maneuvering drive (24, 30) for a trailer (10) has a central unit (30), at least two drive units (24) by which wheels (16) of the trailer (10) can be driven and which are controlled by the central unit (30), each drive unit (24) including a checking module (40) by which drive specifications of the central unit (30) can be checked as to whether they can be fulfilled, and a feedback channel being provided by which the drive units (24) can feed back to the central unit (30) if the drive specifications cannot be fulfilled.
US08989934B2

The present invention improves fuel efficiency of an engine that is the power source of an auxiliary machine. Configured is a regeneration control device that has a control means that, when a hybrid automobile is stopped, the accelerator is in a closed state, and the auxiliary machine is in an operating state, and when the indicated value for the amount of fuel injection of the engine is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, or the indicated value exceed the threshold, causes a driving mode wherein the engine and an electric motor cooperate during deceleration after the hybrid automobile has started moving.
US08989927B2

A method for controlling an emergency brake device of a rail vehicle or rail vehicle train consisting of several rail vehicles having axles braked by friction brakes, wherein an emergency braking operation is started by an emergency braking input, including identifying at least one axle having inadmissible brake slip during the emergency braking operation in which inadmissible brake slip occurs outside a predetermined optimal brake slip range; identifying at least one axle having no or admissible brake slip during the emergency braking operation by which axle a larger friction braking force can be transferred than by the at least one axle having inadmissible brake slip; and adjusting the friction braking forces on the at least one axle having no or admissible brake slip such that the adjustment can maintain a deviation of the actual deceleration of the rail vehicle from a target deceleration.
US08989926B2

A method and system for verifying trackside conditions in safety critical railroad applications by reporting the status of trackside signals and switches to a remote train control system. The system comprises at least one sensor for providing trackside conditions electrically connected to a circuit for providing trackside conditions to a railroad, said sensor being powered by voltage applied to the circuit such that the sensor is energized only when said electrical component is engaged. The system and method further comprises a method and system which is failsafe and which enables the control system to independently verify signals from each sensor.
US08989923B2

A method of formulating a specification for temporal and vertical required navigation performance is described. The method assesses various flight management guidance systems methods and allows a specification to be set for an airport. The specification may be used to increase aircraft traffic into the airport. The specification sets limits on deviations in time and altitude, for example, on approach into arrivals at the airport. The method comprises: calculating temporal and vertical deviations from a reference trajectory for one or more flight management guidance methods for one or more aircraft types; and comparing the temporal and vertical deviations with operational requirements of the airport. The deviations from a reference trajectory may result from uncertainties affecting trajectory prediction, such as wind and temperature prediction accuracy.
US08989916B2

A system includes a turn signal lever, at least one exterior sensor configured to detect a condition of an area surrounding a vehicle, and a display configured to display information about the condition of the area surrounding vehicle. The turn signal lever includes at least one sensor configured to detect a touch or a proximity of a user's finger or hand. The turn signal lever includes a top sensor and a bottom sensor, which are configured to distinguish between intended actuation of the lever by the user for a left turn or a right turn. The display is configured to display information indicating a degree of safety for performing the intended turn.
US08989913B2

Provided is a travel route estimation device capable of accurately estimating, without excessively increasing communication load of the device, a shape of a travel route even when one's own-vehicle is traveling on a travel route that does not have any objects installed on the route. A calculation section calculates and successively stores a radius of curvature of the travel route based on a yaw rate detected by a yaw rate detection section and on a traveling velocity detected by a velocity detection section. When conducting a filtering process for reducing variation of the calculate radius of curvature, the calculation section selects a filtering constant for multiplying the stored radius of curvature in accordance with the type of the travel route of the own-vehicle, and generates information representing a radius of curvature obtained by conducting at least one filtering process by using the selected filtering constant.
US08989911B2

A power consumption management system includes power consumption managers and a power supply manager. Each of the power consumption managers creates changeable power amount information with respect to a planned value of power consumption for each predetermined time range in a preset predetermined period in future, the planned value being related to a load of each piece of equipment in a building as a monitoring target. The power supply manager is connected to each of the power consumption managers through a network, decides a power change request amount for each building based on the created changeable power amount information, and transmits the decided power change request amount to each of the power consumption managers for the purpose of notification.
US08989910B1

Methods, machine-readable media, apparatuses and systems are provided to collect and analyze data relating to energy consumption and factors affecting energy production. In various embodiments, such analysis can include time series analysis, multivariate correlation analysis, cluster analysis, anomaly detection methods, multi-dimensional density analysis and demand modeling.
US08989903B2

End effectors with closing mechanisms, and related tools and methods to facilitate clamping, are provided. An example surgical tool comprises a first and second jaw movable between a closed grasped or clamped configuration and an open configuration. The tool further comprises a soft grip mode for grasping the tissue at a first force during which a separation parameter between the jaws is measured, and a therapeutic clamping mode in which the jaws clamp on the body tissue at a force greater than the grasping force. The methods comprise grasping the body tissue between jaw members, measuring the separation parameter between jaws, indicating on a user interface the separation parameter for comparison to a desired separation parameter, and then releasing the body tissue for repositioning or therapeutically clamping the body tissue in response to the separation parameter indication.
US08989902B1

Disclosed here is a user interface for a robotic hand. The user interface anchors a user's palm in a relatively stationary position and determines various angles of interest necessary for a user's finger to achieve a specific fingertip location. The user interface additionally conducts a calibration procedure to determine the user's applicable physiological dimensions. The user interface uses the applicable physiological dimensions and the specific fingertip location, and treats the user's finger as a two link three degree-of-freedom serial linkage in order to determine the angles of interest. The user interface communicates the angles of interest to a gripping-type end effector which closely mimics the range of motion and proportions of a human hand. The user interface requires minimal contact with the operator and provides distinct advantages in terms of available dexterity, work space flexibility, and adaptability to different users.
US08989889B2

The present invention provides an identification information setting device and an identification information setting method that can easily set identification information for a transfer chamber. In an embodiment of the present invention, a storage portion (31) stores field identification information that is previously set for each position where a transfer chamber having a transfer robot can be arranged. A reception portion (32) receives, as specification information, information on the position where the transfer chamber is actually arranged and the transfer chamber. The storage portion (31) stores correspondence between the actually arranged transfer chamber and identification information.
US08989886B2

In some embodiments, a method includes defining a sequence of process resources. Each of the process resources is for performing at least one respective task on a work item. The method further includes calculating a resource utilization metric for each of the process resources. The method also includes displaying a representation of at least a portion of the sequence of process resources. The representation includes image elements that each have a dimension that is inversely proportional to the resource utilization metric for the process resource represented by the image element in question.
US08989875B2

An electrode apparatus may be configured to provide electro-stimulation. The apparatus may include a current spreader and a spongeless volume disposed adjacent to the current spreader. The current spreader may be configured to spatially distribute electrical current across a stimulation area of a subject's skin. The spongeless volume may be configured to carry liquid gel or other fluent conductive substance that is configured to conduct electrical current between the current spreader and the stimulation area of the subject's skin to provide electro-stimulation.
US08989874B2

A bioelectrode comprising: a skin-side, electrically conducting adhesive layer and a flexible electrical connecting cable which in an electrically insulating cable sheath includes at least one electrical conductor, wherein fitted at the electrode-side end of the connecting cable is a preassembled electrical conducting element electrically connected to the electrical conductor of the connecting cable, wherein the preassembled electrical conducting element is electrically connected in the installed condition to the skin-side, electrically conducting adhesive layer.
US08989873B2

Implantable medical devices and methods use an intravascular implantable medical device having an elongated housing module to contain one or more circuitry components. An opening is defined through the elongated housing module. A lead, including at least one electrode, is coupled towards the distal end of the elongated housing module and at least a portion of the at least one electrode is in a stowed position within the opening defined through the elongated housing module during implant of the implantable medical device. The at least one electrode is advanceable from the stowed position to a location distal of the distal end of the elongated housing module.
US08989862B2

A method for treating a pulmonary condition in a subject is provided. One step of the method includes providing an apparatus for positioning at a target site innervated by at least one nerve of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The apparatus includes a fluid exchange catheter, an inflatable balloon coupled to the fluid exchange catheter, and an energy delivery mechanism including at least one energy delivery member for delivering electrical energy to the target site. Next, an expansion medium is delivered to the apparatus so that the inflatable balloon is sufficiently inflated to sandwich at least a portion of the at least one energy delivery member between the inflatable balloon and a luminal wall of the tracheo-bronchial tree at the target site. Electrical energy is then delivered to the at least one energy delivery member to effect a change in the ANS of the subject.
US08989857B2

Loosing the ability to interact with one's environment can be devastating. The invention enables a person to control the real or virtual action or movement of an output device in from one to three dimensions through the use of at least one electrical sensor implanted beneath the skin or as a part of a headset on either one side or on both sides of the person's head in electrical communication with a vestigial periauricular nerve or muscle. Each sensor communicates through a selected channel to transmit information preferably in digital form to an output device designating an action to be taken or the position of a target location for enabling the output device to perform the action or to move toward or to a target location through real or virtual space. At least one and preferably up to four sensors are located on each side of the head.
US08989848B2

Apparatus and methods for spectroscopic analysis of biological tissues to classify an individual as diabetic or non-diabetic, or to determine the probability, progression or level of a disease or medical condition in an individual.
US08989846B2

Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a gantry frame including a ring member, the ring member being rotatable around a substantially horizontal, longitudinally extending central axis, the ring member having first and second horizontally opposing ends. The IGRT apparatus further comprises a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring member by an arm member, the arm member being connected to the ring member at an arm member base. Preferably, the IGRT apparatus is further characterized in that the arm member extends outwardly from the first end of the ring member in a direction away from the second end and is supported only by the arm member base, and the radiation treatment head is dynamically movable in at least a longitudinal direction toward and away from the first end of the ring member.
US08989844B2

The invention concerns an imaging system to monitor at least one surgical instrument in an operative site inside a volume of the body of an animal, comprising: at least one endoscopic camera to obtain endoscopic data on the operative site, at least one ultrasound imaging device to obtain ultrasound data on the operative site, and a processing device to process the endoscopic and ultrasound data. The imaging system further comprising at least three markers intended to be positioned in the operative site, said markers being mobile relative to the instrument, each marker being adapted to be detected both by the endoscopic camera and by the ultrasound imaging device, so as to permit cross-mapping of the endoscopic and ultrasound data by the processing means.
US08989841B2

An interface device enables an intracavity probe to be used with a magnetic resonance (MR) system for the purpose of obtaining images or spectra of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient. The probe includes a shaft, a balloon at one end thereof, and a coil loop within the balloon. The coil loop preferably includes two drive capacitors and a tuning capacitor, all of which in series. A junction node between the drive capacitors serves as a ground for electrically balancing the coil loop. Diametrically opposite the junction node, the tuning capacitor enables the coil loop to resonate at the operating frequency of the MR system. Across each drive capacitor is connected an output cable having an electrical length of SL+n(λ/4). The output cables terminate in a plug that is used to connect the coil loop to the interface device.
US08989830B2

A monitoring device configured to be attached to the body of a subject includes an outer layer and an inner layer secured together. The inner layer includes light transmissive material and has inner and outer surfaces. A base is secured to at least one of the outer and inner layers and includes an optical emitter and optical detector. A layer of cladding material is positioned near the outer surface of the inner layer, and at least one window is formed in the layer of cladding material that serves as a light-guiding interface to the body of the subject. The light transmissive material delivers light from the optical emitter to the body of the subject along a first direction and collects light from the body of the subject and delivers the collected light in a second direction to the optical detector. The first and second directions are substantially parallel.
US08989828B2

A superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a bobbin around which a superconducting coil is wound, the bobbin serving as a protective resistor; a persistent current switch for supplying a persistent current to the superconducting coil; a first closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the persistent current switch connected in series to the coil; and a second closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the bobbin connected in series to the coil.
US08989813B2

Embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions, including systems, methods and/or software, for handling calls in a dual-mode VoIP/cellular environment. Merely by way of example, some systems can be configured to determine whether to use a VoIP system or a cellular system to handle a particular call, and/or to transition a call from one network to the other network. Other systems can be configured to substitute a public number (which might be, for example, a VoIP number) for a private number (which might be, for example, a cellular number) when routing a call originating from a dual-mode phone on a cellular network. Further systems can be configured to allow a VoIP system to serve as an anchor for calls originated and/or delivered on a cellular system, for instance to facilitate a transition between cellular and VoIP service during a call.
US08989811B2

A wireless communication apparatus includes a first module, a second module, an inhibit module, a calculation module, and a control module. The first module constitutes a first system. The first system transmits and receives first data to and from a first device. The second module constitutes a second system. The second system transmits and receives second data to and from a second device in each interval time-divided with determined transmission timing. The inhibit module generates inhibit periods for preventing the first module from communicating by use of the first data. The calculation module calculates an occupation time required for the transmission and reception of the first data. The control module compares the period between the inhibit periods adjacent to one another with the occupation time and, according to the comparison result, instructs the first device to stop or delay the transmission of the first data.
US08989801B2

A mobile phone and a key detection device are disclosed. The mobile phone comprises at least two keys, a baseband chip, a resistor and at least two switch elements. The baseband chip comprises at least two first ports, at least two second ports and an interrupt port. Each first port outputs a first level signal and is correspondingly connected with one end of one key; each second port outputs a second level signal and is correspondingly connected with the other end of the key. One end of the resistor is connected with the interrupt port, and the other end of the resistor is connected with a reference level. One end of each switch element is connected between one first port and the one first port's corresponding key, and the other end of each switch element is connected between the interrupt port and the resistor.
US08989800B2

A method of determining synchronization timing, comprising: transmitting transmission power information of a first base station (BS) which connects a mobile station (MS) and a second BS; switching reception frequency of the MS in the transmission period for the first BS to transmit reference signal between transmission frequencies of reference signal of the first BS and the second BS; measuring reception power received by the MS from the first BS and the second BS; determining propagation loss from the first BS and the second BS to the MS based on the measured reception power and transmission power information; determining a propagation delay difference between the first BS and the second BS to the MS based on the propagation loss; determining synchronization timing of the second base apparatus to the MS based on synchronization timing of the first BS to the MS and the propagation delay difference.
US08989798B2

A power control method is provided, which is applicable to the communication field. The method includes: obtaining power headroom information of an aggregated carrier of a User Equipment (UE), where the aggregated carrier includes at least one component carrier group and at least one first carrier, or includes at least one component carrier group, or includes at least two first carriers, the component carrier group includes at least two second carriers, and the first carrier and the second carrier are single carriers; and adjusting transmit power of the aggregated carrier according to the power headroom information. The method enables reporting of power headroom of an aggregated carrier of the UE in a multi-carrier scenario, so that the base station can control the transmitting power of the UE reliably, and therefore, reliability and throughput of the system are improved.
US08989797B2

Wireless base station eNB10-1 sets the power consumption level of wireless base station eNB10-1 (itself) to one of multiple levels, and sends a power consumption level information message indicating the power consumption level to wireless base station eNB10-2. Wireless base station eNB10-2 receives and stores the power consumption level information message.
US08989791B1

In systems and methods of talk group communication, a group PTT call is established between a originating wireless device and recipient wireless devices. A group identifier of the PTT call group is provided to the recipient wireless devices indicating that the PTT call involves a call group without indicating an identifier of originating wireless device. In an embodiment, when the group PTT call is terminated, a response call request is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device. In an embodiment, a response is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients, the group PTT call is terminated, and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device.
US08989789B2

There are provided measures for terminal mobility state detection. Such measures may exemplarily include acquiring a statistical metric of measurements of a signal strength of a terminal with unknown speed over a predetermined time period, comparing the acquired statistical metric with mobility patterns stored in a database, each of said mobility patterns exhibiting a relationship between previously acquired statistical metrics of signal strength measurements of terminals with a specific terminal speed class, and determining a terminal speed class of the terminal according to a best match between the acquired statistical metric and the mobility patterns on the basis of the comparison. The database may exemplarily be prepared including acquiring a statistical metric of measurements of a signal strength of a terminal with known speed, and applying the acquired statistical metric for creating or updating the mobility pattern with respect to the specific terminal speed class corresponding to the known speed of the terminal.
US08989788B2

A method and an apparatus for uplink power control in a wireless communication system are provided. More specially, a method is provided in which a first base station in a wireless communication system periodically measures interference for a cell of a second base station neighboring the first base station, determines an average of the periodically measured interference, broadcasts the determined average of the periodically measured interference to mobile terminals located in a cell of the first base station, determines a weight for the determined average of the periodically measured interference, based on one of resource allocation information for the cell of the second base station and whether a specific message for interference regulation is received from the second base station, and transmits the determined weight to the mobile terminals.
US08989785B2

Voicemail is received at a voicemail server and converted to an audio file format; it is then sent or streamed over a wide area network to a voice to text transcription system comprising a network of computers. One of the networked computers plays back the voice message to an operator and the operator intelligently transcribes the actual message from the original voice message by entering the corresponding text message (actually a succinct version of the original voice message, not a verbose word-for-word conversion) into the computer to generate a transcribed text message. The transcribed text message is then sent to the wireless information device from the computer.Because human operators are used instead of machine transcription, voicemails are converted accurately, intelligently, appropriately and succinctly into text messages (SMS/MMS).
US08989781B2

A portable electronic device includes a wireless communication module, a processing unit, a display device and a backlight driver. The wireless communication module wirelessly collects location information from at least one remote station. The processing unit executes a positioning application and thereby calculates a position of the portable electronic device based on the collected location information. The display device operates at a bright mode when the calculated position indicates that the portable electronic device is kept being moved. The backlight driver is coupled to the processing unit, and, the processing unit is further configured to control the backlight driver to make the display device leave the bright mode and enter a dim mode when the calculated position indicates that the portable electronic device is not moved for a first predetermined time period.
US08989761B2

The invention relates to a method of communicating in a mobile telecommunication network (100; 200), the mobile telecommunication network comprising a plurality of cells (102; 104; 106), wherein resource blocks are used for transmitting data in the mobile telecommunication network, and wherein the method comprises:—dividing (S2) a resource into at least a first plurality of resource blocks and a second plurality of resource blocks, wherein the resource blocks of the first plurality do not overlap with the resource bocks of the second plurality;—assigning (S3) the first plurality of resource blocks to a first group of cells and assigning the second plurality of resource blocks to a second group of cells;—scheduling (S4) first data transmissions in the first group of cells on the first plurality of resource blocks;—scheduling (S5) second data transmissions in the second group of cells on the second plurality of resource blocks;—scheduling (S6) third data transmissions in the first group of cells on the second plurality of resource blocks, when all resource blocks of the first plurality are already used for data transmissions; and—scheduling (S7) fourth data transmissions in the second group of cells on the first plurality of resource blocks, when all resource blocks of the second plurality are already used for data transmissions.
US08989760B2

Low-power access points are used to identify traffic congestion zones in a network. The low-power access points collect metrics that are used identify high demand areas. The locations of the traffic congestion zones are then determined based on the locations of the low-power access points that identified high demand. In some embodiments, metrics are collected and processed in a distributed fashion at each femtocell. Each femtocell then outputs an indication of high demand in the area and/or takes action to address the high demand at an identified traffic congestion zone. Alternatively, the femtocells may collectively take action to address the high demand at one or more identified traffic congestion zones. In other embodiments, metrics may be collected from the femtocells at a central entity and processed to identifying any traffic congestion zones near the femtocells, whereby the central entity takes appropriate action to address the high demand.
US08989755B2

A method for communication in a wireless telecommunication network is provided. The method comprises transmitting, by a first cell, to a first UE, a first signal on a resource block configured to be shared by more than one cell; and transmitting, by a second cell, to a second UE, a second signal on the same resource block, wherein a specification of a location of the resource block is included in configuration information available to the first cell and the second cell.
US08989752B2

The present disclosure discloses a method for inter-cell interference coordination, which includes: classifying users in a cell into cell-edge users and cell-center users and allocating frequency resources to the cell-edge users and the cell-center users; acquiring the interference level of the frequency resources in the cell according to inter-cell interference and recording the changing trend of the interference caused by a neighboring cell on the cell; and coordinating the inter-cell interference according to the interference level of the frequency resources in the cell and the changing trend of the interference caused by the neighboring cell on the cell. The present disclosure further discloses a base station for implementing inter-cell interference coordination. The present disclosure can effectively lower the level of inter-cell interference to an ideal balanced state and improve the service capability of a base station.
US08989751B2

A conventional wireless device constantly measures the signal strength of its server base station and the strength of signals from surrounding base stations for handoff purposes. The wireless device transmits this information to its serving base station, which discards the information a short time afterward, following handoff. The present system and method store the formerly discarded information in one of several existing network elements or in a separate computer system. This information is used to generate a carrier to interference ratio, which indicates the level of interference between station pairs, and to also generate a carrier to interference matrix, including identifying potential interference for each station pair. The frequency of occurrences during predetermined desired periods of time and the volume of traffic affected by each level of interference may also be calculated. This provides comprehensive, continuous, real-time information for wireless frequency planning.
US08989748B2

In an embodiment, a method for determining the type of a mobile radio base station is provided. The method may include receiving a synchronization message comprising a mobile radio base station identifier, and determining the type of a mobile radio base station using a previously signaled and stored piece of mobile radio base station type determining information indicating a rule as to how the type of a mobile radio base station out of a plurality of types of a mobile radio base station can be derived from a mobile radio base station identifier and the received mobile radio base station identifier.
US08989743B2

Conserving battery by a wireless user equipment (UE) device in substantially stationary conditions. A first wireless link may be established with a first cell. It may be determined that the UE device is substantially stationary. One or more signal strength and/or signal quality metrics associated with the first wireless link may be measured. The one or more signal strength and/or signal quality metrics may be below a first threshold. The UE may ordinarily be configured to perform a search for neighboring cells if the one or more signal strength and/or signal quality metrics are below the first threshold. The UE may not actually perform a search for neighboring cells, based on determining that the UE is substantially stationary.
US08989740B2

A communication device performs a method for selecting a network for an application service based upon system performance. The method includes obtaining multiple sets of performance metrics. Each of the multiple sets of performance metrics comprises at least one performance metric for a same application service. The method further includes evaluating the multiple sets of performance metrics to select one of the corresponding networks to access the application service on the selected network.
US08989737B2

A system is provided for establishing a communication session with a terminal (i.e., terminating SIP client). The system includes a network node (e.g., SIP proxy) located in a network across which an originating client is capable of communicating. The network node is capable of sending a trigger to the terminal independent of the network. The network node is also capable of receiving a registration message, in response to the trigger, from the terminal across the network. In this regard, the network node is capable of receiving the registration message to thereby identify the terminal across the network such that a communication session is capable of being established with the terminal based upon the identity of the terminal across the network.
US08989735B1

A controller in a network assigns a dedicated foreign radio talk group to each radio frequency (RF) site in the network for use by foreign radios during an incident event. The controller receives a registration request from a foreign radio and registers the foreign radio in a first RF site. The controller receives a talk group affiliation request from the foreign radio and, responsive to determining that the first RF site is in the incident event mode, affiliates the foreign radio with dedicated foreign radio talk group that is assigned to the first RF site, associated with at least one of a system identifier, a Wide Area Communication Network identifier and a talk group identifier provided by the foreign radio, and/or associated with the talk group identifier provided by the foreign radio and included in a master list including talk group IDs associated with a function.
US08989727B2

Embodiments of the present invention include improved communication system and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a wireless communication method comprising, on a first wireless device, receiving one or more wireless device identifications associated with one or more other wireless devices, and transmitting at least one of the one or more wireless device identifications from the first wireless device to a remote computer system, and on the remote computer system, receiving the at least one wireless device identification, and accessing information associated with the at least one wireless device identification. Embodiments of the present invention may be used for electronic dating, social networking and other communication applications.
US08989716B2

A method and apparatus for supporting a closed subscriber group (CSG) service is provided. The apparatus includes a memory to store CSG subscription information and a processor operatively coupled to the RF unit and memory to implement a radio interface protocol. The processor accesses a base station (BS), transmits the CSG subscription information to the BS, receives an access mode from the BS where the access mode is determined based on the CSG subscription information, and negotiates with the BS with regard to a CSG service if the access mode supports a CSG to which the apparatus belongs.
US08989714B2

Disclosed is an information processing apparatus including a reception unit that receives place specifying information for specifying a place transmitted from a mobile terminal in the place where provision of management target information stored in a memory is requested, a controller that performs a control so that the place specifying information received by the reception unit is stored in the memory to be matched with the management target information, and a provision unit that provides, in a case where place specifying information corresponding to the place specifying information received by the reception unit is stored in the memory, the management target information matched with the corresponding place specifying information to the mobile terminal.
US08989705B1

A mobile access terminal (MAT) for use in an internet protocol multimedia system (IMS). The mobile access terminal comprises a first region of memory, a device application stored in the first region of memory, a second region of memory that implements a trusted security sector, and a centralized media controller application stored in the trusted security sector. The centralized media controller application is mated and paired with an incident internet protocol multimedia system network and wherein the centralized media controller application authenticates the device application and provides the device application with communications connectivity with the incident internet protocol multimedia system network.
US08989703B2

Methods, devices and servers for exchanging information about the status of mobile communications are described. In one aspect, a method is implemented on a device status exchange server, which includes: storing a plurality of profiles associated with a plurality of mobile communication devices that are serviced by a wireless service provider having a wireless service provider server which tracks information about the mobile communication devices, the plurality of profiles storing at least some of the information tracked by the wireless service provider server; receiving, from third party servers, subscription requests for notification of an update in information associated with one of the mobile communication devices; registering the received subscription requests; detecting an update to the information stored in one of the profiles based on information received from a server; and in response to detecting the update: updating the profile associated with the mobile communication device associated with the updated information; and notifying the third party servers of the update in accordance with registered subscription requests.
US08989694B2

A system for remotely monitoring and tracking a mobile hand-held device having conventional voice and data communication capabilities, the mobile device having software installed thereon that establishes a data communication link with the server, detects activation of an emergency button on the mobile device that places the device in an emergency operating condition, and, while operating in emergency condition, (i) blocks non-emergency input into the device, (ii) at predetermined time intervals, determines the current location of the mobile hand-held device based on GPS tracking information and mobile communication information, (iii) stores the time-based tracking data in memory, and (iv) using the data communication link, periodically transmits a telematics logic message to the server, wherein the telematics logic message include a unique device ID, an indicator of the emergency condition, and the time-based tracking data.
US08989693B1

Various aspects of the instant disclosure are directed towards a method for communicating time-based data in a power line communication system. In accordance with one or more example embodiments, firmware is downloaded to a multitude of endpoints over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power. Endpoint devices targeted for changes to stored firmware are grouped and the firmware is delivered in chunks to each group. As devices receive a particular chunk of firmware, the device advances to a next stage and provides information indicative of this stage, based upon which subsequent chunks of firmware are communicated. This occurs (e.g., on a daily cycle) until the endpoint has received all firmware for an update, after which the endpoint(s) are re-started using the firmware. Accordingly, such updates can be carried out in a cyclic and verifiable manner.
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