US08261368B2
Devices for performing nanofabrication are provided which provide small volume reaction space and high reaction versatility. A device may include a reaction chamber adapted for nanoscale modification of a substrate and vacuum conditions; a scanning probe tip assembly enclosed within the reaction chamber; a first port coupled to the reaction chamber for delivering a gas; a second port coupled to the reaction chamber for applying a vacuum; and a substrate assembly insertedly mounted to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may include a body having one or more flexible walls and one or more supports to prevent the reaction chamber from collapsing under a vacuum. The device may further include an electrical conduit for coupling the tips of the scanning probe tip assembly to electrical components outside the reaction chamber. Also provided are apparatuses incorporating the devices and methods of using the devices and apparatuses.
US08261366B2
A computer system includes a server having a memory connected thereto. The server is adapted to be connected to a network to permit remote storage and retrieval of data files from the memory. A file identification application is operative with the server to identify errant files stored in the memory. The file identification application provides the functions of: (1) selecting a file stored in said memory; (2) generating a unique checksum corresponding to the stored fire; (3) comparing said unique checksum to each of a plurality of previously generated checksums, wherein the plurality of previously generated checksums correspond to known errant files; and (4) marking the file for deletion from the memory if the unique checksum matches one of the plurality of previously generated checksums.
US08261364B2
An administration server determines whether a request from a first client terminal is for authentication of a specific user who is in a log-in state via a second client terminal. When the request is for the specific user, the administration server performs a first or a second control, the first control including creating a new password; replacing an old password that is for the specific user to log-in to a network via the second client terminal with the new password; and sending the new password to the first client terminal, and the second control including determining that the request is disapproval; and sending a result of disapproval to the first client terminal. A double-log in by the same user and crush of an individual storage unit caused by a double-log in with the same user ID can be prevented.
US08261362B2
A privacy management system (PMS) is disclosed for a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) or other user to use in monitoring and/or controlling in realtime the flow of data (e.g., outflow) about the user and his/her online experience. The PMS may provide a dashboard displaying a whitelist and/or blacklist indicating what destinations/sources are blocked or allowed. The PMS includes browser-client scripting code and may also include a PMS-certified verification icon for display on webpages being monitored/controlled in realtime by the PMS.
US08261357B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for the distribution of license entitlement keys utilizing a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver. An SFP transceiver may be utilized in connection with a communication device that transmits data according to a variety of communication protocols. In various embodiments, the license entitlement keys may be generated using an SFP configuration value stored in machine-readable storage medium in the SFP transceiver. The SFP configuration value may be an input, together with other values associated with the SFP transceiver and a secret key in order to generate a license entitlement key. The secret key may be stored in the communication device, and may be stored in such a manner so to not be externally readable. In certain embodiments, configuration settings may be tied to the license entitlement key.
US08261351B1
Embodiments are directed towards providing protection to DNS servers against DNS flood attacks by causing a requesting device to perform multiple DNS lookup requests for resolving a resource record. A request from a network device for a resolution of a domain name may be received by a device interposed between the requesting network device and a DNS server. Upon receiving the request to resolve the domain name, the interposed device may respond with a CNAME that includes a cookie. The requesting device may then send another request that includes the cookie preceded CNAME. The interposed device may then validate the returned cookie returned in the CNAME and if valid, forward the domain name resolution request on to a DNS server. The response may then be forwarded to the requesting device.
US08261346B2
Described is a technique for detecting attacks on a data communications network having a plurality of addresses for assignment to data processing systems in the network. The technique involves identifying data traffic on the network originating at any assigned address and addressed to any unassigned address. Any data traffic so identified is inspected for data indicative of an attack. On detection of data indicative of an attack, an alert signal is generated.
US08261343B2
A mobile terminal apparatus is provided to process a copyright-protected content based on rights that permit the processing of the content. The mobile terminal apparatus includes a priority information selecting unit selecting a piece of priority information associated with one of many processing conditions for the content to be processed, from among pieces of priority information for determining a priority for each of the rights. The mobile terminal apparatus also includes a right selecting unit determining a priority of each of the rights based on the selected piece of priority information, and selecting a right having a highest priority among the rights, according to the determined priority. The mobile terminal apparatus also includes a content processing unit processing the content based on the selected right.
US08261342B2
A system to ensure compliance with data security standards for merchants that store, process, and transmit secure data, includes a security appliance having a global unit to monitor the functions of the security appliance, a logging unit to log data from network devices at the merchant's site and from other security appliance units, an integrity unit to construct maps of file systems of the network devices and to compare the constructed maps with previously constructed maps to detect differences between them, and a scanning unit to periodically scan the network to detect unrecognized devices on the network. The system further includes a display unit to provide compliance information on a secure basis, a back-end unit to automate and manage compliance-related tasks and data security events, and a control unit to monitor compliance performance in real-time and to implement required procedures to ensure compliance with data security standards.
US08261337B1
A security device may be interconnected, via multiple links, between multiple network devices in a network. The firewall device may include multiple input interfaces that receive data units from a first network device destined for a second network device of the multiple network devices, identify a session associated with each of the data units, and process the data units in accordance with the identified sessions and a security policy.
US08261329B2
In some embodiments, a system includes a database of trust information that internalizes security and trust relationships between a first entity and a second entity in regards to scheduling, and a central trust manager operable to determine from the database of trust information whether a trust relationship exists between a first organization and a second organization, the central trust manager also being operable to provide availability information of a user of the first organization to a second user of the second organization, the central trust manager also being operable to determine whether the second user of the second organization is granted access to requested calendar data and the central trust manager also being operable to provide the requested calendar data.
US08261325B2
When a user enters an email address associated with a remote message server account in a configuration area on a display, one or more suggestions for other field inputs are made based on canonical data or historical data from a variety of users. If the user cannot find a desired entry in the suggestions, the user may enter new information. The newly entered information (once validated) improves the prediction capability for subsequent users. A database stores information associated with each email address domain name including one or more remote message server names, one or more username patterns and ranking values. When more than one suggestion for a field is presented to a user, the suggestions are ranked in accordance with the respective ranking values such as by the popularity of a particular configuration.
US08261322B2
A web-based service portal provides a user interface to configure and/or access device(s) of a home network. The service portal can communicate with device(s) through application program interfaces (APIs). The service portal can provide a standardized user interface for specific feature(s) of a device.The service portal can further provide user authentication, device provisioning, and/or a user interface used to interact with device(s) in a home network. The service portal can established a trusted communication link between the portal and the device. The service portal can include a home control user interface component for providing a graphical representation of the home network and receiving user input and a device provisioning component that can discover and configure the device. The service portal can, optionally, include an authentication component that can authenticate a particular user's right to configure and/or access device(s) of a particular home network.
US08261318B2
Techniques for passing security configuration information between a security policy server and a client includes the client forming a request for security configuration information that configures the client for secure communications. The client is separated by an untrusted network from a trusted network that includes the security policy sever. A tag is generated that indicates a generic security configuration attribute. An Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) configuration mode request message is sent to a security gateway on an edge of the trusted network connected to the untrusted network. The message includes the request in association with the tag. The gateway sends the request associated with the tag to the security policy server on the trusted network and does not interpret the request. The techniques allow client configuration extensions to be added by modifying the policy server or security client, or both, without modifying the gateway.
US08261317B2
A method of maintaining multiple firewalls on multiple host nodes. Each host node runs one or more virtual machines. For at least a first host node, the method maintains multiple sets of policies for multiple virtual machines that run on the first host node. The method, upon detecting that a particular virtual machine has been moved from the first host node to a second host node, removes a set of policies associated with the particular virtual machine from the first host node and supplies the set of policies to the second host node.
US08261310B2
A method, system and computer program for providing a cross table analysis display in a digital broadcast environment, are discussed. The method includes providing at least two metadata tables of a broadcast stream, performing a cross table analysis on the metadata tables to determine consistency between the metadata tables, and displaying the result of the cross table analysis of the metadata tables using a graphical user interface.
US08261305B2
In a TV displaying thumbnails of videos grouped by genre, genre labels are shown so that a user can conveniently move genre to genre with a single click on a remote control device.
US08261302B2
A digital television and a channel editing method are provided wherein various channel information is edited efficiently. In the channel edit method of the digital TV, the channel information stored according to a user's request is displayed on a multi-window. If the user selects a channel based on the multi-window, the channel selected by the user is tuned by a tuner and displayed as a moving picture. The user can edit the corresponding channel referring to the multi-window. In another embodiment, the user can edit the set favorite channel(s) separately. The broadcast status of all channels can be recognized almost instantaneously by viewing the multi-window displaying all the broadcast programs of multiple channels.
US08261295B1
A high-level object-oriented specification language allows configurable components of a cloud-based deployment to be modeled by a class definition that includes a group of configurable class parameters. The object-oriented specification language supports extension of an existing base class definition to create new class definitions, and supports inheritance of class parameters from the existing base class definition by the new class definitions. A cloud-based deployment can be customized based on class definitions used in configuring one or more generic deployments, such as by modifying class parameter values of the class definitions, varying interrelationships between the classes, and supplementing existing class parameters with new class parameters. The high-level object-oriented specification language supports class definitions that model hardware and virtual resources as well as software roles and service roles served by software applications and services in a cloud-based deployment. Syntax for specifying dependency and connectivity between classes is also provided.
US08261291B2
A network apparatus connected to at least one terminal apparatus via a network is disclosed. The terminal apparatus instructs operation of hardware unique to the network apparatus. The network apparatus includes an interface part for communicating with the terminal apparatus by using the same protocol as the terminal apparatus. The interface part receives an instruction to operate the hardware from various types of software executed in the terminal apparatus and instructs the hardware to operate in accordance with the received instruction.
US08261289B2
Techniques for business event processing are presented. Producer services produce events that are managed and distributed by a transport service. Consumer services acquire events from the transport service and perform actions in response to the events. The production, distribution, and processing of the events and actions may be asynchronously and concurrently performed.
US08261287B2
Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and program product that allows for monitoring of the progress of process without alterations to the existing application. There are provided a mapping logic generating unit 14 that refers to a mapping definition stored in a mapping definition storage unit 11 for mapping an object flow event to a control flow event, generates a mapping logic for identifying a control flow event mapped to an object flow event, and stores the mapping logic in a mapping logic storage unit 16; a log logic generator unit 15 that refers to a process definition stored in a process definition storage unit 12 for mapping a control flow event to monitoring log information, generates a log logic for providing a monitoring log of control flow events, and stores the log logic in a log logic storage unit 17; and a logic skeleton composer unit 18 that embeds a mapping logic and a log logic into a skeleton stored in a skeleton storage unit 13.
US08261286B1
A broker may be used as an intermediary to exchange messages between producers and consumers. The broker may store and dispatch messages from a physical queue stored in a persistent memory. More specifically, the broker may enqueue messages to the physical queue that are received from producers and may dispatch messages from the physical queue to interested consumers. The broker may further utilize one or more logical queues stored in transient memory to track the status of the messages stored in persistent memory. As messages are dispatched to and acknowledged by interested consumers, the broker deletes acknowledged messages from the physical queue. The messages deleted are those preceding a physical ACKlevel pointer that specifies the first non-acknowledged message in the physical queue. The physical ACKlevel pointer is advanced in the physical queue based on the relative position of corresponding logical ACKlevel pointers maintained by the logical queues.
US08261278B2
An application monitoring system determines the health of one or more resources used to process a transaction, business application, or other computer process. Performance data is generated in response to monitoring application execution and processed to determine and an actual and baseline value for resource usage data. Resource usage baseline data may be determined from previous resource usage data associated with a resource and particular transaction (a resource-transaction pair). The baseline values are compared to actual values to determine a deviation for the actual value. Deviation information for the time series data can be reported through an interface or some other manner.
US08261274B2
A computer readable storage medium including executable instructions for managing a task. Instructions include receiving a request. Instructions further include determining a task corresponding with the request using a request-to-task mapping. Instructions include obtaining a task entry corresponding with the task from a task store, where the task entry associates the task with an action and a predicate for performing the action. Instructions further include creating a task object in a task pool using the task entry. Instructions further include receiving an event notification at the task engine, where the event notification is associated with an event. Instructions further include determining whether the predicate for performing the action is satisfied by the event. Instructions further placing the task object in a task queue when the predicate for performing the action is satisfied by the event.
US08261270B2
A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
US08261268B1
A system and method for dynamically producing virtual machines (VMs) across a plurality of servers in the virtual server environment is provided. A single VM request queue is produced comprising VM requests for producing the plurality of VMs. A processing thread is produced and assigned for each server and retrieves VM requests from the VM request queue and produces VMs only on the assigned server according to the retrieved VM requests. Each processing thread may be configured for retrieving VM requests and producing VMs without any programmed delays, whereby the rate at which a processing thread produces VMs on its assigned server is a function of the performance capabilities of the assigned server. This dynamic allocation of VMs based on such a “natural selection” technique may provide an appropriately balanced allocation of VMs based on the performance capabilities of each server in the virtual server environment.
US08261254B2
The disclosure is directed to dynamic insertion and removal of virtual software sub-layers. In one example, a virtual layer associated with a software application is virtually installed and activated in a computing device. A virtual sub-layer associated with a component of the software application is dynamically inserted in the virtual layer. The virtual layer remains active during the dynamic insertion of the virtual sub-layer. In certain embodiments, a process is executed from the virtual layer, a determination is made as to whether the process launched before or after the insertion of the virtual sub-layer, and the inserted virtual sub-layer is selectively made visible or invisible to the process based on the determination.
US08261242B2
The present invention discloses a solution for increasing the immediacy in determining a point of failure after an unexpected program termination. In the solution, a user determined object is identified by a user at compile time, where the identified object is one to be tracked. The compiler introduces executable code into the source code which is able to track modifications made to the object members during run-time. During execution, the address of each instruction modifying to the object is stored in an instruction pointer (IP) array associated with the tracked object. The IP array is continuously updated during program execution when an instruction modifies a member of the tracked object. When an unexpected program termination occurs, the instruction pointer array can be presented to a debugging agent to assist in determining the instruction causing the termination. The debugging agent can be a human agent, debugging software, report generation software, and the like.
US08261233B2
A system may identify a workflow associated with a graphical model and execute the workflow in a number of stages. The system may display a number of components of the graphical model and identify which of the displayed components are associated with or affected by execution of a current one of the stages of the workflow.
US08261229B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a computer-implemented method of designing an integrated circuit (IC). In this embodiment, layout data describing conductive layers of the integrated circuit on a substrate is generated according to design specification data for the integrated circuit. The conductive layers include a topmost layer of bond pads. Metal structures in the layout data are modified to maximize metal density in a superimposed plane of the conductive layers within a threshold volume under each of the bond pads. A description of the layout data is generated on one or more masks for manufacturing the integrated circuit. By maximizing metal density in the superimposed plane, vertical channels through the dielectric material in the interconnect are reduced or eliminated. Thus, alpha particles cannot readily penetrate the interconnect and reach the underlying semiconductor substrate, reducing soft errors, such as single event upsets in memory cells.
US08261204B1
A method for obtaining data from a user includes receiving a row selection in an input grid, where each column is associated with one of a plurality of primary input variables, and where each row is configured to display primary data corresponding with the plurality of primary input variables, receiving a request to expand the row to display an input form, where the input form comprises a plurality of fields, where each of the plurality of fields is associated with one of a plurality of supplementary input variables, and where the plurality of fields are configured to display supplementary data corresponding with the plurality of supplementary input variables. The method further includes expanding the row to display the input form, obtaining and storing supplementary data for the input form, collapsing the row to hide the input form, and displaying a summary of supplementary data stored for the input form.
US08261195B2
A method and system for customizing a cover for an electronic device is provided. A plurality of templates associated with a plurality of electronic devices are provided. A client may select a template. The client may create and edit images on the template associated with a model of an electronic device. The method including printing or manufacturing the customized cover using the template.
US08261180B2
Systems and methods analyze the physical structure of text rows in a document image, including the positions of one or more alignments of one or more character blocks in one or more text rows of the document image. The systems and methods determine one or more groups of text rows that are placed into a class based on the structures of the text rows, such as the positions of the one or more alignments of the one or more character blocks in each text row.
US08261175B2
A description is given of an apparatus that includes a division unit configured to receive a data stream and to divide the received data stream into a plurality of data segments and a plurality of first CRC check units, wherein each of the first CRC units is configured to perform a CRC check of a respective one of the plurality of segments of data, and wherein the plurality of CRC checks are performed concurrently.
US08261174B2
A data protection method is provided. The method includes receiving data; generating compressed data based on the data; determining a degree of compressibility based on the compressed data; determining an amount of free space based on the degree of compressibility; and setting one or more error bits based on the amount of free space.
US08261167B1
A method and system are provided for forward error correction. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strong FEC algorithm that performs similarly to RS(255,239) when a simple decoder is used, and scales up linearly to a full-scale decoder that outperforms all 7% algorithms currently in G.975.1. The Forward Error Correction code is suitable for use in optical transport networks (OTN) and other applications requiring high decode performance and high code rate. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an FEC code that is a cyclically interleaved dual BCH, with simultaneous decode and per-codeword maximum likelihood reconciliation.
US08261165B2
In a particular embodiment, a forward error correction (FEC) decoder is disclosed that includes an input responsive to a communication channel to receive sampled bits from a continuous bit stream. The circuit device further includes a logic circuit to alternately provide sets of the received sampled bits from the continuous bit stream to one of a first syndrome generator and a second syndrome generator to correct errors in the sets of sampled bits to produce a decoded output related to the continuous bit stream.
US08261159B1
A method for data storage includes defining a set of scrambling sequences, each sequence including bits in respective bit positions having bit values, such that a distribution of the bit values in any give bit position satisfies a predefined statistical criterion. Each data word is scrambled using a respective scrambling sequence selected from the set. The scrambled data words are stored in the memory device.
US08261154B2
A continuous redundancy check method and apparatus receives (110) at least one data bit of a block's payload, calculates (120) a partial redundancy check value using the at least one data bit, compares (130) the partial redundancy check value with a reference value, and stores (134, 138) in an index an indication of whether the calculated redundancy check value matched the reference value. Meanwhile, the at least one data bit is also stored (140) in a data memory. As additional data bits of the payload are received, cumulative partial redundancy check values are calculated and compared to the reference value. When the complete payload has been stored (140), the index is analyzed (160, 165) to determine if a block error has been detected by the redundancy check functions. This continuous redundancy check method and apparatus allows a receiver to quickly determine whether a block error has occurred, especially when there may be padding (or dummy) bits in the block's payload.
US08261153B2
Systems and techniques for transmitting an Irregular Systematic with Serially Concatenated Parity (Ir-S-SCP) are described. The techniques include generating an outer code comprising a plurality of bits using systematic bits as input, repeating the plurality of bits of the outer code a pre-determined number of times to generate at least a first set of repeated bits and a second set of repeated bits, serializing the generated sets of repeated bits, wherein each generated set is serialized in parallel with another generated set, interleaving the generated sets of repeated bits, generating an inner code, the inner code generated in part based on the interleaved sets, puncturing the inner code to output parity bits, wherein the puncturing is non-uniform and the puncturing is based at least in part on an incremental redundancy scheme, and transmitting the parity bits, wherein the transmitted parity bits and the systematic bits comprise the Ir-S-SCP code.
US08261148B2
A method of delivering digital information includes joining a multicast group, and receiving a segment from a server directed to the multicast group. Further, the method further includes determining a transmission error has occurred resulting in an incomplete segment, and sending an error notification to the server requesting retransmission of at least a portion of the incomplete segment. Additionally, the method includes receiving a retransmission of the at least a portion of the incomplete segment. The at least a portion of the incomplete segment may be received through an IP unicast connection or as a multicast retransmission.
US08261144B2
A Scan-BIST architecture is adapted into a low power Scan-BIST architecture. A generator 102, compactor 106, and controller 110 remain the same as in the known art. The changes between the known art Scan-BIST architecture and the low power Scan-BIST architecture involve modification of the known scan path into scan path 502, to insert scan paths A 506, B 508 and C 510, and the insertion of an adaptor circuit 504 in the control path 114 between controller 110 and scan path 502.
US08261141B1
Memory performance in programmable logic is significantly increased by adjusting circuitry operation to adjust for variations in process, voltage, or temperature. A calibration circuit adjusts control signal timing, dynamically and automatically, to compensate real time to process, voltage, and temperature variation. A feedback system using a control block and a dummy mimicking concept are provided.
US08261139B2
A test apparatus includes a fail memory (AFM) for storing therein fail information in association with each of the addresses of a memory under test and a mark memory (CMM) for storing therein, in association with each of the addresses of the memory under test, validity information indicating whether the fail information stored in the AFM is valid. When the validity information read from the CMM in association with an address under test indicates that the fail information that has been stored in the AFM is invalid, the test apparatus overwrites the fail information stored in the AFM with the fail information that is newly generated by a current test. On the other hand, when the validity information read from the CMM indicates that the fail information is valid, the test apparatus updates the fail information stored in the AFM with the new fail information and writes the updated fail information back into the AFM. When overwriting the fail information that has been stored in the AFM with the new fail information, the test apparatus writes into the CMM the validity information that indicates that the new fail information is valid. Initialization of the AFM is performed in such a manner that, before and after the initialization, different validity information indicates validity of the fail information.
US08261130B2
A processor generates a signature value indicating a sequence of executed instructions, and the signature value is compared to signature values calculated for two or more possible sequences of executed instructions to determine which instruction sequence was executed. The signature is generated via a signature generator during program execution, and is provided external to the processor via a signature message.
US08261124B2
Systems and/or methods that facilitate that facilitate error correction of data stored in memory components, such as flash memory devices are presented. An optimized correction component can be used to break data into two or more data blocks. The optimized correction component can facilitated creating one or two redundancy blocks that can be associated with the data blocks, wherein data blocks and the redundancy blocks can be assembled into a data stripe that can be stored in three or more of the memory components. Upon retrieval of the data stripe, the optimal correction component, an error correction code (ECC) component or a combination thereof can correct data blocks that contain errors wherein the decision whether the optimized correction component or the error correction code (ECC) component corrects the errors can be based in part on a predetermined criteria.
US08261119B2
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a device under test, including a plurality of test modules that test the device under test, and a synchronization module that is connected to each of the plurality of test modules, where the synchronization module synchronizes together the plurality of test modules. Here, based on a synchronization signal received from a digital module, the synchronization module synchronizes an analog module to the digital module, and the digital module is one of the plurality of test modules that exchanges a digital signal with the device under test, and the analog module is one of the plurality of test modules that performs an analog test on the device under test.
US08261118B2
A heat potential value for each of a set of available server locations is calculated via a data center controller based upon at least one active server in a data center. A minimal calculated heat potential value for the set of available server locations is identified. An available server location associated with the identified minimal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations.
US08261113B2
When a packet received in a deep sleep mode matches a packet stored in a WOL-pattern storage region, a network portion performs reply processing suited for the matched packet after returning a power supply mode of a power supply unit from the deep sleep mode to a normal mode. When the packet received in the deep sleep mode matches a packet stored in a proxy-response-pattern storage region, the network portion performs reply processing suited for the matched packet while maintaining the power supply mode of the power supply unit at the deep sleep mode.
US08261098B2
A method for preventing a user from interpreting optional stored data information even when the user extracts the optional stored data, and an apparatus thereof. The apparatus for encrypting and processing data in a flash translation layer includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash translation layer searches at least one page of the flash memory storing the data when a write of optional data is requested from the controller, generates, corresponding to respective searched pages, a page key according to a predetermined encrypting function when the searched page supports an encryption, and encrypts and stores the data by the page key in the respective searched pages.
US08261094B2
A facility for securing text captured from a rendered document is described. The facility receives data including an encryption of text captured from a rendered document. The facility decrypts the captured text included in the received data.
US08261088B2
Authentication data indicating authenticity of a client is distributed into a plurality of function data as distributed data, the plurality of function data including function data specifying a function and rule data specifying the authentication data from the function. The client and a server shares a portion of the plurality of function data. The client calculates verification data from the function data unshared with the server, by performing a calculation process difficult for a third party to calculate the function data, and transmits the verification data to the server. The server verifies authenticity of the client based on the authentication data and distributed data per client stored therein, and the verification data received from the client.
US08261084B2
A data processing device for playing back a digital work reduces the processing load involved in verification by using only a predetermined number of encrypted units selected randomly from multiple encrypted units constituting encrypted contents recorded on a DVD. In addition, the data processing device improves the accuracy of detecting unauthorized contents by randomly selecting a predetermined number of encrypted units every time the verification is performed.
US08261081B2
A method is provided to perform network access control. A computing device utilizing Online Certificate Status Protocol responder functionality determines whether attempted communication should be allowed between other computing devices appropriately configured with Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), digital certificates and OCSP client software. This determination is based on a set of rules considering the role or roles of the computing devices attempting to communicate, and whether the computing devices attempting to communicate have previously exhibited suspicious or undesirable behavior.
US08261071B2
Stateless human detection for real-time systems allows a real-time message system to challenge incoming messages suspected of being generated by an automated application. When a suspect message is detected, a challenge is presented to a sender of the message. The challenge is designed to require human intervention to provide a correct answer to the challenge. A challenge packet is sent with the challenge and includes a challenge answer and, possibly, a server identifier, a challenge identifier and/or a time stamp that can be used to prevent attacks on the challenge. The challenge packet is encrypted so that the sender cannot access the contents thereof. When the sender provides a response to the challenge, the sender returns the challenge packet. The challenge packet is decrypted and the challenge answer is compared to a sender answer. If the answers match, the sender is allowed subsequent access to the messaging system.
US08261069B2
Encryption with keys that form an Abelian group are used in combination with a semi-trusted party that converts queries that are encrypted with the key of a querier to queries that are encrypted with the key of the encrypted database, without knowing the actual keys. In an illustrative embodiment, encryption is done with Bloom filters that employ Pohlig-Hellman encryption. Since the querier's key is not divulged, neither the semi-trusted party nor the publisher of the database can see the original queries. Provision can be made for fourth party “warrant servers”, as well as “censorship sets” that limit the data to be shared.
US08261057B2
A system and method for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between a client and a private data communication network. An encrypted data communication session, such as a—Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data communication session, is established between a gateway and the client over a public data communication network. The gateway then sends a programming component to the client for automatic installation and execution thereon. The programming component operates to intercept communications from client applications destined for resources on the private data communication network and to send the intercepted communications to the gateway via the encrypted data communication session instead of to the resources on the private data communication network.
US08261053B2
In a processing system with a main partition and a sequestered partition, the main partition sends an interrupt to the sequestered partition before calling an operating system (OS) boot loader for the main partition. The sequestered partition may then enter an interrupt handler. After the sequestered partition enters the interrupt handler, an address line of the processing system may be disabled, and the OS boot loader for the non-sequestered partition may be called. The sequestered partition may then determine whether the address line has been re-enabled. The sequestered partition may remain in the interrupt handler until after the address line has been re-enabled. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08261038B2
A method is provided method for allocating storage space. The method includes obtaining performance parameters for a storage pool, wherein the performance parameters comprise a size of the storage pool and a type of the storage pool. Proposed back end logical units (BELUs) to match the performance parameters are determined. Current disk groups for the proposed BELUs are identified, and if none exists, a plurality of storage arrays is analyzed to locate free disks that can be formed into a proposed disk group to support the creation of the proposed BELUs. A proposal is created showing the changes that would be made to a storage system to create the storage pool.
US08261037B2
The storage self-healing/capacity planning system and method enables SAN resources to be reserved by allowing one or more policies to be set up for the resources. A conformance check is made, for example, upon receiving an event associated with the one or more resources, to ensure that the event occurring is in conformance with the one or more reserved policies. When violation is detected, one or more enforcement rules may be invoked automatically.
US08261029B1
A system for dynamic balancing of writes between multiple storage devices in which Remote Data Facility (RDF) groups may be assigned weights according to a dynamic priority parameter. The dynamic priority parameter provides the ability to control the weight of an asynchronous RDF group compared to that of a synchronous RDF group. Thus, when the same RDF adapter includes a mix of asynchronous RDF groups and synchronous RDF groups, a dynamic balance of the write priorities between the two group types may be obtained.
US08261015B2
A first physical capacity of a first physical storage device is determined. A second physical capacity of a second physical storage device that has a physical capacity greater than the first physical capacity is determined. A storage space pool comprising at least a first logical drive, a second logical drive, and a third logical drive is created. The first logical drive corresponds to the first storage device and has the same capacity as the first physical capacity. The second logical drive corresponds to a first portion of the second storage device. The third logical drive corresponds to a second portion of the second storage device. The first portion and the second portion having at least the first physical capacity. Thus, two portions having at least the first physical capacity are utilized on the second physical drive instead of just one portion.
US08261009B2
A method and system for organizing groups of data in a storage device having a non-volatile memory consisting of higher performance or endurance portion and a lower performance or endurance portion are disclosed. The method may include steps of determining a data usage status for a group of data in only one of the two portions, and if a data usage criterion is met, moving the group of data to the other of the two portions of the non-volatile memory. In another implementation, the method may include determining a data usage status of groups of data in both portions of the non-volatile memory and moving a group of data from one portion to the other if an appropriate data usage criterion is met so that groups of data may be maintained in a portion of the non-volatile memory most suited to their usage patterns.
US08261007B2
When a memory card is inserted into a computer, a memory controller sends command information stored in a memory array to the computer. Then, the computer stores the command information received from the memory card into a RAM. The computer generates a command as needed on the basis of the stored command information and sends the generated command to the memory card. When the memory card receives the command from the computer, the memory controller analyzes the received command and performs it while making reference to command analysis information. This makes it possible to reduce a load accompanying the change and addition of commands in a semiconductor memory.
US08261006B2
Systems and methods for improving the performance and reliability of flash memory solid state drive devices are described herein. A flash memory array component stores data. A memory hierarchy component transfers data between the host and the flash memory array component. The memory hierarchy component includes a level one (“L1”) cache coupled to a merge buffer, the flash memory array component, and the host. The merge buffer is coupled to the flash memory array component. The L1 cache and merge buffer include volatile memory, and the host is coupled to the merge buffer and flash memory array component. The memory hierarchy component includes a write component and a read component. The write component writes data to at least one of the L1 cache, merge buffer, or flash memory array component. The read component reads data from at least one of the L1 cache, merge buffer, or flash memory array component.
US08261005B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data with an empty data segment directive at the storage device. The apparatus, system, and method for managing data include a write request receiver module and a data segment token storage module. The write request receiver module receives a storage request from a requesting device. The storage request includes a request to store a data segment in a storage device. The data segment includes a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings. The data segment token storage module stores a data segment token in the storage device. The data segment token includes at least a data segment identifier and a data segment length. The data segment token is substantially free of data from the data segment.
US08261004B2
A stacked memory apparatus operating with a compound read buffer is disclosed. The stacked memory apparatus includes an interface device having a main buffer and a plurality of memory devices each having a device read buffer. Systems incorporating one or more stacked memory apparatuses and related method of performing a read operation are also disclosed.
US08260985B2
A method to interact with a local USB device is disclosed. A message is received from the local USB device. Predetermined information is extracted from a proper subset of the message. The extracted information is transmitted to a local process.
US08260982B2
Disclosed is a method for reducing latency between two clock domains in a digital electronic device. The time between a write to a queue position and a corresponding read of the queue position is reduced by up to one clock cycle by including a delay in the time before first writing data to a First In First Out (FIFO) queue used to buffer and synchronize data between two clock domains. The two clock domains have the same frequency, but may be out of phase. Reducing the latency between the write and the corresponding read reduces the required size of the FIFO queue and also results in more efficient system operation.
US08260976B1
Technologies are described herein for assigning multiple frequency states within a serial I/O interface. Bits within the serial I/O stream may be placed in frequency states in addition to high and low logic states. Placing a serial I/O bit into a frequency state where the bit may be transitioned according to a set of allowed frequencies can extend the information represented by each bit slot of a cyclical data I/O bit stream beyond the typical two states of logic high and logic low. A transition counter may be provided for each bit slot of a serialized stream. Each transition counter may be incremented in response to the respective bit slot changing its state from its previous sampled state. A frequency state may be assigned to a bit slot in response to a respective transition counter range associated with that bit slot.
US08260966B2
A system and method for handling stale messages is presented. A first message is transmitted to a peer entity. The first message includes a first timestamp. A second message is received from the peer entity. The second message is related to the first message and includes a second timestamp. A third message is received from the peer entity. The third message includes a third timestamp. A staleness of the third message is determined using the first timestamp, second timestamp, and third timestamp. When the third message is stale, the third message is at least one of ignored and discarded. When the third message is not stale, the third message may be processed.
US08260961B1
A system and method for managing logical and physical address state lifecycles. A state of unknown can be assigned to an address when the state has not been assigned. The state of the address is changed when communication is targeted to the address. The state can be changed to unfulfilled when the communication includes an address resolution protocol request sent to a device having the address when a time limit for a response to the address resolution protocol request has not expired. The state can be changed to virtual when the communication is received at the address when the state of the address is unfulfilled, and a time limit for responding to the communication expires before a response is sent. The state can be changed to unknown when the state of the address is not unknown, and the address does not participate in the communication within a time limit.
US08260957B2
A method of facilitating access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem, by users groups that require alternative handling in relation to the standard handling of IP Multimedia Subsystem users. Functioning instructions are added to the user groups subscription maintained in the IP Multimedia Subsystem, instructing nodes in the IP Multimedia Subsystem to adapt their standard functioning for this specific group of users. The instructions in a subscription of a specific user group, provide a node of the IP Multimedia Subsystem that does no longer need to be specific for certain types of users, but has a standard way of operation, that is modified by instructions for dedicated operation for only that specific user group. In further aspect embodiments are disclosed providing improved solutions for known problems of IP Multimedia Subsystems making use of functioning instructions included in the subscription.
US08260953B2
A method for optimizing traffic flow through a web network including collecting data corresponding to the content elements, determining a revenue value for each content element, calculating an overall content value for each content element based on the corresponding revenue value and revenue generated from subsequent flow of a user during a visit to the network, and modifying the network based on the overall content value and the content data, so as to maximize the value of the network. Also disclosed is a system for determining overall content values for a plurality of content elements including an analytic server for receiving content data corresponding to the content elements, and a processor determining a revenue value for each element and calculating an overall content value for each content element based on the corresponding revenue value and revenue generated from subsequent traffic flow of a user during a visit to the network.
US08260951B2
Difficulties associated with choosing advantageous network routes between server and clients are mitigated by a routing system that is devised to use many routing path sets, where respective sets comprise a number of routing paths covering all of the clients, including through other clients. A server may then apportion a data stream among all of the routing path sets. The server may also detect the performance of the computer network while sending the data stream between clients, and may adjust the apportionment of the routing path sets including the route. The clients may also be configured to operate as servers of other data streams, such as in a videoconferencing session, for example, and may be configured to send detected route performance information along with the portions of the various data streams.
US08260940B1
A computer-implemented system and method for managing service requests are disclosed. The system includes a service provider, having a number of server devices, that provides a service response in response to a client service request. The service response includes a service instance ID associated with a server and a connection lease. A communication processing component routes a first client service request to one of the servers. Subsequent client service requests and responses are transmitted directly between the client device and the server device associated with service instance ID included in the first service response for the duration of the connection lease.
US08260938B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for decreasing latency perceived by a user in retrieving data from a data server. A user-initiated interaction with a user interface can be detected and a user-generated request to retrieve data automatically predicted, based at least in part on the user-initiated interaction. Resolution of a domain name into a network address can be initiated, based on the predicted user-generated request to retrieve data, prior to receiving a user-initiated submission of the user-generated request to retrieve data. In certain instances, a network communication synchronization sequence with a data server associated with the predicted user-generated request to retrieve data can be initiated prior to receiving a user-initiated submission of the user-generated request to retrieve data.
US08260936B2
A system, method, and computer program product through which address resolution is performed for nodes (101, 103) of a network that are behind a network address translator (NAT). A determination is made upon the initiation of a communication session as to whether one or more of the nodes (101, 103) included in the session are behind a NAT. Based on the determination, information is exchanged (L102, L103) from an independent application server (105) to the nodes (101, 103) included in the session so as to resolve the addressing problems introduced by the NAT. The invention is applicable in applications including, but not limited to, IP telephony, and applications complying with the session initiation protocol (SIP).
US08260932B2
In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of managing virtual local area networks (VLANs) using abstract broadcast domains. First, a first broadcast domain having a first VLAN is established. Next, a second broadcast domain having a second VLAN is established. A third broadcast domain is then established, replacing both the first broadcast domain and the second broadcast domain. Thus, the first VLAN and the second VLAN are included in the third broadcast domain without having to physically manipulate switches or otherwise manipulate the logical connection between data processing systems. After aggregation, the first VLAN directly communicates with the second VLAN.
US08260931B2
Provisioning resources in public cloud infrastructure to perform at least part of electronic design automation (EDA) tasks on the public cloud infrastructure. The provisioning of resources is handled by a cloud provisioning system that is generally operated and maintained by an EDA tool developer using a provisioning credential. After the resources are provisioned, the cloud provisioning system places user key on the provisioned resources. Once the user key is placed on the provisioned resources, the cloud provisioning system has only limited access or no access to the provisioned resources. Instead, a user client device takes over the control of the provisioned resources by using a user's access credential. The provisioning credential is retained by the EDA tool developer and is not released to the user. Similarly, the access credential is retained by the user and not released to the EDA tool developer. In this way, the EDA tool developer can retain control of the resources deployed for the EDA tasks while ensuring that the user's information associated with the EDA tasks is secure.
US08260927B2
A host reserves a device controlled by a controller that is coupled to the host. The controller starts a first timer, in response to a completion of input/output (I/O) operations on the device by the host, wherein the host continues to reserve the device after the completion of the I/O operations. The controller sends a notification to the host after an expiry of the first timer, wherein the notification requests the host to determine whether the device should continue to be reserved by the host. The controller starts a second timer, in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the host that the notification has been received by the host, wherein reservation status of the device reserved by the host is determined by the controller on or prior to an expiry of the second timer.
US08260924B2
A method, computer readable medium and system for user load balancing includes identifying when an overall load in at least one of two or more servers exceeds one or more thresholds that are related to one or more user loads. One or more of the user loads in the identified overall load in one of the servers are transferred to one or more of the other servers when the one or more thresholds is exceeded.
US08260922B1
A technique dynamically utilizes a plurality of multi-homed Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnels from a client node to one or more enterprise networks in a computer network. According to the technique, a VPN client node, e.g., a “spoke,” creates a plurality of multi-homed VPN tunnels with one or more servers/enterprise networks, e.g., “hubs.” The spoke designates (e.g., for a prefix) one of the tunnels as a primary tunnel and the other tunnels as secondary (backup) tunnels, and monitors the quality (e.g., loss, delay, reachability, etc.) of all of the tunnels, such as, e.g., by an Optimized Edge Routing (OER) process. The spoke may then dynamically re-designate any one of the secondary tunnels as the primary tunnel for a prefix based on the quality of the tunnels to the enterprise. Notably, the spoke may also dynamically load balance traffic to the enterprise among the primary and secondary tunnels based on the quality of those tunnels.
US08260917B1
A service manager that facilitates managing requests that are obtained at a middleware tier of a communications network includes a monitor component that evaluates data associated with effectuating a request that is received at a middleware tier. The monitor component identifies resources associated with effectuating the request. Additionally, the service manager includes a request component that accepts and/or rejects the request based at least in part upon the identified resources.
US08260908B2
Techniques for system (syslog) messages are provided. As syslog messages are generated a dual sequence number is maintained for each syslog message. The first sequence number is consistent for each syslog message and represents a total number of syslog messages received. The second sequence number is maintained as a total message count for a specific session for which a syslog message is assigned.
US08260905B2
The present disclosure described herein relates to a device and method for managing access to a server. The method comprises: receiving information regarding a current capability of the wireless electronic device from the electronic wireless device; analyzing the information with operating parameters of the servers to identify a second set of servers in the network that are compatible with the current capability; generating and sending access requests to the second set of servers; monitoring for responses from the second set of servers to the access requests; and generating and sending a response to the wireless electronic device providing information relating to the second responses from the second set of servers.
US08260904B2
A source virtual machine (VM) hosted on a source server is migrated to a destination VM on a destination server without first powering down the source VM. After optional pre-copying of the source VM's memory to the destination VM, the source VM is suspended and its non-memory state is transferred to the destination VM; the destination VM is then resumed from the transferred state. The source VM memory is either paged in to the destination VM on demand, or is transferred asynchronously by pre-copying and write-protecting the source VM memory, and then later transferring only the modified pages after the destination VM is resumed. The source and destination servers preferably share common storage, in which the source VM's virtual disk is stored; this avoids the need to transfer the virtual disk contents. Network connectivity is preferably also made transparent to the user by arranging the servers on a common subnet, with virtual network connection addresses generated from a common name space of physical addresses.
US08260900B2
Systems and methods are provided to monitor and control peripheral devices at a remote operational site. A management platform configures a site controller deployed at the operational site, wherein configuration specifies collection of data from the peripheral devices connected to the site controller. Conditions that monitor device status and specify device alarms triggers also can be configured. Commands, which can be part of a script, remotely control peripheral devices functionally coupled to the site controller. Collected data is conveyed through a wired or wireless link to management component, which stores the data for analysis and report generation, and can supply the data to an authorized terminal. Data and reports can be conveyed to one or more systems and mass storage functionally connected to the management component. Analysis includes data trend generation. Reports include features of observed and predicted data, and alarm summaries.
US08260899B2
A method, system, and apparatus for a management station to manage a node cluster in a computer network. Regardless which node in the node cluster receives a management command from the management station to the master node, the management command is sent to the master node. The master node prepares a command response and sends the response back to the original node that received the management command. The original node, in turn, forwards the command response to the management station. The invention utilizes management agents executing on a master node and servant nodes to create and process the command response.
US08260896B2
Methods, systems, devices, and software are described for data transmission to and from a monitored device via a mesh network. Monitoring devices report usage, status, location, and other pertinent data via a mesh network, and perhaps other networks as well. Novel data collection, transmission, and aggregation techniques are described. Data transfer may be bi-directional in order to manage and update device status and operation. The monitored device location may be tracked with the reported information.
US08260883B2
Methods and systems for transferring an object from a sending device to a recipient comprises determining at least one catching device associated with the recipient for receiving the object; receiving on the sending device a user gesture representing a flick of a displayed object; transferring the object from the sending device directly to the catching device of the recipient when the catching device is in proximity of the sending device; and when the catching device is not in proximity of the sending device, transferring the object to a server for forwarding the object to the recipient.
US08260877B2
Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes providing multiple redundant locations that provide media content to client devices using alternative streams. To implement failover protection, a first server device or first content distribution service creates a stream, or multiple alternate bandwidth streams and generates playlist file(s). A second server device or second content distribution service creates a parallel stream, or set of streams. A client attempts to download the playlist file(s) from a first uniform resource locator (URL) using a first stream associated with the first server device or the first content distribution service. If a client is unable to download the playlist file(s) from the first URL, the client attempts to switch to an alternate stream associated with another URL.
US08260875B2
A method for reproducing media items using a first entertainment device is provided. The first entertainment device communicates with a portable entertainment device via a wireless link. The method includes reproducing a first media item using media reproduction means; generating a media list of one or more media items for reproduction by the first entertainment device; collating the media list at the first entertainment device; designating a second media item as the next media item to be reproduced by the media reproduction means after completion of the reproduction of the first media item; and detecting whether the second media item is stored on the first removable storage medium. If the second media item is not stored thereon, the method includes storing media data relating to the first media item on a local storage medium for reproduction in dependence upon the media data stored in the local storage medium.
US08260869B2
A method for operating a communication connection between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal including a coupling to a data processing system and communication system that may implement such a method include a first computing unit interacting with said first communication terminal and displaying a first document. At least one first piece of user-identifying address information is assigned to the first document and a second piece of user-identifying address information is assigned to a second computing unit interacting with said second communication terminal. A second is displayed on said second computing unit if the first piece of user-identifying address information corresponds with said second piece of user-identifying address information.
US08260861B1
Described is a system and method for receiving an electronic mail including an attachment file and separating the attachment file from the electronic mail. The attachment is then sent to a remote source and the attachment file is replaced with a substitute file including identifying data for retrieving the attachment file from the remote source. The electronic mail with the substitute file is then forwarded to a receiver.
US08260859B2
A tag management system for a user of a client-side portal application providing access to a set of services that include provisions for collaborative tagging of content comprises one or more data repositories configured to maintain one or more separate sets of tags, a messaging intermediary configured to provide access to the one or more data repositories and to provide for communication with the set of services, and a client-side agent configured to communicate with the set of services and access the one or more data repositories through the message intermediary to act on instructions provided by the user in one or more user roles. A set of tags corresponds to each service in each user role and specifies an available vocabulary for tagging content at that service. The agent is configured to access the one or more data repositories to load a first set of tags corresponding a user-specified service and a user-specified role, display the first set of tags to the user, and to communicate with the user-specified service to post tags selected by the user from the first set of tags to content at the user-specified service.
US08260858B2
Systems and methods of organizing a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) via mobile units are provided. Features of mobile units such as messaging and location based services are incorporated into the game to enhance the user experience. The MMOG provides social networking opportunities to players by associating players based on similarities such as shared interests and activities. These shared interests and activities can be determined based on associations of the players in other situations, such as disparate online games or websites. In addition, advertising content can be provided to players based on similar factors. In an example implementation, the MMOG comprises a game similar to the offline game of tag, wherein players can “tag” each other through in-game interactions via the mobile units. These interactions can be triggered based on players being a fixed predetermined distance from each other.
US08260856B2
A web conference client device determines that it is configured to generate a higher-quality rendered output than a quality of a web conference presentation slide received from a server. A slide presentation file associated with the web conference presentation slide is received from the server. Rendered output of the slide presentation file is generated. The rendered output of the slide presentation file is sent to the server.
US08260855B2
Relay devices 1 and vehicle monitoring control devices 2 include communication cycle management sections 111 and 211 for managing communication cycles in accordance with cycle information that divides the communication cycle to communication enabled periods which include a period of enabling only communication of a message to be communicated periodically and correspond to a communication period of a message; and carry out communication in the communication cycles managed by the communication cycle management sections 111 and 211.
US08260853B2
A document distribution system and method using a WebDAV protocol. The system includes a WebDAV server; and a first client to transmit a document to the WebDAV server using the WebDAV protocol, wherein the first client transmits the document to a predetermined directory of the WebDAV server. Accordingly, the document is transmitted to a specific folder of a document distribution system using the WebDAV protocol, so that the document distribution system can be configured without installing an additional file transmission protocol in the server. Also, various properties of data can be designated without modifying the data when transmitting the document.
US08260852B1
Methods and apparatuses to set up a poll and presenting poll results through electronic communication media. In one embodiment, a user can specify a poll subject, a set of user-defined choices, and a set of poll invitees. The poll invitees are contacted to vote and/or to provide their comments. The invitees' responses are collected and presented. The user may set up the poll at a web site, using an email application, or a special-purpose application. A tool to compose the poll may be integrated with tools for managing personal contact information, such as address book, social network, etc. to simplify the process of specify poll invitees. Content sensitive advertisements can be inserted into the result of the poll. The advertisements can be selected based on the content of the poll subject, user defined choices, invitees' comments, etc.
US08260849B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for selectively accessing one or more web services from a client machine, the one or more web services and the client machine being accessible over a network. A request for information is received from a client machine with a conversion engine. The request is received over a synchronous interface. The request is processed in the conversion engine. The processed request is transmitted over an asynchronous interface from the conversion engine to at least one web service. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for converting a web service description language file for a synchronous web service into a web service description language file for an asynchronous client machine are also described.
US08260841B1
Technologies are described herein for executing an out-of-band agent in an in-band process of a host system. An out-of-band connection is created between a service processor located on a host computer and a remote management device. The service processor receives an agent program from the remote management device over the out-of-band connection and stores the agent program in a storage area. The agent program is made available to an in-band process of the host system operating on the host computer through a standard storage device interface. The agent program is then executed out-of-band by the service processor or in-band by the process of the host system.
US08260832B2
An approach is provided to partition inter-linked documents into partitions of a database system. In some embodiments, a plurality of documents may be assigned to two or more partitions in the database system, thereby forming a number of inter-partition links between a first partition and a second partition. Here both the first partition and the second partition are in the two or more partitions. First documents may be assigned to the first partition while second documents are assigned to the second partition. Both the first documents and the second documents are in the plurality of documents. It is then determined whether moving one or more of the first documents in the first partition to the second partition reduces the number of inter-partition links between the first partition and the second partition. If that is the case, the one or more of the first documents are moved to the second partition.
US08260828B2
A portable data storage device (1) is disclosed to be used for organizing content (10, 11, 18) available to the data storage device (1). The device comprises means (12) for setting an information source (6) for a storage profile (9), a means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6), a means (4) for updating the storage profile (9) based upon the storage profile update data (7), a means (2) for organizing content (10, 11) based upon the storage profile (9) and a means (12, 13) for triggering the means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6). The device (1) is capable of organizing content in a dynamic manner based on data storage profiles that are also dynamic in nature whilst requiring minimum user intervention.
US08260825B2
A system may include a database of physical data tables, a logical database schema of logical entities associated with the physical data tables, and an abstraction layer comprising a plurality of dimension objects mapped to the logical entities, at least one of the plurality of dimension objects comprising one or more properties associating the at least one of the plurality of dimension objects to one or more others of the plurality of dimension objects.
US08260818B1
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for storing variables in a non-volatile computer memory are provided. The computer-readable medium has a data structure stored thereon that includes a first data field for storing a variable record including a header and variable information. The data structure also includes a second data field for storing a GUID for the variable. The variable record may comprise a full record or a data only record. A full record contains all of the identifying information for the record and the variable value. A data only record includes only an updated value for the variable. When a request is received to retrieve the variable value, the data structure is searched to locate the most recently created record for the variable. The value stored in this record is then returned in response to the request. Periodically, a garbage collection process may be performed to reduce the records stored for each variable to a single full record.
US08260815B2
Systems and methods access non-compatible content repositories that are not natively accessible to a content management system. A metadata registry maintains metadata about content stored in both compatible and non-compatible repositories. For content in a non-compatible repository, the metadata indicates a repository interface capable of accessing the non-compatible repository. The content manager communicates with the repository interfaces to access the content in non-compatible repositories. The content manager may receive a request for content in a non-compatible repository, refer to the metadata registry to select a repository interface to employ, transmit a request for the requested content to the selected repository interface, and receive the requested content from the repository interface. A repository interface registry maintains information about available repository interfaces. Entries may be added to either the metadata registry and the repository interface registry, thus allowing the systems and methods to be extended to be able to access additional non-compatible repositories.
US08260813B2
The present invention provides a system and methods for flexible data archival using a model-driven approach. The data archive system and method of the present invention provides the operation of moving data from original data repository into archive data repository. Users can specify archive conditions describing which portions of the data will be moved. The method may have steps such as analyzing application content, defining an archive model, transforming the model by generating an archive specification based upon the modeling result and building an application based upon the archive model and deploying the new model and archive application.
US08260812B2
Systems and methods for managing multiple systems in an enterprise resource planning system are provided. In an embodiment, data identifying modules and entities using modules or systems may be collected from each system in enterprise resource planning system. The collected data may then be organized to show a usage landscape of entire enterprise resource planning system. In an embodiment, the collected data may also be merged with other organizational data, such as organizational chart data, to present the usage landscape in an intuitive manner using the organizational structure data from the organizational chart. The collected data may also be used to identify potential data inconsistencies across different systems or may be used to limit connectivity to only authorized systems or modules. In some embodiments, attributes such as attributes identifying modules and entities may be inputted into a system which then distributes the attributes to other systems.
US08260811B2
Each time the file access request is received, it is discriminated whether there is an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type following the switching in the file designated by the file access request. In cases where the judgment result is that there is no such ACL, an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type following the switching is generated on the basis of an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type prior to the switching which is associated with the designated file, and the ACL thus generated is used to control access in accordance with the received file access request.
US08260800B2
A system and method for digital image generation, delivery, and management is provided. The automated image generation, delivery, and management system and method serves processed images over a network. A requesting application provides a URL in addition to field values. The image delivery system retrieves and serves an image based on the requested URL. A sized image and a default image are saved in a database for rapid retrieval. If the system can generate an image sized to the request, it does so. Otherwise, the system visits the URL to obtain a snapshot of the rendered webpage. If no webpage is available with the URL as provided, the URL is truncated until a displayable webpage is rendered.
US08260797B2
A method for populating a form includes storing differing forms in a database, each form having at least one information location for entering an item of user information, selecting a first form to provide a first selected form, and entering an item of user information into the information location to provide an entered item of information. Storing the entered item of information in the database to provide a stored item of information, selecting a second form, determining whether the information location of the second selected form corresponds to the information location of first selected form and retrieving the stored item of information to provide a retrieved item of information in accordance with the determining are also included. The retrieved item of information is entered into the information location of the second form to provide a populated form.
US08260794B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for creating playback definitions indicating segments of media content from multiple content files to render. User input is received indicating a plurality of segments of media content from a plurality of media files and an ordering of the segments. The media content comprises at least one of audio and video content. A playback definition is generated in a computer readable medium indicating the plurality of segments in the user input and the ordering of the segments. The playback definition is processed to render the media content of the indicated segments in the indicated ordering.
US08260792B1
Techniques for committing data objects to be immutable are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request received through an interface of a storage system, the request being associated with a data object stored in the storage system, it is determined whether the data object should be committed to be immutable. The data object is committed to be immutable if it is determined that the data object should be committed to be immutable. Thereafter, an action associated with the request is performed, where the action is performed dependent upon whether the data object is immutable. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08260790B2
A method, executed on a computing device, and a corresponding system, allow software applications to easily access data contained in a static XML document by parsing the static XML document. For each node in the XML document, a Node Offset value is determined. The Node Offset value is then stored and serves as an index offset value, where the index offset value is used by the software applications to retrieve the data contained in the static XML document.
US08260787B2
A recommendations system is provided in various embodiments for selecting items to recommend to a user. The system includes a recommendation engine with a plurality of recommenders, and each recommender identifies a different type of reason for recommending items. In one embodiment, each recommender retrieves item preference data and generates candidate recommendations responsive to a subset of that data. The recommenders also score the candidate recommendations. In certain embodiments, a normalization engine normalizes the scores of the candidate recommendations provided by each recommender. A candidate selector selects at least a portion of the candidate recommendations based on the normalized scores to provide as recommendations to the user. The candidate selector also outputs the recommendations with associated reasons for recommending the items.
US08260782B2
A method and system for specifying categories of data elements during a service specification phase of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) life cycle defined in a service modeling methodology like Service-Oriented Modeling and Architecture (SOMA). A Unified Modeling Language based SOA modeling tool for SOMA methodology includes a middleware based integration plug-in that categorizes retrieved service-specific data elements as transaction elements, optional controller elements, glue elements, optional extension patterns, extension elements and core Common Information Model entities, and associates the categorized data elements with corresponding operations of the service being modeled. A user interface provided by the plug-in enables input of the data elements into the categories and input of the associations between the categorized data elements and corresponding operations of the service being modeled. Furthermore, the plug-in generates and initiates storing of a service specification based on the categorization of the data elements.
US08260774B1
Methods and apparatus provide for a personalization search engine that receives a search query from a first user and identifies multiple portions of indexed content—where each respective portion of indexed content has metadata that matches at least one characteristic of the search query. The personalization search engine determines a relevance of each respective portion of indexed content to the first user who provided the search query. It is understood that, in various embodiments, the relevance of a portion of indexed content has to the first user who provided the search query can be based on user feedback associated with an online version of that portion of indexed content. The personalization search engine ranks the multiple portions of indexed content according to their respective relevance to the first user who provided the search query and creates a search result based on ranking the multiple portions of indexed content.
US08260772B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to identify a user of a website, retrieve one or more keywords describing content on the website, and search for reports corresponding to the one or more keywords. The reports are filtered based on data access permissions associated with the user. A highly ranked report is displayed on the website.
US08260771B1
Computer-implemented methods are described for identifying item attributes that are likely to be useful to users in refining searches for items. In one embodiment, when a user submits a search query to search for items, all or a portion of the search query is used to look-up a previously-generated list of item attributes (and optionally associated attribute values) that, based on a programmatic analysis that includes an analysis of user activity of a population of users, are associated with the search query and are useful for refining the search. These item attributes, and any associated attribute values, are then presented to the user in a selectable form such that the user can interactively narrow the search.
US08260763B2
A method comprises using a processor to list candidate resources that may be matched with a plurality of service entities. The method also comprises eliminating at least one possible match between the candidate resources and the plurality of service entities. The method further comprises, for each of the plurality of service entities, rating the candidate resources. The method still further comprises ranking the plurality of service entities. The method still further comprises matching each of the plurality of service entities with at least one of the candidate resources.
US08260761B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for detecting potential architecture and interfacing issues in database applications are described herein. In an embodiment, the invention operates by accessing trace information. The trace information includes database-related information pertaining to interactions of a database application with a production database. The invention detects potential architecture and interfacing issues in the database application by analyzing the trace information. Such architecture and interfacing issues include, but are not limited to, multiple connections simultaneously blocking on the same row of a table, and client-side joins.
US08260755B2
A process-based method and system for mapping and documenting a business process integrates information from a plurality of sources into a process map in such manner that only those sources needed to perform the task at hand are accessed in turn through steps in the process map. Business rules pertaining to the task at hand are built into the process steps. The method involves developing a process map, including a series of flow charts, that integrates all processes, sub processes, procedures, reference materials, and forms into a common repository. Advantageously, the method guides the user in step-by-step fashion as to how to use any attached information and tools to successfully complete the process, accessing sub levels of procedure level flow as needed, without requiring access to any other information, tools, or processes.
US08260753B2
In one embodiment, a method for information management comprises monitoring output from an application, wherein the output is monitored substantially continuously; determining if the output is associated with a predetermined type of version; and saving data associated with the output if the output is associated with the predetermined type of version.
US08260752B1
A computer-implemented method for change tracking with multiple backup jobs may include identifying a plurality of overlapping backup jobs to be performed on a volume. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying snapshots taken for any of the plurality of overlapping backup jobs. The computer-implemented method may further include, for each consecutive pair of identified snapshots, identifying changes made to the volume between the consecutive pair of identified snapshots and saving a list of the changes. The computer-implemented method may additionally include supplying the list of changes for each backup job in the plurality of overlapping backup jobs that requires the list of changes. The computer-implemented method may also include determining that no remaining backup job in the plurality of overlapping jobs requires the list of changes and deleting the list of changes. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08260751B2
In certain embodiments, a method for log file time sequence stamping is provided. The method includes connecting to a console port of one or more data sources and receiving data from the data sources. The data may be logged with both an independent time stamp and a sequence indicator. The independent time stamp provides a consistent time stamp of when the data was received at the system and the time sequence indicator represents an order in which the data was received at the system.
US08260747B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for allowing access to backup data resulting from performance of one or more recovery point backup operations and one or more full backup operations. This is accomplished by associating recovery point backup operations with full backup operations and allowing access to backup data resulting from performance of the recovery point backup operations and the full backup operations. In this way, logs corresponding to the backup operations may be associated with a backup path, such that the logs may be accessed during a restore operation. Furthermore, the recovery point operations may be configured to provide a user defined granularity for data recovery. To this end, in various embodiments, backup data may be stored at a granularity defined by a user and recovered based on a user selection of a recovery point.
US08260741B2
A pluggable, extensible, lightweight framework is described that allows an out-of-band server management connection to interact with a plurality of operating system (OS) resident agents.
US08260726B2
Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.
US08260711B1
A method for managing rights associated with data is described. A request to access encrypted data is intercepted. Credentials associated with the request are verified. The data is decrypted if the credentials are verified. The decrypted data is marked with an identifier. Predetermined operations directed to the decrypted data are monitored.
US08260708B2
Techniques are generally disclosed for using an operating entity, including a method, apparatus, and/or system to control usage of the operating entity. In various embodiments, an in-use signal generator may be configured to generate at least one in-use signal, with the at least one in-use signal having a signal duration representative of at least one usage episode of the operating entity. An aging circuit may be coupled to the in-use signal generator and configured to output at least one age-affected signal in response to the at least one in-use signal. A metering module may be coupled to the aging circuit and, in response to the at least one age-affected signal, and configured to measure a signal characteristic of the at least one age-affected signal and translate the signal characteristic into a generated quantity of accumulative usage of the aging circuit.
US08260707B2
Methods and a system for performing an automated teller machine (ATM) transaction using a queue are disclosed. A user may first initiate an ATM transaction from a networked device to create a pending ATM transaction. The pending ATM transaction is then stored into a queue until it is accessed by the ATM. When a user is ready to complete the pending ATM transaction, the pending ATM transaction is retrieved from the queue and is completed by, for example, the ATM.
US08260703B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for costing a roster. The method includes preparing a roster in a roster preparing means of the apparatus, said roster comprising a work schedule or list of duties for one or more work periods, each work period being populated by one or more workers, providing award information in a database of the apparatus for calculating a payroll for each of said workers in said roster, and calculating a roster wage cost in a processing means of the apparatus that would result from implementation of said roster, based on said roster and said award information. A respective pay-rate for a respective worker in the database of award information may depend on the work period populated by said respective worker, and a respective worker may be rostered in more than one of said work periods.
US08260691B2
A novel method of optimizing an inventory lot size at least includes: a) determining fixed and variable costs associated with a given lot size; b) determining a sale price associated with the given lot size; c) determining a profit margin (PM) based on the results in a) and b); d) determining an average inventory level (AIL); e) determining a cost of carrying inventory (CCI) associated with the given lot size; f) determining a net present value (NPV) based on a predetermined mathematical relationship between the determined PM, AIL and CCI; g) determining NPV changes (ΔNPV) with incremental changes in lot size; and h) determining an optimal lot size based on the results in g).
US08260679B2
A method of selective call initiation is disclosed and includes receiving data from a computer based auction site. Further, the method includes detecting a notification event by evaluating the data with respect to notification criteria associated with a user account. Also, the method includes initiating a voice based call over a voice network to a communication device identified in connection with the user account. A system is also disclosed and includes a first processing element that is coupled to a network interface to receive data from a computer based auction site. Also, the system includes a second processing element to detect a notification event by evaluating the data with respect to notification criteria associated with a user account. Moreover, the system includes a third processing element to initiate an outgoing voice based call over a voice network to a communication device identified in connection with the user account.
US08260672B2
A system, including apparatuses and methods, for paper production and distribution in a communication network environment with multi-party and multi-level production and distribution relationships. The system receives, from one or more communicatively connected paper purchaser computers, parameters representative of the total surface area and physical characteristics of paper products required for printing tasks. The system determines an estimated quantity of the paper products to order based at least in part on the received parameters. Then, the system displays the estimated quantity of the paper to order and communicates orders to production facilities for obtaining such quantity.
US08260671B2
A method of sale including processing a plurality of purchases to be sold to a consumer, identifying a consumer financial account held by a financial institution, receiving authorization from the financial institution to enable payment for the plurality of purchases from the consumer financial account, and providing the consumer with an option to approve the payment from the consumer financial account. The option is provided during processing of the plurality of purchases. Transaction approval systems provide additional advantages.
US08260660B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for un-issuing a voting credit that has been erroneously issued to a voter in an election. The system includes an electronic poll book that is used to check-in a voter by locating the appropriate voter record and analyzing the voter record to determine whether a voting credit has been issued to the voter in the election. If a voting credit has been issued to the voter, the electronic poll book displays an indication that the voter has already voted in the election. If it is determined that the voting credit was erroneously issued to the voter, a poll worker enters an un-issue code into the poll book. The poll book verifies the validity of the un-issue code and updates the voter record so as to un-issue the voting credit. As such, the voter may vote a regular ballot in the election.
US08260655B2
A valuation optimization method includes generating offeree decision information (buyer decision information, by way of illustrative example) by presenting a sequence of mechanisms to a sequence of offerees wherein the mechanisms comprise menus of transaction offers (sale offer menus, by way of illustrative example). Actual transactions (sale transactions, by way of illustrative example) are conducted responsive to acceptances of transaction offers by buyers. At a selected time in the generating, an offeree valuation distribution belief and the current mechanism are updated optimize an offeree's utility. The offeree's utility comprises an offeree's utility function constrained by a robust learning constraint computed based on a local differential of an earlier offeree's utility function with respect to the earlier offeree's valuation.
US08260648B2
The design and process scheduling optimization method is a technique that circumvents problems encountered in previous optimization techniques. The method performs comparison against multiple possible outcomes rather than a single-valued benchmark. Pattern Recognition (PR) techniques are utilized to classify the work planned at specified cut-off dates during the planning stage. Classification is used to monitor and evaluate the progress during the construction stage. The PR technique generalizes a virtual benchmark to represent the whole project based on multiple possible outcomes generated at a given cut-off date. The generalization feature offers a potential tool to overcome the problem of variation in the quality of data collected. Patterns are constructed to encode work of the project at different cut-off dates. The present invention utilizes a robust pattern recognition method applied to Critical Path Method (CPM) procedures to monitor and evaluate progress of construction projects.
US08260644B2
Various embodiments provide a scheduling system structured for generating at least one posting to fill a vacant post on a schedule. In an embodiment, the scheduling system includes a scheduling database and an automated rotation tool. The scheduling database includes a personnel roster and a schedule. The schedule includes a vacant post. The scheduling database transmits the schedule and the personnel roster to the automated rotation tool. The automated rotation tool includes a computer system, and receives the personnel roster and the vacant post beginning within the vacancy window from the scheduling database, and also receives a rule, a parameter, and a vacancy window. The automated rotation tool generates a posting assigning a person from the personnel roster to the vacant post according to the rule and the parameter, and transmits the posting to the scheduling database.
US08260638B2
A method for underwriting an insurance product includes identifying a plurality of event categories of operational risk loss and drafting information requests for operational risk management components thereof. A database of the insurance company for stores and analyzes information provided by the client to yield an operational risk exposure assessment of the client.
US08260636B2
System and methods are provided for prioritizing communication of a health risk. The method may include obtaining health information for individuals and determining, based on the health information, a risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases. The method may also include calculating, based on the risks, an average risk of each individual contracting the diseases and selecting a subset of the individuals based on the average risks. Further, the method may include calculating an improved risk by making lifestyle changes for the subset of the individuals and communicating the health risks and the lifestyle changes to individuals in the subset based on the amount of improved risk.
US08260631B2
Various embodiments of the presently described invention provide a method for visually representing associations among data and/or events presented on one or more timelines. A user is provided with the ability to select a filter that can be used to determine a plurality of data/events that are associated or related to one another according to the rule(s) defined by the filter. Once the associated data/events are determined, the association among the data/events is graphically presented to the user.
US08260615B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for initializing language models for automatic speech recognition. In one aspect, a method includes receiving logged speech recognition results from an existing corpus that is specific to a given language and a target context, generating a target corpus by machine-translating the logged speech recognition results from the given language to a different, target language, and estimating a language model that is specific to the different, target language and the same, target context, using the target corpus.
US08260613B2
A double talk detector for controlling the echo path estimation in a telecommunication system by indicating when a received coded speech signal is dominated by a non-echo signal; i.e., that so-called double talk exists. This is determined by extracting LSPs from a coded speech frame of the received coded speech signal when the signal power exceeds a first threshold value, converting each of said extracted LSPs into LSFs, and calculating the distance between each two adjacent LSFs. For each distance that is smaller than a second threshold, a spectral peak is located between the two LSFs, and it is determined whether said spectral peak is an echo or not. When a predetermined number of non-echo spectral peaks are located in the received speech signal, double talk will be indicated, and the echo path estimation may be disabled.
US08260610B2
Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses, systems, computer readable media, and methods for processing speech signals in a manner that enhances capacity, efficiency and hardware utilization of a communications network. A method, according to one embodiment, includes receiving speech signals, determining a subchannel power imbalance ratio of at least two subchannels, and selecting a receiver architecture for processing the speech signals in accordance with the determined subchannel power imbalance ratio.
US08260601B2
A mechanism to dynamically vary the amount of delay for an event-generated function call is discussed. The event causing the generation of the function call may be a signal-based event, function call event or some other type of event. A function call generating delay component is inserted into a DES model and dynamically adjusts the amount of delay to apply prior to generating and transmitting the function call to an intended target component. The function call generating component reads a value from an input port in determining the amount of delay. The identified value at the input port may be a signal value or an attribute associated with an event entity received at the port.
US08260600B1
Method and system are disclosed for simulating a circuit. The method includes representing a circuit using a matrix that represents a set of linear equations to be solved, identifying a delta matrix, which is a subset of the matrix that changed states from a previous time step to a current time step, computing an update of the delta matrix using a matrix decomposition approach, generating a current state of the matrix using a previous state of the matrix and the update of the delta matrix, and storing the current state of the matrix in a memory device.
US08260599B1
A method for constructing relatively independent overlapping functions that optimize a desired property is disclosed. This method allows the production of groups of functions, each group on a region. These regions may overlap. This allows the production of sources that have optimized properties, especially when those properties are enhanced by smoothness and/or by a larger size. A possible optimization method is also disclosed. These sources have many uses in numerical simulations of physical devices, such as valves, pipes, antennas, electronic circuits, and vehicles (air borne, land, and water). These simulations are useful in the design and construction of such devices. They are also useful in the testing of device properties, as they may provide an adjunct to testing physical mock ups of proposed designs.
US08260598B2
A method and apparatus to generate code to represent a graphical model formed of multiple graphical modeling components and at least one variable-sized signal is presented. Each variable-sized signal is represented using a size-vector in the generated code. The generated code is optimized by representing multiple variable-sized signals with the same size-vector such that at least two variable-sized signals share a size-vector in the generated code. The size of the variable-sized signal is capable of changing during the execution of the graphical model. The method and apparatus also identifies the owners of the variable-sized signals.
US08260580B2
The disclosure concerns a data acquisition apparatus and method. According to the disclosure, a first means providing a series of first digital sampled data (X) at an imperfect sampling frequency (FE) provided by a local clock (2) comprises sigma-delta modulation means (3) arranged to produce said series of first digital sigma-delta modulated data (X), a second gauging means (50) for measuring the frequency error of the local clock (2) in view of a reference clock (6), a third means for correcting the first data based at least on the measured frequency error, which comprises at least an interpolation means (4) to produce second digital data (Y) based on at least an interpolation of said first series (X) and compensating the measured frequency error (FD), and at least a decimation filter (7) for producing third digital data (A) based on said second digital data (Y), are provided.
US08260574B1
A technique is provided for diagnosing deficiencies in a material handling system having a track and a material support member adapted to travel on the track. A diagnostic device travels with the material support member and includes one or more sensors that measure one or more parameters of the material support member. Such parameters may include an amount of force exerted laterally against one or more restraining members or the accelerations of the material support member. The material handling system may include a plurality of slats connected in an endless web that defines a conveying surface upon which articles are transported.
US08260565B2
A charge amplifier for use in radiation sensing includes an amplifier, at least one switch, and at least one capacitor. The switch selectively couples the input of the switch to one of at least two voltages. The capacitor is electrically coupled in series between the input of the amplifier and the input of the switch. The capacitor is electrically coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. A method of measuring charge in radiation sensing includes selectively diverting charge from an input of an amplifier to an input of at least one capacitor by selectively coupling an output of the at least one capacitor to one of at least two voltages. The input of the at least one capacitor is operatively coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. The method also includes calculating a total charge based on a sum of the amplified charge and the diverted charge.
US08260561B2
Techniques and systems for displaying chromatographic data using a graphical user interface are provided. Chromatographic separation data that represent a series of measurements for multiple samples detected at a single point along the length of a channel as they move through the channel past that point can be displayed on a display device of a computer system as a series of bands, the bands being arranged to resemble output from an electrophoresis gel. The bands may be aligned using a marker included in each sample.
US08260556B2
The ratio of analytes is determined directly from the responses of the analytes using a conversion method. Individual analyte responses are obtained by using a selected measuring technique, and these individual responses are used as the independent variables in a conversion method. The dependent variable of conversion method is the desired analyte ratio. The resulting conversion method is then used to directly calculate the desired ratio of analytes as a function of the measured responses. No intermediate conversions, such as using a calibration curve to convert individual measured analyte responses to concentration values, are needed to obtain the desired ratio.
US08260546B2
A system for providing a tailored route to a mobile communications device over a wireless communications network. The system includes a map server including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to make the map server operable to prepare a basic route from a route origin to a route destination and obtain information regarding characteristics of the wireless communications network along the basic route. The processor is further made operable to prepare the tailored route using the basic route and the network characteristics information and provide the tailored route to the mobile communications device over the wireless communications network.
US08260543B2
A method and apparatus for a navigation system detects a hidden point on a route on a monitor screen showing a three-dimensional map when visibility of the route begins to be lost, and provides a warning message including relevant information that is helpful to navigate the hidden point. The method includes steps of displaying a three-dimensional map image which includes an image of a route on which a user or user's vehicle is travelling, detecting a hidden point of the route on the three-dimensional map image at which the route becomes invisible by an obstruction object when viewed from a current position of the user, and notifying the user about the hidden point on the route thereby enabling the user to know the hidden point on the route in advance.
US08260542B2
A navigation apparatus including a geomagnetic sensor that detects a geomagnetic field of the navigation apparatus, an orientation calculation unit that calculates an orientation of the navigation apparatus based on the detected geomagnetic field, a cradle detection unit that detects that the navigation apparatus is connected to a cradle, and outputs a signal indicating that the navigation apparatus is connected to the cradle, and an operation control unit that receives the signal output from the cradle detection unit, and controls the orientation calculation unit to not detect the orientation of the navigation apparatus based on the detected geomagnetic field.
US08260538B2
The vehicle-use collision mitigation apparatus includes a function of calculating a TTC indicative of a time remaining before collision with a forward obstacle on the basis of the distance to this obstacle and the reference speed therebetween, a function of alarming a driver of the vehicle of presence of a risk of collision with the obstacle if the TTC is shorter than a predetermined first time, a function of increasing a braking force generated by a braking operation performed by the driver if the TTC is shorter than a predetermined second time not longer than the predetermined first time, and a function of automatically generating a braking force if the TTC is shorter than a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined first time. The alarming function is configured to make an alarm for a driver of a following vehicle that the preceding vehicle may decelerate abruptly.
US08260537B2
Method for modifying an existing vehicle on a retrofit basis to integrate the vehicle into an information exchange system in which the vehicle includes a processor arranged to receive information and use the information in the operation of the vehicle. A communications device is coupled to the processor and can be used to establish communications with other vehicles or infrastructure to receive information from the other vehicles and infrastructure and/or provide information generated by the vehicle to the other vehicles or infrastructure. The received information may be displayed to an occupant of the vehicle on an existing display.
US08260536B2
An embodiment of a motoring aid method and system for a road vehicle, whereby a motoring aid information item is generated as the road vehicle travels along a road having a road surface; the information is converted into a graphic display image; and the image is projected onto a portion of the road surface ahead of the road vehicle, to allow the driver of the road vehicle to view the image without distracting the driver's attention from the road.
US08260533B2
The invention relates to traffic flow monitoring devices. The system includes stationary traffic monitoring points that includes reading devices to receive data from electronic tag located on a vehicle, and is connected to a remote server that includes a database of vehicles and associated electronic tags, and their owners. The stationary traffic monitoring points are in the form of autonomous small-sized computer devices with a cellular communication module, and includes automatic devices for photo-video-radar recording and for processing information about vehicles and traffic situation, and with automatic software tools for determining the parameters of the vehicles, traffic laws and for comparing them with the permissible parameters for the particular road section. Software tools can automatically qualify the violations of the traffic safety rules and contingency events and make decisions with respect thereto, and can automatically transmit information via a mobile communication network from stationary traffic monitors to transmitter/receiver of a nearest mobile communication operator and from there to the remote server via the Internet.
US08260532B2
A system and method for combining sequential map segments to aggregate, analyze, and display traffic data collected from one or more probe vehicles located on one or more segments of road are provided. Vehicle travel data generation and storage are provided by a data processing center, partitioning a road into a plurality of connected segments, and calculating an estimate of the time required for a probe vehicle to traverse a particular segment. The calculations are performed by a processor that may be on-board the probe vehicle, and the resulting data are transmitted to the processing center, at which they are aggregated and optionally transmitted to one or more subscriber vehicles.
US08260523B2
A method for monitoring and controlling a gas turbine, comprises predicting frequencies of combustion dynamics in a combustor using operating conditions of a gas turbine, receiving a signal from a sensor that is indicative of combustion dynamics in the combustor, and detecting a flashback if a frequency of the received signal does not correspond to the predicted frequencies.
US08260519B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of wheel covers and vehicles having at least one wheel cover. One embodiment of a vehicle having at least one wheel mounted for rotation about an axle comprises a body structure having a portion of which is adjacent to the wheel, a mounting structure fixed to the portion of the body structure that is adjacent to the wheel and a wheel cover attached to the body structure via the mounting structure. The mounting structure is configured to permit movement of the wheel cover between an extended position in which the wheel cover overlays at least a first portion of the wheel and a retracted position in which the wheel cover does not overlay the first portion of the wheel. Also disclosed are methods of selectively covering a vehicle wheel.
US08260508B2
An engine speed control system for an agricultural vehicle includes a variable throttle controller, a mode selector, and a control device. The variable throttle control permits an operator to select a variably adjustable engine speed and the mode selector permits the operator to select between a plurality of pre-set engine speeds. The control device receives output signals from the throttle controller, generates engine speed commands, and delivers the commands to an engine controller for controlling the speed of the agricultural vehicle's engine. The control device is operable to generate a first engine speed command associated with one of the pre-set engine speeds when an operator activates the mode selector and to temporarily or permanently override the first engine speed command with a second engine speed command associated with the throttle controller when the operator activates the throttle controller.
US08260501B2
An awake state estimation portion calculates an average steering angle, an average steering angular speed and a corrective steering angle on the basis of the steering angle acquired from a steering angle detection portion. The awake state estimation portion acquires the traveling speed of the vehicle from a vehicle speed detection portion. The awake state estimation portion corrects the calculated corrective steering angle by a correction value commensurate with the type of the traveling path on which the vehicle is traveling, and estimates the degree of the awake state of the driver on the basis of the post-correction corrective steering angle. Besides, the awake state estimation portion specifically determines the correction value commensurate with the type of the traveling path on which the vehicle is traveling, on the basis of at least one of the steering angle, the average steering angular speed and the traveling speed.
US08260498B2
A vehicle control architecture designed based on a top-down approach with abstraction and modularity. The control architecture includes a vehicle/environment sensing and perception processor that processes sensor signals, and motion planning processors that provide lane center trajectory planning and tracking command, lane change trajectory planning and tracking command, and forward and backward speed and target tracking command. The architecture also includes a driver command interpreter that interprets driver commands and a command integration processor that provides reference dynamics for vehicle lateral, roll and longitudinal dynamics. The architecture also includes a control integration and supervisory controller that provides control integration and outputs integrated longitudinal force command signals, integrated lateral force command signals, integrated yaw moment command signals and steering torque command signals that are used by a vehicle longitudinal controller and a vehicle lateral controller.
US08260497B2
In the conventional vehicle control device, since a detection timing of turn is late, at the time of making the change of gear ratio based the detection timing, a sense of discomfort is brought to a driver. Moreover, steering wheel angle sensor, yaw rate sensor or lateral acceleration sensor is very expensive, resulting in the cost increase of the vehicle control devices. From information regarding a steering force that can be obtained from an electric power steering device, a turn intention of a driver is detected, and based the turning intention, the change of gear ratio is conducted.
US08260481B2
A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a traffic sensing system. Power flow in the vehicle is managed by determining a present location and a trajectory of the vehicle, and determining traffic level information based on the present location and trajectory. A speed profile for the vehicle is predicted based upon the traffic level information of the vehicle and the powertrain is operated to manage power flow in the vehicle based upon on the predicted speed profile.
US08260480B2
A method and system for creating, maintain, and monitoring a guideway database is disclosed.
US08260461B2
Described herein is a method and system for performing calibrations on robotic components. In one embodiment, a method for performing robotic calibrations includes manually calibrating a center of a robot blade aligned with respect to a target. The method further includes recording a first positional value of the center of the robot blade aligned with respect to a camera. The method further includes automatically determining a second positional value of the center of the robot blade aligned with respect to the camera. The method further includes automatically recalibrating the robot blade based on an offset between the second positional value and the first positional value exceeding a tolerance offset from the first positional value.
US08260460B2
A robotic system includes a robot having joints, actuators, and sensors, and a distributed controller. The controller includes command-level controller, embedded joint-level controllers each controlling a respective joint, and a joint coordination-level controller coordinating motion of the joints. A central data library (CDL) centralizes all control and feedback data, and a user interface displays a status of each joint, actuator, and sensor using the CDL. A parameterized action sequence has a hierarchy of linked events, and allows the control data to be modified in real time. A method of controlling the robot includes transmitting control data through the various levels of the controller, routing all control and feedback data to the CDL, and displaying status and operation of the robot using the CDL. The parameterized action sequences are generated for execution by the robot, and a hierarchy of linked events is created within the sequence.
US08260445B2
A signal processing system is provided, which includes a first converter for converting first information in to second information, a superimposer for superimposing on the second information control information corresponding to any missing information lost from the first information due to its conversion by the first converter. Furthermore, the signal processing system includes a transmitter for transmitting the second information, a receiver for receiving the second information transmitted from the transmitter, and an extractor for extracting the control information from the second information. The signal processing system also includes a second converter for converting the second information in to third information based on the control information extracted by the extractor, and an output portion for outputting the third information.
US08260438B2
An electrode pad packaging system including an electrode pouch, an electrode pad (e.g., a defibrillation electrode pad), a wire and a shell is disclosed. The electrode pad is disposed at least partially within the electrode pouch. The wire extends from the electrode pad and, in a disclosed embodiment, at least a portion of the wire is attached to the shell. The shell is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the electrode pouch (e.g., the shell is secured to a portion of the electrode pouch). The shell includes a valve thereon that is configured to allow air to exit the electrode pouch. The valve may be configured to prevent air from entering the electrode pouch. A method of packaging an electrode pad is also disclosed. The method includes providing an electrode pouch, an electrode pad, a wire and a shell. A valve on the shell allows air to exit the electrode pouch.
US08260424B2
A connection monitoring system for an implantable medical lead system includes an implantable lead, a first trial system cable, an external trial system, and a sensor. The lead has a distal end and at least one proximal end. The lead includes a plurality of terminals disposed at each proximal end. The first trial system cable has a distal end and at least one proximal end. The distal end of the first trial system cable is configured and arranged to electrically couple with the lead. The external trial system is configured and arranged to electrically couple with the first trial system cable. The sensor is electrically coupled to the external trial system. The sensor is configured and arranged for detecting a loss of electrical connectivity between the external trial system and the lead when the lead becomes electrically decoupled from the external trial system.
US08260422B2
Implantable medical device with selectively configurable exposure operating mode programming options
An IMD is selectively configurable to support a plurality of programming options for enabling and disabling an exposure operating mode of the device. In one example, the IMD may support at least two of a manual exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is manually enabled and manually disabled, an automatic exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is automatically enabled and automatically disabled, or a semi-automatic exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is either automatically enabled and manually disabled or manually enabled and automatically disabled. In this manner, the IMD may support more than one way for enabling and disabling the exposure operating mode to provide flexibility in the clinical workflows associated with programming the IMD into an exposure operating mode for a medical procedure, such as an MRI scan.
US08260420B2
An electromedical implant having a far-field electrocardiogram detection unit connected or connectable to at least two implantable electrodes, at least one electrode of which is to be placed in the right atrium or right ventricle and is designed to record a far-field electrocardiogram via the terminal for the electrode to be placed in the right atrium or the right ventricle and one other electrode. The far-field electrocardiogram detection unit is connected to a far-field electrocardiogram evaluation unit, which is configured to detect signal features of the far-field electrocardiogram associated with an excitation or contraction of the left atrium and/or the left ventricle of the heart in a far-field electrocardiogram recorded by the far-field electrocardiogram detection unit.
US08260409B2
An apparatus comprises first and second sensing circuits, a template generator circuit, and a correlation circuit. The correlation circuit is configured to identify a first fiducial position in a third cardiac signal sensed using the first sensing circuit during a detected rhythm with elevated ventricular rate, align the template correlation features and the correlation features of a fourth cardiac signal using the first fiducial position, calculate a correlation using the correlation features of the template and the correlation features of the fourth cardiac signal, and iteratively searching for a replacement to the first fiducial position in the third cardiac signal according to the calculated correlation.
US08260405B2
A monitoring apparatus (4) monitors a user's heart rate and/or heart rate variation. The apparatus includes a capacitor (22) which is positionable on or near a body part of a person, for example a person's limb, for example an arm (3), such that an electrical capacitance of the capacitor (22) is influenced by blood pressure pulses of blood running through the body part. The apparatus (4) also includes a data processor (26) for determining the heart rate and/or heart rate variation from changes in the capacitance of the capacitor (22).
US08260404B1
Techniques for detecting tachyarrhythmia and also for preventing T-wave oversensing use signals filtered by a narrowband bradycardia filter in combination with signals filtered by a narrowband tachycardia filter. A separate wideband filter may also be used.
US08260403B2
A photoacoustic wave detector detects a photoacoustic wave generated inside a specimen by light irradiated thereto. A signal processing device: forms first volume data from a first signal, the first signal being the detection signal acquired from the detector or a signal obtained by adjusting an amplitude of the detection signal; forms second volume data from a second signal, the second signal being a signal obtained by changing a phase of the first signal; forms third volume data from the first and second volume data; and generates and outputs image data representing information on an interior of the specimen from the third volume data.
US08260402B2
A method and apparatus are provided for the determination of carotenoid antioxidants and similar chemical compounds in biological tissue such as living skin. The method and apparatus provide a noninvasive, rapid, accurate, and safe determination of carotenoid levels which in turn can provide diagnostic information of the antioxidant status of tissue. Reflection spectroscopy is used to measure the concentrations of carotenoids and similar substances in tissue. White light is directed upon the area of tissue that is of interest. A small fraction of diffusively scattered light is collected and measured. The tissue is pressured to temporarily squeeze blood out of the measured tissue volume while the reflection spectrum is continuously monitored, displayed, and analyzed in near real time. After an optimal time period of typically 15 seconds, the influence of the dominating hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin tissue absorptions on the reflection spectra are minimized.
US08260392B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08260387B2
A superconducting article is provided which includes a superconducting tape assembly. The superconducting tape assembly includes a superconducting tape layer, having one or more superconducting tapes, and a high-permeability magnetic material layer coupled to the superconducting tape layer. The high-permeability magnetic material layer includes a high-permeability magnetic material which remains magnetically soft at a critical temperature Tc of the superconducting tape, and with presence of an ac magnetic field acting on the superconducting tape assembly, re-magnetizes to divert at least a portion of a normal component of the ac magnetic field therethrough, which reduces ac loss in the superconducting tape layer by modifying the ac magnetic field distribution within the superconducting tape of the superconducting tape layer.
US08260386B2
The superconducting winding (2) is configured such that it has a band-shaped HTS conductor (4) of the Röbel-conductor type, made of band-shaped HTS individual conductors that are transposed among each other. An armoring band (5) is to be wound to the prefabricated HTS conductor (4), the band not being metallurgically connected to the HTS conductor (4) and being subject to a comparatively larger winding tension (WZ2). The armoring band (5) is wound at a winding tension (WZ2) that is at least 1.5 times, preferably at least 3 times as large as the winding tension (WZ1) of the HTS conductor (4).
US08260381B2
A mobile device has a first housing and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing such that the mobile device can be manipulated between an open state and a closed state. The mobile device can also be placed in a holster. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the mobile device has a sensor configured to generate a sensor output indicative of (i) whether the mobile device is in the open state or closed state and (ii) whether the mobile device is in the holster.
US08260380B2
A headset phone for use with an audio system. A conventional 4-tap, combo phone connector is provided that has a sleeve tap, a tip tap, a first ring tap, and a second ring tap. A first speaker element is connected across the sleeve and tip taps and a second speaker element is connected across the sleeve and first ring taps. A microphone is connected across the sleeve and second ring tap. At least one control unit, other than a mute control, is also connected across the sleeve and second ring taps, such that operation of any control unit changes the impedance across the sleeve and second ring tap that is seen by the audio system.
US08260378B2
A mobile phone includes a body defining a display panel, and a touch panel. The body further includes a communicating system received therein. The touch panel is disposed on a surface of the display panel. The touch panel includes at least a carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes a carbon nanotube film.
US08260366B2
Embodiments are provided for automatically setting an alert mode on a wireless device. Scheduling data is received which defines a predetermined period utilized to set the alert mode. The scheduling data may be received either by direct input in the wireless device or alternatively from an external edge device, such as a network server, in a communications network. In response to receiving the scheduling data, an alert mode on the wireless device is automatically set for the predetermined period. The alert mode may include a silent alert mode on the wireless device. The wireless device may include a sensor for receiving data indicative of a current external state. The sensor data may include location data, temperature data, and ambient noise data. The received sensor data may be utilized to automatically trigger the setting of an alert mode in the wireless device.
US08260361B2
A system and method are provided for improving the performance of a beamforming antenna array in a wireless communications system. By observing a predetermined times of channel spatial signatures, one or more test spatial signatures are generated based on statistical analysis of the observed spatial signatures for predicting channel characteristics. A beamforming weight is derived based on the generated test spatial signatures for beamforming by an antenna subsystem of the wireless communication system.
US08260338B2
A method for providing interoperable communications with dynamic event area allocation includes facilitating communications of a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group including a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks communicating using a respective communication protocol. The method includes receiving notice of an event comprising an event location and creating an event area based on the event location. The method also includes associating an event virtual talk group with the event for communications regarding the event. The method also includes modifying the event area based on at least one location parameter associated with the event.
US08260335B2
In a method of constructing a QuickConfig message in a 1x Evolution (1XEV) data only (EV-DO) communication network for broadcast by a base station of the network to a plurality of users served thereby, a Forward Traffic Valid (FTValid) bit in a field of the QuickConfig message is set to a default value of a logic high state for all users. No delay occurs for a call setup between a given user and the base station even if the user requests the call setup after the QuickConfig message has been constructed by the base station.
US08260332B2
A method is provided for transmitting a communication request to a user device of a first communication type, receiving a message during the communication request or within a predetermined amount of time after the communication request, of a second communication type. If the message received is from the user device, then it may be immediately presented or displayed. If the message is not from the user device, then it is precluded from being presented until the communication request is completed. The first communication type may be in the form of a voice call and the user device may be a mobile phone. The second communication type may be a text message, E-mail, or other mode of communication that differs from the first communication type.
US08260329B2
A mobile device-to-HTTP protocol gateway (MHG, or “MO Gateway”) which translates between Wireless Mobile Originated commands from an SMSC, and an application server on the Internet (i.e., a “web IP Server”). A wireless Internet gateway establishes communications with one or more relevant SMSCs using standard format SMPP commands, and the MHG utilizes HTTP protocol POST messages to post short messages originated at the mobile device to a particular URL. Return results are received by the MHG via HTTP protocol messages, translated to SMPP messages, and forwarded back to the SMSC for delivery to the mobile device. The wireless Internet Gateway communicates with the MHG using RMI protocol commands. An MHG in accordance with the principles of the present invention enables a developer to create mobile applications using standard web development tools, e.g., Java Servlets. The MHG allows standard format command messages to be used throughout the pathway between a mobile device and an application program on a web IP server at a particular URL.
US08260302B2
A measurement control method, a UE, and a network-side device are provided to solve the problem in the prior art that no measurement control solution can ensure the UE to perform a measurement and obtain a measurement result in time, as well as reduce the impact of the measurement on the performance of the UE. The method includes the following steps. The UE receives measurement indication information provided by the network side; and the UE performs a measurement after determining that the UE needs to perform the measurement according to the measurement indication information, which ensures that the UE may not perform the measurement frequently but pertinently, and reduces the impact of the measurement on the performance of the UE to the utmost extent.
US08260295B2
A method and apparatus of optimizing transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems in a hybrid access terminal, the method having the steps of: preventing a reconnect data call from being sent from the hybrid access terminal. The preventing step including checking whether a transition between an EVDO and a CDMA 1X system is successful; and if not blocking the data call, and/or checking whether an EVDO received signal strength indication is greater than or equal to a receiver sensitivity on the hybrid access terminal; and if yes, allowing the hybrid access terminal to connect to the EVDO system, and/or delaying a connection timer for connecting to the EVDO system and/or applying fast dormancy to the hybrid access terminal in an EVDO state.
US08260294B2
There is provided a method of processing Internet Protocol (IP) handoff of a mobile node in a network system, in which the IP handoff is processed distinguishing a signal packet path for the IP handoff from a data packet path the method including receiving a registration request message when the mobile node moves to an arbitrary mobile agent, the message received from the mobile node via the mobile agent to which the mobile node moves; transmitting the received registration request message to a mobile agent where the mobile node is previously located, without change, according to whether an entry with respect to the mobile node exists in preset visitor list; and transmitting a registration reply message with respect to the registration request message to the mobile agent without change.
US08260288B2
A base station receives a first identifier (e.g., pseudo ESN) from the wireless device and assigns an index to the wireless device. The base station generates a second identifier (e.g., a dynamic ESN) for the wireless device based on the first identifier and the index. The second identifier is unique among all wireless devices communicating with the base station and may also be unique among other wireless devices communicating with other base stations. The base station generates a code (e.g., a PLCM) for the wireless device based on the second identifier. The wireless device generates the second identifier and the code in similar manner. The second identifier and code may be used for communication between the base station and the wireless device.
US08260287B2
In the method for wireless communication between a terminal and a base station supporting a real time packet transfer service mode and reliable packet transfer service mode according to the present invention, one of the real time packet transfer service mode and reliable packet transfer service mode is selected and a communication channel between the terminal and the base station is established, and the packet data are bidirectionally exchanged between the terminal and the base station over the communication channel in real time.
US08260285B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for permitting diagnostic testing of a wireless device. The apparatus may include a first switch to route diagnostic information or acoustic information received from a processor of the device, a codec coupled to the first switch to code the routed diagnostic information or acoustic information, and a second switch coupled to the codec to route the coded diagnostic information to a first port of the wireless device and to route the coded acoustic information to the first port or a second port of the wireless device.
US08260284B2
In a wireless communication system configured from a wireless base station and a wireless communication terminal, wherein a wireless communication line is set between the wireless base station and the wireless communication terminal, the wireless base station includes a wireless base station transmission rate broadcast section that notifies the wireless communication terminal of a transmission rate that enables to be supported by the wireless base station on the wireless communication line from the wireless communication terminal to the wireless base station, and the wireless communication terminal includes a storage section that stores a transmission rate required by the wireless communication terminal on the wireless communication line from the wireless communication terminal to the wireless base station; a transmission rate comparison section that compares the transmission rate notified from the wireless base station with the transmission rate stored in the storage section; and a transmission rate determination section that determines a transmission rate on the wireless communication line from the wireless communication terminal to the wireless base station based on a comparison result of the transmission rate comparison section.
US08260281B2
A method of providing wireless communication service to a mobile phone is provided. The method comprises identifying common mobile phone applications and selectively supported mobile phone applications, installing the common mobile phone applications and the selectively supported mobile phone applications in read only memory of the mobile phone, each of the selectively supported applications associated with a selection switch initially disabled. The method further comprises, when activating the mobile phone, enabling at least one of the selection switches and writing at least one reference to branded content to a random access memory of the mobile phone based on a service plan associated with the mobile phone.
US08260280B2
A computer implemented method for transmitting dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones is disclosed. The method includes sending an indication to a mobile device to start a cyclic ring tone including ring and pause periods. The delay incurred to send a DTMF tone to the mobile device is estimated. The server schedules the transmission of the DTMF tone to be received at the mobile device during a pause period of the cyclic ring tone and the DTMF tone is sent as scheduled.
US08260279B2
The present invention provides a software defined radio transceiver that includes a programmable cellular radio front end and a programmable baseband processor. The programmable cellular radio front end is typically a digital radio frequency processor configured to support a cellular communication standard. The programmable baseband processor is connected to the digital radio frequency processor. The programmable baseband processor (a) selectively reconfigures the cellular configured digital radio frequency processor to support a non-cellular communication standard by bypassing one or more cellular communication standard specific function, and modifying one or more operating parameters to conform to the non-cellular communication standard, (b) processes input data in accordance with the non-cellular communication standard and provides the processed input data to the digital radio frequency processor for transmission, and (c) receives output data from the digital radio frequency processor and processes the received output data to obtain transmitted data.
US08260278B2
A framework for enabling the usage of mobile devices in a remote sensing and reporting role are provided herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for enabling the usage of mobile devices in a remote sensing and reporting role. Embodiments of the present invention use existing mobile network infrastructure to engage mobile users in remote sensing and reporting tasks. Further, embodiments of the present invention enable rapid set up of remote sensing and reporting applications with relatively little technical skills.
US08260267B2
A system and method for service fulfillment is based on service invocation with a preprogrammed communication device. The communication device recognizes special multi-function code digit sequences to cause service invocation. The preprogrammed communication device, upon recognition of a multi-function code, selects a communication channel or messaging protocol and forwards information related to the service invocation to a service fulfillment platform. The communication channel or messaging protocol may be selected based on availability, optimization, preprogrammed logic associated with the multi-function code, or other parameters related to the service invocation, such as user, subscription, registration, location or device ID. The preprogrammed communication device permits service invocation without reconfiguration of a communication network to which the communication device is coupled. The communication device can be reconfigured or reprogrammed to recognize and respond to different multi-function codes.
US08260247B2
A method and portable electronic device for hands-free operation in a motor vehicle are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising: detecting when a portable electronic device is within a threshold distance of a motor vehicle; and inhibiting the portable electronic device from transmitting communications when the portable electronic device is within the threshold distance of a motor vehicle.
US08260240B2
An automatic gain control (AGC) for use in a digital radio receiver that allows at least two types of input signal to be processed using a single receiver front end by supporting two modes of operation, each optimized for one particular signal type, and a third mode not optimized for either. The AGC enables smooth switching between the optimized modes of operation via the non-optimized mode. By measuring a difference in the strength between the demodulated signals, and comparing that to two preset values, the AGC controls which mode of operation to place the receiver in. Modes of operation are maintained by adjusting the gain of a variable gain amplifier (VGA), so that an appropriate incoming signal is amplified to a level that is suitable for an analogue-to-digital (ADC) converter. The AGC is compatible with existing satellite digital audio radio system (SDARS) transmission capabilities.
US08260232B2
A mobile terminal and method of controlling a broadcast therein are provided by which a broadcast signal can be received and outputted in a manner of setting a frequency band corresponding to a visited country in case of international roaming of the mobile terminal. A memory may store per-country broadcast relevant information and a controller may search the memory for broadcast relevant information corresponding to a visited country in case of detecting international migration. The controller may set the searched broadcast relevant information when the search for the broadcast relevant information corresponding to the visited country is successful.
US08260231B2
The present invention provides architectures and methods which use multiple radio receive chains in mobile devices to boost performance of the mobile devices. While a first set of the receive chains are assigned to a serving base station, another set of receive chains are dynamically allocated to neighbor base stations and/or to the serving base station depending upon present or expected system conditions and timing. A first synthesizer is configured to provide signals to the first and second set of receive chains. Other synthesizers are also configured to provide signals to the second set of receive chains. Thus, depending on the mode of operation, the second set of receive chains utilizes signals from a given synthesizer as needed. A priori data may be used to allocate specific receive chains to the serving base station, neighboring base stations or both. Unused synthesizers may be turned off to conserve power.
US08260222B2
A polar transmitter includes a phase monitoring unit for monitoring input modulating data. When a phase transition exceeds a phase transition threshold, the phase monitor unit can signal an amplitude negation unit to invert the amplitude data coupled to the polar amplifier. The phase monitoring unit can also add an offset to the phase data that is provided to a frequency synthesizer. In another embodiment, when the phase transition threshold is exceeded, the phase monitoring unit can trigger inverting differential frequency data coupled to the polar amplifier. In one embodiment, the phase offset and the amplitude negation are applied until a second phase transition value exceeding the phase transition threshold is detected. If such an event is detected, then the input amplitude data is no longer inverted and the phase offset value is no longer added to the modulating data.
US08260217B2
A bidirectional wireless microphone system with an automatic login function comprises at least one wireless microphone, a base station and a data processing unit. The wireless microphone and the base station are able to wirelessly communicate with and transmit data, such as a sound signal, coordinate position or image, to each other. The data processing unit is connected to the base station to store and process the data transmitted between the wireless microphone and the base station. While the wireless microphone completes a process of registration to the base station by engaging a first registration contact on the wireless microphone with a corresponding second registration contact on the base station, a process of logging in to the data processing unit, which can be, for example, a computer or an application program, is completed at the same time to thereby simplify the registration and login process and save operating time.
US08260216B2
An apparatus includes an RFID transceiver, a processing module, and a wireless communication module. The RFID transceiver receives an RFID signal from a device and obtains communication information from the RFID signal. The processing module is operable to: determine a wireless communication protocol and device identification information from the communication information; receive an outbound data request; and generate outbound data in accordance with the outbound data request, wherein the outbound data includes at least a portion of the identification information. The wireless communication module converts outbound data into an outbound wireless signal in accordance with the wireless communication protocol.
US08260211B2
A method, an apparatus and a system for estimating channels are disclosed. A method for estimating channels includes: receiving downlink signals inclusive of reference signals from two or more Access Points (APs), where the relative frequency shift between reference signals sent by different APs is zero; and performing channel estimation according to the reference signals. Another method for estimating channels includes: receiving downlink signals inclusive of reference signals from two or more APs, where for a first AP and a second AP among the two or more APs, a specific time-frequency lattice in the downlink signals sent by the first AP includes no data signal, and the specific time-frequency lattice corresponds to a time-frequency lattice utilized by the second AP to send a reference signal; and performing channel estimation according to the reference signals. The technical solution disclosed herein eliminates the interference between the reference signal and the data signal, enables the UE to estimate the channel value between the UE and the cooperative APs accurately, and improves the UE performance.
US08260204B2
A system is for encoding information on a passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. The system includes a requesting unit configured to wirelessly transmit an impulse signal. The impulse signal is a signal that includes only a single pulse. A SAW device has an interdigital transducer (IDT) configured to physically store coded data. The SAW device is configured to receive the impulse signal. In response to receiving the impulse signal, the SAW device excites the IDT to generate a coded signal that includes the stored coded data and frequency components at a fundamental frequency.
US08260199B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises a functional module for storing and exchanging data, comprising a common portable support, at least one passive contactless integrated circuit in the form of a first semi-conductor chip, a contactless integrated circuit reader in the form of a second semi-conductor chip, the contactless integrated circuit and the reader being gathered on or in the common portable support, an antenna coil of the contactless integrated circuit, connected to the contactless integrated circuit, an antenna coil of the reader, connected to the reader, the antenna coil of the contactless integrated circuit being coupled to the antenna coil of the reader.
US08260198B2
A wireless communication system is disclosed. The wireless communication system performs data transmission using spatially multiplexed streams from a first terminal including N antennas to a second terminal including M antennas (N and M are integers larger than or equal to 2 and N>H).
US08260193B2
A modified playlist can be generated by identifying gaps in a playlist, and modifying other content in the playlist to fill the gap. The gap can represent previously unfilled time, or time created by removing part or all of an item already in the playlist. One or more items of content in the playlist can be modified by lengthening or shortening one of the content items in various ways, including changing a rate of playback of some or all of the items of content in the playlist. In some instances the gap can be filled or partially filled by inserting content from another server at the time of broadcast.
US08260192B2
Methods and apparatus are presented to allow one receiver architecture to be used for the reception of two different SDARS signals, such as, for example, one signal from XM Satellite Radio, the other signal from Sirius Satellite Radio. The methods and apparatus presented utilize common receiver functions to process each signal, thereby obviating the need to duplicate hardware elements. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it can be assumed that both signals will not be received at the same time, thus allowing for considerable hardware reuse and lowering the cost of an interoperable receiver. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08260189B2
An entertainment system using bio-response includes a narrative, which includes a plurality of narrative segments assembled into at least one of a plurality of sequences, depending on at least one of a user profile and user bio-response, to create a plurality of cogent narratives.
US08260176B2
A developer storing container includes a developer storing portion having a developer outlet opening at a substantially longitudinal center portion, and an agitation member rotatable about a rotation axis to thereby agitate and eject the developer via the developer outlet opening. The agitation member includes a mounting portion with a mounting surface along the rotation axis, and an elongated flexible member having first and second ends. The flexible member is mounted to the mounting portion at the first end so that the second end defines a sliding end portion at which the flexible member slides in a sliding direction. Both longitudinal end portions of the sliding end portion of the flexible member slide along the inner surface of the developer storing container, ahead of a substantially longitudinal center portion of the sliding end portion in the sliding direction, and are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
US08260171B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; a supporting member movable between an inside position and a retracted position in the state that supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, wherein the inside position is inside the main assembly of the apparatus, and the retracted position is retracted from the main assembly of the apparatus; wherein the supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge independently demountably therefrom, wherein mounting and demounting directions of the drum cartridge relative to the supporting member and mounting and demounting directions of the developing cartridge are different from each other.
US08260163B2
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging member contactable to said photosensitive member to electrically charge said photosensitive member; applying means applying a charging bias voltage to said charging member; detecting means detecting a current flowing between said charging member and said photosensitive member; a controller for controlling said image forming apparatus to execute an operational mode for removing an electric discharge product deposited on a surface of said photosensitive member, in the case that detecting means detects a current not lower than a predetermined value when a voltage lower than a voltage at which an electric charge starts between said photosensitive member and said charging member is applied to said charging member.
US08260155B2
An infrared remote control receiver 20a includes a carrier detection circuit 12a. The carrier detection circuit 12a includes: a comparator 6a for comparing an output signal from a BPF 5 with a threshold voltage Vth1 which is a noise detection level; a comparator 6c for comparing the output signal from the BPF 5 with a threshold voltage Vth3 larger than the threshold voltage Vth1, the threshold voltage Vth3 being a first carrier detection level; and a logic circuit 8 for (i) controlling, based on the output signal D1 from the comparator 6a, the gain of an amplifier 4 so that an output signal D1 from the comparator 6a is not output. An output signal D3 from the comparator 6c is output as a carrier. Thus, it is possible to restrain malfunctions attributed to disturbance light noise.
US08260149B2
The device is structured to have a first electric modulation signal generator, a second electric modulation signal generator, a two-mode beat light source and an optical intensity modulator. The first electric modulation signal generator generates and outputs a first electric modulation signal. The second electric modulation signal generator generates and outputs a second electric modulation signal of a same frequency as the first electric modulation signal and to which a phase difference of δ radians is provided (δ is a real number satisfying 0≦δ≦π). The two-mode beat light source is driven by the first electric modulation signal, and generates and outputs two-mode beat light. The two-mode beat light is inputted to the optical intensity modulator, and the optical intensity modulator generates and outputs a CS optical pulse train. Light transmittance of the optical intensity modulator is modulated by the second electric modulation signal.
US08260146B2
An optical circulator couples optical fibers of dissimilar modes. In one embodiment, an optical circulator couples a single mode first fiber to a multimode second fiber, which is used as an optical input to a telescope. The multimode fiber does not significantly degrade the mode structure of the light form the single mode fiber. In the reverse direction, light received by the telescope is coupled into the multimode second fiber, which the circulator couples to a multimode third fiber.
US08260145B2
A transceiver architecture for wireless base stations wherein a broadband radio frequency signal is carried between at least one tower-mounted unit and a ground-based unit via optical fibers, or other non-distortive media, in either digital or analog format. Each tower-mounted unit (for both reception and transmission) has an antenna, analog amplifier and an electro-optical converter. The ground unit has ultrafast data converters and digital frequency translators, as well as signal linearizers, to compensate for nonlinear distortion in the amplifiers and optical links in both directions. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the digital data converters, frequency translators, and linearizers includes superconducting elements mounted on a cryocooler.
US08260144B2
A transceiver architecture for wireless base stations wherein a broadband radio frequency signal is carried between at least one tower-mounted unit and a ground-based unit via optical fibers, or other non-distortive media, in either digital or analog format. Each tower-mounted unit (for both reception and transmission) has an antenna, analog amplifier and an electro-optical converter. The ground unit has ultrafast data converters and digital frequency translators, as well as signal linearizers, to compensate for nonlinear distortion in the amplifiers and optical links in both directions. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the digital data converters, frequency translators, and linearizers includes superconducting elements mounted on a cryocooler.
US08260142B2
In communications where synchronization of optical signals containing data is required, a multi-channel optical arrayed time buffer may be used. The time buffer includes multiple delay paths comprising delay elements, some of which can be shared to dispense different delays. In an embodiment, an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is illustratively used to route an optical signal to a first delay path, which is returnable to the AWG through the first delay path to be rerouted to a second delay path. The total delay affordable to the optical signal is a function of at least a first delay afforded by a delay element in the first delay path, and a second delay afforded by a delay element in the second delay path. In addition, without returning to the AWG, another optical signal may be routed through the second delay path alone to be afforded the second delay only.
US08260140B2
An optical network component, architecture and method for a wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network includes a band coupler configured to demultiplex first and second wavelength division multiplexed content transmitted from an optical line terminal into a first band signal and a second band signal. An arrayed wavelength grating is configured to receive the first band signal and to further demultiplex the first band signal into different wavelengths to provide a plurality of wavelength signals. An optical splitter is configured to split the second band signal into sub-signals and multiplex the sub-signals with each of the wavelength signals such that the first and second wavelength division multiplexed content is provided on a single wavelength to a user.
US08260138B2
An optical communication system includes logic to communicate using optical channels set outside a fiber zero dispersion zone, and having channel spacing that decreases with increasing distance from the fiber zero dispersion zone.
US08260136B2
Consistent with the present disclosure, a polarization multiplexed optical signal having optical signals with both TE and TM polarizations is supplied to an input of a polarization beam splitter (PBS). The PBS includes a first output that supplies TE polarized optical signals and a second output supplies TM polarized optical signals. A first polarizer is coupled to the second output of the PBS to pass the TM polarized optical signals, while rejecting light having other polarizations, such as the TE polarization. A rotator then rotates the light output from the first polarizer, so that such light has a TE polarization. A second polarizer is coupled to the rotator to filter light having a polarization other than the TE polarization. In addition, a third polarizer is coupled to the first output of the PBS in order to filter or block any TM light, for example, that may be output from the PBS with the TE polarized signal. Accordingly, the optical signals in the polarization multiplexed optical signal are effectively filtered, and some are rotated so that each has the same, e.g., TE polarization. Moreover, each optical signal is substantially free from light having extraneous polarizations and may be supplied to an optical hybrid circuit. Data carried by such optical signals may thus be reliably recovered.
US08260134B2
A synchronized CDM communication system performs 1-to-N communication by CDM between a central office and first to N-th optical network units (ONU). The synchronized CDM communication system adds structural elements for realizing a connection state acquisition section to a conventional synchronized CDM communication system. A central office includes a presence check section, a ranging processing section and the connection state acquisition section. The presence check section checks the ONUs that are connected with the central office and the ONUs that are not connected. The ranging processing section performs transmission timing adjustments for the ONUs that are connected. The connection state acquisition section verifies whether all of ONUs are connected with the central office, and performs a discovery of a ONU, among the ONUs that were not connected at the time of the check, that has resumed participation in communication since the check ended.
US08260132B2
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for cable monitoring. One embodiment includes a method that receives data from an optical transceiver coupled to a cable and a RFID (radio frequency identification) device mounted to the cable. The data from the optical transceiver and RFID device is used to determine an operational status of the cable.
US08260130B2
An auto focus device of a mobile communication apparatus is disclosed. The auto focus device comprises a voice coil motor, a first driving circuit and a second driving circuit. The voice coil motor comprises a floating movable device and a lens in the floating movable device. The first driving circuit drives the voice coil motor so that the floating movable device moves inside the voice coil motor to zoom in/out and focus the lens on image sensors when the camera function is activated. The second driving circuit drives the voice coil motor to fix the floating movable device inside the voice coil motor and cover the image sensors.
US08260129B2
An optical device for a lens assembly of a camera module is disclosed. The optical device includes a liquid lens having at least one fixed lens and a transparent window, facing each other and delimiting, at least in part, an internal volume containing two immiscible liquids having different optical indices, and a first and a second electrode. The liquids form an interface moveable by application of a voltage between said electrodes. The optical device also includes a liquid lens holder, wherein the liquid lens holder has at least one electrical contact for contacting one electrode of the liquid lens, and at least one Z reference datum for aligning the fixed lens of the liquid lens with other optical elements of the lens assembly.
US08260127B2
A photo booth incorporating LED lighting elements configured for causing a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic outer sheeting of the booth having translucent properties to exhibit a desired color, pattern or sequence. The body and associated polycarbonate sheet are typically constructed in an arcuate (rounded or ellipsoidal) shape to create an internal space sufficient for mounting the LED lighting elements as well as the associated interior architecture for operating the booth. An external processor control interfaces with the internal processor associated with the architecture of the booth and for operating such as a digital camera and printer. Security hardware and software components are also provided and for ensuring against non-authorized use of the booth.
US08260126B2
A dual wall axial flow electric heater for leak sensitive applications provides an improved corrosion and leak resistant assembly and includes protective tubes over electrical heater rods, double tubesheets spaced apart by a plenum and leak detectors positioned to sensor leaks through the walls of the protective tubes. The design includes the option of two or more tube bundles with each inserted into opposite ends of a shell surrounding the tube sheets and heaters. The design provides ease of maintenance since each heater rod can be replaced independently while the unit is in service. Variable heat flux is provided from standard single flux heater rods by providing protective tubes of varying diameters. A built-in thermowell is provided to allow the rod temperatures to be monitored directly. Hot spots are avoided by the use of turning baffles and vibration is avoided by use of spider baffles to support the tubes.
US08260118B2
A lateral shake prevention when a video picked up by a digital camera is reproduced is realized, and viewing on a large screen television set is made comfortable.At the time of the image pickup recording, face detection position center coordinate data is recorded in an attribute information unit of a stream as ARI data for each VOBU (GOP) in units of 0.5 seconds. At the time of the reproduction, the ARI data of GOP stream is collectively read ahead in units of RUV at the time of the reproduction of the video included in detection data of the face center position coordinate to read a large number of VOBUs in advance, an interpolation of missing times in units of GOP with respect to the face center position coordinate is performed, and a screen shift amount is subjected to a time axis smoothing computation through a time moving average computation in a frame unit.
US08260113B2
Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding information in broadcast or recorded segment signals are described. In certain embodiments, an audience monitoring system encodes identification information in the audio signal portion of a broadcast or recorded segment using spread spectrum encoding. A personal monitoring device receives an acoustically reproduced version of the broadcast or recorded signal via a microphone, decodes the identification information from the audio signal portion despite significant ambient noise, and stores this information, automatically providing a diary for the audience member which is later uploaded to a centralized facility. A separate monitoring device decodes additional information from the broadcast signal, which is matched with the audience diary information at the central facility. This monitor may simultaneously send data to the centralized facility using a dial-up telephone line, and receive data from the centralized facility through a signal encoded using a spread spectrum technique and modulated with a broadcast signal from a third-party.
US08260106B2
The present invention provides a sealed optoelectronic isolation connection device which comprises an insulation cylinder, an optical fiber sealing device, and a conduit sealing device; the insulation cylinder is configured to insulate the conduit sealing device and the optical fiber sealing device; the conduit sealing device is provided with a conduit hole, which is configured to accommodate a conduit of an optical cable and sealing the conduit; the optical fiber sealing device is provided with multiple optical fiber holes, which are configured to accommodate optical fibers of the optical cable and sealing the optical fibers; and the optical fiber sealing device and the conduit sealing device are inserted in sequence into the insulation cylinder and seal the insulation cylinder. The device enhances the reliability of the sealed optoelectronic isolation connection device.
US08260099B2
Disclosed is an add-drop multiplexer that receives an optical signal having a plurality of channels. The multiplexer spatially separates the channels, and a spatial light modulator within the multiplexer, which in some embodiments is a switched blazed grating, routes the channels along first or second paths according to whether the particular channels are to be sent along as a part of an output communication signal or “dropped” into a dropped-channel optical communications signal. The add-drop multiplexer is also operable to receive optical channels to be added to an optical signal and to use a spatial light modulator to add those optical signals to that optical signal.
US08260098B1
An optocoupler device facilitates on-chip galvanic isolation. In accordance with various example embodiments, an optocoupler circuit includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate having a silicon layer on a buried insulator layer, a silicon-based light-emitting diode (LED) having a silicon p-n junction in the silicon layer, and a silicon-based photodetector in the silicon layer. The LED and photodetector are respectively connected to galvanically isolated circuits in the silicon layer. A local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) isolation material and the buried insulator layer galvanically isolate the first circuit from the second circuit to prevent charge carriers from moving between the first and second circuits. The LED and photodetector communicate optically to pass signals between the galvanically isolated circuits.
US08260094B2
Consistent with the present disclosure, various optical components are preferably arranged on the surface of a semiconductor substrate such that light propagates in certain components at a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of propagation in other components in order to improve performance and component density.
US08260093B2
Fibre substrates act as a conduit for light along which response signals are transmitted to a controller in the form of an electronic device associated with a component. The processed signals are stored in a local memory to provide a component history and a prediction of future performance and life. Service and repair history may be added to the component device memory to enable a complete history to be stored with the component. A controller may transmit data to an external controller or display through typically a wireless connection. Power to the component electronics may be provided by an induction loop or transformer.
US08260090B2
An apparatus for processing an image includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, a recording medium for recording moving image data, a data processor for retrieving data recorded on the recording medium and generating display data in response to an input to the input unit, and a display unit for displaying the display data. The data processor generates a contracted image of an image selected at predetermined time intervals from a scene as a moving image recording unit recorded on the recording medium and displays on the display unit a list of generated contracted images arranged in a time-series order.
US08260075B2
A two-dimensional filter arithmetic device comprises a picture memory, a line memory, a vertical filtering unit which includes nine first filter modules installed in parallel, a buffer for timing adjustments, and a horizontal filtering unit which includes four second filter modules installed in parallel. From the line memory, the pixel values of nine full pels per line are inputted in parallel to the vertical filtering unit, nine vertically-filtered values of half pels are generated and inputted to the horizontal filtering unit; thereby, four two-dimensionally-filtered values of half pels are generated.
US08260071B2
A method, system and computer program product for progressively encoding a digitized color image is provided. This involves: initializing a tree structure with at least one starting leaf node; determining at least one representative color for each starting leaf node; and growing the tree structure by (i) selecting a leaf node n to become a non-leaf node n linked to two new leaf nodes based on an associated achievable cost; (ii) creating the two new leaf nodes by re-allocating each color in n; (iii) determining a representative color for each of the two new leaf nodes; and (iv) encoding the index information associated with the leaf node n, the representative colors of the two new leaf nodes, and information regarding a plurality of pixels of the digitized color image corresponding to the two representative colors of the two new leaf nodes.
US08260069B2
A color image encoding and decoding method and apparatus use a correlation between chrominance components in order to improve coding efficiency. The color image decoding method includes: transforming chrominance components of a color image in each of two or more inter-prediction modes, calculating costs for the conversion values in each of the two or more inter-prediction modes using a predetermined cost function, selecting one of the two or more inter-prediction modes based on the calculation result, and outputting conversion values of the selected inter-prediction mode; entropy encoding the output conversion values.
US08260062B2
A system, a computer readable storage medium including instructions, and method for generating genre models used to identify genres of a document. For each document image in a set of document images that are associated with one or more genres, the document image is segmented into a plurality of tiles, wherein the tiles in the plurality of tiles are sized so that document page features are identifiable, and features of the document image and the plurality of tiles are computed. At least one genre classifier is trained to classify document images as being associated with one or more genres based on the features of the document images in the set of document images, the features of the plurality of tiles of the set of documents images, and the one or more genres associated with each document image in the set of documents images.
US08260058B2
A template-matching apparatus includes a first calculating unit calculating a first characteristic amount from the image information of a template image, and extracting unit extracting a partial image, a second calculating unit calculating for image information of the partial image a second characteristic amount, a third calculating unit calculating a residual amount from the image information of the template image and the partial image, a first computing unit finding a first degree of similarity, a second computing unit that finds a second degree of similarity based on the residual amount, a third computing unit finding a third degree of similarity based on the first and second degree of similarity, and a specifying unit specifying a matching position, thereby specifying the matching position with good accuracy even if the input image is observed with some geometrical change.
US08260057B2
In an image processing apparatus, a binary image generating unit generates a binary image from a multi-value image, a ruled line candidate extracting unit extracts ruled line candidate pixels constituting a ruled line from the binary image, an edge detecting unit determines, from the multi-value image, target pixels that are positioned near the ruled line candidate pixels and detects edge information indicative of whether each target pixel constitutes an edge, and a ruled line obtaining unit obtains a ruled line from the multi-value image based on the edge information detected by the edge detecting unit.
US08260053B2
A method virtualizes an image sensor. The method comprises selecting one of at least two portions of a filter to use as a function of a mode of operation. The method comprises capturing an image using the selected one of the at least two portions. The method comprises executing a functionality using data extracted from the image. The functionality corresponds to the mode of operation.
US08260050B2
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a test bed for optimizing an image segregation is provided. According to a feature of the present invention, the test bed comprises a memory storing an image file containing an image, a set of operations, a set of constraint software modules and a set of parameters relevant to the image, a transform module for performing a preselected one of the set of operations, defined by a preselected one of the set of constraint software modules, on the image, as a function of preselected ones of the set of parameters, to provide an output image, a test module utilizing the transform module output image, an analysis module for analyzing test module performance, and a feedback loop for varying selected ones of the operations, constraint software modules and parameters, for input to the transform module, to provide a new output image for input to the test module.
US08260046B2
A method for pixel color correction includes the steps of determining a gray degree of a designated pixel; generating an adjusted color correction matrix according to the gray degree of the designated pixel; and applying the adjusted color correction matrix to the designated pixel to correct color errors of the designated pixel. The gray degree is generated according to a ratio of the chrominance information to the luminance information. A weighted sum of a reference color correction matrix and a unity matrix is calculated to generate the adjusted color correction matrix, and weighting factors of the reference color correction matrix and the unity matrix are determined by the gray degree, wherein the unity matrix is a fundamental matrix without color correction.
US08260040B2
A powerful, scaleable, and reconfigurable image processing system and method of processing data therein is described. This general purpose, reconfigurable engine with toroidal topology, distributed memory, and wide bandwidth I/O are capable of solving real applications at real-time speeds. The reconfigurable image processing system can be optimized to efficiently perform specialized computations, such as real-time video and audio processing. This reconfigurable image processing system provides high performance via high computational density, high memory bandwidth, and high I/O bandwidth. Generally, the reconfigurable image processing system and its control structure include a homogeneous array of 16 field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and 16 static random access memories (SRAM) arranged in a partial torus configuration. The reconfigurable image processing system also includes a PCI bus interface chip, a clock control chip, and a datapath chip. It can be implemented in a single board. It receives data from its external environment, computes correspondence, and uses the results of the correspondence computations for various post-processing industrial applications. The reconfigurable image processing system determines correspondence by using non-parametric local transforms followed by correlation. These non-parametric local transforms include the census and rank transforms. Other embodiments involve a combination of correspondence, rectification, a left-right consistency check, and the application of an interest operator.
US08260035B2
A method and system for inspecting a surface of a semiconductor workpiece comprises providing a surface inspection system and using the surface inspection apparatus to cause laser light to impinge upon a test location on the workpiece surface and thereby cause the laser light to emerge from the surface as returned light comprising at least one of reflected light and scatter light; collecting the returned light and generating a signal from the returned and collected light, the signal comprising a signal value representative of a characteristic of the workpiece surface at the test location; providing a plurality of threshold candidates and causing the surface inspection system to select a threshold from among the plurality of threshold candidates; comparing the threshold to the signal value to obtain a difference value; using the difference value to assess the characteristic of the workpiece surface at the test location; and using the surface inspection system to automatically cause the method to be repeated for a plurality of test locations on the workpiece surface.
US08260033B2
A method is provided for determining the relative overlay shift of stacked layers, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a reference image including a reference pattern that comprises first and second pattern elements; b) providing a measurement image of a measurement pattern, which comprises a first pattern element formed by a first one of the layers and a second pattern element formed by a second one of the layers; c) weighting the reference or measurement image such that a weighted first image is generated, in which the first pattern element is emphasized relative to the second pattern element; d) determining the relative shift of the first pattern element on the basis of the weighted first image and of the measurement or reference image not weighted in step c); e) weighting the reference or measurement image such that a weighted second image is generated, in which the second pattern element is emphasized relative to the first pattern element; f) determining the relative shift of the second pattern element on the basis of the weighted second image and of the measurement or reference image not weighted in step e); g) determining the relative overlay shift on the basis of the relative shifts determined in steps d) and f).
US08260025B2
Methods and apparatus for generating and archiving x-ray fluoroscopy images are provided. The method includes obtaining x-ray fluoroscopy data comprising a plurality of image frames and performing image enhancement, including motion correction, based on a subset of the acquired plurality of x-ray fluoroscopy image frames to generate a single enhanced x-ray image.
US08260024B2
A system for determining a surface shape of a test object includes a pattern having a plurality of first elements dispose about a central axis and defining an aperture containing the central axis. The first elements includes a plurality of common elements having a common form and a reference element having a reference form that is different than the common form. The system further comprises a detector array and an optical system. The optical system is adapted to provide an image of the first elements when light reflects off a surface of a test object, passes through the aperture, and is received by the detector array. The reference form may be configured to facilitate an association between the common elements and the spot images of the common elements.
US08260022B2
The invention relates to a method of processing temporally acquired image data with an obtaining step for obtaining the temporally acquired image data, a computing step for computing a time-variability map on the basis of the temporally acquired image data, a classifying step for classifying locations of the temporally acquired image data on the basis of the time-variability map, and a determining step for determining an artifact region and a non-artifact region in the temporally acquired image data on the basis of the classified locations. After determining the artifact region and the non-artifact region, detecting an object in a detecting step is limited to the non-artifact region. This advantageously reduces the risk of falsely identifying the detected object as an object of interest.
US08260021B2
A method is disclosed which calculates local shifts of image elements in a loaded image data record which has been recorded by a magnetic resonance scanner using known recording parameters. In at least one embodiment, the known recording parameters and known local discrepancies of a basic magnetic field of the magnetic resonance scanner in a measurement volume of the magnetic resonance scanner are used to calculate the local shifts. A corrected image data record is created on the basis of the calculated shifts and the loaded image data record. This corrected image data record is finally displayed and/or stored. Furthermore, a computer program, an image processing unit and a magnetic resonance scanner for carrying out the method are disclosed.
US08260013B2
An imaging system (10) includes imaging modalities such as a PET imaging system (12) and a CT scanner (14). The CT scanner (14) is used to produce a first image (62) which is used for primary contouring. The PET system (12) is used to provide a second image (56), which provides complementary information about the same or overlapping anatomical region. After first and second images (62, 56) are registered with one another the first and second images (62, 56) are concurrently segmented to outline a keyhole (76). The keyhole portion of the second image (56) is inserted into the keyhole (76) of the first image (62). The user can observe the composite image and deform a boundary (78) of the keyhole (76) by a mouse (52) to better focus on the region of interest within previously defined keyhole.
US08260008B2
A method of biometric recognition is provided. Multiple images of the face or other non-iris image and iris of an individual are acquired. If the multiple images are determined to form an expected sequence of images, the face and iris images are associated together. A single camera preferably acquires both the iris and face images by changing at least one of the zoom, position, or dynamic range of the camera. The dynamic range can be adjusted by at least one of adjusting the gain settings of the camera, adjusting the exposure time, and/or adjusting the illuminator brightness. The expected sequence determination can be made by determining if the accumulated motion vectors of the multiple images is consistent with an expected set of motion vectors and/or ensuring that the iris remains in the field of view of all of the multiple images.
US08260001B2
Disclosed is a method and a system for recognizing a target parking location of a vehicle. The system includes a scanning laser radar for detecting range data reflected and directed from a rear surface of the vehicle; a preprocessing unit for preprocessing the range data to extract effective clusters; a corner recognition unit for extracting obstacle corners from the effective clusters; and a parking location setting unit for recognizing a main reference corner, which is closest to a subjective vehicle and has an adjacent space satisfying an available parking space condition, and a sub reference corner, which exists toward the adjacent space in a direction opposite to a vehicle width direction from the main reference corner, and corresponds to a point on a closest effective cluster within a distance between a vehicle width and a vehicle length, from the obstacle corners to set a target parking location.
US08259996B2
Hands may be tracked before, during, and after occlusion, and a gesture may be recognized. Movement of two occluded hands may be tracked as a unit during an occlusion period. A type of synchronization characterizing the two occluded hands during the occlusion period may be determined based on the tracked movement of the occluded hands. Based on the determined type of synchronization, it may be determined whether directions of travel for each of the two occluded hands change during the occlusion period. Implementations may determine that a first hand and a second hand are occluded during an occlusion period, the first hand having come from a first direction and the second hand having come from a second direction. The first hand may be distinguished from the second hand after the occlusion period based on a determined type of synchronization characterizing the two hands, and a behavior of the two hands.
US08259994B1
A system for pose generation consisting of a trajectory system, a pose generation system, an intersection extractor, an object identifier, a constraint generator, and a posegraph solver. The trajectory system identifies a number of trajectories based on input positional data of a bounded area. The pose generation system generates one or more poses based on the trajectories. The intersection extractor identifies one or more possible intersections in the one or more poses. The object identifier identifies an object pair for each possible intersection that represents two positional points at each possible intersection. The constraint generator computes and applies one or more intersection constraints to generate an energy value for each object pair based on their geometric relationship. The posegraph solver then minimizes a total energy value by modifying one or more poses and then generates an improved set of pose trajectories based on the modified one or more poses. A method of pose generation is also presented.
US08259989B2
Identifying content and authorizing sharing thereof based at least in part on extracting feature data from content to be shared and comparing this extracted feature data against a database of extracted feature data for various reference content. When the content to be shared is matched to reference content in the database, sharing may be simply rejected, or rights associated with the reference content may be inspected to facilitate determining authorization.
US08259987B2
A slender-type diaphragm longer in a longitudinal direction and shorter in a transversal direction in relation to the longitudinal direction, has a base member and a slant member. The base member has a pair of extending members provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction as facing each other, and a curved section that protrudes toward a first side of the diaphragm in a vibration direction of the diaphragm from a first plane that includes the extending members, the vibration direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal and transversal directions. The slant member has a slant surface in relation to the first plane and connected to the base member in a manner that the slant member surrounds the base member in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the slant member having a curved surface in a cross section thereof in relation to a cross section of the base member in the transversal direction.
US08259974B2
A configuration and associated methods are used for detecting acoustic feedback in a hearing device. One embodiment contains a first feedback detection unit, which determines the probability of feedback, a second feedback detection unit, which determines a weighting factor, and an arithmetic unit, which multiplies the feedback probability by the weighting factor. As an alternative to determining the weighting factor, a threshold value may also be controlled. This offers the advantage of improved acoustic feedback detection by a combination of two different feedback detection methods.
US08259973B2
Methods and apparatus for a hearing aid include a mechanism to detect the presence of a magnetic field using a magnetic sensing device disposed in a hearing aid, to digitally modify a frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the detection of the presence, and to modify the frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the magnetic sensing device determining removal of the magnetic field.
US08259967B2
A thermoacoustic device includes a signal device and a sound wave generator. The sound wave generator includes a base structure and a conductive material located on the base structure. The base structure includes nano-scale elements. The signal device is capable of transmitting an electrical signal to the sound wave generator. The sound wave generator is capable of converting the electrical signal into heat. The heat is capable of being transferred to a medium to cause a thermoacoustic effect.
US08259961B2
In an audio processing apparatus, a signal processor controls a volume of a sound signal provided to a sound emitting device. An adaptive filter determines an adaptive signal so as to minimize a magnitude of an error signal. A subtractor generates the error signal represented by a difference between the adaptive signal and an observation signal generated by a sound receiving device. A magnitude ratio calculator calculates a magnitude ratio of the observation signal relative to the error signal or a magnitude ratio of the adaptive signal relative to the error signal for each frame that is sequentially segmented from the error signal along a time axis. A controller variably controls a gain of the volume of the sound signal according to the magnitude of the error signal and the magnitude ratio.
US08259957B2
The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device.
US08259954B2
In one embodiment, one or more users may be participating in a conversation. In one example, a first user may be speaking into a speaker end device and a second user may be listening at a listener end device. The second user may be in an environment where noise may be present. Particular embodiments determine characteristics of the noise at the listener end device. Characteristics of a voice signature for a user speaking with the speaker end device are also determined. Comprehension enhancement of voice signals received from speaker end device is then performed based on characteristics of the noise at the listener end device and characteristics of the voice signature. For example, the signature of the voice signals may be altered to lessen the overlap with the noise.
US08259951B2
Conventionally, an encryption key for encrypting data to be backed up in a tape cannot be allocated for each logical data management unit. To solve the problem, provided is a storage system including: a disk storage device; a tape storage device in which a tape storage medium is loaded; and a controller for controlling the disk storage device and the tape storage device, in which the controller is configured to: generate, upon reception of a request for setting a tape group including one or more tape storage media, a first encryption key used for encrypting data stored in the tape group set by the request; and hold information for correlating the generated first encryption key with the tape group.
US08259944B2
In a frame synchronous scrambled communications network, communications are protected from pathological bit patterns that may lead to loss of receiver lock by detecting a pathological bit pattern in an incoming traffic stream using a pathological pattern detector. When a pathological bit pattern, such as a transition-less bit pattern, is detected, a corrective bit pattern is generated and inserted or substituted into the incoming traffic stream before transmission to the receiver. The receiver can be configured to revert the modified traffic stream back to the original traffic stream.
US08259939B2
A copy protection system and method for allowing copying or distribution of a copy protected signal is disclosed. One embodiment includes an apparatus and method for receiving a content signal via a WiFi communications channel, the content signal including a control signal; and using a modifying circuit coupled with the WiFi communications channel to generate an analog copy protection signal based on the control signal, the control signal causing the modifying circuit to add or delete the analog copy protection signal to or from the content signal.
US08259935B2
In a secure communication system, a first communication device includes a first list of numbers and a first number selector for periodically selecting a different number in the first list. The first communication device further includes a first encryption key generator for generating a first encryption key based on the selected number for generating an encrypted message. A second communication device includes a receiver for receiving the encrypted message, a second list of numbers identical to the first list of numbers, and a second number selector synchronized with the first number selector so as to select the same number as the first number selector, and a second encryption key generator for generating a second encryption key identical to the first encryption key. The second communication device decrypts the encrypted message using the second encryption key. An associated method for providing secure communication of a message between parties is also provided.
US08259933B2
A secure, open-air communication system utilizes a plurality of “decoy” data signals to hide one or more true data signals. The true data signal(s) are channel hopped with the plurality of decoy data signals to form a multi-channel “scrambled” output signal that is thereafter transmitted in an open-air communication system. The greater the number of decoy signals, the greater the security provided to the open-air system. Further security may be provided by encrypting both the true and decoy signals prior to scrambling and/or by utilizing a spatially diverse set of transmitters and receivers. Without the knowledge of the channel assignment(s) for the true signal(s), an eavesdropper may be able to intercept (and, with time, perhaps descramble) the open-air transmitted signals, will not be able to distinguish the true data from the decoys without also knowing the channel assignment(s).
US08259926B1
Systems and methods for providing acoustic echo cancellation are provided. Primary and secondary acoustic signals are received by a communication device. The acoustic signals may include loudspeaker leakage. A null coefficient is then adaptively determined for each subband of the secondary acoustic signal. The null coefficient is applied to the secondary acoustic signal to generate a coefficient-modified signal. The coefficient-modified signal is subtracted from the primary acoustic signal to generate a masked acoustic signal with reduced or no echo. The masked acoustic signal may be output.
US08259920B2
A method is disclosed that enables a user of one telecommunications terminal that is engaged in a call to move or “extend” the call to a second telecommunications terminal without notifying any other party on the call of the move. This is particularly useful in many situations. For example, the user might be at work and engaged in a call with a client on the user's wireline desk telephone. If the user needs to leave the office, the user can extend the call to his or her cell phone, while the call is in progress, without notifying the client. This enables the user to leave the office and continue the call on his or her cell phone without having the client ever know that the user is on his or her cell phone and not in the office.
US08259919B2
A communication device having an answering system sets task names, task schedule times of one or more tasks, predetermined ring settings when an incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, and setting predetermined recorded message. The answering system is configured for determining if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, ringing using the predetermined ring setting if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, replying to the incoming call with the predetermined recorded message if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times and if the incoming call has not been answered.
US08259914B2
In one aspect, communication link established from a communication unit to a communications system. A request message is transmitted from a communication unit to the work connection computer and checked with the aid of a user profile of the communication unit, to verify whether the communication unit has log-on authorization. If the verification of the request message is positive, the request message is forwarded from the network connection computer to the connection handling computer in the form of a modified request message. The modified request message is analyzed by the connection handling computer with the aid of an authentication profile of the network connection computer. Once the modified request message has been positively analyzed and the communication unit has been successfully registered, a response message is transmitted from the connection handling computer to the communication unit.
US08259905B2
The X-ray tube having a rotating and linearly translating anode includes an evacuated shell having a substantially cylindrical anode rotatably mounted therein. The substantially cylindrical anode may be rotated through the usage of any suitable rotational drive, and the substantially cylindrical anode is further selectively and controllably linearly translatable about the rotating longitudinal axis thereof. A cathode is further mounted within the evacuated shell for producing an electron beam that impinges on an outer surface of the substantially cylindrical anode, thus forming a focal spot thereon. X-rays are generated from the focal spot and are transmitted through an X-ray permeable window formed in the evacuated shell.
US08259901B1
The present invention consists of an x-ray goniometer which is positioned directly adjacent to processing machines used in the cutting, milling, drilling and shaping of crystal boules and crystal ingots, used in conjunction with an adjustable tilt platform capable of pitch, yaw and roll movement, to allow in-situ measurement and automatic adjustment of crystal orientation with respect to the processing machine. The goniometer may be secured to either the tool itself or a portion of the machine which is adjacent the piece to be worked. Various embodiments include an x-ray goniometer and adjustable tilt platform incorporated into a core drilling machine, wire saw, surface grinder, polishing apparatus, or orientation flat or notch grinder. Incorporating an x-ray goniometer and adjustable tilt platform directly into a crystal processing machine results in a significant decrease in overall processing time and labor, and a significant increase in precision when processing crystal ingots into a final product, such as a notched wafer.
US08259890B2
A phase-locked loop circuit, including: an operating circuit for detecting a difference between a reference signal and a feedback oscillating signal to generate a detected result, and generating a first control signal according to the detected result, an auxiliary circuit for generating a second control signal that is asynchronous with the first control signal, and a controllable oscillator coupled to the operating circuit and the auxiliary circuit for generating an output oscillating signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, wherein the feedback oscillating signal is derived from the output oscillating signal.
US08259888B2
The present invention provides a method of processing signal data comprising generating a first clock signal and a second clock signal and processing the signal data using the first clock signal and the second clock signal. While processing the signal data, the phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal is measured and corrected for so that a target phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal is maintained.
US08259886B2
A communication apparatus including a clock generation circuit outputting a plurality of clocks, each clock having a different phase from the other, a synchronization detection block receiving a sync word and a payload having a predetermined length after receiving the payload, sampling the sync word by using each of the plurality of clocks and to output a first signal indicating a clock or clocks capable of sampling the sync word successfully, the synchronization detection block being capable of sampling the payload by using a clock or clocks, a clock phase selection block coupled to the synchronization detection block to receive the first signal, and a clock gate unit to receive each of the plurality of clocks and the second signal to output the selected one of the plurality of clocks, and not to output a rest of the plurality of the clocks based on the second signal.
US08259880B2
A method for controlling operation of a receiver may include: generating an operation control signal based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of an Nth symbol, wherein N is a natural number, of a hopping pattern included in a preamble of a packet; and controlling whether an Nth symbol of each hopping pattern included in a header or payload of the packet may be processed in response to the operation control signal. A receiver may include: an operation control signal generator that may generate an operation control signal based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of an Nth symbol, where N is a natural number, of a hopping pattern included in a preamble of a packet; and a receiving unit that may control whether an Nth symbol of each hopping pattern included in a header or payload of the packet is processed in response to the operation control signal.
US08259871B2
In a receiver, a channel estimation unit estimates channel characteristics of each channel, and a weight generation unit generates a weight matrix used in equalization processing by an equalizer in accordance with the estimated values of channel characteristics for each channel as estimated by the channel estimation unit. Furthermore, a likelihood calculation unit calculates a likelihood indicating a degree of certainty for each transmission stream using the weight matrix generated by the weight generation unit, and an adaptive control unit determines a transmission rate appropriate for transmission of a signal from a transmitter to the receiver in accordance with the likelihood of each transmission stream calculated by the likelihood calculation unit, notifying the transmitter of the determined transmission rate.
US08259868B1
Systems, devices and techniques for soft-in, soft-out (SISO) decoding can include accessing initial soft information on a series of data units received over a communication channel, using a cyclic graphical model to represent a coding scheme associated with the received data units, obtaining cycle-free graphical models for a plurality of second conditions allowable by the coding scheme, and generating soft-out decision information by using information that includes the obtained cycle-free graphical models and the initial soft information. The number of obtained cycle-free graphical models can be less than a total number of conditions associated with the cyclic graphical model. Soft decision information can include confidence levels for each data unit.
US08259860B1
A system, method of processing and method of manufacturing related to a signal processing scheme which receives multiple inputs and performs signal correlation to identify a predetermined signal based on a specific modulation type such as phase shift key or quadrature modulation related signal characteristics.
US08259843B2
A Dynamic Digital Pre-Distortion (DDPD) system is disclosed to rapidly correct power amplifier (PA) non-linearity and memory effects. To perform pre-distortion, a DDPD engine predistorts an input signal in order to cancel PA nonlinearities as the signal is amplified by the PA. The DDPD engine is implemented as a composite of one linear filter and N−1 high order term linear filters. The bank of linear filters have programmable complex coefficients. To compute the coefficients, samples from the transmit path and a feedback path are captured, and covariance matrices A and B are computed using optimized hardware. After the covariance matrices are computed, Gaussian elimination processing may be employed to compute the coefficients. Mathematical and hardware optimizations may be employed to simplify and reduce the number of multiplication operands and other operations, which can enable the DDPD system to fit within a single chip.
US08259842B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied.
US08259841B2
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US08259840B2
A system and method for data communication over a cellular communications network that allows the transmission of digital data over a voice channel using a vocoder that operates in different modes depending upon characteristics of the inputted signal it receives. To prepare the digital data for transmission, one or more carrier signals are encoded with the digital data using one of a number of modulation schemes that utilize differential phase shift keying to give the modulated carrier signal certain periodicity and energy characteristics that allow it to be transmitted by the vocoder at full rate. The modulation schemes include DPSK using either a single or multiple frequency carriers, combined FSK-DPSK modulation, combined ASK-DPSK, PSK with a phase tracker in the demodulator, as well as continuous signal modulation (ASK or FSK) with inserted discontinuities that can be independent of the digital data.
US08259837B2
Modulated signal A is transmitted from a first antenna, and modulated signal B is transmitted from a second antenna. As modulated signal B, modulated symbols S2(i) and S2(i+1) obtained from different data are transmitted at time i and time i+1 respectively. In contrast, as modulated signal A, modulated symbols S1(i) and S1(i)′ obtained by changing the signal point arrangement of the same data are transmitted at time i and time i+1 respectively. As a result the reception quality can be changed intentionally at time i and time i+1, and therefore using the demodulation result of modulated signal A of a time when the reception quality is good enables both modulated signals A and B to be demodulated with good error rate performances.
US08259829B2
Method and device for estimating the time-of-arrival of a received signal y(t), said method comprising the step of: generating a plurality of frequency-domain samples from the received signal y(t); estimating a correlation matrix (Formula I) from said plurality of frequency-domain samples; from said correlation matrix (Formula I), calculating a signal energy distribution with respect to different propagation delays; finding a delay value (Formula II) at which said signal energy distribution exceeds a certain threshold Pth, said delay value representing the time-of-arrival estimation.
US08259824B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter is for use with NT transmit antennas and includes a precoder unit configured to precode data for transmission using a preceding matrix selected from a nested codebook, wherein the nested codebook provides codebooks corresponding to different transmission layers that are derived from column subsets of multiple NT×NT preceding matrices. The transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the precoded data. In another embodiment, the receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive preceded data. The receiver also includes a precoder selection unit configured to select a preceding matrix from a nested codebook for the preceded data, wherein the nested codebook provides codebooks corresponding to different transmission layers that are derived from column subsets of multiple NT×NT preceding matrices.
US08259811B2
Methods are provided for an apparatus which encodes items of data by variable-length coding and which stores the encoded items of data in a memory, wherein a size of one of the items of encoded data is variable by varying a value of a control parameter of the variable-length coding. One method includes: determining an amount of available memory space in the memory; determining a value of the control parameter for the variable-length coding of the items of data; and determining a number of items of encoded data that can be stored in the available memory space, based on an upper limit of the size of one of the items of encoded data at the determined value of the control parameter.
US08259810B2
A moving picture decoding apparatus includes one or more variable-length decoding units, a data buffer configured to store data output from the one or more variable-length decoding units, and a plurality of image decoding units configured to read the data from the data buffer and to perform image decoding the data.
US08259809B2
A novel Lucas-Kanade sub-pixel motion estimation method is provided. The motion estimation algorithm enables the estimating of a motion vector with reduced computation cost while maintaining high sub-pixel accuracy. The novel algorithm consists of two processing stages. In the first stage, a conventional motion estimation method is applied to obtain the motion vector at integer-pixel level. In the second stage, the Lucas-Kanade algorithm is applied to improve the motion vector to sub-pixel accuracy based on gradient information. Experimental result shows that the proposed method reaches comparable PSNR performance as conventional ⅛-pel algorithm but with significant saving on computation cost.
US08259805B2
Motion compensated temporal prediction is well-known for redundancy reduction in video signal compression. A prediction error signal and a motion vector for a current block are transmitted, describing the location of the predictor block in the reference picture. A problem solved by the invention is to encode and decode video signals using less or no mo- tion vector data side information. This is achieved through a temporal prediction which exploits common knowledge available in both encoder and decoder, requiring that the decoder performs a motion estimation, too. A common baseline motion estimation process is used at both encoder and decoder on the same set of video data that have already been compressed before and, hence, are available at both encoder and decoder, leading to identical motion parameters being generated in the decoder. These common motion parameters are used for generating a default temporal prediction without the need to transmit related motion vectors from the encoder to the decoder.
US08259804B2
A method (and system) for coding a signal includes comparing a first prediction which is based upon a previously reconstructed signal to an actual signal to determine a first prediction error, comparing a second prediction which is based upon temporal filtering to the actual signal to determine a second prediction error, and selecting one of the first prediction error and the second prediction error.
US08259800B2
Methods and devices for video encoding and decoding, where video data is obtained, followed by generating a base layer based thereon, the base layer comprising at least one picture, generating at least one enhancement layer based on the obtained video data, the enhancement layer comprising at least one picture, generating a dependency identifier for each of the base and enhancement layers, each dependency identifier being associated with a reference number; determining a respective sequence parameter set for each of the base layer and the enhancement layer having different dependency identifier values, wherein for a number of base and enhancement layers having sequence parameter set parameters substantially the same, using one sequence parameter set; and encoding the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer by using determined sequence parameter sets.
US08259796B2
An image coding apparatus calculates an image change rate with respect to input image data, predicts an average activity appropriate for a coding target picture that is included in the input image data based on the image change rate, and normalizes an activity using the predicted value of the average activity. Based on the normalized activity, the image coding apparatus performs a quantization of the image data.
US08259795B2
The quantization parameter QP is well-known in digital video compression as an indication of picture quality. Digital symbols representing a moving image are quantized with a quantizing step that is a function QSN of the quantization parameter QP, which function QSN has been normalized to the most significant bit of the bit depth of the digital symbols. As a result, the effect of a given QP is essentially independent of bit depth a particular QP value has a standard effect on image quality, regardless of bit depth. The invention is useful, for example, in encoding and decoding at different bit depths, to generate compatible, bitstreams having different bit depths, and to allow different bit depths for different components of a video signal by compressing each with the same fidelity (i.e., the same QP).
US08259792B2
Disclosed is a method of determining illumination compensation in a multi view video coding. The method includes determining when a current block performing illumination compensation is in a B skip mode and deriving a predicted illumination compensation value of the current block by using information regarding neighbor blocks of the current block and when the derived predicted illumination compensation value is not determining, setting the current block not to perform the illumination compensation; and when the derived predicted illumination compensation value is determining, setting the current block to perform the illumination compensation.
US08259787B2
A method and a system for providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to a decoder based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a decision-feedback equalizer. A set of pre-computed values based on the subset of coefficient values is generated. Each of the pre-computed values is combined with the tail value to generate a tentative sample. One of the tentative samples is selected as the input signal to the decoder. In one aspect of the system, tentative samples are saturated and then stored in a set of registers before being outputted to a multiplexer which selects one of the tentative samples as the input signal to the decoder. This operation of storing the tentative samples in the registers before providing the tentative samples to the multiplexer facilitates high-speed operation by breaking up a critical path of computations into substantially balanced first and second portions, the first portion including computations in the decision-feedback equalizer and the multiple decision feedback equalizer, the second portion including computations in the decoder.
US08259776B2
An STBC based signal transmission method considering the number of symbols within a slot. In transmitting a signal using two or more transmission antennas in a mobile communication system using a structure in which one subframe includes two slots and each slot includes a plurality of symbols, transmission symbols are paired in units of two consecutive symbols within each subframe by an STBC scheme. The transmission symbols are mapped to a frequency region in units of slots and the mapped transmission symbols are transmitted. One symbol within a slot in which the number of symbols excluding symbols for transmitting a reference signal is an odd number is not paired by the STBC scheme.
US08259775B1
Systems, apparatuses and methods for managing message communications in systems employing frequency hopping. One method according to the invention involves transmitting a message via a frequency of a frequency hopping sequence, and determining when the same frequency will reoccur in the frequency hopping sequence. Relevant portions of the device enter a sleep mode, and the device emerges from the sleep mode when the frequency at which the message was transmitted reoccurs in the frequency hopping sequence. The device monitors for a response to the message via the frequency at which the message was transmitted when the frequency reoccurs in the frequency hopping sequence.
US08259769B1
A laser diode device operable at a one or more wavelength ranges. The device has a first waveguide provided on a non-polar or semipolar crystal plane of gallium containing material. In a specific embodiment, the first waveguide has a first gain characteristic and a first direction. In a specific embodiment, the first waveguide has a first end and a second end and a first length defined between the first end and the second end. The device has a second waveguide provided on a non-polar or semipolar crystal plane of gallium containing material. In a specific embodiment, the second waveguide has a second gain characteristic and a second direction. In a specific embodiment, the second waveguide has a first end, a second end, and a second length defined between the first end and the second end. In a specific embodiment, the second waveguide has the first end being coupled to the first end of the first waveguide. The second length is in a different direction from the second length. In a specific embodiment, the device has a cleaved region provided on the second end of the second waveguide, the cleaved region being perpendicular to the second direction of the second waveguide.
US08259767B2
Semiconductor laser array devices capable of emitting mid- to long-wavelength infrared (i.e., 4-12 μm) radiation are provided. The devices include a quantum cascade laser (QCL) structure comprising one or more active cores; an optical confinement structure; a cladding structure; and a plurality of laterally-spaced trench regions extending transversely through the optical confinement and cladding structures, and partially into the QCL structure. The trench regions, each of which comprises a lower trench layer comprising a semi-insulating material and an upper trench layer comprising a material having a refractive index that is higher than that of the semi-insulating material, define a plurality of laterally-spaced interelement regions separated by element regions in the laser array device.
US08259762B2
Provided is a high speed bit stream data conversion circuit that includes input ports to receive first bit streams at a first bit rate. Data conversion circuits receive the first bit streams and produce second bit stream(s), wherein the number and bit rate of the first and second bit stream(s) differ. Symmetrical pathways transport the first bit streams from the input ports to the data conversion circuits, wherein their transmission time(s) are substantially equal. A clock distribution circuit receives and symmetrically distributes a clock signal to data conversion circuits. A central trunk coupled to the clock port and located between a first pair of circuit pathways with paired branches that extend from the trunk and that couple to the data conversion circuits make up the clock distribution circuit. The distributed data clock signal latches data in data conversion circuits from the first to the second bit stream(s).
US08259760B2
A method includes receiving first encoded data associated with one or more first lanes and decoding the first encoded data to produce decoded data. The method also includes encoding the decoded data to produce second encoded data associated with one or more second lanes and transmitting the second encoded data. In some embodiments, the method may further include multiplexing a plurality of code group sequences (the second encoded data) into the one or more second lanes, and the number of first lanes may be greater than the number of second lanes. In other embodiments, the method may also include demultiplexing a plurality of code group sequences from the one or more first lanes into a plurality of the second lanes, and the number of first lanes may be less than the number of second lanes.
US08259739B2
A mechanism for combining plurality of point-to-point data channels to provide a high-bandwidth data channel having an aggregated bandwidth equivalent to the sum of the bandwidths of the data channels used is provided. A mechanism for scattering segments of incoming data packets, called data chunks, among available point-to-point data channel interfaces is further provided. A decision as to the data channel interface over which to send a data chunk to can be made by examining a fullness status of a FIFO coupled to each interface. An identifier of a data channel on which to expect a subsequent data chunk can be provided in a control word associated with a present chunk of data. Using such information in control words, a receive-end interface can reassemble packets by looking to the control word in a currently processing data chunk to find a subsequent data chunk.
US08259738B2
A system and method are provided for prioritizing network processor information flow in a channel service manager (CSM). The method receives a plurality of information streams on a plurality of input channels, and selectively links input channels to CSM channels. The information streams are stored, and the stored the information streams are mapped to a processor queue in a group of processor queues. Information streams are supplied from the group of processor queues to a network processor in an order responsive to a ranking of the processor queues inside the group. More explicitly, selectively linking input channels to CSM channels includes creating a fixed linkage between each input port and an arbiter in a group of arbiters, and scheduling information streams in response to the ranking of the arbiter inside the group. Finally, a CSM channel is selected for each information stream scheduled by an arbiter.
US08259733B2
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for rapid circuit provisioning in Optical Transport Networks (OTN) using signaling and routing protocols thereby enabling fast mesh restoration. The present invention utilizes a shim layer between OTN messaging (e.g., GCC or High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)) and the associated signaling and routing protocol (e.g., OSRP, GMPLS, etc.). If an ODUk Connection CTP or TTP needs to be created, the shim layer runs a fast “OTN Setup” protocol, while buffering out going OTN messages. Incoming messages are still processed and do not require additional buffering. The purpose of the OTN Setup protocol is to allow the OTUk to re-frame on its client ODUk, while buffering out-going messages. When re-framing completes, buffers are released and the OTN messaging resumes without dropping any of the signaling frames.
US08259723B2
A statistical information generator for VoIP traffic analysis is provided, which comprises a packet collection module collecting packets from a network; and a statistical information generation module analyzing information of a call setup packet or a media packet among the packets collected by the packet collection module, and generating statistical information of the network; wherein if the packet collected by the packet collection module is the call setup packet, the statistical information generation module generates the statistical information of the network using at least one of transmitter identification information, receiver identification information, and call identification information among information of the call setup packet as a key value, while if the packet collected by the packet collection module is the media packet, the statistical information generation module generates the statistical information of the network using media session identification information among information of the media packet as a key value.
US08259712B2
An apparatus that includes W interfaces to a circuit-switched network, where W is an integer number that equals the product of smaller integer numbers X and N. The apparatus also includes X discrete switching apparatus each having N ones of the W network interfaces, as well as a plurality of switching-expansion interconnects each interconnecting ones of the X switching apparatus, such that the W network interfaces are collectively interconnected in a non-blocking manner.
US08259711B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring and evaluating multimedia telephonic and computer-communication interactions. The multimedia quality monitoring system may include an event manager, which may receive a notification associated with a VoIP communication between an agent and a customer and recording servers, which record data associated with the VoIP communication.
US08259710B1
An improved packet handler for VoIP cable modems and other high-speed digital devices includes a direct communication link via hardware among internal processing components. Incoming and outgoing digital information packets are filtered into MAC packets, voice PDU packets, and non-voice PDU packets, such that priority can be given to relaying voice packets and minimizing potential voice delay within the cable network. Hardware components, including specialized logic circuitry, modify voice packets to an appropriate signal form for subsequent signal processing or signal transmission. Proprietary bus communication protocols can also be provided to facilitate relay of packets between a central processing unit (CPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP) within a VoIP cable modem. Line cards including subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) and subscriber line audio processing circuit (SLAC) components provide analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion functionality.
US08259708B2
A system for establishing a universal or overlapping wireless broadband network composed of a plurality of Access Points (AP). These APs, or nodes, may be coupled to existing copper transmission lines, and may work alone or in groups to provide wireless network access. Different types of APs may be utilized to perform various communication-functions, and these nodes may obtain power and/or communication resources from the existing copper transmission lines, and communication resources from either the existing copper transmission lines or from fiber optic transmission lines. Further, peripheral devices may be coupled to nodes to provide ancillary functionality to the system.
US08259703B2
Embodiments of the present invention determine skew relative to a plurality of communication paths on a network system. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths.
US08259695B2
In a wireless telecommunications network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme is applied to data to encode it. The encoded data transmitted in the uplink using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frame structure including a cyclic prefix (CP). The CDMA encoded data may be time multiplexed with Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) transmissions. The CDMA transmissions may be used for relatively small payloads, such as those associated with voice traffic and control signals, and the SC-FDMA transmissions used for higher date rate transmissions. This enables autonomous transmission, without scheduling, for smaller payloads. A transmitter includes a selector 3 for performing time multiplexing in the uplink, the required mode being indicated by the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ID. A first branch 1 carries SC-FDMA data and a second branch 2 carries data to be transmitted as a CDMA scheme. A CAZAC code may be used in encoding the CDMA data.
US08259690B2
A system and method for pausing communications from a transmitting radio for a certain period of time in order to allow transmission of other messages. When a first radio determines that a message needs to be transmitted either to a second radio or the transmitting radio, the first radio determines whether there are any available forward channels to transmit the call. If no forward channel is available, the first radio determines a period of time required to transmit the message and sends, on a reverse channel, a “request to pause” signal to the transmitting radio identifying that period of time. Upon receiving the “request to pause” signal, the transmitting radio ceases transmission on the forward channel for the specified period of time, during which time the first radio transmits the message.
US08259678B2
A device, system and method for performing an uncontrolled handover in a mobile station, a ranging request message including an identifier of a serving base station and a first identifier used in the serving base station is transmitted to a first target base station to perform network (re)entry to the first target base station, and a ranging response message including security information and a second identifier for identifying the mobile station is received from the first target base station.
US08259676B2
Various security mechanisms may be used independently, or in combination with one another, to authenticate the identity of a node during the Mobile IP registration process. First, an Access Point receiving a packet from a node verifies that the source MAC address identified in the packet is in the Access Point's client association table. In addition, as a second mechanism, the Access Point ensures that a one-to-one mapping exists for the source MAC address and source IP address identified in the packet in a mapping table maintained by the Access Point. As a third mechanism, a binding is not modified in the mobility binding table maintained by the Home Agent unless there is a one-to-one mapping in the mobility binding table between the source MAC address and the source IP address. Similarly, the Foreign Agent may also maintain a mapping between the source IP address and the source MAC address in its visitor table to ensure a one-to-one mapping between a source IP address and the associated MAC address.
US08259673B2
User Equipment (UE) receiving non-voice packet switched service in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) cell undergoes handover to a circuit switched GSM/Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)/UTRAN cell in response to a requirement for voice service. The voice service is established in the circuit switched domain of a GERAN/UTRAN cell to ensure service continuity regardless of UE mobility that would otherwise not be possible if the voice service was established in the eUTRAN cell. A Gs-like interface between a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the CS Core Network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the Evolved Packet Core provides an interface for page requests and location update procedures to be performed.
US08259672B2
A method and apparatus of aiding uplink beamforming transmission is disclosed. One method includes a base station downlink transmitting beamformed signals to at least a first terminal, the beam formed signals directed and conveying data to at least the first terminal. The method further includes a second terminal eavesdropping the transmitted beamformed signals, and measuring a signal quality. The second terminal estimates uplink channel information based on the measured signal quality, for aiding uplink transmission. Based at least in part on the estimated transmission channel, the second terminal transmits beamformed uplink signals to the base station.
US08259671B2
Disclosed is a method that includes determining an identifier of an access terminal authorized to use an access point, and transmitting a service redirection message including the identifier. The method also includes transmitting a parameter that instructs the access terminal to wake up during the particular time slot in the repeating interval.
US08259666B2
Femto cells that extend mobile network coverage into customer premises operate in a frequency band typically assigned to a macro network. To facilitate system discovery and registrations of mobile stations with femto cells, a carrier designates one the channels within the band as a primary channel for its femto cells. For example, neighbor list messages transmitted by macro network base stations can provide frequency and PN code information directing mobile stations to search the primary channel for a PN code of the femto cells. The mobile station preferred roaming list (PRL) may identify femto cells by SID/NID. The SID is that of the carrier's macro network, whereas the NID may be a NID of the macro network or one specifically assigned to femto cell operations. The PRL uses frequency acquisition information for the femto cells that is the same as or similar to that for one of the macro networks.
US08259664B2
A base station capable of communicating with a plurality of subscriber stations is configured to allocate a plurality of resource units to at least one subscriber station. The base station includes a controller configured to allocate a plurality of resource units from a two-dimensional logical matrix of resource units. The controller is configured to generate at least two indicator values, wherein the two indicator values are configured to identify the allocated resource units. The base station also includes a transmitter configured to transmit the two indicators to the subscriber station. The base station also is configured to construct the two-dimensional logical matrix that is adapted to enable contiguous and diverse resource unit allocations.
US08259658B2
A wireless communication base station apparatus wherein when a frequency scheduling transmission and a frequency diversity transmission are performed in a multicarrier communication at the same time, the adaptive control of a channel for performing the frequency scheduling transmission can be prevented from being complicated. In this apparatus, a modulating part (12) modulates an encoded Dch data to generate Dch data symbols. A modulating part (22) modulates an encoded Lch data to generate Lch data symbols. An assigning part (103) assigns the Dch and Lch data symbols to subcarriers constituting OFDM symbols and outputs them to a multiplexing part (104). At this moment, the assigning part (103) assigns a set of Dch and Lch data symbols to each subcarrier for a respective subband.
US08259652B2
A mobile device establishes communication with a number of wireless cellular networks at particular locations and records the locations and network information associated with the wireless cellular networks. The network information can be used to narrow a search for an available wireless cellular network from a plurality of potentially available wireless cellular networks when the mobile device is operating at a stored location. In one aspect, a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver on a mobile device can receive a broadcast radio signal from a transmitter and use the signal to determine an approximate location of the device based on a known location of the transmitter. A match between the approximate device location and wireless cellular network transmitters in communication range of the mobile device can be used to narrow a search for wireless cellular networks.
US08259650B2
A communication device is disclosed. The communication device includes a radio communication section and a switching section. The switching section switches a function between a station function and an access point function. In a state that the function of the communication device has been switched to the access point function, the communication device is connected to another communication device contained in a radio communication network through the radio communication section. The communication device receives connection setting information from the other communication device through the communication section. The connection setting information has been set to the communication section. The communication device stores the received connection setting information. After the function of the communication device has been switched from the access point function to the station function, the communication device is connected to the radio communication network containing the other communication device based on the stored connection setting information.
US08259648B2
A method for communicating data in a wireless control area network, where the wireless control area network includes one or more sensor nodes configured to facilitate acquisition of patient data and an access coordinator configured to facilitate acquisition of the patient data from the one or more sensor nodes, is presented. The method includes creating a correlation between one or more poll packets from an access coordinator and time of arrival of data at one or more sensor nodes. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method is also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.
US08259646B2
An apparatus and method for acquiring reliable frame synchronization performance and frequency synchronization simultaneously in a communication system includes a differential correlator outputting a result value obtained by performing a differential operation based on an input signal having symbol timing synchronization and a value pre-defined with a sender sending the input signal, a frequency error calculator compensating for a frequency error based on the result value of the differential correlator and a frequency compensation control signal, and a frame synchronization determiner outputting the frequency compensation control signal if the result value of the differential correlator is greater than a threshold set having at least one value. By introducing a correlation scheme, i.e. Differential Generalized Post Detection Integration (DGPDI), in which differential information corresponding to a half of a symbol duration length is used within a duration from a frame start symbol to a UW symbol duration in a TDM/TDMA transmission structure in which a low SNR and a high frequency error must be considered, a more reliable frame synchronization estimation value can be acquired in comparison to a conventional frame synchronization scheme in which differential information between single neighbor symbols is used.
US08259645B2
A random access channel operating method in a mobile communication system is provided. The random access channel operating method includes: (a) selecting a transmission mode according to a load of random access channel and performing transmission to a mobile terminal; (b) receiving a message having a format corresponding to the selected transmission mode from the mobile terminal; (c) determining whether or not a preamble or data is included in the message received in (b) receiving of the message; and (d) if the data is determined to be included in the (c) determining, transmitting a response message for data reception to the mobile terminal. Accordingly, use efficiency of a random access channel can be increased by measuring a system load of the random access channel in a base station and changing a transmission format of a burst transmitted through the random access channel according to the measured load level.
US08259640B2
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting.
US08259639B2
A wireless connection method is applicable to establishing a wireless connection device between an uplink device and a downlink device, and includes obtaining uplink wireless configuration information, and configuring a downlink with the obtained uplink wireless configuration information. A wireless connection is established with the uplink device based on the uplink wireless configuration information and, after successful connection establishment, a wireless connection is established with the downlink device based on the uplink wireless configuration information.
US08259635B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting by a mesh access point a number of wireless network nodes that are attached to the mesh access point within a mesh network; calculating by the mesh access point an attachment preference factor that enables at least one other wireless network node to determine whether to attach to the mesh access point, wherein the mesh access point increases the attachment preference factor based on a corresponding increase in the number of wireless network nodes that are attached to the mesh access point; and outputting by the mesh access point the attachment preference factor, enabling the at least one other wireless network node to determine whether to attach to the mesh access point.
US08259634B2
Embodiments herein may receive a ranging request message with a sleep-mode indication from a mobile node at a destination base station in a wireless packet-switched network. System paging information may be accessed to determine a base station identifier associated with an originating base station that last served the mobile node. The originating base station may be contacted to retrieve a service context associated with the mobile node and any downlink packets buffered for the mobile node by the originating base station. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08259627B2
A method and apparatus of composing an uplink control channel in a wireless communication system is provided. Uplink radio resources including a plurality of symbols and a plurality of subcarriers is divided into a plurality of Feedback Mini-Tiles (FMTs) each having two consecutive subcarriers. Reordering FMTs (RFMTs) is selected from the plurality of FMTs. And a feedback channel is composed using the plurality of consecutive RFMTs.
US08259622B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for providing a packet network-based MRBT service. In the method, when an originating MSC (110) requests call termination location information from an HLR (120), the HLR transmits an MRBT service request message, including a calling number and a called number, to an MRBT server (140). The MRBT server returns an MRBT service response message, including URL of MRBT content, to the HLR. The HLR transmits a call termination location information response message to the originating MSC, with MRBT service ID information and called party MRBT content URL information included in the call termination location information response message. The originating MSC (110) transmits called party MRBT content URL information to an originating MS (100) on a basis of the MRBT service ID information. The originating MS accesses the MRBT content URL, downloads relevant MRBT content, and plays and stores the MRBT content.
US08259619B2
A topology specifying apparatus 10 according to this invention includes, in a network having a tree type network topology, a route overlap determining section 4 configured to determine existence or non-existence of an overlap between a first route to a terminal having an unknown connection node and a second route between terminals having known connection nodes; and a topology specifying section 5 configured to determine a network topology based on the existence or non-existence of the overlap of the first route and the second route.
US08259609B2
A modem communicates with a data source over multiple signal channels. The modem receives multiple data packets originally sent by the data source and at least one correcting packet loading reassembly information over the signal channels, and determines if one or more of the data packets originally sent by the data source are lost. The modem determines if the received data packets are enough to recover the one or more lost data packets, and recovers the one or more lost data packets using the received data packets and the reassembly information if the received data packets are enough to recover the one or more lost data packets. The modem removes the correcting packet loading the reassembly information and sends out the received data packets and the one or more recovered data packets.
US08259595B2
Each of the host transmitting/receiving blocks of a plurality of I/O units connected to a CNC reads the destination specification data and a diagnostic result bit each time the host transmitting/receiving block receives a signal packet from the CNC. When the diagnostic result bit indicates the execution of a diagnosis, the signal packet contains diagnostic DO data, and the relevant DO signal output terminal is short-circuited to the relevant DI signal input terminal to form a diagnostic loop. The diagnostic packet signal passes through the diagnostic loop, the external signal transmitting/receiving block, and the host transmitting/receiving block and returns to the CNC through the host transmitting/receiving block of an adjacent I/O unit closer to the CNC. The CNC analyzes the packet signal to determine whether each of the I/O units is operating normally or not.
US08259594B2
A method for detecting errors on an audio/video (A/V) data stream in a data service network includes providing multicast components operably coupled to each other via respective links for transmitting the A/V data stream to a user and for defining at least one multicast tree. The method further includes generating a state information signal indicative of a number of errors on the A/V data stream for at least one of the links and at least one of the plurality of multicast components. The method further includes determining the cumulative number of errors on the A/V data stream that are indicative of the number of errors for the at least one of the links and the at least one of the plurality of multicast components in the multicast tree in response to the state information signal.
US08259589B2
A network relay device is for receiving, from an external network relay device, connection confirmation information indicative of being in communication connection with the external network relay device. When the connection confirmation information is particular connection confirmation information indicative of being transmitted from a predetermined external network relay device, the network relay device provides return confirmation information to the predetermined external network relay device.
US08259587B2
A networking system may include one or more nodes communicating with each other. The nodes may communicate via one or more links, which a switch or other structure may provide. The networking system may include one or more pools of at least one network diagnostic module. A network diagnostic module may test one or more links and may be configured to rove among a plurality of links. The networking system may include an alarm module.
US08259582B2
A method and apparatus to reduce memory required in a network interface controller to store per flow state information associated with a network connection is provided. Instead of storing per flow state information for a connection in the network interface controller at an endpoint of the connection, the per flow state information for the connection is stored in memory external to the network interface controller. The stored state information is conveyed in a packet by the network interface controller between the endpoints of the connection. For a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection, the state information is conveyed between the endpoints of the TCP connection in a TCP option included in the TCP header in the packet.
US08259577B2
A packet forwarding device reads each packet from a common buffer at a predetermined band velocity and transfers the readout packet; detects passage of a re-transmission request packet requesting re-transmission of a packet having been transmitted, from a receiving terminal to a packet transmission source; and limits a writing band of writing a packet transmitted from the packet transmission source terminal, which is a receiving terminal to which the re-transmission request packet is destined, into the common buffer when the re-transmission request packet is detected.
US08259576B2
In one embodiment, the invention includes a controller that interrupts a CPU based on a counter that uses a decrement step which may increase as high priority data packets are received by the controller.
US08259567B2
An object of the present invention is to avoid congestion, by restricting only processing which causes the congestion without affecting processing which essentially should not be restricted. In a mobile communication system according to the present invention, an exchange MSC/SGSN includes: a congestion factor detector configured to detect a congestion occurrence factor in the switching exchange MSC/SGSN, and a restriction indication transmitter configured to transmit, a restriction indication, to a radio network controller, based on the detected congestion occurrence factor, the restriction indication instructing a processing type that should be restricted in the switching exchange MSC/SGSN congestion occurrence factor. The radio network controller RNC is provided with a broadcast information transmitter configured to transmit broadcast information including the received restriction indication to a mobile station UE.
US08259563B1
A first network device creates a protection path to a second network device associated with a first service site, and creates a pseudowire between the first service site and a second service site via the first network device and the second network device. The first network device also detects a failure between the first network device and the first service site, and forwards traffic, provided by the pseudowire between the first service site and the second service site, via the protection path. The second network device uses the traffic on the protection path as a trigger to activate a link between the second network device and the first service site.
US08259552B2
An optical pickup apparatus comprising a first laser unit including a first laser light source and a second laser unit including second and third laser light sources, being respectively disposed on a reflection (transmitting) surface side and a transmitting (reflection) surface side of a first beam splitter, laser lights of the first, second, and third wavelengths being guided onto a common optical path through the first beam splitter and guided to the respective sorts of optical recording mediums, each of the laser lights being divided by a diffraction grating disposed on the common optical path into a main beam and sub-beams, a second beam splitter being disposed on the upstream side of the diffraction grating on a return path of each of the laser lights, the laser lights through the second beam splitter being branched from the common optical path and being received by a photodetector.
US08259551B2
An optical recording medium (disk) capable of preventing a back focus at a face thereof and reducing the interference between beams reflected by each recording surface, thereby improving a quality of a servo signal and a reproductive signal. In a disk having (N−1) layers, if N is a natural number (more than three), and if a cover-layer thickness and intermediate-layer thicknesses are d1, d2, . . . dN, then a difference of 1 μm or above is set between the sum of di to dj and the sum of dk to dm for arbitrary natural numbers i, j, k, m (i≦j≦k≦m≦N). If refractive indexes are different from a standard value or different for each layer, then the thickness of each layer is converted based on a spread width of light according to the thickness.
US08259550B2
A method of applying image data as a visually detectable pattern with at least one embedded data element at an optical record carrier is disclosed, comprising the step of physically mapping at least one channel symbol onto the record carrier, the channel symbol being selected from a set of mutually different channel symbols, the channel symbols each comprising an area of size s1 with a relatively low value v1 for an optical property and an area with size s2 with a relatively high value v2 for said optical property, the channel symbols being distributed over a plurality of subsets each having a plurality of channel symbols wherein the plurality of channel symbols within a subset have a distance that is substantially less than the distance between channel symbols of mutually different subsets, wherein the distance between two channel symbols is defined as the absolute difference between the ratios s1/(s1+s2). wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of determining a subset on the basis of the image data to be mapped in the visually detectable pattern and selecting one symbol from that subset on the basis of the at least one data symbol to be mapped. The invention further includes an apparatus, and a record carrier.
US08259547B2
An information storage medium includes an area in which updated disc-related information and recording-related information updated with a change in at least one of a disc version number and a recording speed is recorded along with existing disc-related information and recording-related information. The existing disc-related information and recording-related information are recorded, and the updated disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded in an area in which the existing disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded. Accordingly, data can be recorded/reproduced on/from a new version of information storage medium even using an existing drive.
US08259545B2
A controller for recovering disc management information is provided. The controller controls a pickup head unit to search the TDMAs for readable disc management information which is included in an in-use TDMA of the TDMAs; then determines whether a piece of information associated with an inconsistency flag of the readable disc management information is reliable. When the controller detects that the piece of information is unreliable, the controller determines at least a detection condition according to the information which is included in the readable disc management information and the in-use TDMA, and controls the pickup head unit to detect the recording medium to determine an update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag under at least a detection condition. The controller generates update disc management information according to the readable disc management information and the update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag.
US08259539B1
An energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus comprises a magnetic recording head having an end surface and an interface surface perpendicular to the end surface. The apparatus further comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) bonded to the interface surface and configured to emit laser light through the interface surface and into the magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head includes one or more light redirecting structures for redirecting the laser light towards the end surface. A method of making an energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus comprises the steps of aligning a first wafer including a plurality of VCSELs with a second wafer including a plurality of magnetic recording heads, such that an emitting region of each of the plurality of VCSELs is disposed over a light redirecting structure of a corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic recording heads, and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer.
US08259538B2
A device for the locking and unitary incrementation of a drive module (1) for a timepiece gear train is provided. The module (1) includes an actuator (2) fitted with an active click (5) cooperating with a toothed wheel (7), and the device includes a first (8) and a second (9) finger cooperating with the toothed wheel (7). The device is characterized in that the first finger (8) entirely locks the rotation of the toothed wheel (7) when it is engaged in one of the teeth of the toothed wheel (7); and in that the second finger (9) is arranged between a first (10) and a second (11) stop member, wherein the space between the stop members (10, 11) limits the angular travel of the toothed wheel (7) when the second finger (9) is engaged in one of the teeth of the toothed wheel (7).
US08259535B2
The invention relates to a wake up stimulus control system, comprising a control unit (1) arranged to receive a user-determinable wake up time input and to control at least one stimulus source (11), a coupling for operably coupling at least one stimulus source (11) to said control unit, wherein the stimulus source (11) is controllable by the control unit (1) in such a way that the stimulus source (11) provides a gradually increasing stimulus output in dependence on said input wake up time, at least during a time period before the input wake up time, and at least one stimulus sensor (7) that is operably coupled to the control unit (1). The sensor allows a much better control of the supplied stimulus level to account for various ambient influences. The stimulus is preferably light. The invention also provides a socket, a stimulus source and a control unit for use in the system.
US08259532B2
A method for generating a synthetic seismogram. In one implementation, the method may include generating a first seismogram in a tau-p domain for a wavefront that moves through an overburden to an upper boundary of a reservoir. The first seismogram is based on a common shot point gather. The method may further include generating a second seismogram in the tau-p domain for the wavefront moving from the upper boundary to a lower boundary of the reservoir and reflected back up to the upper boundary; generating a third seismogram in the tau-p domain for the wavefront moving from the upper boundary of the reservoir through the overburden; and adding the first seismogram in the tau-p domain, the second seismogram in the tau-p domain, and the third seismogram in the tau-p domain.
US08259529B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of wordlines and a driver configured to, when an wordline of the plurality of wordlines is activated by an active command, drive at least one non-activated wordline neighboring the activated wordline and remaining non-activated wordlines with different wordline driving voltage levels during a period of time that the activated wordline is driven to a high voltage level.
US08259526B2
A first transfer circuit includes pipeline circuits having different number of stages, and switch circuits that exclusively supply the pipeline circuits with first and second read data. A second transfer circuit includes pipeline circuits having different number of stages, and switch circuits that exclusively supply the pipeline circuits with third and fourth read data. Outputs of the first and second transfer circuits are sequentially output from a multiplex circuit. When a first operation mode is selected, all the pipeline circuits are activated. When a second operation mode is selected, one of the pipeline circuits in the first transfer circuit and one of the pipeline circuits in the second transfer circuit are activated, whereas the others of the pipeline circuits are inactivated.
US08259524B2
The present invention is directed to provide a semiconductor device having a dual-port memory circuit in which influence of placement of replica cells exerted on enlargement of chip area is reduced. A memory cell array of a dual-port memory circuit has: a first replica cell array used to respond to an instruction of reading operation from one of dual ports; and a second replica cell array used to respond to an instruction of reading operation from the other dual port. Each of the replica cell arrays has: replica bit lines obtained by mutually short-circuiting parallel lines having a length obtained by cutting, in half, an inversion bit line and a non-inversion bit line of complementary bit lines to which data input/output terminals of a memory cell are coupled; and replica cells coupled to the replica bit lines and having transistor placement equivalent to that of the memory cells.
US08259519B2
A synchronous semiconductor memory device includes a data alignment reference pulse generation unit configured to generate a data alignment reference pulse in response to a data strobe signal, a data alignment suspension signal generation unit configured to generate a data alignment suspension signal in response to the data alignment reference pulse, a data strobe termination signal, and a write pulse, and a data alignment unit configured to align input data in response to the data alignment reference pulse and stop aligning the input data in response to the data alignment suspension signal.
US08259515B2
A read circuit for reading at least one memory cell adapted to storing a logic value, the at least one memory cell including: a storage element made of a phase-change material; and an access element for coupling the storage element to the read circuit in response to a selection of the memory cell, the read circuit including: a sense current supply arrangement for supplying a sense current to the at least one memory cell; and at least one sense amplifier for determining the logic value stored in the memory cell on the basis of a voltage developing thereacross, the at least one sense amplifier comprising a voltage limiting circuit for limiting the voltage across the memory cell for preserving the stored logic value, wherein the voltage limiting circuit includes a current sinker for sinking a clamping current, which is subtracted from the sense current and depends on the stored logic value.
US08259514B2
Some embodiments regard a circuit comprising a pre-charge circuit and a latch circuit. The pre-charge circuit charges a voltage node to a pre-determined voltage level based on which the latch circuit generates a feedback signal to stop the pre-charge circuit from charging.
US08259512B2
A low voltage sensing scheme reduces active power down standby leakage current in a memory device. A clamping device or diode is used between a Psense amplifier control line (e.g. ACT) and Vcc and/or between an Nsense amplifier control line (e.g. RNL*) and Vss (ground potential). The clamping diode is not enabled during normal memory operations, but is turned on during active power down mode to reduce leakage current through ACT and/or RNL* nodes. The clamping device connected to the ACT node may reduce the voltage on the ACT line during power down mode, whereas the clamping device connected to the RNL* node may increase the voltage on the RNL* line during power down mode to reduce sense amplifier leakage current through these nodes. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US08259510B2
A disturb-free static random access memory cell includes: a latch circuit having a first access terminal and a second access terminal; a first switching circuit having a first bit transferring terminal coupled to the first access terminal, a first control terminal coupled to a first write word line, and a second bit transferring terminal; a second switching circuit having a third bit transferring terminal coupled to the second access terminal, a second control terminal coupled to a second write word line, and a fourth bit transferring terminal coupled to the second bit transferring terminal; a third switching circuit having a fifth bit transferring terminal coupled to the fourth bit transferring terminal, a third control terminal coupled to a word line, and a sixth bit transferring terminal coupled to a bit line; and a sensing amplifier coupled to the bit line, for determining a bit value appearing at the bit line.
US08259497B2
A method for data storage includes storing first data bits in a set of multi-bit analog memory cells at a first time by programming the memory cells to assume respective first programming levels. Second data bits are stored in the set of memory cells at a second time that is later than the first time by programming the memory cells to assume respective second programming levels that depend on the first programming levels and on the second data bits. A storage strategy is selected responsively to a difference between the first and second times. The storage strategy is applied to at least one group of the data bits, selected from among the first data bits and the second data bits.
US08259496B2
A plurality of contact plugs to be connected to a drain region or a source region of each of transistors constituting a sub-word line driver that drives a sub-word line are formed, by using a SAC line technique of selectively etching an insulation layer that covers each of the transistors by using a mask having line-shaped openings provided across a portion in which the contact plugs of each of the transistors are to be formed.
US08259495B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix; a plurality of word lines commonly coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical first direction; a plurality of source lines commonly coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical first direction; a plurality of bit lines commonly coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical second direction intersecting the first direction; a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line; a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupled to the word line and a source grounded; and a control line commonly coupling the gates of the plural first transistors.
US08259491B2
Memory devices adapted to receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes initially programming a cell with a coarse programming pulse to move its threshold voltage in a large step close to the programmed state. The neighboring cells are then programmed using coarse programming. The algorithm then returns to the initially programmed cells that are then programmed with one or more fine pulses that slowly move the threshold voltage in smaller steps to the final programmed state threshold voltage.
US08259489B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array of electrically erasable programmable nonvolatile memory cells arranged in matrix, each memory cell using a variable resistor. A pulse generator is operative to generate plural types of write pulses for varying the resistance of the variable resistor in three or more stages based on ternary or higher write data. A selection circuit is operative to select a write target memory cell from the memory cell array based on a write address and supply the write pulse generated from the pulse generator to the selected memory cell.
US08259488B1
A Phase-Change Memory (PCM) having a temperature detector with a dedicated PCM bit programmed to an amorphous state and a circuit to determine that the dedicated PCM bit is no longer in the amorphous state. A temperature exposure signal is asserted to indicate that a high temperature has altered PCM device programming integrity.
US08259487B2
The semiconductor memory device includes an initialization memory cell having a first inverter circuit including a first transistor and a second transistor, and a second inverter circuit whose input portion is connected to an output portion of the first inverter circuit and output portion is connected to an input portion of the first inverter circuit, and including a third transistor and a fourth transistor. An absolute value of a threshold voltage of the third transistor is smaller than that of the first transistor.
US08259486B2
A write boost circuit provides an automatic mode control for boost with different modalities with respect to the external supply voltage and also with respect to the extent of boost required at different process corners. The write boost circuit also takes care of the minimum boost provided to process corners with good writability where less boost is required. The boost is realized in terms of ground raising in the particular context and in general applicable to all other methods.
US08259480B2
An arrangement for exchanging power with a three-phase electric power network comprises a Voltage Source Converter having three phase legs with each a series connection of switching cells. The three phase legs are interconnected by forming a delta-connection. The arrangement also includes a control unit configured to calculate a value for amplitude and phase position for a zero-sequence current for which, when circulated in the delta-connection circuit of the three phase legs, the balance of the total direct voltage of each of the three phase legs with respect to the other two phase legs is restored will there be an unbalance and control the semiconductor devices of switching cells of the phase legs to add such a zero-sequence current to the currents of each phase leg of the converter.
US08259465B2
A chip card holder is secured to a circuit board. The chip card holder comprises a hollow frame including an opening, a first board, a second board opposite to the first board, two opposite sidewalls and an end board opposite to the opening. The frame has two securing blocks protruding from the first board toward the second board and two latching blocks protruding from the end board; the securing blocks and the latching blocks are for latching the chip card holder to the circuit board.
US08259464B2
WLP semiconductor devices include bump assemblies that have a barrier layer for inhibiting electromigration within the bump assemblies. In an implementation, the bump assemblies include copper posts formed on the integrated circuit chips of the WLP devices. Barrier layers formed of a metal such as nickel (Ni) are provided on the outer surface of the copper posts to inhibit electromigration in the bump assembly. Oxidation prevention caps formed of a metal such as tin (Sn) are provided over the barrier layer. Solder bumps are formed over the oxidation prevention caps. The oxidation prevention caps inhibit oxidation of the barrier layer during fabrication of the bump assemblies.
US08259462B2
An electrical connector assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a micro chip (1) arranged on the insulative housing, a PCB (3) located below the insulative housing, a number of contacts (5) received in the insulative housing and a locking element (4) interconnecting the insulative housing onto the PCB. The contacts extend beyond an upper surface of the insulative housing and solder with the micro chip. The contacts extend below a lower surface of the insulative housing and contact with the PCB.
US08259461B2
Apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving a 3-D integrated circuit. One such apparatus includes a first die including a plurality of vertical connectors formed therethrough. The apparatus also includes a first circuit configured to encode multiple data bits into a multi-bit symbol, and provide the multi-bit symbol to two or more of the vertical connectors. The apparatus further includes a second circuit configured to receive the multi-bit symbol from at least one of the two or more vertical connectors, and decode the multi-bit symbol into the multiple data bits. The apparatus provides enhanced repairability with no or less redundant vertical connectors, thus avoiding the need for “on the fly” or field repair of defective vertical connectors.
US08259455B2
The invention relates to a protective device for an electronic component including at least one pin to be electrically connected to an electronic system. The device includes at least one flexible printed circuit including first and second opposite surfaces, a central portion including a through opening for receiving the pin, and flaps connected to the central portion. The printed circuit is made of two insulation layers and includes at least one first conducting track between the two insulating layers, connecting the pin to the electronic system, a second conducting track extending on the first surface, and a third conducting track extending on the second surface. The flaps are folded back at least partially onto each other in order to encapsulate the pin and to electrically connect the second and third conducting tracks.
US08259452B2
An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a pair of housings coupled to each other openably and closably by a hinge mechanism, and each of the housings comprises a front cabinet and a back cabinet joined to each other. The back cabinet of at least one of the housings is formed from a material having a greater expansion coefficient than that of a material forming the front cabinet, and the back cabinet of at least one of the housings has a cutting part extending in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof and longitudinally cutting at least a part of the back cabinet.
US08259451B2
A heat dissipation device is provided. The heat dissipation device includes an integrated heat spreader and a base plate coupled to the integrated heat spreader, wherein tile base plate comprises a plurality of metal pellets to dissipate heat from the integrated heat spreader.
US08259444B2
An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.
US08259436B2
An integrated capacitor assembly that contains at least two solid electrolytic capacitor elements electrically connected to common anode and cathode terminations is provided. The capacitor elements contain an anode, a dielectric coating overlying the anode that is formed by anodic oxidation, and a conductive polymer solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric layer. The capacitor elements are spaced apart from each other a certain distance such that a resinous material can fill the space between the elements. In this manner, the present inventors believe that the resinous material can limit the expansion of the conductive polymer layer to such an extent that it does not substantially delaminate from the capacitor element. In addition to possessing mechanical stability, the capacitor assembly also possesses a combination of good electrical properties, such as low ESR, high capacitance, and a high dielectric breakdown voltage.
US08259431B2
The invention relates to a variable capacitor array which has excellent controllability on a capacitance value and has variable and high tunability. The variable capacitor array includes a first variable capacitor (C1) having a capacitance which is varied according to application of voltage; a first terminal (O1) connected to one side of the first variable capacitor; a second variable capacitor (C2) having a capacitance which is varied by application of voltage; a second terminal (O2) connected to one side of the second variable capacitor; and a third terminal (I) connected to both of the other side of the first variable capacitor and the other side of the second variable capacitor, wherein a state can be selected by switching between at least two selection states among three selection states of a first selection state that the first terminal (O1) and the third terminal (I) are selected, a second selection state that the second terminal (O2) and the third terminal (I) are selected, and a third selection state that the first selection state and the second selection state are selected simultaneously.
US08259428B2
A voltage clamp protection circuit to protect against overvoltage conditions where there is insufficient current to blow a fuse. The voltage clamp protection circuit includes a voltage clamp and a thermal cutoff. The voltage clamp clamps any overvoltage to a clamping voltage. If an overvoltage condition persists for too long the voltage clamp dissipates a sufficient amount of heat to activate the thermal cutoff creating an open circuit that protects the rest of the circuit. The voltage clamp protection circuit may be used in combination with a variety of other protection circuits to provide increased protection.
US08259410B1
A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer for recording to media is described. The method and system include providing a first pole, a main pole, at least one coil and at least one auxiliary pole. The main pole is for providing a magnetic field for recording to the media. The coil(s) are for energizing the main pole. The auxiliary pole is magnetically coupled with the main pole. The shield(s) are for magnetically isolating a portion of the magnetic transducer. At least one of the first pole, the auxiliary pole, and the at least one shield includes a composite magnetic material including a plurality of ferromagnetic grains in an insulating matrix.
US08259393B2
An optical element includes a support plate composed of optically active material having an optic axis and at least two planar-parallel portions supported by the support plate, each of the at least two planar-parallel portions composed of optically active material having an optic axis. When a first linearly polarized light ray passes through a first section of the optical element along a direction parallel to the optic axes, a plane of oscillation of the first linearly polarized light ray is rotated by a first angle and when a second linearly polarized light ray passes through a second section of the optical element along a direction parallel to the optic axes, a plane of oscillation of the second linearly polarized light ray is rotated by a second angle different from the first angle.
US08259388B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber amplifier capable of suppressing oscillation of ASE. The optical fiber amplifier includes a second amplifier fiber 30 doped with a rare earth element; a second pumping source 26 that supplies pump light to the second amplifier fiber 30; a storage unit 40 for storing a relationship between oscillation threshold pump power and temperature of the second amplifier fiber 30, the oscillation threshold pump power being power of the pump light which causes oscillation of ASE in a different wavelength range from a signal wavelength range produced by the second amplifier fiber 30; and a temperature controller 38 for controlling the temperature of the second amplifier fiber 30 so that the oscillation threshold pump power is higher than the power of the pump light outputted by the second pumping source 26, by referring to the relationship stored in the storage unit 40.
US08259385B2
A method for operating a wavelength-converted light source includes directing a pump beam having a fundamental wavelength from the laser source into an input facet of the wavelength conversion device such that a wavelength-converted output beam is emitted from an output facet of the wavelength conversion device in the field of view of an optical detector. A physical property of the wavelength conversion device is varied within individual ones of a succession of consecutive speckle reduction intervals having durations less than the integration time of the optical detector. The physical property of the wavelength conversion device is varied by an amount that is sufficient to change in a phase-matched (PM) wavelength of the wavelength conversion device. The fundamental wavelength of the pump beam is thereafter adjusted based on the change in the PM wavelength to maintain an efficiency of the wavelength conversion in the wavelength conversion device.
US08259374B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a first determination unit that determines whether each of an image regions is for a vector image; a color number counting unit that counts the number of colors in the pixels of high-resolution image data; a frequency counting unit that counts a number of times where the difference between the colors of each of the pixels in the high-resolution image data and the colors of at least one pixel located around each of those pixels is greater than or equal to a threshold; a second determination unit that determines that the image region is not an image region for a vector image; and a generation unit that generates image data in which a process for rendering images in the image regions determined by the first determination unit to be image regions for vector images is defined by numerical values or numerical formulas.
US08259371B2
There are provided a first color processing step of performing color processing on an image read from a front side of a document and a second color processing step of performing color processing on an image read from a back side of the document. A color of the image color-processed in the first color processing step is set as an initial target. A color processing parameter used in the second color processing step is adjusted such that a color of the image color-processed in the second color processing step matches the initial target. The color processing parameters used in the first and second color processing steps are adjusted in multiple steps such that both the color obtained by the parameter adjustment and the color of the image color-processed in the first color processing step become closer stepwise to the color of the image color-processed in the second color processing step.
US08259370B2
An image reading device includes a reading unit for reading a document. The reading unit includes red color green color and blue color light sources and a plurality of light receiving elements aligned in a main scanning direction. In a pre-scan performed precedent to a main-scan, the reading unit reads a part of the document with a lower reading resolution than the reading resolution in the main-scan in order to gather information about the document placed on a document reading table. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of main-scan is set while changing the light amount from the light source and checking the outputs from the light receiving elements. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of pre-scan is calculated based on the optimum light amount set for the main-scan.
US08259367B2
A method and apparatus align an adjuster with an edge of media supported by a tray. The adjuster is operably coupled to a gauge that moves in response to movement of the adjuster. A sensor senses the gauge to detect a dimension of the media while the media is supported by the tray.
US08259362B2
An image forming system includes a first data compressing device, a data decompressing device, and an image forming device. The first data compressing device stores image data of a top line to be formed on a recording medium first and image data of a designated line other than the top line in a memory area with a data format capable of forming the original image data by itself, while generating difference data which indicates a difference between image data of a non-designated line other than the top and the designated lines and the image data of a line adjacent to the non-designated line, and stores the difference data in the memory area. The data decompressing device sequentially decompresses the image data of each line, based on the image data and the difference data. The image forming device forms an image on the recording medium, based on the decompressed image data.
US08259311B2
The invention relates to a system for determining a position by emitting a first laser beam (7) by a laser source (6) positioned in a reference system onto a detector (1) and simultaneously detecting the first laser beam (7) by the detector (1), thus defining an emission direction of the laser source (7). The detector (1) has a segmented detection area comprising a plurality of discrete partial detection areas (17), each having a defined partial detection direction and at least two partial detection directions thereof being different. When detecting the first laser beam (7), an impingement point (9) of the first laser beam (7) on the detector (1) is detected by means of at least one partial detection area (17), and when determining the incidence direction (10), said direction is derived from the at least one partial detection direction. The location of the detector (1) relative to the laser source (6) and the reference system is then determined using the emission direction and the incidence direction (10).
US08259302B2
A gyroscope system comprises a gyroscope block having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of passages that define a path; a plurality of mirrors each located in one of the plurality of cavities; at least one mirror drive coupled to one of the plurality of mirrors and configured to change a position of the respective mirror, wherein the path's length is changed by the change in the position of the respective mirror; a dither system coupled to the gyroscope block and configured to induce an angular rotation of the gyroscope block; and a controller configured to provide a dither signal indicative of a dither frequency to the dither system and a path length control (PLC) signal indicative of a PLC frequency to the at least one mirror drive. The controller is configured to calculate the PLC frequency as a function of the dither frequency.
US08259297B1
An optical metrology system collects data while scanning over the focal range. The data is evaluated to determine a peak intensity value from the data. In one embodiment, only data from one side of the peak value is used. The characteristic of the sample is determined based on the peak value. In one embodiment, monochromatic light is used. In another embodiment, polychromatic light is used and peak intensity values for a plurality of wavelengths are determine and combined to form a measured spectrum for the sample, which can then be used to determine the sample properties of interest. In one embodiment, the peak intensity is determined using curve fitting.
US08259296B1
An optical metrology system collects spectral data while scanning over the focal range. The spectral data is evaluated to determine a plurality of peak intensity values for wavelengths in the spectra. The peak intensities are then combined to form the measured spectrum for the sample, which can then be used to determine the sample properties of interest. In one embodiment, the peak intensity is determined based on the measured maximum intensity and a number n of intensity values around the measured maximum intensity, e.g., using curve fitting. If desired, the number n may be varied as a function of wavelength to vary the effective spot size of the metrology system while optimizing noise performance. The peak intensity may also be derived as the measured maximum intensity or through a statistical analysis.
US08259277B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined by crossing gate lines and data lines; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor formed at each crossing between the gate line and the data line on each pixel and having a gate electrode connected to the gate line and a source electrode connected to the data line; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; a plurality of column spacers formed between the first and second substrates and configured to maintain a gap therebetween; and a protrusion formed on the first substrate and overlapped with one or more of the plurality of column spacers, wherein the protrusion includes a first layer made of the same material as an active layer of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the active layer; a second layer made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the electrodes; and a third layer made of the same material as the pixel electrode and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode.
US08259276B2
An active device array substrate includes a substrate, a pixel array, a peripheral circuit, and a number of marks. The substrate has an active area and a peripheral circuit area that is connected to the active area. The pixel array is disposed on the active area of the substrate. The peripheral circuit is disposed on the peripheral circuit area of the substrate. Besides, the peripheral circuit includes a number of driver bonding pads, a number of fan-out lines, and a number of connecting lines. The fan-out lines are electrically connected to the pixel array. Each of the connecting lines connects one of the driver bonding pads and one of the fan-out lines. Additionally, the connecting lines are arranged in different pitches. Each of the marks is disposed between two adjacent connecting lines.
US08259266B2
An LCD device having a backlight module, a display module and an adhesive layer is provided. The backlight module has an inner fringe for holding the display module. The display module sequentially includes a lower polarizer, a display panel and an upper polarizer. The edge of the upper surface of the display panel is exposed because the area of the upper polarizer is smaller than the area of the display panel. The adhesive layer has a first adhesive film and a second adhesive film. The display module is disposed on the inner fringe of the backlight module by using the adhesive layer wherein the first adhesive film is on the side wall of the backlight module and portion of the edge of the upper surface of the display panel, the second adhesive film is on the portion of the first adhesive film and the exposed edge of upper surface of the display panel.
US08259263B2
A roll of optical-film laminate that increases accuracy, speed and yield in the production of liquid-crystal display elements. The roll of optical film laminate is for use in an apparatus for continuously producing liquid-crystal display elements. The optical film comprises a polarizing composite film of a laminate having a continuous web of polarizer and a protective film superposed on one side of the continuous polarizer, an adhesive layer disposed on one side of the laminate; and a carrier film superposed on the adhesive layer of the polarizing film in a peelable state. Defective and normal regions in the polarizing film are determined. According to these determined regions, coded information that specifies positions of slit lines to be formed in the optical-film web are recorded on the continuous web.
US08259259B2
An optically anisotropic film comprising at least one species of liquid crystal compound which exhibits a nematic phase or a smectic phase, the liquid crystal phase showing birefringence Δn(λ) at wavelength λ which satisfies the numerical expression (1) below is disclosed. Δn(450 nm)/Δn(550 nm)<1 (1)
US08259256B2
In a liquid crystal display device of a transflective type, the viewing angle characteristics of displaying in the transmission mode can be sufficiently improved, and yet bright displaying in the reflection mode can be realized. The liquid crystal display device is a liquid crystal display device of a transflective type including a liquid crystal display panel and an illuminator. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first light diffusing element disposed at the viewer's side of a liquid crystal layer and a second light diffusing element disposed at the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from the viewer.
US08259253B2
A backlight unit and a display apparatus are provided, the display apparatus including: a display panel on which an image is displayed; and a backlight unit which provides backlight to the display panel, the backlight unit including a plurality of light guide plates, a plurality of substrates which are respectively disposed on at least two surfaces of the corresponding plurality of light guide plates, and a plurality of light emitting units which are respectively disposed between the plurality of light guide plates, and respectively disposed on a surface of the corresponding plurality of substrates. Therefore, a heat radiating surface of a backlight unit is broadened, thereby improving a heat radiating effect and causing the backlight unit to be assembled easily.
US08259249B2
A display substrate includes a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. The first pixel electrode includes a plurality of first electrode bars. A data line provides a data voltage to the first pixel electrode. The second pixel electrode includes a plurality of second electrode bars alternately disposed with the first electrode bars. A first power line is formed adjacent to a gate line to provide a first voltage to the second pixel electrode. A second power line crosses the first power line and is electrically connected to the first power line. A first switching element is electrically connected to the data line, the gate line and the first pixel electrode. A second switching element is electrically connected to the first power line, the gate line and the second pixel electrode.
US08259246B2
Each retention capacitor line has retention capacitor line extension (18s) extending from an intersection of a retention capacitor line (18A) and a data signal line (15a) toward each of two intersections of the data signal line (15a) and two scanning signal lines (16a and 16b) adjacent to the retention capacitor line. The retention capacitor line extension (18s) has a part (M3) where the retention capacitor line extension (18s) and the data signal line (15a) overlap each other. A retention capacitor line sub-extension (18c) further extended from the retention capacitor line extension (18s) has a part (M4) where the retention capacitor line sub-extension (18c) and a drain drawing line (19a) overlap each other. On at least one side of an opening (K) of the scanning signal line (16b), the scanning signal line (16b) functions as a gate electrode (10a) of a transistor (12a).
US08259241B2
An autostereoscopic display apparatus (8), comprising: a plurality of individually addressable display elements (2) arranged in an array of rows and columns; and light directing means (15) comprising a plurality of light directing elements (16) at a slant angle (α) to the column direction (6); wherein the shape of the individually addressable display elements (2) substantially comprises the shape remaining from a rectangular footprint when one or more cut-outs (2c) is removed; the one or more cut-outs (2c) being positioned relative to the slanted angle (α) of the light directing elements (16) such as to provide a reduction in brightness variation along the row direction (4) compared to what individually addressable display elements shaped according to the rectangular footprint would provide.
US08259233B2
A system for processing a television (TV) picture-out-picture (POP) includes a line buffer, a first multiplexer, an image processing engine, a scaling engine and a timing generator. The line buffer receives partial pixels of a first picture and partial pixels of a second picture. The first multiplexer selects the partial pixels of the first and second picture as an output. The image processing engine performs an image processing on the partial pixels output by the first multiplexer to thereby produce processed pixels. The scaling engine performs a scaling operation on the processed pixels to thereby produce scaled pixels. The timing generator produces a timing signal for the image processing engine and the scaling engine and produces enable signals respectively for the first picture and the second picture. The image processing engine and the scaling engine process the partial pixels of the first or second picture in multiplexing.
US08259225B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for interpolating frames. In one embodiment, a system and method provides reduced halo and consequently a higher degree of accuracy/fidelity. In one embodiment, a method of video frame interpolation includes receiving forward and backward motion estimation data based on a first video frame and a second, subsequent, video frame. Each block in a plurality of blocks of pixels in an intermediate frame between the first and second frames is classified according to measures of covering and uncovering associated with the forward and backward motion estimation data. A block to be constructed is estimated based on the classification results of proximal ones of the plurality of blocks to the block to be constructed.
US08259224B2
A method of setting a location of an imaging device includes (a) preparing a base unit, the base unit including a lens and a mounting boss; (b) mounting an imaging device, on which a reference point is formed, to a circuit board; (c) forming a mounting hole at a predetermined location of the circuit board based on the reference point of the imaging device; and (d) mounting the circuit board to the base unit by inserting the mounting boss into the mounting hole.
US08259217B2
A fast focusing method for a digital camera is applied in an auto focusing stage for judging whether the digital camera needs to be refocused. The fast focusing method includes recording a system time after a previous focusing (defined as a first time); capturing a system time before a current focusing (defined as a second time); performing a fuzziness detection procedure to acquire a focus value when a difference obtained by subtracting the first time from the second time is greater than a focusing time threshold; setting a focusing focal length range covering a reference focal length when the focus value is between a lower limit focusing threshold and an upper limit focusing threshold; capturing images at different focusing focal lengths respectively in the focusing focal length range; calculating a contrast value of each image; calculating a target focal length from the contrast values through a quadratic curve approximation method.
US08259205B2
There is provided a solid-state image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixel units, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element, a signal line which reads out signals from said plurality of pixel units, a first capacitor element which has a first electrode connected to the signal line, an amplifier which has an input terminal connected to a second electrode of the first capacitor element, and a second capacitor element connected between the input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier, wherein the first capacitor element has a capacitance value which is smaller at the time of execution of an adding mode than at the time of execution of a non-adding mode, and thereby making an amplification factor of the amplifier smaller at the time of execution of the adding mode than at the time of execution of the non-adding mode.
US08259200B2
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section receiving color light and interpolation light including at least a part of a wavelength range of the color light in order to interpolate the brightness of the color light and converting the received color light and interpolation light into a signal; a control section controlling a first exposure time of the color light and a second exposure time of the interpolation light separately according to the brightness of an object to be imaged; and an image creating section creating an image on the basis of a color signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the color light, during the first exposure time controlled by the control section and on the basis of an interpolation signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the interpolation light, during the second exposure time controlled by the control section.
US08259199B2
An array of active pixels comprises rows of pixels and row select lines for selecting rows of pixels. Each active pixel comprises a buffer amplifier for buffering an output of a photo-sensitive element. An output of the buffer amplifier can be selectively put into a high impedance state, by control of the input of the buffer amplifier, when there is a defect in the row select line for that pixel. This allows other rows, which are defect-free, to remain operating as normal. A disable line can be provided for a row of pixels and each pixel can have a switch connected to the disable line. Alternatively, a first supply line powers a row of pixels. Each pixel comprises a reset switch connected between a photo-sensitive element and the first supply line for resetting the photo-sensitive element. The array is configured such that, in the event of a defect in a row select line, the first supply line is set to ground, or a low voltage, and the reset switch is turned on to put the buffer amplifier into the high impedance state.
US08259184B2
In an imaging apparatus with a shake correction function, the influence of front curtain shock is prevented from being exerted on a shake correction function section (shake correction drive). The imaging apparatus includes a shake detection sensor 171 that detects an amount of shake applied to a digital camera, a shake correction unit 200 that performs a shake correction drive of an imaging device 101 on the basis of a shake amount detection signal, a shutter unit 40 that is arranged immediately in front of the imaging device 101 and performs an optical-path opening operation and an optical-path blocking operation for opening and blocking an optical path of light guided to the imaging device 101, a timing control circuit 51 that supplies a predetermined reset signal to each pixel for each predetermined pixel line so as to start exposure on the imaging device 101, and a shutter control section 623 that controls exposure of the imaging device 101. At the time of shooting, the shutter control section 623 executes an electronic shutter control (electronic focal plane shutter) for starting exposure on the imaging device 101 by means of the reset signal supplied to each pixel from the timing control circuit 51.
US08259180B2
The invention is concerned with an imaging capability estimation method and apparatus for an image-formation optical system, which can match the results of direct estimation of an actually visible image to the visibility of that image and is less vulnerable to image processing. According to the method and apparatus, an image of a random pattern 1 is formed through an image-formation optical system S to be inspected. A texture attribute is calculated from the picked-up random pattern image, and the obtained texture attribute is used to make an estimation of the imaging capability of the image-formation optical system S.
US08259174B2
A method for estimating the horizon in an image of a camera to provide camera auto-calibration in the pitch direction. The method includes taking an image of a scene and generating a texture map of the image using horizontal edge detection analysis to locate horizontal edges in the scene. The method also includes providing a motion map by providing image differencing between subsequent images to find areas in the scene with no motion while the vehicle is moving. The texture map and the motion map are combined to identify the areas in the image that do not move and contain horizontal edges. A horizontal projection is generated from the combined map by counting white dots in the map in the horizontal direction. The horizontal projection is smoothed to eliminate noise and the location of the horizon is estimated in the image by identifying the maximum peak in the horizontal projection.
US08259167B2
A scattering medium internal observation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a light source; an illuminating apparatus that guides light from the light source to an observation object that is a scattering body; and an observation optical system for observing the observation object illuminated by the illuminating apparatus, wherein the illuminating apparatus has a light-guiding member that guides light from the light source to a surface of the observation object, and a light-shielding member that covers the surface of the observation object and which shields light reflected or scattered in the vicinity of the light-guiding member of the observation object is disposed in the vicinity of an end portion of the light-guiding member on an observation object-side.
US08259166B2
A display device for capturing and displaying images along a single optical axis, having an image capture device for capturing the objective image through the display panel when the display device is in a second transmissive state; an image supply source for providing an image to a display panel when the display panel is in a first display state; a mechanism for alternating placing the display panel between the first display state and second transmissive state such that an image can be viewed on the display screen and the object can be captured such that the alternating between the first display state and the second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of the display panel; and a mechanism for providing digitally image processing for captured images prior to display.
US08259165B2
The invention relates to an image display device comprising an imaging matrix, which consists of imaging elements which are arranged in a lateral manner, for example, lenticulars or a lens array, and a plurality of point elements which are disposed on a object plane and which are formed from the imaging elements in an observation chamber. In order to reduce imaging errors resulting in the image field curvature of the individual imaging elements of a large observation angle, compensation by a correction matrix, which contains a plurality of optical corrections elements, takes place. An optical correction element is associated with each individual optical imaging element. Said invention can be used, for example, in image or video display devices, such as autostereoscopic displays, multi-user-displays with sweet-spot-units and multi-view-displays, in order to image illuminating elements. The invention also relates to displays comprising a sweet-spot-unit, which can be switched for one or more observers into a two-dimensional mode and also in an autostereoscopic mode.
US08259161B1
Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and non-transitory computer readable media that relate to stereoscopic image creation. A camera captures an initial image at an initial position. A target displacement from the initial position is determined for a desired stereoscopic effect, and an instruction is provided that specifies a direction in which to move the camera from the initial position. While the camera is in motion, an estimated displacement from the initial position is calculated. When the estimated displacement corresponds to the target displacement, the camera automatically captures a candidate image. An acceptability analysis is performed to determine whether the candidate image has acceptable image quality and acceptable similarity to the initial image. If the candidate image passes the acceptability analysis, a stereoscopic image is created based on the initial and candidate images.
US08259159B2
An integrative spectacle-shaped stereoscopic video multimedia device includes a blinder and a video device disposed in the blinder. The video device includes two digital camera modules, an adjusting device for adjusting an axle distance and included angle between the digital camera modules, a binocular stereoscopic viewing module, a viewing module hole distance adjusting mechanism, sound pickups, loudspeakers, a memory, a plurality of analog/digital converters, a processor, a power source, and process control software coordinating the above members. The invention has advantages of a simple structure, a low cost, and a vivid stereoscopic effect, and is suitable for personal use.
US08259158B2
A method for improving image quality in an image processing device comprises receiving an image signal comprising a plurality of field signals corresponding to a plurality of fields, each field signal comprising a plurality of pixel signals corresponding to a plurality of pixels, and each pixel signal comprising an original chrominance value and a compensating chrominance value; replacing the compensating chrominance value of a pixel signal in every field signal by the original chrominance value of another pixel signal of a same position in another field signal, and generating a primary compensating result corresponding to every pixel signal; calculating a primary weighted sum of a pixel signal corresponding to every pixel and a primary compensating result corresponding to the pixel signal according to a degree of variation corresponding to every pixel of every field; and outputting the primary weighted sum corresponding to every pixel, to output primary compensating field signals.
US08259157B2
A teleconference terminal apparatus includes: imaging field changing control means for carrying out control of an imaging field changing unit designed to change the position of the imaging field of an imaging unit; preset information managing means; image signal transmitting means for outputting and transmitting an image signal to another teleconference terminal apparatus; still image generating means for generating still image information based on an image signal obtained by the imaging unit; and transmitted image control means for controlling the image signal transmitting means to transmit an image signal based on an image signal obtained by the imaging unit during a first period in which the imaging field changing control means does not carry out position changing control, and controlling the image signal transmitting means to transmit, during a second period in which the position changing control is carried out, an image signal based on still image information generated by the still image generating means when the second period is initiated.
US08259149B2
An image forming apparatus includes a light source, a polygon mirror, and a plurality of photosensitive elements. The polygon mirror has a plurality of reflection surfaces that reflect a light beam at different angles. The light beams deflected by the reflection surfaces travel along different optical paths and impinge on different photosensitive elements. A light-beam control unit controls emission of the light beam from the light source depending on a distance between the deflecting unit and the photosensitive elements thereby performing an fθ correction of the light beam.
US08259147B2
An image forming apparatus in which a BD signal, which is a main-scanning reference signal, and image data are input to an image signal generating unit. Using a converting unit, main-scanning coordinate information, output from a main scanning coordinate measuring counter, and correction amounts, recorded in a correction amount LUT, are referred to, to convert a proper amount of image data. Here, the converting unit performs calculations in accordance with the main-scanning coordinate information, to obtain the image data of correction amounts that differ in accordance with coordinates. The correction amounts are in correspondence with different amounts of driving current in a main-scanning direction. Therefore, laser light emission, which provides a light quantity in accordance with the image data, is controlled.
US08259135B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for handling portrait mode oriented display surfaces without requiring expensive hardware in the display sub-system are disclosed. For example, an apparatus is disclosed such that the rendering of graphics data to the portrait mode display surfaces is redirected at rendering time such that there is no need for adding complicated hardware in the display part of the graphics adapter in order to handle conventional displays—all of which have no circuitry to deal with data natively stored in a portrait mode surface. Additionally, an apparatus to handle direct surface access of a surface through a surface lock which has already been rotated is already described. This can either be done by copying of surface data or by an optimized proposed apparatus which eliminates this copy. Other implementations are also disclosed.
US08259134B2
Visual items may each be constructed and placed in position using logic defined by a view component corresponding to each visual item, where that logic may depend on one or more values populated into parameter(s) of the view component. Some of those parameter values may correspond to known model parameter values. Others, however, may have been solved for using a model that defines analytical relationships between the model parameters. In one embodiment, which of the model parameters are known, and which are unknown, may not be predetermined. Accordingly, a solver might be prepared for multiple solve operation paths even using a single model. The view composition process may be entirely data-driven, with the solve and/or the visual items implemented using spreadsheets.
US08259133B2
An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a moving unit configured to move a display position of an image displayed on a display screen; a setting unit configured to set a compressed image display area in the image; and a compression unit configured to, when a nondisplay area that is not displayed on the display screen is created in the image by the moving unit, compress the nondisplay area so that the nondisplay area fits within the compressed image display area and is displayed on the display screen.
US08259128B2
The image is broken down into a breakdown color space. For each broken down source pixel, if a source point PS0j is used to represent the end of the color source vector OPS0j associated with said source pixel, component points P1j, P2j, . . . , Pkj, . . . , Pnj are used to represent the ends of the color component vectors OP1j, OP2j, . . . , OPkj, . . . , OPnj associated with the component pixels, if a limit sphere of radius LS0j is defined, centered on the point PS0j, then said breakdown is such that the following applies: PS0Pj1, PS0Pj2, PS0Pjk, . . . , PS0Pjn≧KS0j×LS0j, with KS0j≧0.5. The effectiveness of the scrambling is then significantly enhanced.
US08259125B2
Methods for gamut mapping and boosting a color saturation of a color signal having multiple colors and a color value for each color. An example method includes mapping each color from a first to a second color space, adjusting each color in the mapped color signal including boosting a color saturation; determining a maximum color value of the color signal; and, in response to a determining that the maximum color value exceeds a maximum displayable color value, setting the color value of the color having the maximum color value to be equal to the maximum displayable color value and scaling color values of colors not having the maximum color value.
US08259122B1
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for programmable processing in a computer graphics pipeline. Initially, data is received from a source buffer. Thereafter, programmable operations are performed on the data in order to generate output. The operations are programmable in that a user may utilize instructions from a predetermined instruction set for generating the same. Such output is stored in a register. During operation, the output stored in the register is used in performing the programmable operations on the data.
US08259121B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for video processing modules. More specifically a network is disclosed for processing data. The network comprises a register DMA controller adapted to support register access and at least one node adapted to the data. At least one link communicates with the node, and is adapted to transmit data and at least one network module communicates with at least the link, and is adapted to route data to at least the link.
US08259119B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for dynamically switching between a power-saving integrated graphics processing unit (IGPU) and a higher-performance discrete graphics processing unit (DGPU). This technique uses a single graphics driver and a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and leverages the GPU switching capability of the operating system to ensure a seamless transition. When additional graphics performance is desired, the system enters a hybrid graphics mode. In this mode, the DGPU is powered-up, and the graphics driver maintains the current display, while the operating system switches applications running on the IGPU to the DGPU. While in the hybrid graphics mode, the DGPU performs the graphics processing, and the graphics driver transmits the rendered images from the DGPU to the IGPU local memory and, then, to the IGPU DAC. This image transmission allows applications to fully exploit the processing capabilities of the DGPU, while using the display device connected to the IGPU.
US08259115B2
There is provided a graph display apparatus. An image display control unit causes a display unit to display the image data stored by the image and graph formula storage unit. An formula input unit inputs a graph formula according to a user operation. An input graph display control unit causes the display unit to display a graph corresponding to a graph formula input by the formula input unit, on the image data displayed on the display unit by the image display control unit as a background image. A model graph display control unit causes the display unit to display, in a different display mode, a graph corresponding to a model graph formula stored by the image and graph formula storage unit, together with the graph displayed on the image data as the background image on the display unit by the input graph display control unit, according to a user operation.
US08259108B2
A visualization of an image data record of an organ enclosing a cavity, in particular a CT image data record of a colon, that is reliable and has a low level of computational complexity, is performed according to a method. In at least one embodiment of the method a virtual viewer position outside the organ tissue is defined; an interface between the organ tissue and the cavity is defined with the aid of the image data record; from the middle of the cavity local gradients, that specify the rise in the absorption behavior between a gas contained in the cavity and the organ tissue, are determined; starting from the viewer position, a search beam is defined and an angle between the search beam and the gradients is determined; and a transparency value is allocated to the organ tissue as a function of the angle during visualization.
US08259103B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing position pegs between objects and a three-dimensional reference grid that is displayed in design software application programs. The reference grid appears infinite in space and scale. A position peg that includes a stalk and base is drawn between each object and the reference grid. The stalk indicates the height of the object above or below the reference grid, and the base is positioned on the reference grid. An inside radius of the base indicates the distance between the object and the reference grid. The position pegs are independent of the viewing projection and allow an end user to sense how objects in workspace relate to each other in terms of position and scale. The reference grid and position pegs provide an end user with reference imagery for camera-operation visualization and scene content understanding.
US08259100B2
Fixed path transitions in a virtual universe environment are provided. In one embodiment, tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object in a virtual universe is received. The range comprises a viewable field. In response to the tracking data indicating an occurrence of a trigger condition associated with a fixed path rule, a fixed path defined by the fixed path rule is identified. A speed of movement and an orientation of the object associated with the fixed path rule is identified. Movement of the object along the fixed path defined by the fixed path rule is initiated. The object then moves along the fixed path at the identified speed and with the orientation associated with the fixed path rule.
US08259095B2
A method of making a display includes providing a display substrate having a plurality of control electrodes in a display area; locating a plurality of chiplets responsive to a controller to provide current to the control electrodes, each chiplet having a separate substrate, at least one pixel connection pad electrically connected to a control electrode, and one or more test light emitters formed in the chiplet responsive to the current provided on the control electrodes to emit light; controlling the chiplets to pass current through one or more of the test light emitters formed in the chiplet to emit light; detecting the light emitted by the test light emitters to determine faulty chiplets or chiplet interconnections; replacing or repairing the faulty chiplets or chiplet interconnections; and forming an organic light emitting diode over the substrate in the display area connected to the control electrodes.
US08259075B2
A configuration for layout of keys of a keyboard is provided. The keyboard configuration includes a set of keys having a first character value and a second character value. The set of keys is configured in a layout in which a row of keys has consecutive characters corresponding to the first character value, for example, ‘Q’, ‘W’, ‘E’, ‘R’, ‘T’, and ‘Y.’ The second character values on the keys are grouped according to one of a plurality of groupings. Each grouping of the plurality of groupings comprises adjacent keys of the plurality of keys. The plurality of groupings is distributed across the keyboard, for example, in different zones. The groupings include, for example, mathematical operands, punctuations, and numerals. A symbol key can toggle a key between the first character value and the second character value.
US08259066B2
An impact force feedback device and an interactive system using the same are provided, wherein a large impact force feedback is generated to provide a real force feedback sensation to the user. The impact force feedback device includes a housing, a magnet, and at least one actuator assembly. The housing carries the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a guide rod device, a mass, and a coil. The guide rod device is disposed on the housing. The mass is disposed on the guide rod device in a sliding manner. The coil generates an electric field when a current is conducted through it. An electromagnetic force is generated by supplying the current in a direction orthogonal to a magnetic field. The electromagnetic force is supplied to the mass such that the mass moves on the guide rod device and impacts the housing to generate the unidirectional impact force feedback.
US08259065B2
A tilt-wheel mouse circuit is provided. Without adding more I/O pins, the tilt-wheel mouse circuit provides extra scrolling-left and scrolling-right functions through an external-extend circuit and firmware of a micro-controller within the tilt-wheel mouse circuit. It follows that the cost of the manufacturing of the tilt-wheel mouse is accordingly low and the package size of the micro-controller is accordingly small.
US08259064B2
An operation estimating portion estimates an input operation on the basis of motions of a nail and a finger which are shot, the directions, the number thereof or others. On the basis of estimation results of the input operation, a controller controls display content on a display and an application now in execution. The operation estimating portion includes a skin region extractor for extracting a skin region (first region) containing a nail region (second region) from a shot image, a nail region extractor for extracting the nail region from the thus extracted skin region, and a motion detector for following up a temporal change in the thus extracted nail region to detect motions of the nail region, thereby estimating the input operation on the basis of detection results of the motion detector.
US08259063B2
The present invention relates to an input method of a pointer input system. A setting procedure and a correcting procedure having been performed on the pointer input system to obtain a space conversion relationship and an over-bright position. The input method includes steps of inputting at least a light spot into a projection screen, capturing the light spot by a photosensing system to obtain a light-spot image, recognizing at least a relevant light spot of the light-spot image by checking whether the light-spot image excluding the over-bright position complies with a light-spot characteristic situation so as to obtain at least a light-spot data, and converting the at least a light-spot data into at least an input data of a data processing system according to the space conversion relationship.
US08259052B2
An apparatus and method for driving a liquid crystal display device are disclosed in which the response speed of the liquid crystal can be increased without using a digital memory. The driving apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel with gate lines and data lines arranged perpendicularly to each other, a gate driver that supplies a gate pulse to the gate lines, and a data driver. The data driver samples an input N-bit digital data signal to generate an analog data voltage, generates a modulated data voltage for acceleration of a response speed of the liquid crystal according to an M-bit data value of the sampled digital data signal, mixes the modulated data voltage with the analog data voltage, and supplies the mixed data voltage to the data lines.
US08259045B2
A flat panel display is disclosed. The flat panel display includes a display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, pixels arranged in a matrix format, and a pixel array that allows images to be simultaneously displayed on one screen by suitably disposing the images on one screen, a data drive circuit supplying data to the data lines, a gate drive circuit supplying scan signals to the gate lines, a scalar board converting a resolution of each of the images, and a control board that supplies data received from the scalar board to the data drive circuit and controls operation timing of the data drive circuit and operation timing of the gate drive circuit. a ratio of a horizontal length to a vertical length of the pixel array is 21.3-26.7:10.
US08259040B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display of improved an image quality. The organic light emitting display includes a frame memory for storing a data to correspond to a write clock and outputting the data stored according to a read clock; a signal generation unit for supplying the read clock; a data driver for converting the data, supplied from the frame memory, into a data signal and supplying the converted data signal to data lines; a scan driver for supplying a scan signal to scan lines; and pixels arranged near crossing points between the scan lines and the data lines, wherein the read clock has a higher frequency than the write clock.
US08259034B2
An original monochrome image recorded with an FPD (flat panel detector) which comprises an array, m rows and n columns, of pixels is reduced and converted into a display image which comprises an array, q rows and (3*n*q/m) columns, of pixels before the display image is transferred to a monochrome liquid crystal display equipped with a monochrome LCD which comprises an array, q rows and P columns, of pixels, where m, n, q, and P are natural numbers and m≦n, q
US08259033B2
A shape-memory reflector is provided according to various embodiments. The shape-memory reflector may comprise any of various shapes; for example, the shape-memory reflector may comprise an off-axis paraboloid or a non-asymmetric shape. The shape-memory reflector may include a plurality of panel shape-memory stiffeners and a plurality of longitudinal stiffeners. In a stowed configuration, the shape-memory reflector is stowed with reversing bends in the panel shape-memory stiffeners. In a deployed state, the panel shape-memory stiffeners may be unfolded and/or extended. The reflector transitions between the stowed and deployed states by heating the panel shape-memory stiffeners. Various methods for stowing and deploying the shape-memory reflector are also disclosed.
US08259018B2
An antenna device includes a housing having a lower portion for coupling to a non-magnetic option coupler of a vehicle, an insulating member engaged in an upper chamber of the housing, a conductor member engaged into a central bore of the insulating member for engaging with the non-magnetic option coupler, a conductive coupling element having a lower portion engaged into the housing, and a coaxial radiating assembly includes a coaxial radiating device having a central radiating member for connecting to the conductor member, and a peripheral radiating member for connecting to the conductive coupling element, and an insulating element mounted between the central radiating member and the cylindrical radiating member.
US08259015B2
An antenna module includes first, second, and third conductor arms. The second conductor arm has first and second end portions, and is coupled to an end portion of the first conductor arm to form a substantially T-shaped connection. The third conductor arm is spaced apart from the first and second conductor arms by first and second gaps, respectively, and is disposed parallel to the first conductor arm. The first end portion of the second conductor arm and the third conductor arm are electrically coupled to a coaxial cable for receiving two signals therefrom, respectively. The second end portion of the second conductor arm is electrically coupled to a ground cable for grounding.
US08259007B2
A partitioning system includes a decomposer module, a supply and cell commonality computation module, a network structure setup module, a seed selection module, an optimization setup module, a solver module, and a boundary creation module. A network structure is created by connecting each cell to each of its neighboring cells using bi-directional arcs. Each bi-directional arc is assigned a flow value and a cell commonality metric. The optimization program is solved to determine the flow value for each bi-directional arc and to determine a plurality of open seeds. Each determined seed represents one partition. Partition boundaries are created by grouping cells when they are connected to each other via one of the updated set of bi-directional arcs into cell clusters. Cells within cell clusters are merged to create the predetermined number of contiguous partitions.
US08259005B1
A true time delay beamforming system and calibration method for transmission and reception of a beam is disclosed. The true time delay beamforming system comprises at least one input signal received by at least one signal conditioning device, wherein the signal conditioning device is adapted to provide selective, independent, and variable control of one of a phase delay, a time delay and an amplitude of the input signal to produce an output signal. A control logic device is adapted to provide a control logic signal to the at least one signal conditioning device for selectively activating and controlling the signal conditioning device. The true time delay beamforming system may further include an automatic calibration system that generates an error correction signal based on errors detected in the output signal, and selectively adjusts the control logic signal based thereon.
US08258999B2
A method for onboard determination of a roll angle of a projectile. The method including: transmitting a polarized RF signal from a reference source, with a predetermined polarization plane; receiving the signal at a pair of polarized RF sensor cavities positioned symmetrical on the projectile with respect to the predetermined polarization plane; receiving the signal at a third polarized RF sensor cavity positioned such that it receives a maximum signal at zero roll angle positioning; differentiating between up or down positioning of the desired roll angle position based on an output from a fourth sensor on the projectile; analyzing an output of the pair of polarized RF sensor cavities and the third RF sensor cavity resulting from the received signal and an output of the fourth sensor; generating a curve based on the output of the pair of polarized RF sensor cavities and the third RF sensor cavity indicating a relationship between roll angle and the third sensor output; and determining a roll angle positioning of the projectile based on the curve.
US08258996B2
A synthetic aperture radar hybrid-quadrature-polarity method and architecture comprising transmitting both left and right circular polarizations (by alternately driving, at the minimum (Nyquist) sampling rate, orthogonal linear feeds simultaneously by two identical waveforms, +/−90° out of phase), and receiving two orthogonal linear polarizations, coherently. Once calibrated, the single-look complex amplitude data are sufficient to form all Stokes parameters, which fully characterize the radar backscatter.
US08258990B2
An integrator includes an operational amplifier, a first filter connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and a second filter connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The first filter includes n resistive elements connected in series, and (n−1) capacitive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the resistive elements and the other end connected to ground. The second filter includes n capacitive elements connected in series, and (n−1) resistive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the capacitive elements and the other end connected to ground.
US08258985B2
A scanning circuit includes n input ports K1˜Kn arranged in n rows L1˜Ln; and m−2 output ports W2˜(m−1) arranged in m columns P1˜Pm. The n rows and the m columns define a switch matrix including n*m switches. Ends of the switches in the same row are connected to one of the n input ports K1˜Kn, respectively. The ends of the switches in the column P1 are connected to ground. The ends of the switches in the same column of the columns P2˜P(m−1) are connected to a power supply VCC via resistors R2˜R(m−1) and the m−2 output ports W2˜W(m−1), respectively. The ends of the switches in the columns Pm are connected to ground via a resistor Rs and the power supply VCC via the resistors R2˜R(m−1) and diodes D2˜D(m−1), respectively.
US08258979B2
The emergency vehicle alarm system and method allows a user to select an emergency vehicle alert as a telematics service in a mobile vehicle. Once the user selects the alert service, a telematics operations center determines a service fee, bills the user, and debits the user's account accordingly. The emergency vehicle alert telematics service warns a civilian vehicle of an approaching emergency vehicle. The system includes a transmitter located in the emergency vehicle that transmits a signal adapted for reception by a receiving module of a telematics system located in the civilian vehicle. When the emergency vehicle signal is received by the receiving module in the civilian vehicle, an audio and/or visual alert is generated to alert the occupants of the civilian vehicle that an emergency vehicle is nearby. The civilian vehicle's telematics system may also display relative positioning of the emergency vehicle and the civilian vehicle.
US08258978B2
Techniques are described that may be implemented in a mobile electronic device providing navigation functionality to furnish a notification that the indicated speed limit of a roadway being traversed has changed. In an implementation, the display of the mobile electronic device is configured to display navigation information including a roadway graphic representing a roadway being traversed by the mobile electronic device and a speed limit indicator graphic for indicating the speed limit associated with the roadway. When a change in the indicated speed limit is encountered, an attribute of the navigation information is temporarily altered to provide a notification of the change.
US08258975B2
A system for communicating with downhole tools and devices is disclosed. The system includes multiple communication devices which, in combination, permit operators at the surface to operate downhole tools and to receive feedback regarding the state of the tools.
US08258966B2
A device and related method for monitoring, detecting and/or controlling pests such as rodents and insects, including termites, are disclosed which comprises: (a) encouraging a first characteristic behavior by the pests that is indicative of the presence of one or more of the pests; (b) discouraging a second characteristic behavior by the pests that at least partially interferes with detection of the first characteristic behavior; and (c) observing, detecting or sensing an occurrence of the first characteristic behavior by one or more of the pests. In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one photonic device; a light conductive assembly in optical association with the at least one photonic device, the assembly comprising first and second spaced apart components having first and second opposed light transmitting surfaces forming between them a spatial region adapted to contain a pest bait member comprised of one or more materials susceptible to consumption or displacement by the pests.
US08258952B2
A system for tracking treatments for at least one plant includes an electronic tag associated with the at least one plant, an electronic tag interrogator configured to interrogate the electronic tag, and a treatment apparatus for applying treatments to the at least one plant.
US08258940B2
A power line communications system includes slave apparatuses individually connected to multiple electric power line wirings; a master apparatus connected to one of the multiple electric power line wirings; and couplers each connected between the master apparatus and the others of the multiple electric power line wirings. The master apparatus includes a communicator for performing power line communications with the slave apparatuses via the electric power lines; a power supply terminal device connected to the one electric power line wiring; a communication connector provided between the communicator and the power supply terminal device; and a coupler connecting terminal device connected to each of the couplers via a signal line. The communication connector has a first capacitor connected to the power supply terminal device for cutting off a frequency component of commercial power supply and transmitting a frequency component for use in the power line communications, and a first transformer connected between the first capacitor and the communicator. The coupler connecting terminal device is connected between the first capacitor and the first transformer.
US08258937B2
A method of transmitting driver specific vehicle data includes entering driver specific hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) operating parameter settings for a plurality of drivers into a vehicle controller; identifying a vehicle driver; displaying driver specific HEV data within the vehicle; and configuring HEV operating parameters in accordance with the driver specific HEV operating parameter settings.
US08258922B2
A receiving module, checking module, and a controller are provided. The receiving module is configured for receiving external wireless signals. The checking module is configured for checking whether a current wireless signal comprises checking codes of a control signal which is configured for controlling the electronic device and, if yes, generating an activation signal. The controller is configured for switching the electronic device into a power-saving mode if no external wireless signal is received after a predetermined time period and switching the electronic device into a normal mode if the activation signal is received.
US08258920B2
Systems, methods, and kits for automatically activating a garage door opener. A garage door opener system is supplemented with motion sensor technology or RFID technology to allow for automatic activation of a garage door opener. An automobile that is moving near or is proximate to a garage associated with at least one garage door opener can cause the garage door opener to be automatically activated to open or close a garage door that is operatively connected to the garage door opener.
US08258918B1
An RFID reader controller and methods of controlling an RFID reader by an RFID reader controller are provided to limit or prevent the issuing of confidential information such as encryption keys, passwords, shared secrets, and the like to RFID tags if a reader is not authorized. A controller may determine the authorization status of a reader and limit its communication with the reader or instruct the reader to limit an operational aspect of the reader.
US08258913B2
A fuse element includes a first conductive part and a second conductive part, and a fusible body which electrically connect the first conductive part and the second conductive part, and fuses when an overcurrent flows itself. The fusible body is formed in a plate shape. The fusible body has a first connection portion, a second connection portion and a fusing member, both ends of the fusing member being connected to the first connection portion and the second connection portion respectively. The fusing member is displaced from the first connection portion and the second connection portion in a first direction being intersect with a second direction in which the first and second connection portions are arranged.
US08258911B2
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of compact coil power transformers configured to provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages. Compact coil transformers are provided across which power may be transmitted and received by primary and secondary coils disposed on opposing sides of a substrate without high voltage breakdowns occurring therebetween. At least portions of the compact coil transformer are formed of an electrically insulating, non-metallic, non-semiconductor, low dielectric loss material. The compact coil transformers may be formed in small packages using, by way of example, printed circuit boards, flex circuits, lead frames, CMOS and other fabrication and packaging processes.
US08258909B2
A foldable polymer-based coil structure and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The coil structure has metal wirings and interconnections between the wirings. The wirings and connections are embedded by a polymer. The coil structure is foldable in two or more layers. In the folded condition, coils of one layer overlap the coils of another layer. A stackable structure and jigs for aligning the foldable and stackable structures are also disclosed.
US08258907B2
A highly coupled inductor includes a first ferromagnetic plate, a second ferromagnetic plate, a film adhesive between the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate, a first conductor between the first plate and the second plate, and a second conductor between the first plate and the second plate. A conducting electromagnetic shield may be positioned proximate the first conductor for enhancing coupling and reducing leakage flux. A method of manufacturing a highly coupled inductor component includes providing a first ferromagnetic plate and a second ferromagnetic plate, placing conductors between the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate, and connecting the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate using a film adhesive.
US08258904B2
A magnetic latching solenoid having a coil assembly, a ferromagnetic core slideably fitted to linearly translate upon excitation of the coil assembly by a pulse of electric current, a stationary electromagnetic pole positioned in line with the ferromagnetic core, at least one flux conductor and a frame, all forming a magnetic flux circuit. A contact area between a face of the ferromagnetic core and a face of the stationary electromagnetic pole is reduced by respective recesses in the ferromagnetic core and the electromagnetic pole, each recess having opposing inclined walls extending from the respective face to a common apex defining a depth of the recess, and forming a residual planar surface of concentrated flux density surrounding the recesses.
US08258898B2
A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising a single main housing containing multiple circuit breakers for protecting multiple branch circuits. Each of the circuit breakers comprises a single line terminal for receiving electrical current from a utility line, a plurality of load terminals for supplying electrical current from the single line terminal to a plurality of branch circuits via load lines, and a plurality of neutral terminals for receiving electrical current returned from the branch circuits via neutral lines Line conductors inside the main housing connect the line terminal to the plurality of load terminals. Sensors inside the main housing generate signals representing characteristics of the electrical current flow in the branch circuits, and a signal processor uses the signals generated by the sensors for detecting abnormal conditions in the branch circuits and generating trip signals in response to the detection of an abnormal condition. A single tripping mechanism between the line terminal and the load terminals receives the trip signals and interrupts the flow of current to the branch circuits in response to a trip signal.
US08258894B2
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter device includes a first port, a second port, a first coupled resonator filter stage, a second coupled resonator filter stage and a filter section. The first coupled resonator filter stage includes a first BAW resonator connected to the first port and a second BAW resonator acoustically coupled to the first BAW resonator. The second coupled resonator filter stage includes a third BAW resonator connected to the second port and a fourth BAW resonator acoustically coupled to the third BAW resonator. The filter section includes a fifth BAW resonator, the fifth BAW resonator connected between the second BAW resonator and the fourth BAW resonator.
US08258892B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for high-speed bandpass serial data communication. A driver receives at least one data signal and generates a bandpass data signal for transmission through a bandpass waveguide interconnect. The bandpass data signal is launched into the bandpass waveguide interconnect using a first adaptor and extracted therefrom after transmission using a second adaptor. A receiver connected to the second adaptor recovers the at least one data signal from the extracted bandpass data signal. A dispersion compensation circuit receives one of the at least one data signal and the bandpass data signal and information indicative of a phase response of the bandpass waveguide interconnect and dispersion compensates the one of the at least one data signal and the bandpass data signal by compensating the phase response of the bandpass waveguide interconnect.
US08258891B2
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, interdigital electrodes arranged on the piezoelectric substrate, a first dielectric element arranged between the interdigital electrodes, a second dielectric element that covers the interdigital electrodes and the first dielectric element, and an adjustment element that has been formed on the first dielectric element. The adjustment element has been formed from a material whose specific gravity is greater than that of the first dielectric element and that of the second dielectric element.
US08258877B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are described that provide for low phase-noise, spectrally-pure, and low-jitter signals from electrical oscillators. An aspect of the present disclosure includes utilization of an open-loop feed-forward phase-noise cancellation scheme to cancel phase noise, or jitter, of an electrical oscillator. Phase noise can be measured and then subtracted, with the phase noise measurement and subtraction being performed at a speed faster than phase noise variations of the oscillator. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes use of a feedback scheme for phase noise reduction. A feedback scheme can be used alone or in conjunction with a feed-forward scheme. Related phase-noise cancellation and/or reduction methods are described. Notch filter and RF amplifier circuits are also described.
US08258873B2
An apparatus and method include a transmission line carrying a propagating signal between an inlet port and an outlet port. The propagating signal can include a forward traveling wave and optionally a backward traveling wave. A feedback stage samples a the propagating signal at the outlet port, generates a feedback signal the includes a time translation and a gain translation in the feedback energy, and routes the feedback signal to the inlet port such that the gain translation constructively interferes with the forward traveling wave and thereby increases the amplitude of the forward traveling wave.
US08258870B2
A digitally-controlled analog gain circuit supports at plurality of gain settings in which gain changes are made from a first setting to a new setting in response to a clocking signal of a non-uniform rate. The non-uniform rate clocking signal can be created pseudo randomly by applying a periodic sequence of clock pulses to a linear feedback shift register. Alternatively, the non-uniform rate clock signal can be created by applying a noise source to a phase detector input of a phase locked loop. The clocking signal can be generated by an oscillator, or as a sequence of pulses output by a zero crossing detector. Finally, the gain circuit can apply positive gain to the signal. Alternatively, the gain circuit can apply a negative gain (attenuation) to the signal.
US08258861B2
A system for reducing power consumption in a transistor-based system includes a measurement circuit and a comparator. The measurement circuit measures a delay of a transistor-based device and produces a control signal corresponding to the measured delay. The comparator compares the control signal to a predetermined threshold. Adjusting a power supply voltage of the transistor-based system based at least in part on a result of the comparison reduces the power consumed by the system.
US08258860B2
A circuit, an adjusting method, and use of a control loop for adjusting a data retention voltage and/or a leakage current of a CMOS circuit for a sleep mode, wherein the CMOS circuit is operated to control in a measuring mode, whereby in the measuring mode a leakage current exclusively flows through the CMOS circuit, the control loop in the measuring mode adjusts the data retention voltage and/or the leakage current, and the adjustments of the control loop for the sleep mode are stored.
US08258859B2
A voltage reducing circuit includes an internal power supply section configured to reduce an external power supply voltage supplied from an external power supply to an internal power supply voltage which is lower than the external power supply voltage based on a reference voltage. A first current control section is configured to control a current flowing through the internal power supply section when the internal power supply voltage is lower than a setting voltage. A second current control section is configured to control the current flowing through the internal power supply section when the internal power supply voltage exceeds the setting voltage.
US08258856B2
An antifuse circuit includes a protection circuit. The antifuse circuit receives a program voltage using a non-connection (NC) pin or ball of a semiconductor device. The protection circuit prevents an unintended voltage lower than the program voltage from being applied to the antifuse circuit.
US08258852B2
A motor driver circuit for driving the gate node of a high-side driver transistor to a boosted voltage from a charge pump draws little or no static current from the charge pump. The gate node is pulled to the boosted voltage by a p-channel pullup-control transistor that is driven by p-channel transistors that are pumped by capacitors that cut off current flow to ground from the charge pump. An n-channel output-shorting transistor shorts the gate node to the output when the high-side driver is turned off. A coupling capacitor initializes the shorting transistor for each output transition. A p-channel output-sensing transistor generates a feedback to a second stage that drives the coupling capacitor. P-channel diode transistors and an n-channel equalizing transistor control the voltage on the coupling capacitor.
US08258851B2
There is provided a method for testing a switching circuit including a first FET connected between input/output terminals, a capacitor connected between one of the input/output terminals and the first FET, and a second FET that is connected in parallel with the capacitor and has a gate electrode connected to a ground terminal. The method includes, applying a potential that sets the second FET to a conducting state to the ground terminal, and testing a DC test for the first FET via the second FET.
US08258849B2
A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving (a) a downmix signal being generated from plural-channel signal and (b) spatial information indicating attribute of the plural-channel signal, in order to upmix the downmix signal; obtaining inter-channel phase difference(IPD) coding flag indicating whether IPD value is used to the spatial information from a header of the spatial information; obtaining IPD mode flag indicating whether the IPD is used to frame of the spatial information from the frame based on the IPD coding flag; obtaining the IPD value from a parameter band in the frame based on the IPD mode flag; generating plural-channel signal by applying the IPD value to the downmix signal, wherein the spatial information is divided by header and a plurality of the frame and wherein the IPD value indicates phase difference between two channels of the plural-channel signal and wherein the parameter band is at least one sub-band of frequency domain including the IPD value.
