US08267369B2
A fan-fixing device for fixing a fan on an installation panel which has a plurality of holes includes a body, a driving part and an elastic assembly. The body has a fixing portion for fixing the fan, at least one track is formed on a side thereof, and at least one first combined part is disposed on an opposite side thereof, wherein the combined part penetrates at least one of the holes. The driving part slidably disposed on the track. The driving part further has at least one second combined part, which penetrates at least another one of the holes. The elastic assembly is arranged between the body and the driving part. As a result, the first combined part and the second combined part can be fixed in the holes via force pushing the driving part, and can be departed from the holes via releasing the force.
US08267362B2
A mounting bracket mechanism includes a first stand, at least one beam locked on the first stand, at least one second stand disposed on a side of the first stand and locked on an end of the beam in an adjustable manner relative to the beam, and least one hanger for connecting a monitor and hanging the monitor on the beam so as to fix the monitor.
US08267361B1
An attachment for a photographic instrument including a camera, comprising a transverse rotatable member having a top arcuate vertical support. A first top arcuate member is comprised of a gap and a second top arcuate member has an arcuate recess, wherein the top arcuate vertical support is connected to the respective first and second top arcuate member, which forms a seat as a housing of a universal joint. The universal joint is affixed to a shaft having a concentric bearing, which is further affixed to the camera mount, so that the camera mount can be rotated. A pin is affixed to the universal joint opposite to where the shaft is affixed. When the shaft having the bearing is downwardly and rotatably positioned inside of the recess, the pin is also upwardly positioned inside of the gap.
US08267349B2
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a gear train defined along an engine centerline axis, and a spool along the engine centerline axis which drives the gear train, the spool includes a low stage count low pressure turbine.
US08267348B2
Unmanned aircraft used as a platform for telecommunication or other scientific purposes at a predetermined altitude in the stratosphere. The unmanned aircraft includes a pressurized balloon filled with gas and that supports the platform. The pressurized balloon is arranged within an outer balloon provided with an aerodynamic external shape in the stratosphere and forms a low-pressure or high-pressure insulating chamber around the pressurized balloon. A heating and cooling system circulates medium in the insulating chamber and electrically driven propellers are located outside the outer balloon to maintain the position of the platform relative to the Earth. The negative effects that extreme differences in temperature have on the gas pressure in the pressurized balloon are thus largely cancelled such that the pressurized balloon can be made of a lighter and cheaper material and the service life thereof is effectively extended.
US08267328B2
The invention relates to a fitting, in particular a washstand or bathtub fitting comprising an electronic control device for controlling a mixing device or a shut-off device for closing a pipe and an operating device, which is formed by a plate which is contact-sensitive and/or which is provided with proximity switches, for operating the control device. The plate is embodied in such a manner that at least two parameters from a group comprising a temperature parameter, a dispensing parameter, a volume flow rate parameter and a time parameter can be set at the same time by means of a sweeping motion, which is executed on the surface of said plate, by means of selectively touching different areas of the surface thereof and/or by means of a contact-free motion in front of the surface thereof.
US08267327B2
A payment card manufacturing process glues a thin battery and an autonomously reprogrammable magnetic device to the inside surface of one of two outer front and rear laminate sheets. The magnetic device is pressed through a precisely cut rectangular hole provided for it in the rear laminate sheet, and is sealed with a gasket bead. Such magnetic device is critically placed flush in a magnetic stripe area, and the end gaps are such that they will minimize adverse magnetic transitions seen by a reader between the magnetic stripe field and the autonomously reprogrammable magnetic device. The surfaces of the battery, electronics, and laminate sheets, are plasma treated to promote adhesion. These are then all sandwiched together inside a heated mold that is tilted or vibrated just before a two-part polyurethane is injected. Each of the two polyurethane parts is temperature adjusted to match viscosities and thus improve mixing. The liquid polyurethane is injected through a nozzle and manifold to fill all the voids between the laminate sheets, and air escapes or is vacuumed out the top edge of the mold. The polyurethane sets quickly and sheets of sixteen or more payment cards can then be de-molded and singulated.
US08267325B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes: a first substantially inelastic portion (12); a second substantially elastic portion (14); and an RFID inlay (16) provisioned to wirelessly communicate with a reader device, wherein the RFID inlay (16) is at least one of carried on or encapsulated in the first portion (12). A compressible foam or mesh (13) is provided to create an air gap to increase the read range of the RFID inlay (16).
US08267324B2
An antenna interface of a contactless device including a current source configured to provide a current signal which is dependent on a radio frequency field; and a pause detector coupled to the current source and configured to detect a field pause from the current signal and output a field pause signal.
US08267320B2
A system utilizes an optical scanner to scan a printed configuration label on which is printed a printed system configuration code. The printed system configuration code describes a system configuration of the system, and is used to dynamically configure the system.
US08267308B2
The invention relates to a method for setting up a fluid treatment apparatus using a single, and always accessible, reader of information relating to replaceable components which are to be mounted on the apparatus to perform the fluid treatment. It is also disclosed a fluid treatment apparatus having the always accessible reader. The reader can also be relied on to enter information other that those relating to the replaceable components, such as commands for the apparatus, patients' related information, etcetera.
US08267307B1
Systems and methods for using information, provided in association with a shipping parcel containing or associated with the goods, by a shipping service provider and a recipient of the goods are shown. According to one embodiment, coded data, such as provided in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or barcode, is used to identify the parcel and the goods, either directly or through correlation with other information, such as shipping information and/or inventory information. The coded data is preferably in a format readable by both the shipping service provider and the recipient of the parcel.
US08267300B2
A surgical instrument including a shaft and an end effector. The end effector may comprise a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw may be movable relative to the second jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The surgical instrument may comprise a closure assembly which may be operably engaged with the first jaw. The closure assembly may comprise a closure trigger and a dampening system. The closure trigger may be configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position to close the first jaw. The dampening system may be configured to retard the opening of the closure trigger. The dampening system may comprise an aperture configured to receive the projection at a first end of the aperture and a seal configured to form a fluid seal between said projection and said aperture sidewall.
US08267295B2
A combustion powered nail gun includes a combustion sleeve moveable between a sealed position and an open position; a trigger switch having a first hook portion; a safety lever pivotally mounted in a housing and provided with a second hook biasable to be engaged with the first hook portion; and a restriction member connected to and moveable along with the combustion sleeve in a way that when the combustion sleeve is in the open position, the restriction member is stopped at the safety lever in which the second hook portion is engaged with the first hook portion so as to lock the trigger switch, and when the combustion sleeve is in the sealed position, the restriction member is spaced away from the safety lever to enable the second hook portion to be biasable away from the first hook portion so as to unlock the trigger switch.
US08267292B2
A load carrier for a vehicle roof is disclosed. The load carrier includes at least one load profile which, in use, extends along the vehicle roof. The load profile has a first part and a second part which are movable relative to each other in their longitudinal direction. The first part that in use is positioned next to the vehicle roof having at the top an undercut groove which extends in the longitudinal direction of the first part and in which engages, in a longitudinally displaceable manner, at least one slideway belonging to the second part and having a shape matching the undercut groove.
US08267279B2
A dosage-dispensing device has a drive unit and a receiver for a dosage-dispensing unit. The drive unit has a drive shaft. The dosage-dispensing unit has a delivery orifice with a closure element that is disposed in the delivery orifice. The closure element is coupled to the drive shaft when the device is in an operating state. The closure element provides the delivery orifice with an aperture cross-section that varies between a closed position and a maximally open position. To couple the drive shaft to the closure element and to open the delivery orifice, the drive unit linearly advances towards the dosage-dispensing unit. A closure spring holds the closure element in a closed position up to the point of complete coupling. To prevent premature opening of the delivery orifice during the coupling process, the drive shaft has limited linear mobility in a direction away from the dosage-dispensing unit.
US08267276B2
A cap for holding a powder to be mixed with a fluid in a bottle has a product cap with a reservoir. The product cap has a top wall and a side wall. The product cap has a number of inner protrusions on the side wall and a number of outer protrusions on the side wall. A cylindrical safety gate has a number of grooves. The inner protrusions of the product cap mate with the grooves of the safety gate. The cylindrical safety gate has a gate and an aperture at an end of the cylindrical safety gate. A bottle cap with a cylindrical body has a threaded end and a gate end. The gate end has a number of grooves that mate with the outer protrusions. The bottle cap has a gate and an aperture between the threaded end and the gate end.
US08267273B2
A conical hole plug for efficiently sealing various size and configuration holes and openings. The conical hole plug generally includes a first elongated portion including a first inner end and a first outer end, wherein the first inner end is opposite the first outer end and wherein the first elongated portion includes a first tapered outer surface extending inwardly toward the first outer end. A second elongated portion extends from the first elongated portion, wherein the second elongated portion includes a second inner end and a second outer end, wherein the second inner end is opposite the second outer end and wherein the second inner end extends from the first inner end and wherein the second elongated portion includes a second tapered outer surface extending inwardly toward the second outer end.
US08267269B2
The present invention is directed to a collapsible food guard for displaying and serving food comprising a resilient transparent cover assembly for a substantially planar base. The cover assembly is substantially semi-cylindrical of a predetermined radius and has closed opposing ends. The cover assembly is reversibly pivotably attached to a base and has downward facing edges to seal the cover to the base when the cover is pivoted in the down (closed) position. The semi-cylindrical portion of the cover assembly is a resilient transparent shield that reversibly detachable from the arched surfaces of the closed opposing ends (side walls) and is sufficiently resilient such that when detached form the arched surfaces of the opposing side walls, it assumes the substantially planar shape in which it was initially molded. This resiliency allows the collapsible food guard to collapse into planar elements (side walls, shield and optional base) requiring minimal storage space and providing easy cleaning.
US08267267B2
A foam retainer constructed with a having hollow tubular body including a receiving end and a discharge end. A passage is formed within the hollow tubular body through which a liquid is adapted to flow. The discharge end of the hollow tubular body is adapted to snugly fit onto an open end of a container into which the liquid flows. As the container is filled with the liquid, the foam generated during the dispensing of the fluid rises back into the discharge end of the hollow tubular body. In the hollow tubular body, the foam is received and captivated therein such that when the hollow tubular body is removed, the foam may also be removed from the container.
US08267264B2
A device, method and system for automatic calibration of a container crane, the container crane being controlled by a system including a first sensor (LPS) and/or a second sensor (TPS), are provided. A calibration rig is arranged in a fixed position and includes a plurality of markers, each arranged at a known and fixed position and distance relative to one another. The markers may include a first marker with a first visual appearance, or active marker and/or a second marker with a second visual appearance, or passive marker. The active marker is preferably an illumination source, such as an IR source. A method for calibrating a container crane using the calibration device and a container control system including the calibration device and one or more computer programs are also described.
US08267261B2
A rack assembly for transportation and display of potted plants and similar articles. The rack includes vertical supports, and a plurality of trays that are slidingly supported on the posts. The trays are extensible from a retracted position in which the trays are arranged in compact, vertically spaced relationship for transportation, to a deployed position in which the trays extend on opposite sides in an alternating arrangement with increased vertical spacing, and are tilted to a downwardly angled orientation so that the plants can be readily viewed and accessed by customers and other personnel. The posts and trays are mounted on a mobile frame that includes stabilizer legs which prevent the assembly from tipping when the trays are in the deployed position. The posts and trays are removable from the frame, and can be broken down for storage.
US08267260B2
A storage device includes a supporting frame, a storage unit, a partitioning component, and a connecting belt. The supporting frame includes a hanger and is formed with an engaging hole. The storage unit is coupled detachably to the supporting frame, and includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall cooperating with the bottom wall to define a storage space. The partitioning component is disposed in the storage unit for dividing the storage space into at least two compartments. The connecting belt is for connecting the partitioning component to the supporting frame.
US08267252B2
A battery holding and dispensing device can hold a plurality of batteries, in an assortment of battery sizes. The battery holding and dispensing device includes a frame having a plurality of compartments sized and shaped to each receive a battery of a particular battery size and each having a detent for releasably retaining the battery in the compartment. Each compartment has at least one opening in the bottom and lower side to expose a corner of the battery to allow finger ejection of the battery from the compartment past the detent, and to allow the user to touch the batteries to ascertain battery size by feel. The assortment of batteries held in the frame is preferably pre-selected to correspond to the batteries needed by a particular profession. An arrangement for illuminating the frame is provided.
US08267249B2
A forward leaning, hinged-lid storage and dispensing box is described, suitable for use with flat, stacked articles such as index or playing cards, dry stiff articles and pads such as cleaning or burnishing pads, or the like. Minimally the box of the present invention comprises in combination; a back panel; side panels; a bottom panel; a front panel; a top panel; and, a lid hinged to the front panel that forms at least a portion of both the front and top panels of the closed box, and wherein the lid drops and opens forward on at least one hinged connection, and wherein the front panel is angled forward from vertical at least a few degrees. In this way, stacked flat articles loaded into the box will necessarily lean against and parallel to the inside surface of the front wall, ready for easy reach and removal one-at-a-time by the consumer.
US08267240B2
An auger conveyor includes a housing, at least one first mounting bracket, at least one second mounting bracket, an auger screw and one or more auger support assemblies. The first mounting bracket has a first landing and the second mounting bracket has a second landing. The first and second mounting brackets are attached to the housing at diametrically opposite positions. The one or more auger support assemblies each have a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly. The auger screw has a rotational axis and is rotatably mounted relative to the bushing assembly. First and second ends of the lateral member each have a geometry adapted to slidably engage with the first and second landings, respectively. The auger screw and the one or more auger support assemblies are adapted to be received within and removed from the housing as an assembled unit, through the first end of the housing.
US08267238B2
A banknote depositing machine has a receiving unit which takes in inserted banknotes, a stacking unit which stacks said banknotes, a transporting unit which transports the banknotes between said receiving unit and said stacking unit, a recognition unit which is provided in said transporting unit, and identifies and counts the banknotes, a storing unit which receives the banknotes from said stacking unit and stores the banknotes, and a controlling unit which, if said recognition unit has judged a banknote as abnormal, stops said transporting unit.
US08267233B2
A hydraulic system for controlling a double-clutch transmission operating with wet clutches. A pump provides a system pressure in a supply line, and a control valve for applying to individual clutch actuators an actuation pressure that is derived from the system pressure and that is modulated in accordance with the operating conditions. A charging valve directs hydraulic fluid delivered by the pump into a return line when the system pressure is reached, wherein the hydraulic fluid flowing through the return line can be fed to the clutches to cool them.
US08267219B2
In a steering system for a vehicle incorporated with a rear drive electric motor (5) for driving a pair of rear wheels (3rl, 3rr) that can function as a regenerative brake for the rear wheels, a steering torque control unit (38) reduces a steering assist torque provided by the power steering assist unit (21) when the rear drive electric motor is providing a regenerative braking. When the rear wheels are braked by a regenerative braking action without substantially applying a brake to the front wheel, the vehicle may acquire a temporal oversteer tendency. However, by increasing the effort required to steer the front wheels, such a tendency can be canceled or compensated, and the vehicle operator is enabled to control the vehicle without experiencing any unfamiliar feeling or discomfort. The effort required to steer the front wheels can be increased by decreasing the assist steering torque or providing a reactive steering torque at such a time.
US08267215B2
There is provided a drinking level detecting system and a drinking level detecting method capable of improving the detection accuracy of the drinking level by allowing a third person to correct the drinking level of a driver. In a system or method which detects the drinking level of a driver of a vehicle, the drinking level of the driver is detected by an alcohol detector or the like, and the detection result is corrected by a third person other than the driver when there is an error in the detection result. Accordingly, even when the drinking level detected by the alcohol detector or the like is incorrect, the drinking level can be corrected after ensuring reliability by the determination by the third person.
US08267201B1
A method and apparatus for disposing of drill cuttings 500 from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform 510, comprising providing a barge 10, the barge 10 having at least one storage area 30, a cover 100 operably connected to the at least one storage area placing the cover 100 in a first open state so that cuttings 500 can be placed in the at least one storage area 30; transporting the drill cuttings placing the cover 100 in a closed state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 of the barge 10 are contained; transporting the barge 10 from the drilling platform 510 to a collection site 540; placing the cover 100 in a second open state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 can be removed; and removing the cuttings 520 from the storage area 30.
US08267185B2
A method for heating a subsurface formation includes applying heat from a plurality of heaters to at least a portion of the subsurface formation. A portion of one or more of the heaters are allowed to move relative to the heaters respective wellhead using sliding seals to accommodate thermal expansion of the heaters.
US08267174B2
An anchoring device for stopping movement of a sliding component in a mandrel or case is disclosed. The anchoring device includes an elastically deformable anchor seat and an elastically deformable anchor retainer insertable into the anchor seat. The anchor seat has a groove profile thereon which will mate with a groove profile on the mandrel in an anchoring position. The retainer is insertable into the anchor seat and will hold the anchor seat in the anchoring position.
US08267170B2
A plurality of first barrier wells are formed in a formation for a first barrier. A substantially constant spacing separates adjacent first barrier wells. The formation is analyzed to determine the principal fracture direction of at least one layer of the formation. An offset distance of second barrier wells relative to first barrier wells is determined based on the principal fracture direction to limit a maximum separation distance between a closest barrier well and a theoretical fracture extending between the first barrier and the second barrier along the principal fracture direction to a distance of less than one half of the spacing that separates adjacent first barrier wells. The second barrier wells are offset from the first barrier wells by a distance that is at least substantially the same as the offset distance.
US08267168B2
A flow regulator includes a flow regulating part configured to receive at an inlet a working fluid at a first pressure and to release the working fluid at an outlet at a second pressure; a slide provided inside the flow regulating part and configured to move along an axis to reduce the pressure of the working fluid; a control part attached to the flow regulating part, the control part including a chamber; a spring housing provided in the chamber and connected to the slide though a shaft, the spring housing configured to move the slide along the axis; a cap provided in the chamber and facing the spring housing, the cap being configured to have plural blind holes; and plural pins extending along the axis and attached to the spring housing, the plural pins being configured to enter the plural blind holes.
US08267166B2
An arrangement for heat transport used for thermally insulating, or cooling, one or several elements. A casing is arranged to enclose a medium having heat-storing or cooling capacity. The casing has an internal space for receiving the element or elements and the medium with the medium surrounding the element or elements. The arrangement includes guides arranged in the internal space of the casing so as to guide the medium in the internal space such that a circulation and mixing of the fluid will be generated essentially throughout the internal space under the action of occurring temperature differences in the medium, whereby the natural tendency for temperature stratification of the medium is counteracted or eliminated. A corresponding method, the use of an arrangement for protecting a subsea installation or a part thereof from cooling, and use of an arrangement for efficient cooling an electrical appliance.
US08267149B2
A method of processing metal, metallic alloys, and metal matrix composites in a plastics injection molding machine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a plastics injection molding machine having a screw. A step of removing the screw is included in the method. A step of replacing the screw with a modified screw configured and arranged for processing metals is also included. Alternatively, a step of removing the flights from the middle portion of the original screw shaft may be included.
US08267148B1
A hybrid ceramic/sand casting method of manufacturing a metal part. The method is especially suitable for parts having one or more very small internal gaps, such as might occur with a linear passage or round opening. These parts are formed using a hybrid core having at least one ceramic section and at least one sand section, with the ceramic section being used to create the internal gap. A mold cavity is created for the part, and the hybrid core is positioned in the mold. Molten metal is introduced into the mold, and after the metal cools, the core is removed, thereby forming the part with the internal gap.
US08267144B2
Present invention teaches to build a Roman shade window curtain where a roller shade is used in the back side of said window curtain, to provide for the release/retraction control, resulting in a “cord-less” control for the actuation of a Roman shade, which hangs down from a special head rail on top, with the roller shade fabrics slideably travel down the gaps between each horizontal fold created by the rib, clip and rib rod.
US08267141B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a heat insulator, including: a frame having a feeder provided at front side of the frame for feeding a cross-linked foam polyethylene sheet and a winder provided at rear side of the frame for winding a completed heat insulator; a cutting part provided at a leading side of the frame, a widening part provided at a rear side of the cutting part, which is for transforming the cutoff slots into cells by widening a width of the cross-linked foam polyethylene sheet formed with the cutoff slots; a cooling part provided at a rear side of the widening part, which has cooling rollers to continuously maintain a widened width of the cross-linked foam polyethylene sheet and a shape of the cells transformed from the cutoff slots; and a sheet-attaching part provided at a rear side of the cooling part.
US08267139B2
A method for manufacturing a laminated mould part, preferably of a mould part for the inner trim of a vehicle, consisting of a shape-stable carrier part and a visible-side lamination connected to this, of film, fabrics or similar decorative lamination materials, with which a heated blank of a mat-like or plate-like semifinished product of fibre materials containing binding agent, is moulded into a mould part in a moulding tool, and thereby simultaneously is connected to the lamination (one-shot method). The lamination is regionally connected with the help of “rams” before the moulding procedure or lamination procedure with the semifinished product, in order to achieve an exact positioning of a seam or likewise.
US08267136B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a heavy-duty pneumatic tire that is capable of suppressing deterioration by oxidation at a portion of a high heat generation in a bead portion, and that is excellent in sustainability of inner pressure holding performance as well as in durability. The heavy-duty pneumatic tire of the present invention includes a carcass and an inner liner disposed closer to the center of the tire than the carcass. The heavy-duty pneumatic tire is characterized in that one of a thermoplastic resin and a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing a blend of a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer is disposed at a position closer to the center than the carcass in the bead portion in such a manner as to wrap at least a region extending to a front end PB of a bead toe or a region extending further from the front end PB of the bead toe to a portion beneath the bead, and the one of the thermoplastic resin and the thermoplastic elastomer composition containing the blend of the thermoplastic resin with the elastomer overlaps the inner liner by at least 2 mm in a tire width direction.
US08267131B2
A studless tire capable of exhibiting excellent performances on both icy road and snow-covered road, including tread portion 2 having a pair of middle circumferential grooves 3b each extending in a region between 15% and 25% of tread width TW from tire equator C to provide crown region CR between the middle grooves 3b and a pair of shoulder regions Sh between the middle groove 3b and ground contact edge E, wherein the crown region CR includes rows R1, R2 of blocks B having sipes S and defined by zigzag inner circumferential grooves 3a and crown lateral grooves 4a, 4b, each shoulder region Sh includes rows R3, R4 of blocks B having sipes S and defined by linear outer circumferential grooves 3c and shoulder lateral grooves 4c, 4d, and groove area rate Gs (%) of shoulder regions Sh is larger than groove area rate Gc (%) of crown region CR so that the difference (Gs−Gc) is from 3 to 7%.
US08267127B2
A method for contamination-free transfer of liquid from one container to another, and devices to carry out the method are disclosed. Contamination-free transfer means that during the transfer process there is no (1) leakage of (a) the liquid, (b) air contaminated by the liquid, and (c) vapor from the liquid to the surroundings, and (2) surrounding contaminants from outside the containers that contact the liquid. The method's advantages include its simplicity, and the contamination-free transfer as defined above. The devices are adapted to effect contamination-free transfer of a hazardous drug to and from any container equipped with a standard connector port.
US08267121B2
A valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly may include a housing having an interior chamber, inlet port, outlet port, and control port. The valve assembly may further include a valve member configured to move within the interior chamber to permit flow between the inlet port and the control port and between the outlet port and the control port. The valve assembly may further include and an actuator configured to move the valve member to form a first opening and second opening to create flow forces tending to close the first and second opening. The valve member may also include a passageway in the valve member configured to direct fluid flow from the inlet port to the control port and from the control port to the outlet port, and counteract the flow forces at the first and second opening.
US08267103B2
Provided is an apparatus for cleaning and drying a substrate by applying a plurality of chemicals and gases to the substrate. The apparatus may include: a substrate support member including a chuck receiving a substrate; a first nozzle member injecting a drying fluid onto a top surface of the substrate for drying the substrate; a low cover including an opened top and enclosing the chuck; and an upper cover selectively closing the opened top of the low cover so as to dry the substrate in a closed space. Therefore, the apparatus dries a substrate more efficiently and protects the substrate from being contaminated by foreign pollutants. Furthermore, generation of an undesired oxidation layer on the substrate can be prevented.
US08267094B2
Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway.
US08267087B2
A device is provided for adsorbing and desorbing anesthetic has good control of anesthetic dispensing such as in an anesthetic system. An adsorption filter is provided with adsorption beds (13, 14), which can be pivoted between an inspiration line (4) and an expiration line (6). The anesthetic is dispensed in the expiration line (6) on the incoming flow side of the adsorption bed (14) arranged there.
US08267081B2
A therapy utilizing inhaled anesthetic agents (such as desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, or xenon) for the sedation of patients outside of the immediate perioperative space such as in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The therapy includes controlled delivery of volatile anesthetic agents to patients undergoing ventilatory support on an ICU ventilator over extended periods of time. A system which provides for the delivery of anesthetic agents includes an anesthetic agent vaporizer element, an anesthetic agent reflector, and a plug-in cassette which contains both a cartridge housing liquid phase volatile anesthetic agent and an anesthetic vapor scrubbing medium.
US08267079B2
A cartridge having an ejection head for ejecting medicine and a reservoir as integral parts thereof is provided with an electric connection section on a lower surface of a junction forming section thereof to be brought into contact with an inhaler body. As the cartridge is put into the inhaler body and secured to the latter by means of a cartridge fixing member, the electric connection section of the cartridge is brought into contact with an electric connection section arranged on a top surface of a cartridge mounting section of the inhaler body to establish electric connection between the cartridge and the inhaler body.
US08267073B2
A housing has an intake passage extending substantially in a vertical direction of a vehicle. A valve is configured to open and close the intake passage. A shaft supports the valve. A bearing supports the shaft. A hose is connected with an upper side of the housing in the vertical direction and configured to lead intake air into the intake passage. A communication passage configured to communicate an inside of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle with the hose. The communication passage has an opening in the vicinity of a point directly above the bearing. The hose has a wall surface defining a condensate passage, which connects the opening with a target location from which condensate is to be dropped.
US08267071B2
The invention relates to a device for separating liquids from gases, especially for separating oil particles from blow-by gases of the crankcase ventilation of internal combustion engines.Proceeding from the drawbacks of the known prior art, a device is to be provided that is characterized by a simple, cost-effective and space-saving construction and with which a high separation performance can be achieved. As a solution, it is proposed that the individual flow tubes 2 have at least one tangentially arranged gas inlet 3 at their end facing towards the direction of gas inlet and are closed at the front side 2a adjacent thereto by means of a cover 5, wherein a combined rotational and axial flow with a vortex component is generated in the flow tubes 2, wherein the rotational flow in the individual tubes 2 repeatedly rotates by 360°.The individual flow tubes 2 are part of a base support that has a circumferential edge 1a. A base support has, for example, from 30 to 40 flow tubes 2 that are immediately adjacent to one another or are arranged in the form of groups. The flow tubes 2 have an inner diameter D of, for example, 5 mm and a length of from 10 to 20 mm.Due to the tangential introduction, the gas flow reaches higher rotational frequencies, and greater centrifugal forces are produced, whereby a clearly improved separating performance is achieved. The device may be designed as a very small and effective component that requires only a small installation space.
US08267061B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of selecting an engagement mode when start of an engine is requested and when an engine speed is smaller than α1; selecting a full drive mode; selecting a stand-by mode when start of the engine is completed; selecting a rotation mode when the engine speed is equal to or smaller than α2 and greater than α1, and selecting the full drive mode when fluctuation is predicted even when a difference Ndiff between rotation of a ring gear and rotation of a pinion gear is greater than a predetermined value β2.
US08267052B2
An engine which can easily cool oil within an oil circulation path. The oil circulation path includes an oil reservoir, an oil pump for sucking oil from the oil reservoir so as to pressurize the oil, an oil supplying oil passage conducting the oil from the oil pump to each of lubrication points, and an oil returning oil passage for returning the oil to the oil reservoir from the lubrication points. The cooling fluid path includes a cooling fluid pump, and a cooling fluid passage for supplying the cooling fluid, which conducts the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid pump to the cooling points. The oil passage and the cooling fluid passage come into contact with each other at one or more points of the engine main body so as to be heat exchangeable via a partition wall.
US08267051B2
There is provided an indoor mounting water heater in which combustion exhaust gas is discharged to the outdoors via an exhaust duct, wherein a decrease in draft force caused when the number of burner groups to be burned is reduced by a capacity changeover mechanism to decrease the combustion capacity can be prevented, and the heat efficiency can be improved. An air supply chamber 81 is divided into a plurality of parts 82 and 83 corresponding to a plurality of burner groups 51 and 52. The air sent from an air supply fan 84 is supplied to only a part of the air supply chamber corresponding to a burning burner group.
US08267045B2
Disclosed is a system for aquaculturing marine life forms such as coral utilizing a rotating tray that exposes the marine life forms to variable water flow conditions during each revolution of the tray.
US08267041B2
A plasma treating apparatus adapted to provide a predetermined plasma treatment to an object W to be treated comprises a processing chamber 12 configured to be capable of being vacuumed, an object holding means 20 adapted to hold the object to be treated, a high frequency power source 58 adapted to generate high frequency voltage, a plasma gas supplying means 38 adapted to supply a plasma generating gas to be treated to generate plasma to the processing chamber, a pair of plasma electrodes 56, 56B connected to the output side of the high frequency power source via wirings 60 to generate plasma in the processing chamber, the pair of plasma electrodes being brought into an excited electrode state. In addition, a high frequency matching means 72 is provided in the middle of the wirings. In this case, each of the plasma electrodes 56A, 56B is not grounded. Thus, the plasma density can be increased, and the efficiency of generating plasma can be enhanced.
US08267037B2
A substrate processing apparatus including a holder for rotatably holding a substrate; a coating solution supply nozzle for supplying a coating solution onto a front surface of the substrate to be processed held by the holder; a treatment chamber housing the holder and the coating solution supply nozzle; a cooling device which cools the substrate before the coating solution is supplied to the substrate, to a predetermined temperature; a heating devices which heats the substrate coated with the coating solution to a predetermined temperature; and a transferer that transfers the substrate between the treatment chamber, the cooling device and the heating device, wherein the treatment chamber, the cooling device and the heating device are partitioned from ambient air, and wherein at least the treatment chamber is connected to a gas supply mechanism having a supply source of a gas having a kinematic viscosity coefficient higher than that of air.
US08267035B2
An elasticated, high-visibility band is stretched over the rear boot of a car, providing a highly-visible X to alert other road users. The band is in the form of two connected loops or of one loop with two ties for attachment to the car.
US08267012B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for propagating the detonation effect from one detonation cord (5) to another, whereby the detonation cords (5) comprise respective boosters (4) at their ends. The booster of one detonation cord and the booster of the other detonation cord to which the detonation effect should be propagated are arranged with their front faces joining each other. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a device which allows propagation also under unfavorable conditions while requiring only few individual parts. For this purpose, at least one booster of two adjacent detonation cords is subjected to a force acting in the direction of the other booster, thereby ensuring constant contact of the front faces (15) of the adjacent boosters.
US08267006B2
An axial piston intended for an axial piston machine and comprised of at least two components forming a driving part and a compressing part. To enable manufacture of the axial piston in an easy and inexpensive way while simultaneously reducing the weight, the components are manufactured by a solid forming process and joined together by a capacitor discharge welding process.
US08266998B1
A kit, system and method for modifying an AK-variant firearm to permit bolt carrier pull back by the right or left hand. The kit, system and method includes a receiver cover including an arch-shaped crown and a pair of opposing retaining fins affixed to the bottom of the crown. One retaining fin has a slot that extends along the length of its upper portion. A guide track is affixed to the retaining fin having the slot. A charging handle assembly is secured to the guide track and is slidably engaged with retaining flanges and adapted to move along the guide track. An auxiliary charging handle is affixed to, and projects from, the slide. An engagement pin affixed to the slide projects inwardly to extend through the slot to engage the bolt carrier and move it when the charging handle is pulled.
US08266997B2
Throat plates for table saws and table saws including the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws include at least one securement mechanism adapted to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate includes an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate's outer perimeter to divide the plate's rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms.
US08266990B1
A push button locking pliers has a plurality of macro jaw width stations for grasping a wide variety of objects. A positioning mechanism is connected to a movable jaw member having a pivot that cooperates with a jaw adjustment slot in the main handle. The positioning mechanism is released by pushing on a push button on the pivot against a spring allowing the movable jaw member to move along the slot. The user places the positioning mechanism at the jaw positioning station that creates a macro spacing between the fixed and movable jaws that best fits the object to be grasped. The push button is then released allowing the pivot to engage the rounded hole of the new positioning station. The pivot is made self centering on the rounded hole of the new positioning station by having a frustoconical section that engages the side of the hole even if the pivot is not centered on the hole. The bias of the spring forces the frustoconical section along the side of the hole which pushes the pivot to a central position in the rounded hole making the pliers ready for use.
US08266989B2
A wrench includes a handle having first and second ends spaced along a longitudinal axis. The second end of the handle includes a first receptacle extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The handle further includes a second receptacle intermediate the first and second ends along the longitudinal axis. The second end of the handle is slideably received in an extension. A positioning hole extends from an inner periphery through an outer periphery of the extension. A first positioning member is mounted in the first receptacle and biased by a first spring to extend through the positioning hole, with a portion of the first positioning member pressing against the inner periphery of the extension. A second positioning member is mounted in the second receptacle and biased by a second spring to press against the inner periphery of the extension.
US08266987B1
A ratchet tool includes a head and a handle extends from a first end of the head and an extension rod is removably connected to a second end of the head. A connection member is connected to the head and includes a slot in which two blocks are movably received therein. Each block includes a clamping face so as to clamp a thread forming tap therebetween. A cover has a hole defined centrally therethrough and two guide ways are defined through the cover. Two pins are connected to the two blocks and slidably extend through the two guide ways. When rotating the head, the two blocks are moved toward to clamp the thread forming tap which is rotated with the rotation of the head. An adapter is connected the head and located opposite to the connection member. The adapter is connected with socket or bit.
US08266984B2
An electronic communication wire connecting an input speed sensor and a computer controller in a transmission system is provided. The electronic communication wire connects at one end to the input speed sensor through a first aperture in the transmission case and at the other end to the computer controller through a second aperture in the transmission case. Thus, the electronic communication wire is attached at both ends to internal devices but it partially exists external to the transmission case along the length of the electronic communication wire. The connection between the electronic communication wire and the input speed sensor is sealed with at least a single O-ring while the connection between the electronic communication wire and the computer controller is sealed with at least a pair of O-rings. A method of electronically connecting the input speed sensor and the computer controller externally of the transmission case is also provided.
US08266982B2
A hysteresis assembly for a pedal includes an elastic member support, two adjacent hysteresis blocks, and an elastic member connecting the elastic member support to the more distant hysteresis block. The hysteresis blocks interface at a slope. The assembly is attached at one end to a mounting bracket for the pedal via a shaft, and at the other end to the pedal arm. As the pedal is displaced, the hysteresis blocks slide relative to each other and frictionally engage the mounting bracket. The frictional force is proportional to the return force generated by the elastic member. The spring rate of the elastic member, the angle of the slope between the hysteresis blocks, and the point of attachment are determined, through analysis, to provide desired hysteresis forces (i.e., idle force, frictional force, and return force) to the pedal, thus providing the feel of a mechanical pedal in an electronic pedal.
US08266976B2
Direct drive electromechanical rotary-to-linear actuators include one or more electric motors mounted in a housing. Each motor includes a stator and a rotor. The motor drives a planetary drive mechanism that includes an elongated central shaft having one or more helical threads on an external surface coupled to the rotor for conjoint rotation. A planetary nut having helical threads on an internal surface is disposed concentric to the shaft, and a plurality of planetary rollers are disposed concentrically between the shaft and the planetary nut. Each of the rollers has a helical thread on an external surface that is complementary to and in engagement with a thread of the shaft and a thread of the nut. Rotation of the rotor is converted with mechanical advantage into linear movement of the planetary nut. The actuators provide backlash-free operation, higher stiffnesses, slew rates and frequency responses, and better overall efficiency.
US08266974B2
A duct detector housing includes a housing cover and a housing body defining a midline between the center of a detector and a printed circuit board within said body. Gas inlet and outlets are off axis of the midline to allow water that collects in conventional housing to drain from the housing. A maintenance mode button associated with a duct detector housing cover that is secured to a housing body of the housing provides a preselected time period during which removal of the cover is independent of a cover removal alarm. A printed circuit board within the housing has dedicated terminal blocks providing grouped connections with each of the groups segregated from another. An improved duct detector terminal has a hole in the terminal adapted to receive a test meter probe therethrough to provide an electrical contact between the wire.
US08266973B2
After a sampling needle is moved to a position above a sample container, the sampling needle is moved down so that the tip of the sampling needle penetrates a septum, and is then preferably moved down to a position at which the tip of the sampling needle is not brought into contact with a sample contained in the sample container, and then, the sampling needle is once elevated until the sampling needle is pulled out of the septum, and is then again moved down to penetrate the septum until the tip of the sampling needle is inserted into the sample to suck the sample through a suction port of the sampling needle, and then, the sampling needle is moved to a sample injection port of an analyzer to inject the sample into the analyzer.
US08266969B2
A method is presented for characterizing properties of a specimen, such as a microstructure and a nanostructure. The method includes attaching a first end of the specimen to a first probe (204) and attaching a second end of the specimen, which is spaced apart from the first end by an intermediate portion, to a second probe that extends from a transducer (208). The method also includes causing a corresponding displacement of the specimen attached between the first probe and the second probe (224, 230). At least one parameter associated with the specimen is acquired (226, 232) during the corresponding displacement based on at least one output signal from the transducer. The properties of the specimen can be determined based on the at least one parameter (236, 238).
US08266968B2
A crimping system, a control circuit for a crimping machine, and a method to be applied in them, in which: a work piece (15) is subjected to a first force effect by an actuator (5) that is controlled by the pressure of pressurized medium, wherein said force effect is proportional to said pressure and causes a desired deformation in the work piece (15); a follow-up measurement is taken, whose measurement result is proportional either to the dimension of the work piece (15) or said pressure; the work piece (15) is subjected to a second force effect but by applying a reduced pressure which is lower than the pressure that contributes to said deformation; and a verifying measurement is taken, whose measurement result is proportional to the dimension of the work piece (15), when said reduced pressure controls said actuator (5) and the work piece (15) is still in the crimping machine (1).
US08266959B2
A system and method for analyzing a device that includes a mass configured for motion. The system includes a tri-axial accelerometer disposed to detect acceleration vectors of the device and to output three channels of acceleration data, and a user interface receiving the three channels of acceleration data. The user interface is configured to correlate the three channels of acceleration data with a reference frame defined by three orthogonal axes intersecting at a vertex, and includes a display and a selector. The display shows sets of options that represent dispositions of the device with respect to gravity, placements of the tri-axial accelerometer with respect to the device, and orientations of the tri-axial accelerometer with respect to the device. The selector selects one device disposition option, one tri-axial accelerometer placement option, and one tri-axial accelerometer orientation option.
US08266955B2
A tire monitoring device may be used in conjunction with a tire monitoring system for a vehicle. The tire monitoring device includes a tire monitoring sensor unit having a state monitoring sensor monitoring a tire state, such as a tire pressure, and a first acceleration sensor and a second acceleration sensor respectively measuring accelerations in first and second directions on a plane perpendicular to a wheel axis, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a wheel is on the left or right side of the vehicle on the basis of a relationship between alternating signals of the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor and determining whether or not a tire event has occurred with reference to a calculated value based on the accelerations measured by the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor. The tire monitoring device performs minimum operation required for automatic tire location recognition, thereby minimizing battery consumption and reducing the calculation load of the tire monitoring device itself and a central control unit.
US08266954B2
A tire pressure information monitoring system includes a pressure sensor (24) for detecting air pressure within a tire, and a temperature sensor (25) for detecting temperature within the tire. The monitoring system further includes a CPU (21) that operates with a high frequency clock to send command to the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25) to acquire internal information of the tire, and thereafter operates with a low frequency clock until stabilizing time of the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25) elapses. The CPU then operates with a high frequency clock to transmit the internal information of the tire, which has been acquired by the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25), to an external receiver at a constant time interval, and thereafter operates with a low frequency clock until the constant time interval elapses.
US08266952B2
A system and/or method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in vehicle exhaust, and more particularly to a non-contact, extractive sampling system and method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in exhaust emissions of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles that emit exhaust at an elevated level, under actual operating conditions.
US08266939B2
The object is to raise the yield by greatly eliminating the disposed amounts of the tube ends, prevent wrinkles due to closing the mold while applying internal pressure, cutting the plurality of steps of hydroforming and pre-processing of the tube ends, cutting the mold costs by simplifying the mold mechanism, and obtaining a hydroformed product formed with a flange along its entire length.For this reason, the present invention provides a hydroforming method which places a metal tube to a lower mold in the state with the tube ends sticking out from it and injects a pressurizing fluid into the metal tube through the inside of a seal punch and gradually presses seal punches against tube ends of the metal tube to apply a predetermined pressing force and fill the inside of the metal tube with the pressurizing fluid to apply a predetermined internal pressure, next, in the state with the internal pressure and pressing force applied, lowers the upper mold and closes the mold so as to deform the tube and end the processing in the state with the tube ends sticking out from the mold, and, further, boosting the internal pressure in the metal tube after closing the mold and ending the forming operation and a hydroformed product processed using these methods and having a flange across the entire length in the longitudinal direction.
US08266937B2
The invention is concerned with a locking cylinder (1) and a matching key (2), wherein the locking cylinder comprises tumbler pins (6) with a head (7) and a tip. (8). The tip (8) engages in a coding recess (10) of the key (2) and, by withdrawing the key from the locking cylinder, slides along two sliding flanks (2), which follow on one another. The dimensions of the conical surface (9) following on from the rounding of the tip (8) and the sliding flank (12) are made to match one another in such a way that the transitional region (13) between the two sliding flanks is covered by the conical surface in the abutting position.
US08266936B2
A key having one end secured to a yoke mounted between in a casing to turn about a pivot axis between a position in which the key is retracted inside the casing and a position in which the key is extended, and a control pushbutton mounted in a housing of the yoke so as to be constrained to pivot therewith and so as to slide between a position for holding the yoke at least in the retracted position, and a position for releasing the yoke for pivoting, the control pushbutton having at least one stud received in a groove of the housing, the groove including an inlet segment that opens out via a first end in an outer face of the yoke and that opens out via a second end in a terminal segment, forming an angle therewith, the terminal segment extending along the pivot axis.
US08266933B2
An adjustable archery bow lock for an archery bow with bow strings, or a limb with a cam or a pulley, includes a locking first frame with first and second rod receiving apertures there through. A lock mechanism is on the first frame with a moveable and securable locking index pin. A parallel second frame has first and second rods that are adapted to capture and immobilize the bow strings, or the cam or pulley with the limb. The rods pass through the receiving apertures. The second rod has a series of aligned indentations. The rods are secured to the first frame with the locking index pin secured into one of the indentations to prevent drawing or firing of the bow.
US08266930B2
A laundry treating machine including a laundry treating device (100) and a pedestal laundry treating device (200) is disclosed. The laundry treating machine is configured to achieve simultaneous or selective supply of water and simultaneous or selective draining of wash water for the laundry treating device (100) and pedestal laundry treating device (200). The pedestal laundry treating device (200) supports the laundry treating device (100) beneath and outside the laundry treating device. The pedestal laundry treating device (200) has a volume and a height smaller than those of the laundry treating device (100), and has a laundry treating function. The laundry treating machine (100) further includes a water supplier (350) for simultaneously or selectively supplying water to the laundry treating device (100) and pedestal laundry treating device (200), and a water drainer (460) for joining wash water discharged from the laundry treating device (100) and wash water discharged from the pedestal laundry treating device (200) into a draining pipe (430), and draining the joined wash water.
US08266922B2
A liquid dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator includes a storage tank in fluid communication with a water inlet. The storage tank is configured to retain water flowing into the water inlet. An auxiliary tank is in fluid communication with the storage tank. The auxiliary tank includes a housing with a piston disposed therein. The piston is movable in a first direction to fill a portion of an interior volume of the housing with water and in a second direction to expel water from the interior volume of the housing.
US08266921B2
A data center includes an air-conditioned room, two rack rows formed on a floor surface of the air-conditioned room and each composed of a plurality of racks arranged in a horizontal direction, each of the plurality of racks housing electronic devices in multistage configuration, an air conditioner for conditioning air in the air-conditioned room to eliminate heat generated from the electronic devices housed in the plurality of racks, and a hot zone in the air-conditioned room. The hot zone is defined by the two rack rows arranged on the floor surface of the air-conditioned room such that rear sides thereof are opposite each other at a distance, a ceiling disposed above the two rack rows, two panels disposed at both ends of the two rack rows in the horizontal direction and extending from a lower end of the two rack rows to the ceiling, and two partitions disposed at an upper front top end of the two rack rows and extending to the ceiling. The ceiling includes an exhaust port for discharging heat in the hot zone, and the air conditioner is operable to introduce air-conditioned air from the air-conditioned room through front sides and then the rear sides of the two rack rows into the hot zone. The data center further includes a heat recovery means for recovering a heat of the air discharged through the exhaust port from the hot zone before cooling down the air by the air conditioner.
US08266910B2
An application and process that incorporates an external heat source to increase the temperature of the airstream entering a compressor section of a combustion turbine. The application and process may perform an anti-icing operation that may not require an Inlet Bleed Heat system (IBH) to operate. Additionally, the application and process may perform an anti-icing operation that may allow for the IGV angle to remain nearly constant. The application and process may increase the output and efficiency of a combustion turbine operating at partload by delaying IBH operation and delaying the closing IGVs.
US08266909B2
A power plant including a steam turbine, and a steam turbine exhaust duct configured to deliver uncontaminated fluid from the steam turbine to downstream components of the power plant. The steam turbine exhaust duct includes a steam turbine exhaust duct isolation valve selectively configured to prevent fluid communication between the steam turbine exhaust duct and the downstream components of the power plant, and a steam turbine exhaust duct vent with a steam turbine exhaust duct vent valve. The steam turbine exhaust duct vent is configured to deliver contaminated fluid from the steam turbine exhaust duct to a fluid sink upon opening of the exhaust duct vent valve.
US08266908B2
According to present invention, a method is provided for operating a multi-heat source power plant using a low-medium temperature heat source fluid, wherein the multi-heat source power plant includes a turbine or expander run by an organic motive fluid, comprising preheating the organic motive fluid using the low-medium temperature heat source fluid and thereafter providing further heat from an additional heat source to vaporize the motive fluid which is supplied to the turbine or expander. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a heat exchanger suitable to pre-heat an organic motive fluid with a low-medium temperature geothermal fluid, and solar energy collecting means suitable to directly or indirectly provide heat to the pre-heated organic motive fluid for heating and vaporizing the motive fluid. In addition, in a further embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a heat exchanger suitable to pre-heat an organic motive fluid with a low-medium temperature unused industrial heat streams, and solar energy collecting means suitable to directly or indirectly provide heat to the pre-heated organic motive fluid for heating and vaporizing as well as superheating the motive fluid.
US08266904B2
An energy output device that harnesses the buoyant effect produced as air rises through a plurality of finned cylinder wheels submerged in a volume of water. The finned cylinder wheels are positioned along a vertical axis above the point at which air enters into the water. The finned cylinder wheels contain a set of fins that trap the rising air so that the buoyant effect created combined with fluid gravitational farce causes the finned cylinder wheels to rotate. A plurality of intermediary gear assemblies are alternately positioned with the finned cylinder wheels linking the vertically aligned components together. The simultaneous rotation is ultimately transferred to a torque output axle gear assembly located above the alternating finned cylinder wheels and intermediary gear assemblies.
US08266898B2
An internal combustion engine is provided that performs stoichiometric burn operation under control for providing a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio as basic control for an air-fuel ratio. A particulate filter (PM filter) is provided in an exhaust passage of the engine to trap particulate matter PM contained in exhaust gas. If it is judged that the PM filter will have excessively elevated temperature, fuel cut is prohibited during deceleration. Otherwise, before the prohibition of the fuel cut, the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is controlled so that the atmosphere of the PM filter is brought into an atmosphere slightly leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
US08266889B2
A heat exchanger system for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) a fan having at least two stages of rotating fan blades surrounded by a fan casing, the fan operable to produce a flow of pressurized air at a fan exit; (b) at least one heat exchanger having a first flowpath in fluid communication with the fan at a location upstream of the fan exit; and (c) a fluid system coupled to a second flowpath of the at least one heat exchanger. The first and second flowpaths are thermally coupled to each other.
US08266885B2
A method and systems for an engine igniter excitation system includes an energy storage device, a first adaptive comparator configured to control the storage of an amount of energy in the energy storage device wherein the amount of energy is determined using at least one of an environmental parameter of the engine and a process parameter of the engine. The system also includes a second adaptive comparator communicatively coupled to the energy storage device wherein the second adaptive comparator is configured to control a rate of energy delivery to the energy storage device using at least one of an environmental parameter of the engine and a process parameter of the engine. The system also includes an igniter configured to generate a spark based on the amount of stored energy and the rate of energy delivery.
US08266883B2
Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow and delivered to a turbine combustor. At least one of an exhaust port, a bypass conduit, or an extraction conduit is opened to vent the power plant. A turbine shaft is rotated at an ignition speed and a fuel stream is delivered to the turbine combustor for mixing with the compressed ambient gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms a recirculated gas flow that drives the turbine. The recirculated gas flow is recirculated using the recirculation loop. The turbine is operated at a target operating speed and then reaches substantially stoichiometric combustion. At least a portion of the recirculated gas flow is extracted using an extraction conduit that is fluidly connected to the turbine compressor.
US08266866B1
A method of assembling an inflatable shell of a structure comprises folding a plurality of shell sections about a set of fold lines and integrating the plurality of shell sections together with one another to form the shell. In another embodiment, an inflatable shell comprises a plurality of shell sections, each shell section having two pairs of fold lines for folding into stowage comprising a first gore section having a plurality of first gore panels layered and collectively folded about at a first set of fold lines. Each layer of the first gore panels and second gore panels are configured such that, once the first gore panel and second gore panel are attached to one another at the respective side edges of each panel, the lines of attachment forming a second set of fold lines for the shell section. A system and method for fabricating gore panels is also disclosed.
US08266864B2
Truss structures assembled from modules comprising one hinge link, four spacer links and four apex joinders, one at each end or each hinge link. The second hinge link to complete a tetrahedron is missing from the module, and is provided by the hinge link of a next in line module so as to provide a series of joined tetrahedrons. When the strut is assembled, the apex joinders enable the strut to be formed into a wide variety of shapes.
US08266853B2
An improved corbel includes a first tier having first blocks and a second tier having second blocks. Each of the first blocks includes a first aperture extending through the block from a first surface to a back surface and a second aperture formed through a top surface of the block, extending into the first aperture. The first blocks are arranged on a substantially planar surface to align the respective first apertures to define a first passageway. Each of the second blocks includes a third aperture extending through the second block from a top surface to a bottom surface. The second blocks are disposed above the first tier to align the third aperture of each of the second blocks with the second aperture of the first blocks to form a second passageway.
US08266848B2
A solar array mounting system having unique installation, load distribution, and grounding features, and which is adaptable for mounting solar panels having no external frame. The solar array mounting system includes flexible, pedestal-style feet and structural links connected in a grid formation on the mounting surface. The photovoltaic modules are secured in place via the use of attachment clamps that grip the edge of the typically glass substrate. The panel mounting clamps are then held in place by tilt brackets and/or mid-link brackets that provide fixation for the clamps and align the solar panels at a tilt to the horizontal mounting surface. The tilt brackets are held in place atop the flexible feet and connected link members thus creating a complete mounting structure.
US08266846B2
A solar panel roof surface effectively uses solar panels supported by an open roof support substructure having a series of parallel hollow support beams. These hollow beams support the solar panels on a top surface and accommodate drainage along the beams. The solar panels are secured to an upper surface of the hollow support beams and in combination therewith define a closed sloped roof surface. The series of solar panels are positioned on the beams to define elongate segments of abutting panels. The abutting panels include a sealing arrangement between panels to allow flow of water along the length of the elongate segments. The hollow support beams include a top surface with a central securing slot positioned between panel segments and panel segment support surfaces either side of said securing slot for supporting edges of the solar panels. Fasteners engage the securing slot and the upper edge of the panels to secure the panels to the upper surface of the support beams.
US08266839B2
An insect bait station that is pre-filled with a suitable bait, preferably a combination of attractant and toxicant, and is activated for use by a snap-open closure that exposes an entrance/exit disposed on the upper part of the bait station for providing insects with access to the bait. The entrance is disposed above the level of the contained bait and an internal ramp structure allows insects to traverse downward to the bait from the opening, as well as upward to exit the bait station. Providing a ramp structure ensures continual access even as the level of the bait within the station drops, due to evaporation, consumption, spillage etc. By enabling egress from the bait station, the ramp further prevents the accumulation of dead insects inside the bait station, the scent of which, would nullify effectiveness. A cradle is provided for receiving the bait station in two alternate configurations, namely a non-activated and sealed stowed configuration and an activated and un-sealed deployed configuration. The cradle further provides a structure that stabilizes the bait station while providing additional mounting options, and a ramp that leads upward from the underlying surface to the bait station entrance. The cradle may be structured such that the bait station is activated by opening of the closure upon insertion of the bait station into the cradle.
US08266831B2
There is a felt need on the part of business people to have an affordable individualized promotional piece similar to and about the size of a standard business card that will have some inherent practical value to the recipient of the piece that induces the recipient to keep and to use the practical feature of the piece. The present invention provides a multi-year calendar not much bigger than a standard business card which encourages the recipient to keep and use the invention as a calendar for possibly several years, with the business person's name and contact information pre-printed on the invention. The calendar uses a coded wheel and the edge of the table area to get the correct code which then acts as a key to reveal the days and dates for the entire month on the inner semi-circles.
US08266827B2
An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a tensile strand, and a securing strand. The tensile strand is located adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The securing strand joins or secures the tensile strand to the foundation element. Although the thicknesses may vary, a thickness of the tensile strand may be at least three times the thickness of the securing strand. In some configurations, a backing strand may also assist with joining the securing strand to the foundation element.
US08266826B2
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole. The footwear also includes at least one lobe between the upper and the outsole that extends laterally beyond a heel area of the upper and meets the sole at the lobe's edge that is laterally farthest away from the upper so that the lobe is exposed such that when viewed from above, in a direction perpendicular to the sole, the lobe is at least partially visible beyond the sides of the heel. The footwear may include a heel plate that extends laterally beyond the heel area of the upper. Further, the lobe may be a fluid-filled air bladder.
US08266824B2
A condensation dryer is provided that includes a drying chamber for items to be dried, a process air circuit via which fan driven process air can be conducted across the items to be dried, and a heat pump circuit for alternately heating and cooling the process air. A secondary fluid circuit is provided between the process air circuit and the heat pump circuit.
US08266808B2
A portable electronic apparatus calibrates a geomagnetism sensor at a suitable timing. When a key is operated in a power-saving mode, the power-saving mode ends, and a detection value of a geomagnetism sensor is calibrated. The calibration is executed in a state where a user tries to view a screen of a display part, therefore the calibration is executed in a state where an angle of housings with respect to the horizontal plane is suitable, and a calculation precision of a bearing is improved. By executing calibration during activation of the navigation application useless calibration is not carried out, and an increase of power consumed is suppressed.
US08266801B2
A method of attaching particles to a substrate, comprising the steps: providing a substrate having a surface providing an interlayer on the surface which conforms to the surface of the substrate, forming a melt pool in the interlayer, depositing a material within the melt pool, allowing the material to solidify, applying a powder containing dispersed particles to the solidified material, and applying heat to attach the dispersed particles to the substrate.
US08266796B2
Provided is a wiring substrate, a semiconductor device package including the wiring substrate, and methods of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device package may include a wiring substrate which may include a base film. The base film may include a mounting region and a non-mounting region. The wiring substrate may further include first wiring patterns on the non-mounting region and extending into the mounting region, second wiring patterns on the first wiring patterns of the non-mounting region, and an insulating layer on the non-mounting region, and a semiconductor device which may include bonding pads. At least one of side surfaces of the second wiring patterns adjacent to the mounting region may be electrically connected to at least one of the bonding pads of the semiconductor device.
US08266793B2
A module having a stacked magnetic device and semiconductor device, and method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the module includes a printed wiring board including a patterned conductor formed on an upper surface thereof. The module also includes a magnetic core mounted on the upper surface of the printed wiring board proximate the patterned conductor and a semiconductor device mounted on an upper surface of the magnetic core.
US08266792B2
A printed circuit board with an electronic component embedded printed circuit board and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing a printed circuit board with an embedded electronic component having a groove formed on one surface thereof and an electrode formed inside the groove includes: forming a first circuit pattern on one surface of a first metal layer; pressing the first metal layer against a first insulator; forming a first conductive protrusion by selectively etching the other surface of the first metal layer; and mounting a first electronic component by disposing a conductive adhesive layer such that an electrode of the first electronic component and the first conductive protrusion are electrically connected to each other. Thus, an electronic component without its electrode protruded outward can be mounted easily and reliably and the manufacturing time can be shortened.
US08266787B2
There is a need for providing an electronic component mounting apparatus, a component supply apparatus, and an electronic component mounting method capable of reducing inadvertent insertion of component supply tape and ensuring high reliability or capable of reducing wrong insertion of component supply tape, supplying new electronic component tape, and ensuring a high operation rate. Supply tape is inserted into an insertion entry of a component supply apparatus. An electronic component mounted on the supply tape is absorbed and is mounted on a printed board. Information about the electronic component mounted on the supply tape is read. Based on the read information, the component supply apparatus for inserting the supply tape is selected. The insertion entry is opened while it is closed when no supply tape is mounted.
US08266778B2
The present invention provides an assembly apparatus for supporting a fuselage section of an aircraft or spacecraft in an adjustable assembly position, with at least one stiffening bow for detachably stiffening the fuselage section and a rotational support, which rotatably supports the at least one stiffening bow. Also provided is a method for the assembly of a fuselage section of an aircraft or spacecraft in which an assembly position of the fuselage section is prescribed. In further steps, the fuselage section is reinforced with a stiffening bow and the stiffening bow is rotatably supported. The stiffening bow is then turned in such a way that the fuselage section rotates into the assembly position.
US08266771B2
An improved fence tie and methods of using that fence tie are disclosed. Dimensions for bending wire are described for bending a wire to form a helical section, two straight ends and a straight section adjacent to the helical section in a configuration having a form that generally resembles certain known twist type fence ties.
US08266763B1
A leaf and lawn vacuum bagger has a housing that is attached to the exhaust outlet of a conventional leaf and lawn blower/vacuum or mulching device, and an air permeable bag releasably connected to the exhaust outlet has a fastener closure at a bottom end. A flexible sleeve is secured at one end to the housing and the air permeable bag is releasably connected at the opposed end for capturing the vacuumed yard debris. A closure member attached to the housing is selectively closed to allow exhaust gases from the lawn blower/vacuum or mulcher device to exit through the pores of the air permeable bag to the atmosphere, and leaves and yard debris exhausted through the blower/vacuum or mulcher falls down through the interior of said air permeable bag, through said sleeve, and are collected in the housing interior, and when opened, the collected leaves and yard debris falls through the housing and into the attached disposable bag, and the attached bag is then removed and replaced as needed.
US08266760B2
An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
US08266755B2
An optical connector cleaning device which cleans a connecting terminal surface formed inside an insertion hole of an optical connector, by wiping the connecting terminal surface with a cleaning body, the optical connector cleaning device including: a main body including a feeding mechanism which supplies and wraps up the cleaning body; an extending part which extends from the main body and includes an extending tube body and a head part, the head part being inserted into the insertion hole, wherein the head part includes a tip extending part which presses the cleaning body to the connecting terminal surface; the extending tube body includes a tube base part and a tip tube part, the tip tube part being energized in an extending direction with respect to the tube base part; the tip extending part protrudes from a tip of the tip tube part; and the tip extending part is flexible.
US08266752B2
A method and apparatus for operating a pool cleaner body in a manner to maximize the time spent on cleaning relative to the time spent on repositioning. More particularly, the invention is directed to a control subsystem for operating a cleaner body to enable it to primarily travel in a forward direction (i.e., forward state) along a travel path but operable also in a backup/redirect state to translate and or rotate the body to enable it to escape from obstructions while also minimizing the formation of conduit tangles. The control subsystem is configured to perform reposition operations without increasing incidents of conduit tangling by: 1—avoiding an excessive rotation of the body, e.g., approximately 180° or more, when attempting to free the body from an obstruction; and/or 2—avoiding the initiation of a timed reposition operation while the body is transitioning between a travel path at the wall surface and a travel path at the water surface.
US08266751B2
A structural system comprised of prefabricated deck units spaced along longitudinal load-carrying members, which produce longitudinal axial compression in deck units by tensioning the longitudinal load-carrying members without the use of standard post-tensioning details. During construction, prefabricated deck units are erected on top of and supported by the longitudinal load-carrying members via leveling devices, which also permit relative motion between the longitudinal load-carrying members and the prefabricated deck units. Jacking apparatuses are used to introduce deck compression by jacking against the longitudinal load-carrying members. This system can be used for new structures and for deck replacement of existing structures.
US08266744B2
An inflatable pad includes: an inflatable pad body having a looped surrounding layer interconnecting top and bottom layers to cooperatively define an inflatable space; and a reinforcing belt unit disposed in the inflatable space in the inflatable pad body and connected between the top and bottom layers of the inflatable pad body. The reinforcing belt unit includes two coupling belts and a main reinforcing belt. Each coupling belt is attached fixedly and partially to a corresponding one of the top and bottom layers of the inflatable pad body, and has a central portion that is spaced apart from the corresponding one of the top and bottom layers of the inflatable pad body and that is connected to a corresponding one of opposite looped end portions of the main reinforcing belt.
US08266740B2
A conduit cleaning method and apparatus for connection to a fluid inlet feed line and an outlet drain line utilizes a housing assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a bight portion. The inlet and outlet portions have sloped leg sections which provide increased fluid flow through the bight to disperse accumulated debris. Rotatable shafts inside the housing accommodate paddles or jets to facilitate in retrieval or dispersal of obstruction.
US08266722B2
The present invention relates to a cap bill plate having multiple-layers. The multiple layer of the cap bill plate includes three layers, a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a reflective layer thereby providing greater visibility. Since the second layer is totally foamed so as to reduce its weight, the cap wearer will feel better comfort. Besides, the third layer includes a moldable material which allows itself to be shaped in any desired structure.
US08272062B2
A content control system capable of controlling delivery destinations of user contents in respective groups, identifying each group through which each content is delivered, and delivering information/advertisements according to the attribution information of the content. In a content control server, group identifying information is set in each user content to be uploaded to or downloaded from a group memory area corresponding to a gateway ID from a terminal through a gateway having a plurality of its subordinate terminals. The information identifies each gateway through which each object content is delivered according to the gateway ID. The control system controls the delivery destination of each content according to the combination of the content delivery route and a table prepared in the content control server.
US08272057B1
A method and apparatus for identifying data patterns of a file are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes, but is not limited to, receiving a data packet of a data stream containing a file segment of a file originated from an external host and destined to a protected host of a local area network (LAN), the file being transmitted via multiple file segments contained in multiple data packets of the data stream, and performing a data pattern analysis on the received data packet to determine whether the received data packet contains a predetermined data pattern, without waiting for a remainder of the data stream to arrive. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08272056B2
A method to compress an unoptimized Aho-Corasick automaton is provided that can be used in network intrusion detection systems. Embodiments of the subject method use bitmaps with multiple levels of summaries as well as aggressive path compaction. By using multiple levels of summaries, a popcount can be determined with as few as 1 addition.
US08272055B2
A method performed in a processor of an intrusion detection/prevention system (IDS/IPS) checks for valid packets in an SMB named pipe in a communication network. In a processor configured as an IDS/IPS, a packet in a transmission is received and a kind of application of a target of the packet is determined. Also, the data in the packet is inspected by the IDS/IPS as part of the SMB named pipe on only one of a condition that: (a) the FID in an SMB command header of the packet is valid (i) for segments/fragments in the SMB named pipe and (ii) for the determined kind of application of the target of the packet, as indicated by a reassembly table, and (b) the determined kind of application of the target of the packet does not check the FID, as indicated by the reassembly table.
US08272039B2
A hijack avoidance technique avoids presenting an access to more than one of a chain of authentication objects, such as a chain of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) authenticators. A pre-filter determines whether an authentication object should be presented with the access by comparing either all or a portion of a domain suffix, an IP address, or other identification other than the user ID with predetermined values. If the filter criterion is met, the associated authentication object accepts or rejects the access. Otherwise, the access is passed to the next authentication object in the chain. The first authentication object may be associated with a hosting entity and successive authentication objects each associated with different customers of the hosting entity. By virtue of the filtering, each authentication object is presented only with a particular subset of all of the possible access identifiers, which avoids presenting all of the previously unauthenticated accesses to each authentication object in the chain.
US08272035B2
A projector system of the present invention includes a projector 10 and a personal computer PC as an information terminal, which communicate with each other via a network connection. The projector 10 generates a password required for establishment of the network connection and projects the password on a screen SC. A user of the personal computer PC inputs the password projected on the screen SC. The password is used for authentication of the network connection between the projector 10 and the personal computer PC and cipher communication therebetween. This arrangement of the present invention enhances the convenience of the projector that is capable of establishing a network connection with the information terminal, while ensuring secrecy of communicating data.
US08272029B2
A boundary interface element for communications networks is disclosed. The boundary interface element is adapted for enabling a network administrator for a first network coupled to a first network interface of the boundary interface element to configure a policy for the first network interface independently of the other administrators of the other interfaces, while restricting access to a second network interface of the boundary interface element. Similarly, the boundary interface element enables a network administrator for a second network coupled to the second network interface of the boundary interface element to configure a policy for the second network interface while restricting access to the first network interface. The network administrator for the first network is permitted to view the policy configured for the second network interface, and the network administrator for the second network is permitted to view the policy configured for the first network interface. The boundary interface element may be employed in a variety of network deployment scenarios.
US08272024B2
A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.
US08272021B2
The present invention discloses a method for transmitting Near Video on Demand (NVoD) using Catch and Rest (CAR) and sub-channels which includes: dividing an L-sized content into N segments using the CAR broadcasting scheme, allocating the segments to K channels including a replicate channel, and broadcasting the segments; dividing a first segment S1R (SiR represents an i-th segment of a regular channel) into Nsb sub-segments again at given bandwidth using the harmonic broadcasting scheme, and dividing an i-th sub-segment Sisb into i segments again; broadcasting the sub-segments {Si.1sb, . . . , Si.isb} in n sub-channels; and adding the segments {S2R, . . . , SNR} to a sub-layer and broadcasting the segments, the first segment broadcast in the first channel being divided and allocated to a few sub-channels, the succeeding segments broadcast in the other channels being just shifted and broadcast.
US08272012B2
A video control system transfers a video signal to display a data/video integration menu and receives user instructions indicating user-selected data and display positioning for the user-selected data. The video control system transfers a data request and receives the user-selected data. The video control system receives video content. The video control system integrates the user-selected data and the video content into a video signal that positions the user-selected data relative to the video content according to the display positioning in the user instructions. The video control system transfers the video signal to display the integrated video content and user-selected data.
US08272007B2
A broadcast receiving apparatus includes a generating unit generating a first encryption key specific to the broadcast receiving apparatus including identification information; a recording unit recording a broadcast stream that is included in a certain channel of broadcast signals and that includes an individual information stream and a content stream requiring a second encryption key for decryption, the individual information stream periodically including first individual information items and second individual information items; a searching unit searching for the earliest first individual information item and the earliest second individual information item from the individual information stream included in the broadcast stream; and an overwriting unit overwriting the found second individual information item at a position that is earlier than the position of the found second individual information item and that is later than the position of the found first individual information item in the individual information stream.
US08272006B2
Disclosed is an information signal processing apparatus. The information signal processing apparatus includes an adjustment unit by which users each adjust an inputted information signal so that an output of the information signal has a predetermined quality, and a storage unit that stores operation information having a final adjustment value of a series of adjustments carried out by the adjustment unit, and history information relating to a sequence of changes to an adjustment value up to the final adjustment value in a storage medium in association with preference information of the user during the series of adjustments.
US08272004B2
An optical disc clamping device is provided. A driving bar is moved away from a center hole to synchronously drive a first linking bar and a second linking bar. A first pivotal rod and a second pivotal rod are respectively driven by the first slider and the second slider to move towards the center hole to drive a carrier which carries a chucking disk disposed thereon to contact a spindle motor. A suppresser is fixed at the rim of the center hole to press on the chucking disk to clamp the disc stably.
US08272003B2
A disc apparatus includes: a playback unit 1 provided with a conveying roller 5 and a disc guide 3 to be vertically movable with respect to an apparatus main body; a moving means for moving downward the conveying roller and the disc guide in amounts of travel which are different from each other to avoid contact of the roller and the guide with a disc 14 with interlocking an operation that the loaded disc 14 is moved downward to be mounted on a turntable 6; and a disc-guide-cum-position-regulating member 102 attached to the apparatus main body corresponding to a disc loading port such that the playback unit is restrained from moving to the disc loading port side.
US08271995B1
Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates the execution of a native code module. During operation, the system obtains a service registry comprising a set of service modules and determines a set of system services required by the native code module. Next, the system selects one or more of the service modules providing the system services. Finally, the system enables the system services for the native code module by providing an inter-module communication (IMC) runtime that facilitates communication between the native code module and the one or more service modules.
US08271994B2
Data transfer during processor context switching is reduced, particularly in relation to a time-sharing microtasking programming model. Prior to switching context of a processor having local memory from a first to a second process, a portion of the local memory that does not require transfer to system memory for proper saving of data associated with the first process is determined. The context of the processor is then switched from the first to the second process, including transferring all of the local memory as the data associated with the first process, to system memory—except for the portion of the local memory that has been determined as not requiring saving to the system memory for proper saving of the data associated with the first process. Therefore, switching the context from the first to the second process results in a reduction of data transferred from the local memory to the system memory.
US08271992B2
A method for balancing loads among a plurality of data storage devices, includes: receiving a request from a user device to download a data file; identifying a first set of storage devices containing the requested data file, wherein the first set comprises one or more storage devices; identifying a first storage device from the set that is currently least busy among the storage devices in the first set, and directing the first storage device to serve the request; determining if the first storage device is too busy; and if the first storage device is too busy copying the requested data file to a second storage device which did not previously store the data file, thereby adding the second storage device to the first set of storage devices containing the requested data file.
US08271991B2
A method of balancing a load in a computer system having at least one storage system, and a management computer, each of the storage systems having physical disks and a disk controller, the load balancing method including the steps of: setting at least one of the physical disks as a parity group; providing a storage area of the set parity group as at least one logical volumes to the host computer; calculating a logical volume migration time when a utilization ratio of the parity group becomes equal to or larger than a threshold; and choosing, as a data migration source volume, one of the logical volumes included in the parity group that has the utilization ratio equal to or larger than the threshold, by referring to the calculated logical volume migration time, the data migration source volume being the logical volume from which data migrates.
US08271986B2
Active and/or proactive semaphore mechanisms and thread synchronization techniques can be applied to various visual and graphical processing techniques.
US08271976B2
The present invention is a system for and method of initializing multiple virtual processors in a virtual machine (VM) environment. The method of initializing multiple virtual processors includes the steps of the host creating a multiple processor VM and activating a “starter virtual processor,” the “starter virtual processor” issuing a startup command to a next virtual processor, the virtual machine monitor (VMM) giving the target virtual processor the highest priority for accessing the hardware resources, the VMM forcing the “starter virtual processor” to relinquish control of the hardware resources, the VMM handing control of the hardware resources to the target virtual processor, the target virtual processor executing and completing its startup routine, the VMM forcing the target virtual processor to relinquish control of the hardware resources, and the VMM handing control of the hardware resources back to the “starter virtual processor” for activating subsequent virtual processors.
US08271975B2
The present invention provides a unified provisioning environment, which comprehensively manages the tasks related to software provisioning. In particular, the present invention manages software provisioning using a hierarchy of commands. The lowest level in the hierarchy comprises distribution commands, which primarily handle base operating system specific tasks of provisioning. The second level comprises profile commands, which associate a configuration file, such as a Linux kickstart file, with a distribution and optionally allow for customization. The third level comprises system commands, which associate remote systems that are involved with the provisioning of the software. The fourth level comprises repository commands, which address configurations and tasks related to updating the software, remote installation procedures, and optionally customizing the software.
US08271972B2
An update/upgrade concept which regards a convenient procedure for making updates or upgrades of control software and/or configuration data available to microcontroller-based hardware of machine units in the field without requirement of special tools and experience. In particular, by use of a standard memory device as known in the field of digital cameras, mp3-players whatsoever, together with a procedure which detects an available update/upgrade stored on such memory device and performs a respective download of the update/upgrade data to the respective microcontroller-based hardware, if applicable. An additional or optional aspect relates to collecting of operational data during operation of a machine unit in the field, which operational data can be transferred/carried back to the manufacturer of the machine unit for research and development purposes as well as for quality control, also a tracking of machine units through their lifetime is made possible thereby.
US08271970B2
A method for software distribution is provided. The method is for software distribution from a central provider server of a software provider to a customer system with at least one technical device, on which at least one application program managed by the software provider is installed. The method includes storing information about a customer version of the application program used by the customer system and a current version in a database on the central provider server, and making a program packet, which corresponds to the current version of the application program, available to the customer system by way of a data line when the present customer version does not correspond to the current version.
US08271964B2
Described herein are methods and systems for providing software development services in a networked software development environment. For instance, instead of performing compilation on a stand-alone desktop computer, software development activities including, compilation are performed by a service provider in response to a general query from a client requester. Such a network desirably has a global view of the source files being processed by various software development tools associated therewith. This global view enables many interesting approaches including the ability to perform analysis and optimizations to the input files not specified by the client requester. Such anticipatory processing may be based on the history and pattern of previous requests and availability of software development tools that the client requester is not aware of, for instance. The service request is submitted to a software development service provider to get back a specified result and non-specified anticipatory results as one of many “hits” in a ranked order.
US08271948B2
A method and system for testing subscriber identity module application toolkit (SAT) functionality. The method of the present invention includes loading a first computer program into a SIM card and loading a second computer program comprising a software tool for designing test, measurement, and control systems into a computer. The second computer program is executed to trigger an event which causes the first computer program to send a proactive command. The proactive command data is then sent to the SIM card through a terminal response command.
US08271947B2
To realize an autonomic system and method of improving the quality of a piece of software and solving problems with respect to operations in stages of a software life cycle. There are provided a pattern catalog 20 in which information on execution environments 11 to 14 in the stages of the software life cycle and information on patterns of design applicable in respective the stages of the software life cycle are stored, a pattern combination search engine 30 which searches the patterns with respect to each of the stages in the pattern catalog 20 on the basis of predetermined conditions including a design objective, and a pattern application agent 40 which applies some of the patterns found by searching performed by the pattern combination search engine 30 and controls the operation in the execution environments 11 to 14. Patterns which accord with the design objective are automatically selected to autonomically improve the quality of the piece of software. If a problem is found, an application of patterns obtained by searching performed by the pattern combination search engine 30 is again tried to autonomically solve the problem.
US08271942B2
The present invention defines a single Java annotation model. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: receiving a Java annotation declaration in a Java annotation model; receiving a Java annotation definition in the Java annotation model; receiving domain specific context rules in the Java annotation model; and providing access to combined meta-data information derived from the Java annotation declaration, the Java annotation definition, and the domain specific context rules through the Java annotation model.
US08271939B1
An application development tool can support sampling of data from one or more providers of data that will be queried by the application under development at runtime. The sampling results can be used to provide hints or suggestions at development time so that a developer defining code segments that make reference to data resulting from such queries can produce code segments having the proper context to reference the data of interest. The sampling results can comprise a plurality of parameters and the application development tool can provide a user interface whereby a user can indicate custom type declarations for the returned parameters and/or identify a subset of the parameters returned by a query as being of interest. The custom type declarations and/or identified subset can be used to facilitate more meaningful hinting or suggestion by the application development tool.
US08271934B2
A solution is proposed for developing software applications on a data processing system. A corresponding method starts with the step of providing an analysis model of a software application (such as based on a use case diagram); the analysis model represents the software application with stereotypes (i.e., use cases) each one representing a requirement of the software application. The method continues by estimating an optimum number of features of the software application (each one representing a function of the software application); the optimum number of features is estimated according to the analysis model. The stereotypes are then organized in packages; each package includes a set of logically correlated stereotypes, which expose a corresponding feature. A number of the packages are determined according to the optimum number of features and used to implement the software application.
US08271933B1
A printed circuit board (PCB) block diagram tool for block diagram level editing of a PCB design abstracted from a PCB physical layout tool is disclosed. The PCB block diagram tool includes a plurality of interface objects, a plurality of block objects and interconnect lines. The plurality of interface objects represents interfaces between components. Each of the plurality of interface objects include a plurality of signal, power and ground signal lines without defined physical assignment to pin or pad. The plurality of block objects represents a plurality of physical objects in the PCB physical layout tool. The plurality of blocks are configured to accept the plurality of interface objects. Interconnect lines connect the plurality of interface objects between the plurality of block objects.
US08271930B2
A method co-optimizes a design and a library in such a way to choose the best set of cells to implement the design. The method takes into account the idea of limiting the number of new cells while reducing target costs and respecting design constraints. The method chooses a minimum nearly optimum set of cells to optimize a design. This involves the simultaneous optimization of a cell-based design and a cell library used to implement it. The invention can produce only an optimized library for a specific application, when the circuit is disregarded. The method takes into account a set of new cells described as finalized cells or as virtual cells, possibly having different transistor topologies, different sizes, different logic functions, and/or different cell template than the original library.
US08271923B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing forward tracing to reduce pessimism in static timing of logic blocks laid out in parallel structures on an integrated circuit chip. A common path pessimism removal algorithm is enhanced by a forward tracing parallel clock tree proximity credit algorithm that uses forward tracing, and computes a proximity credit that is applied to reduce pessimism in the static timing.
US08271920B2
Exemplary embodiments include a computer implemented method for large block and structured synthesis, the method including determining initial design data from starting points for a synthesis flow, receiving user-directed structuring is incorporated into the synthesis flow, applying logical synthesis on the initial design data, applying a physical design on the initial design data, determining whether circuit design parameters have been met and in response to circuit design parameters not being met, adjusting the circuit design parameters.
US08271916B2
The present invention provides in one aspect a method of defining a logic cell library composed of complex functions and simple functions, with some of the complex functions obtained from identifying logic function patterns. In another aspect the present invention provides a method of designing a representation of an integrated circuit that uses complex functions and simple functions, with the complex functions including a plurality of non-standard complex Boolean logic functions that are determined to collectively provide for logic pattern minimization.
US08271914B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that simulates behavioral constructs of a register transfer level design using indeterminate values. The system may receive hardware description language code which includes a construct that behaves differently depending on the value of an expression, e.g., the construct may execute different portions of code based on the value of a control expression, or it may store data in different storage locations based on the value of an index expression, etc. In response to determining that the expression's value is indeterminate, the system can execute two or more alternatives that are controlled by the expression, and then merge the results in some prescribed way. An embodiment of the present invention can enable a user to reduce the discrepancy between the results generated by a register transfer level simulation and the results generated by the associated gate level simulation.
US08271911B1
Approaches for reporting hardware events from circuitry implemented in an integrated circuit (IC). The IC is configured with a circuit to be analyzed and an event monitor circuit. A process invokes an application programming interface (API) function that references an operating system managed object. The API function includes a parameter value that references the object. The process is operated in a first manner when the object is in a first state. An interrupt signal is generated by the event monitor circuit to the processor in response to an input signal from the circuit under analysis, which initiates execution of an interrupt handler. The object is placed in a second state by the interrupt handler. The process is operated in a second manner different from the first manner in response to the object transitioning to the second state.
US08271906B1
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates interaction with a user of a computing device. During operation, the system obtains user input from the user through a user interface of the computing device. Next, the system updates, based on the user input, a dynamic cursor area proximate to a cursor in the user interface to provide functionality-based feedback to the user at a location where the user is likely to be looking.
US08271893B1
Among other disclosures, a method may include receiving a request to modify graphical data using a graphical tool, wherein the graphical data is associated with representation information, and the request indicates a visually depicted aspect of the graphical data, deriving an alteration of the representation information, based, at least in part, on the visually depicted aspect, and transforming the representation information based on the derived alteration.
US08271890B2
An image processing apparatus which makes it possible to realize easy accessing of registered information of any function and provide a user interface having high operability. The image processing apparatus stores setting information configured via an operating section and access information for use in accessing the setting information in association with each other. Further, the image processing apparatus stores the setting information and button information in association with each other. The button information is displayed on a touch panel in a user selectable form. When an item of the button information displayed on the touch panel is selected by a user, a portal application detects the access information associated with the selected button information item. The setting information is acquired based on the detected access information. The image processing apparatus performs image processing based on the acquired setting information.
US08271887B2
A method for conducting a collaborative web-based whiteboard session, including receiving one or more whiteboard annotations in first units in a first client application component, converting the one or more whiteboard annotations from the first units into second units by utilizing a software component associated with the first client application component, sending the one or more whiteboard annotations, in the second units, to a second client application component, converting the one or more whiteboard annotations received from the first client application component from the second units into coordinates specific to the second client application component, and presenting the one or more whiteboard annotations using the coordinates specific to the second client application component to a user through the second client application component.
US08271880B2
A system and method for managing the utilization of user interface resources. Various aspects of the present invention comprise establishing a wireless communication link between a first system and a second system. The second system may be communicatively coupled to one or more user interface resources. The second system may, for example, determine whether at least a portion of a user interface resource is available for use with the first system. The second system may, for example, communicate the availability of various user interface resources for use with the first system. Various aspects may comprise requesting allocation of at least a portion of a user interface resource for use with the first system. The second system may allocate at least a portion of a requested user interface resource for use with the first system. Various aspects of the present invention also comprise system components that perform the above-mentioned operations.
US08271879B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for a workstation management application. An identification of a user is obtained in a user interface. A listing of workstations that the user has accessed is rendered in the user interface. A selection of one of the workstations is obtained in the user interface. A listing of management tasks configured for the workstation is rendered in the user interface. One of a plurality of management tools is launched to perform a selected one of the management tasks for the workstation.
US08271870B2
A document analysis, commenting, and reporting system provides tools that automate quality assurance analysis tailored to specific document types. As one example, the specific document type may be a requirements specification and the system may tag different parts of requirements, including actors, entities, modes, and a remainder. The system also includes tools for visualizing the relationships between entities in a requirements specification and for identifying whether the requirements specification provides for attributes specified by a non-functional attribute glossary. The system facilitates the visualization of interactions of individual entities, of a system of entities, or entities identified for a specific use. The different types of visualizations distinguish between interacting and non-interacting entities, and highlight where a set of requirements may be deficient with respect to the non-interacting entities. However, the flexibility of the system permits analysis of any other document type, such as instruction manuals and best practices guides.
US08271869B2
Technology is described for identifying language translations for source documents. The method includes finding source documents containing links to target documents and the link anchors of the links have language indicating text. A first tuple set can be generated for paired source documents and target documents with an expected target language for a target document. The first tuple set can be annotated with primary languages for the source documents and target documents to form a second tuple set where primary languages of the source documents and target documents are different. Further, a third tuple set can be generated using the second tuple set using a count of the number of times source documents and target documents occur in the first tuple set. Tuples can be removed from the third tuple set where a count ratio between source document count and target document count is less than a reference ratio.
US08271866B2
The invention that meets the needs identified above is a web browser plug-in or feature comprising a modification program (MP), a configuration program (CP), a table reduction program (TRP), algorithms and rules, that interacts with a web browser to analyze a web page for tables. The analysis consists of interrogating incoming hypertext markup language (HTML) for table structure
| and | tags, and incoming text for delimiters. The configuration program introduces controls into the text for each column and row delimeter that met a criteria for being hideable. In addition, the configuration program introduces controls into the HTML for each column and row tag that met a criteria for being hideable. The configuration program links the controls to a hiding algorithm so that when activated, the appropriate hiding algorithm will act on the row or column associated with the control. The controls are injected before the web browser renders the web page. When the web browser renders the web page, the web browser recognizes and interprets the injected HTML code so that the table may be reduced by the table reduction program.
US08271860B2
A retransmission method based on Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) and devices thereof are provided in embodiment of this present invention, so as to increase the system throughput. In the present invention, when retransmission is needed, the partial bits in the information sequence to be retransmitted are replaced by the prior information that the transmitter and the receiver both have know, with the replaced information sequence is LDPC coded, LDPC check sequence is obtained and is sent to the receiver. After receiving the LDPC check sequence, the receiver decodes the information sequence including the prior information with the LDPC check sequence. If the decoding is successful, after removing the prior information from the decoded information sequence, the receiver refills the decoded bits in a previous received information sequence, and performs decoding again with an LDPC check sequence corresponding to the previous received information sequence and obtains a complete information sequence. US08271854B2
An embedded electronic device is provided. The embedded electronic device comprises a flash memory and a processor. The flash memory comprises a plurality of data storage blocks. The processor performs a parity check process to determine parity data of operation system (OS) data, wherein the parity data serves as a backup for the operation system (OS) data. The processor stores the operation system (OS) data and corresponding parity data into the data storage block of the flash memory. US08271852B2
A method of recovering data in a line signal which is predicted to be subjected to repetitive noise impulses, the line signal comprising a series of data frames, the method comprising the steps of: predicting a group comprising one or more frames in said line signal which are expected to be corrupted by a noise signal; blanking said group of one or more frames which are predicted to be corrupted; determining the preceding and succeeding frames adjacent to said group; and including in each said group of one or more frames one or more parity blocks wherein if said noise signal deviates from its predicted timing interval or duration and corrupts the data carried in one or more of said frames adjacent to said group, the corrupted data is recovered using one or more of said parity blocks of said group of blanked frames and the other one of said adjacent frames. US08271850B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided to encode a low-density parity-check codeword for transmission in a communications channel. In an embodiment, the encoding may include partially computing parity-check bits in response to receiving a block of message bits before obtaining all the message bits for the low-density parity-check codeword, including updating previously partially computed parity-check bits that depend on the received block. US08271838B2
A method for detecting security intrusions and soft faults in a software system includes receiving a multi-dimensional performance signature built from operating system metrics sampled by a software system monitoring infrastructure, associating a plurality of buckets with each component of the performance signature, comparing a component of the sampled performance signature to an expected value for the performance signature component, where a bucket for the performance signature component is incremented if the sampled performance signature component exceeds the corresponding expected value, and the bucket for the performance signature component is decremented if the sampled performance signature component is less than the corresponding expected value, executing a security alert notification when the bucket for the performance signature component exceeds a first threshold, and executing a soft-fault notification when the bucket for the performance signature component exceeds a second threshold, where the first threshold is less than the second threshold. US08271828B2
A method of restarting a network (1) consisting of network modules (2), the method comprising the steps of: * recording error data associated with errors occurring in the network, the error data including sets of network variables applying when the errors occurred, * upon detection of a start-up error, deriving a new set of network variables from the recorded error data, for example by changing the order of two network variables, and * restarting the network while using the new set of network variables. The network modules (2) may be wireless modules, while the network variables may comprise communication channel numbers or network addresses. The method may be carried out using a network control device (4) coupled to a central network unit (3). US08271823B2
A system and method are disclosed to generate and terminate clock shift modes during initialization of a synchronous circuit (e.g., a delay-locked loop or DLL). Upon initialization, the DLL is entered into a ForceSL (Force Shift Left) mode and an On1x mode (i.e., left shifting on each clock cycle). The feedback clock that tracks the phase of the reference clock (which, in turn, is derived from the system clock) is initially delayed in a coarse phase detector prior to applying it to the coarse phase detection window. Two delayed versions of the feedback clock are sampled by the reference clock to generate a pair of phase information signals, which are then used to establish an advanced phase equal (APHEQ) signal. The APHEQ signal advances onset of the PHEQ (phase equalization) phase and is used to terminate the ForceSL and On1x modes, thereby preventing wrong ForceSL exit due to clock jitter or feedback path overshooting during On1x exit. The avoidance of wrong ForceSL exit and On1x overshooting problems further results in faster DLL locking time. US08271807B2
A system, method and computer readable medium are disclosed for reducing power consumption in clusters, grids, on-demand centers, and so forth. The principles disclosed herein can reduce both direct and indirect power consumption while maintaining either full cluster performance or adequate SLA based cluster performance. The method includes receiving at least one state data point regarding power consumption or temperature of at least one resource within the compute environment. Using intelligent policies to control power consumption, the method implements and interfaces with power managements facilities within the cluster, grid or on-demand center to either implement policies, make dynamic changes, make predictions or actions, and so forth to reduce one or more of the direct or indirect power consumption associated with a compute environment. The method can analyze current workload, future workload or both in taking energy saving actions in the environment. An aspect can also involve reporting state information and updating algorithms based on historical experience or outside sources of information such as the news or weather. US08271806B1
We describe an example system and method of power sharing that includes communicating a power status of each of a plurality of devices on a network to a rest of the plurality of devices connected to the network and sharing power between the plurality of devices responsive to the communicating. US08271804B2
An information processing device creates a hash value from an event log every time the event occurs. The information processing device generates a digital signature by encrypting the hash value with its own private key. The device transmits the signature-bound event log obtained by binding the digital signature with the event log to a log management apparatus. The log management apparatus decrypts the hash value from the event log of the received signature-bound log information using a device public key. The apparatus also generates a new hash value from the event log verifies the coincidence of the decrypted hash value and the new hash value, and authenticates signature-bound event logs for which this coincidence has been verified. The apparatus stores signature-bound event logs that have been authenticated. Every time an event occurs, the device transmits an event log bound with a digital signature that is created using its private key. US08271798B2
Limiting access to publicly exposed object-oriented interfaces is disclosed. A system includes inter-related first objects that share a predetermined password. First object-oriented interfaces define methods supported by the first objects. The first objects publicly expose the first interfaces, which are queryable by the first objects and second objects. Each first interface includes a password argument to limit access to the first objects. The system may also include second object-oriented interfaces that define methods supported by the first objects that publicly expose the second interfaces, which are queryable by the first and the second objects. The second interfaces are required by specification, such as that for the Common Information Model (CIM), and correspond to the first interfaces. The second interfaces lack password arguments to limit access, and the methods defined thereby return “not implemented” messages when invoked. Each second interface is a non-implemented and password-free version of a first interface. US08271797B2
A user sets an apparatus name easily identified by the user to a terminal, transmits the apparatus name together with user identification information to a terminal management server for managing a terminal, and the terminal management server registers the apparatus name as associated with the user identification information, thereby allowing the terminal management server to uniquely identify each terminal based on the apparatus name associated with the user identification information. Furthermore, a user can easily identify an apparatus name, thereby realizing a service utilizing system capable of reducing the laborious procedure of operating the terminal management server, and easily identifying each terminal. US08271796B2
We present an apparatus which can be used so that one party learns the value of a string distance metric applied to a pair of strings, each of which is held by a different party, in such a way that none of the parties can learn anything else significant about the strings. This apparatus can be applied to the problem of linking records from different databases, where privacy and confidentiality concerns prohibit the sharing of records. The apparatus can compute two different string similarity metrics, including the bigram based Dice coefficient and the Jaro-Winkler string comparator. The apparatus can implement a three party protocol for the secure computation of the bigram based Dice coefficient and a two party protocols for the Jaro-Winkler string comparator which are secure against collusion and cheating. The apparatus implements a three party Jaro-Winkler string comparator computation which is secure in the case of semi-honest participants. US08271791B2
A method for digitally signing of electronic documents which are to be kept secure for a very long time, thereby taking into account future cryptographic developments which could render currently cryptographic key-lengths insufficient. A double signature is issued for each document. A first digital signature ensures the long term security, while a second digital signature ensures the involvement of an individual user. Thereby, the second digital signature is less computationally intensive in its generation than the first digital signature. US08271789B2
Disclosed is a system managing usage authorizations, comprising a central computer system, field devices and smart cards, wherein the system maintains databases containing all information relating to the users, user accounts, user smart cards, field devices and products, establishes and maintains at least at times communication with the field devices, issues instructions based on the available information and transmits to a plurality of field devices, with the field devices maintaining information relating to the smart cards and products so that communication between a field device and a smart card allows at least a portion of the smart card-related instructions to be processed from the instruction list and stored on the field device and to be transmitted to the computer system during the next communication, and wherein the smart cards carry to allow exchange of information with a field device and store instructions. US08271786B1
A method and system for providing secure communications between a first and second peer device is disclosed. The invention includes allowing the first and second peer devices to verify the authenticity of each other only while each peer device is within an established zone of privacy wherein the established zone of privacy is an area close (for example, almost touching) to the peer device. Because the authenticity of the other device is verified only while each peer device is within the established zone of privacy, users can visually confirm that there are no potential interlopers within the zone. As a result, the two peer devices can discover each other in a more secure fashion The method and system include creating a zone of privacy with the first peer device, allowing the first and second peer devices to verify the authenticity of each other only while the second peer device is within the zone of privacy, and allowing encrypted data to transfer between the first and second peer device once the authenticity of each peer device has been verified. US08271773B2
A configurable field device for automation technology with a partially dynamically reconfigurable logic chip FPGA, in which function modules are dynamically configured during runtime, and to a method for operating the configurable field device. US08271770B2
A computer motherboard with automatically adjusted hardware parameter values restarts automatically and proceeds with overclocking or power-saving operation in case the computer motherboard hangs due to preceding overclocking or power-saving operation. The computer motherboard includes: a watchdog unit connected to a frequency generator and adapted to notify the frequency generator and generate a restart signal after predetermined duration; the frequency generator for generating and outputting a frequency, and automatically decreasing or increasing, according to notice from the watchdog unit, a current frequency generated by the frequency generator so as to generate and output a new frequency to substitute for the current frequency; and a hardware parameter value setting unit for setting the frequency generator for a start frequency and an operation mode and starting the watchdog unit; wherein the computer motherboard receives the restart signal and automatically restarts at the new frequency when unbooted after predetermined duration. US08271767B2
An HW arithmetic unit executes a predetermined arithmetic operation. An arithmetic-mode determining unit determines, based on an attribute or a content of data relating to processing that has requested the arithmetic operation, either a synchronous mode that executes the processing after waiting for completion of the arithmetic operation by an arithmetic circuit or an asynchronous mode that executes the processing without waiting for completion of the arithmetic operation by the arithmetic circuit, as an execution mode of the arithmetic operation. An arithmetic-process control unit controls the arithmetic operation by the arithmetic circuit according to the determined execution mode. US08271763B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for unifying the addressing of multiple distinct parallel memory spaces into a single address space for a thread. A unified memory space address is converted into an address that accesses one of the parallel memory spaces for that thread. A single type of load or store instruction may be used that specifies the unified memory space address for a thread instead of using a different type of load or store instruction to access each of the distinct parallel memory spaces. US08271762B2
Mapping management methods and systems are provided. First, a sub-read command comprising mapping directory number, block offset and page offset is obtained. Then, a specific block mapping table is located from a plurality of block mapping tables according to the mapping directory number, and a first specific entry is located from the specific block mapping table according to the block offset, wherein the first specific entry comprises a mapping mode setting and block information. When the mapping mode setting is a page mapping mode, a second specific entry is located from a page mapped block table according to the block information, and a page mapping table is located corresponding to a specific page mapped block. Thereafter, a third specific entry is located from the page mapping table according to the page offset, and a page of data is located from a storage unit according to the third specific entry. US08271755B1
A method for enhancing computer data backup includes storing identifications and corresponding functionalities for a plurality of storage devices in a database. A storage device that is in data communication with a computer that is to be backed up is selected. An identification of the storage device selected for use in the backup is determined. If functionalities for the selected storage device are contained in the database, then at least one of the functionalities for the selected storage device is used to enhance a data backup to the selected storage device. If functionalities for the selected storage device are not contained in the database, then the selected storage device can be queried in an attempt to match it to one of the storage devices contained in the database, so that functionalities for the storage device contained within the database can be used to enhance data backup. US08271742B2
A device and a method to efficiently process the symbols coded in OFDM according to the various protocols available. This is achieved through a device to process OFDM-based symbols comprising a base band input data and a base band output data, and comprising at least two programmable execution units connected to at least one working memory, this device being characterized in that, the programmable execution units (EU) are connected to the memory (M-1, M-2, M3, . . . M-N) through a memory management unit (PL_MMU), said programmable execution units (EU) having an input memory range and an output memory range, the device further comprising a state scheduler (SCH) connected to the execution units (EU) and to the memory management unit (PL_MMU), said scheduler (SCH) having means to: load the related program into the execution units (EU) thus defining the function and the input and output memory ranges of said programmable execution units (EU), assign the input and output memory range of said working memory relative to the programmable execution unit (EU) with the programmable execution unit (EU) input and output memory ranges through the memory management unit (PL_MMU) at each pipeline period, define the processing data flow of the symbols by defining the number of programmable execution units (EU) and the order in which the programmable execution units (EU) are involved. US08271741B2
A “request scheduler” provides techniques for batching and scheduling buffered thread requests for access to shared memory in a general-purpose computer system. Thread-fairness is provided while preventing short- and long-term thread starvation by using “request batching.” Batching periodically groups outstanding requests from a memory request buffer into larger units termed “batches” that have higher priority than all other buffered requests. Each “batch” may include some maximum number of requests for each bank of the shared memory and for some or all concurrent threads. Further, average thread stall times are reduced by using computed thread rankings in scheduling request servicing from the shared memory. In various embodiments, requests from higher ranked threads are prioritized over requests from lower ranked threads. In various embodiments, a parallelism-aware memory access scheduling policy improves intra-thread bank-level parallelism. Further, rank-based request scheduling may be performed with or without batching. US08271738B2
In a multiprocessor environment, by executing cache-inhibited reads or writes to registers, a scan communication is used to rapidly access registers inside and outside a chip originating the command. Cumbersome locking of the memory location may be thus avoided. Setting of busy latches at the outset virtually eliminates the chance of collisions, and status bits are set to inform the requesting core processor that a command is done and free of error, if that is the case. US08271734B1
A system and method for converting data from one format to another in a processing pipeline architecture. Data is stored in a shared cache that is coupled between one or more clients and an external memory. The shared cache provides storage that is used by multiple clients rather than being dedicated to separately convert the data format for each client. Each client may interface with the memory using a different format, such as a compressed data format. Data is converted to the format expected by the particular client as it is read from the cache and output to the client during a read operation. Bytes of a cache line may be remapped to bytes of an unpack register for output to a naïve client, which may be configured to perform texture mapping operations. Data is converted from the client format to the memory format as it is stored into the cache during a write operation. US08271731B2
An apparatus and a method operating on data at a server node of a data grid system with distributed cache is described. A coordinator receives a request to change a topology of a cache cluster from a first group of cache nodes to a second group of cache nodes. The request includes a cache node joining or leaving the first group. A key for the second group is rehashed without blocking access to the first group while rehashing. US08271730B2
A plurality of processing units for performing data processing operations require access to data in shared memory. Each has an associated cache storing a subset of the data for access by that processing unit. A cache coherency protocol ensures data accessed by each unit is up-to-date. Each unit issues a write access request when outputting a data value for storing in shared memory. When the write access request requires both the associated cache and the shared memory to be updated, a coherency operation is initiated within the cache coherency logic. The coherency operation is performed for all of the caches including the cache associated with the processing unit that issued the write access request in order to ensure that the data in those caches is kept coherent. US08271727B2
Embodiments of systems and methods for routing commands to a distributed RAID system are disclosed. Specifically, embodiments may route a command to an appropriate data bank in a distributed RAID system, where each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. The distributed RAID applications on each of the data banks coordinate among themselves to distribute and control data flow associated with implementing a level of RAID in conjunction with data stored on the associated storage media of the data banks. US08271722B2
A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory. US08271715B2
In some embodiments a functional PCI Express port includes first buffers and an idle PCI Express port includes second buffers. One or more of the second buffers are accessed by the functional PCI Express port. Other embodiments are described and claimed. US08271714B2
An interface for serial data communication, comprising: a power signal contact having an associated impedance; at least one data signal contact; and sensing means for automatically sensing a discrete change in the impedance associated with the power signal contact. A method of checking a serial data connection between a host and a peripheral that are not involved in a data communication session, the method comprising: sensing a discrete change in an impedance associated with a contact that is used, during a session, for transferring power from the host to the peripheral. US08271713B2
A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided. US08271710B2
In an embodiment, a command is received that requests movement of ownership of a target device from an origin compute element to a destination compute element. From the origin compute element, a translation of a virtual bridge identifier to a first secondary bus identifier, a first subordinate bus identifier, and a first MMIO bus address range is removed. To the destination compute element, a translation of the target virtual bridge identifier to a second secondary bus identifier, a second subordinate bus identifier, and a second MMIO bus address range is added. From a south chip that comprises the target virtual bridge, a translation of the target virtual bridge identifier to an identifier of the origin compute element is removed. To the south chip, a translation of the target virtual bridge identifier to an identifier of the destination compute element is added. US08271709B2
A method for operating a communications bus between a first computer and a second computer is provided. The method comprising monitoring a receiver bus coupled to the first computer for activity and confirming that the communications are determinant. The communications are confirmed by receiving a control label on the receiver bus and acknowledging to the second computer through a transmitter bus coupled to the first computer that communications are determinant. The method also comprises enabling the second computer to access data accessible by the first computer when the reliability of communications is confirmed. US08271706B2
The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to revising logical unit ownership in a host. A host receives an error message from a storage subsystem having at least two storage controllers and at least one logical unit coupled to at least one of the storage controllers. The host suspends I/O from the host to the storage subsystem. The host transmits a verification of logical unit ownership query to the storage subsystem. The host determines that ownership between a host and a logical unit on the at least one of the storage controllers has changed from a mapping table of the host. Responsive to a determination that ownership has changed, the host updates ownership in a mapping table of the host to reflect the ownership between the host and the logical unit. The host resumes I/O from the host to the storage subsystem, wherein the host routinely exchanges I/O with the storage subsystem. US08271702B2
A memory allocation method and terminal for supporting Direct Memory Access (DMA) are provided. The terminal includes a memory for storing data used for operations of the terminal, a plurality of devices for executing applications for specific functions, a control unit for defining, when the terminal boots up, a virtual zone dedicated for the DMA in the memory, and a DMA unit for controlling the DMA of the devices. US08271701B1
A FIFO memory has integrated error management to react to different errors according to the current state of operation of the input and output as well as internal conditions such as buffer memory status. The FIFO memory completes or aborts current operations according to state and leaves the FIFO memory in known condition following error handling. Thus, data sent to a host avoids data gaps or data overlaps because the FIFO memory leaves operations in a known state before reporting the error to a controller. US08271700B1
A DMA engine is provided that is suitable for higher performance System On a Chip (SOC) devices that have multiple concurrent on-chip/off-chip memory spaces. The DMA engine operates either on logical addressing method or physical addressing method and provides random and sequential mapping function from logical address to physical address while supporting frequent context switching among a large number of logical address spaces. Embodiments of the present invention utilize per direction (source-destination) queuing and an internal switch to support non-blocking concurrent transfer of data on multiple directions. A caching technique can be incorporated to reduce the overhead of address translation. US08271694B2
A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface. US08271691B2
There is provided a method of coupling a telephone switched circuit network to an internet protocol network, wherein the telephone switched circuit network and the internet protocol network are interconnected by a gateway. The gateway comprises a non-routing key rule and the method comprises the step of generating a control method for a service by use of the non-routing key rule, wherein the service is located on the telephone switched circuit network and wherein the service is implemented by at least one application server, wherein the at least one application server is located on the internet protocol network and wherein the at least one application server is specified by an application server status. The method further comprises the step of sending the control message to a node, which is located on the telephone switched circuit network. US08271685B1
Ways of allocating an identifier to a mobile device are disclosed. One method includes receiving a request that requests an address be assigned to the mobile device, considering factors in connection with determining a mobile IP (MIP) address to be assigned to the mobile device, determining the MIP address based on the factors, and conveying the MIP address to the mobile device. US08271672B1
Output logic generates read requests using a programmable schedule that controls read bandwidth for multiple data streams and stores the read requests in a queuing device. The output logic also dequeues the read requests based on a similar programmable schedule, forwards the read requests to the memory, and reads data units from the memory based on the read requests. US08271670B2
Methods and apparatuses for processing media data transmitted in a data communication medium. A digital processing system is provided with a time related sequence of media data provided to the digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein the set of data indicates a method to transmit the time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, itself, is a time related sequence of data associated with the time related sequence of media data. The time related sequence of media data may be presented and/or stored by the digital processing system. US08271660B2
A network appliance (100) is provided having a network controller subsystem (110) for coupling the appliance (100) to a data network for providing and receiving data packets to and from a packet data network. A digital signal processing subsystem (120) is coupled to the network controller subsystem (110). A signal conversion subsystem (130) is coupled to the digital signal processing subsystem (120) and a user interface subsystem (160) is coupled to both the signal conversion subsystem (130) and the digital signal processing subsystem (120). The digital signal processing subsystem (120) operates under the control of a computer program which is capable of detecting incoming calls, initiating call sessions, and preferably, implementing advanced telephony features. US08271658B1
A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible. US08271657B2
A publisher node in a network determines how many subscriber nodes in the network have subscribed to receive notification messages about data that is maintained by the publisher node. The publisher node also determines how many available connections the publisher node is configured to support. If the number of available connections exceeds the number of subscribers, the publisher node sends the notification messages to the subscriber nodes via a connection-based protocol. If the number of subscriber nodes exceeds the number of available connections, the publisher node sends the notification messages to the subscriber nodes via multicast. If the publisher node sends the notification messages to the subscriber nodes via multicast, the publisher node may receive one or more connection requests from subscribers that may be depending on reliably receiving the notification messages from the publisher. US08271651B1
Methods and systems for regulating resource usage of an application are disclosed. A method of regulating usage of an application is disclosed that comprises receiving an operating parameter of a client device, assigning a value to a usage variable associated with the operating parameter of the client device, and correlating by an application a resource usage level of the application with the usage variable. US08271642B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for isolating a device associated with at least potential data leakage activity, based on user input. In operation, at least potential data leakage activity associated with a device is identified. Furthermore, at least one action is performed to isolate the device, based on user input received utilizing a user interface. US08271641B2
A database system includes servers configured to receive requests from user systems. Each server includes a local and a global store. Each local store stores the number of requests received by its server. The system includes a processor configured to receive the number of requests from servers. The processor is configured to determine the number of requests received by all of the servers, and send this number of requests to each server. The global store stores the number of requests received from the processor. A given server is configured to compare the number of requests received by the servers with a threshold number. If this number is greater than the threshold number, then the given server is configured to send a message to the user systems that the number of threshold requests has been exceeded and/or the given server will discontinue accepting requests. US08271636B2
A networking system, device, and method are provided. The networking device typically includes a user-defined ruleset including HTTP request rules and HTTP response rules. The networking device may further include a request processor configured to receive an incoming HTTP request from the client, apply HTTP request rules to the incoming HTTP request, to thereby produce a modified HTTP request, and send the modified HTTP request to the server. The networking device may further include a response processor configured to receive an HTTP response to the modified HTTP request from the server, apply the HTTP response rules to the HTTP response, to thereby produce a modified HTTP response, and send the modified HTTP response to the client. US08271634B2
The present invention relates to a buffer system for managing a plurality of service measurement (SM) requests. In one embodiment, the buffer system includes a count buffer configured to store the SM requests. Each SM request includes a key set and a name-value pair. The name-value pair includes a name field and a value field. The buffer system further includes a send buffer configured to consolidate indices of the count buffer according to a destination address of each of the SM requests and a transport buffer configured to create at least one outgoing message based on data contents of the count buffer than correspond to the indices that have been consolidated. US08271632B2
A computer system for providing a remote access service includes a unit for acquiring information on a relation between a terminal and a user using the terminal, a unit for acquiring network information about the terminal, a unit for acquiring network information about a blade that the terminal will access, a unit for acquiring information on a relation between the blade and a storage area, and a management server for extracting information on the user and its usage information and providing these information in real time. The management server also has a unit for permitting an administrator of the management server, persons other than the user and a management program to use the blade. US08271622B2
A system management tool framework for a system management tool for extending system management commands related to software installation units such as software component, feature or product. The tool is constructed in accordance with an interface and framework that allows polymorphism and dynamic binding at run-time. When the system management software tool is constructed in accordance to the framework of the present invention, the software tool can be made scalable, flexible and adaptable to a heterogeneous distributed system. US08271618B1
A system for zero-footprint screen capture, comprising a communication server, a screen capture server, a web server, and a media upload server, wherein the web server, on receiving a request for a specific web page from a client application whose screen is to be captured, uploads a persistent screen capture application to the client. Upon receiving a connection request from the screen capture application uploaded to the client, the screen capture server establishes a persistent connection to the uploaded screen capture application and, on receiving a notification from the communication server pertaining to an interaction involving a user of the client application, sends instructions via the persistent connection to the screen capture application. The media upload server receives one or more data packets containing screen capture graphics data. US08271615B2
An apparatus, system, method and program providing a multi-tenant software as a service (SaaS) application that manages and monitors the use of other SaaS applications via a common connection and database framework. An Internet-based interface is provided as a single portal for monitoring and managing the use of SaaS applications. Objects and the state of these objects including all associated attributes related to the SaaS applications are stored in databases associated with the Internet-based interface. The Internet-based interface also provides a social networking infrastructure and an application exchange infrastructure that allows sharing of information related to the SaaS applications. US08271597B2
A method comprises receiving, by a processor, a query comprising at least one name of a target individual. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, a plurality of email addresses. Each of the determined email addresses has a respective prefix based at least in part upon the at least one name of the target individual, and the determination is based at least in part upon statistical data regarding common syntaxes for email addresses. The method further comprises determining email traffic based at least in part upon the determined email addresses. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, one or more relationships of the target individual based at least in part upon the determined email traffic. US08271594B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating synchronized, two-way communications between a server application and one or more client applications. In one embodiment, the server application and client applications are provided with instant messaging (IM) clients that are supported by an IM server in a networked computing environment. A method disclosed includes registering at least one client application IM client in an IM registry, generating an event in the server application, and converting the event into an operation command that is independent of the states of the server or client applications. The method can also include transmitting the command to each client application IM client. The method can also include, at the client application, receiving the command, reconstituting an event from the command, and processing the event. The method can additionally include transmitting from the client application to the server application a completion notification upon completion of the processing of the event by the client application. US08271593B2
A method and computer program product for defining one or more authorized users capable of granting do-not-disturb circumvention privileges, and receiving an indicator of a grant of do-not-disturb circumvention privileges to a circumventing user by the one or more authorized users. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is circumvented based upon, at least in part, the grant of do-not-disturb circumvention privileges. US08271591B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing communications of a user. Identity information relating to the user is received, and a notification of a communication from a communicating partner is received. The user's preference for withholding the communication is obtained. An entry in a message log is created for the withheld communication. The message log is displayed to the user, such that the user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log. US08271564B2
A system and methods of managing entries in a cuckoo hash table that is subject to manipulation by a plurality of concurrent processors are provided. The cuckoo hash table is used to maintain a plurality of keys, along with their data items, in a plurality of entries. In accordance with an operating method, a first command for the cuckoo hash table is processed, and the first command is associated with a first processor of the plurality of concurrent processors. In addition, invalid conditions associated with concurrent processing of a second command for the cuckoo hash table are prevented or minimized. The second command is associated with a second processor of the plurality of concurrent processors. As one example, the operating method manages the situation where concurrent push commands create a race condition. As another example, the operating method manages the situation where a lookup or delete command from one processor competes with a push command from another processor. US08271560B2
A system, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium are provided that permit improved access to web pages within a web site via a standardized interface that can be displayed as hierarchal menus. Such menus may be provided by receiving a request to browse a web site, obtaining the link structure and/or content of the web site, and generating menu data reflecting the link structure and/or other properties of the web site. The data may optionally be filtered or truncated to limit the size of the navigational menus. US08271556B1
Method and system for managing a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system is provided. A management application collects information regarding components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system. A layout having a plurality of data structures is generated and maintained by the management application. The data structures include information regarding the components and their relationships with each other, if any. The layout is used for responding to user requests and presenting an integrated view of the storage environment on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components. US08271545B2
A database may be virtually partitioned into virtual partitions. The virtual partitions are mapped to physical databases of a database. Data records added to the database are each assigned to a virtual partition and stored in the physical database mapped to the assigned virtual partition. The identifier generated for a data record includes an identifier of the assigned virtual partition. When additional databases are created, virtual partitions are remapped to the larger space of physical databases. US08271544B2
A data file having more than one modes of operation. The data file comprises an image component for storing an image as a representation of the data file and one or more data components appended to the image component. The image component comprises metadata associated with the one or more data components. In a first mode of operation, the image component of the data file is readable for viewing the image by an image viewer while the image component is part of the data file. The one or more appended data components are unreadable by the image viewer in the first mode of operation. In a second mode of operation, the image component and the one or more appended data components are readable by a file reader. US08271536B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to implementing a multi-tenancy service component configured to provide multi-tenancy capabilities for submitted services. In one embodiment, a computer system instantiates a hosting service that includes a multi-tenancy component configured to provide resource access to multiple users through a single multi-tenant resource instance. The computer system receives a submitted service submitted to be hosted by the hosting service. The submitted service includes a portion of use information usable to configure parameters of the multi-tenancy component. The computer system configures the multi-tenancy component to provide resource access for multiple users through a single multi-tenant resource instance, where each user provides a resource instance claim indicating a resource instance level authorization for the user. The computer system also provides resource access to each of the users through the single multi-tenant resource instance, based on the resource instance level authorization included in the resource instance claim. US08271535B2
Ways for synchronizing folders between one or more layers of folders are described. It includes selecting layers to link together, comparing folders in the selected layers using an immutable identifier, parsing the folders of each of the selected layers into fields, comparing the fields of parsed folders of the selected layers, and determining whether to synchronize the folders of the selected layers based on conflict rules triggered in response to the comparison of the fields of the parsed folders. Also disclosed are ways of merging two or more folders in a network into a single folder. It includes comparing entries between folders to identify duplicate entries, grouping the identified duplicate entries in each folder, generating a matrix from the duplicates grouping and assigning each matrix entry a value, and matching the matrix entries based on the assigned values to determine an extent to merge an identified duplicate entry. US08271534B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a processor adapted to receive a message from a portable communication device communicatively coupled to a set-top box presenting a media program and to retrieve from the message a media descriptor associated with the media program. The processor is further adapted to identify according to the media descriptor one or more images of one or more performers commonly presented in the media program, to monitor one or more frames of a live media feed including the media program, and compare the one or more human figures to the one or more images of performers. The processor can also be adapted to recognize a performer from the comparison, to retrieve information associated with the performer, and to transmit the information to the portable communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed. US08271533B2
A computer database having adaptive storage space architecture is provided. The database has a storage space architecture which has a grid having grid lines, intersections of the grid lines forming nodes which provide space for storing data, each node being assembled from a plurality of cells arranged in at least one group of cells forming a storage space structure of the node, each cell being suitable for storing simple data. Additionally, selected groups of cells within the nodes may be designated as replicable, i.e. being able to replicate itself in response to an external signal. A corresponding database processing unit for processing data stored in the database, a graphical user interface for input and output of the data, and method of forming the database are also provided. US08271504B2
Systems and programs for improving the efficiency of a sorting process in a computer system are disclosed. Data is provided in an input file external to the central processing unit of the computer system. In one embodiment, the implemented process involves investigating the contents of the input file in order to identify presorted portions thereof; incorporating the identified presorted portions of the input file into a second file external to the central processing unit, performing this step by rearranging directory information, without physically transferring the presorted portions from the input file. In sort processes involving both a string generation phase and a merge phase, the techniques described may be used in either or both phases, as well as in any output phase. Rearrange directory information rather than physically transferring data provides for greater efficiency in disk I/O. US08271498B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for searching documents for ranges of numeric values. Document identifiers for documents are accessed, wherein the documents include at least one value that is a member of a set of values. A number of posting lists are generated. Each posting list is associated with a range of consecutive values within the set of values and includes document identifiers for documents including at least one value within the range of consecutive values associated with the posting list, and wherein each document identifier is associated with one value in the set of values included in the document identified by the document identifier. The generated posting lists are stored, wherein the posting lists are used to process a query on a range of values within the set of values. US08271490B2
A system and method for generating a unique link (i.e., map permalink) of mash-up map data including various information are provided. The system receives a request for generation of the map permalink of specific mash-up map data, and generates a map URL including map information in response to the request for generation of the map permalink. Also, the system generates at least one of an advertisement layer identifier, an additional service data identifier, and a user-generated data identifier, combines the generated identifier with the map URL, and stores the combined identifier together with related data. US08271489B2
A photo book system and method with associated multimedia is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention provides a photo book including an image and an electronically readable code associated with the image. The electronically readable code is used for retrieving a multimedia file that corresponds to the image. US08271482B2
The information processing device includes an access history acquiring unit which acquires and stores access history information showing access history for the contents accessed by a user terminal, and a relevancy setting unit which relates the accessed contents. As the access history information, the access history acquiring unit acquires content identification information, access date and time information, and application identification information for identifying a content access application making access to the content, which is different for each of the content access applications operated on the user terminal. The relevancy setting unit generates and stores the relevance information by mutually relating the content identification information based on the access date and time information and the application identification information contained in each of the different contents. US08271473B2
A method of managing career opportunities is provided. In some embodiments, a method for providing career and job listing websites and optimizing the career and job listing websites for search engine optimization is provided. In various embodiments, the method comprises creating a career website that mirrors a company's website, extracting job information from the company, and optimizing the job information for maximum search engine placement. US08271469B2
A method and system for tracing components in computer applications is provided in which trace data from components can be logged in real time. A hierarchical control interface 209 is used in which leaf nodes 306-311 represent components 204 being traced. The hierarchical control interface 209 includes means for setting trace levels for components 204 being traced. A non-hierarchical trace system 210 is used for carrying out the trace processing and includes means 320 for storing trace level settings received from the hierarchical control interface 209. The trace system 210 also includes means 322 for receiving a call from a component 204 with trace data; means for checking the trace level settings 321 for the component 204; and means for storing or discarding the trace data accordingly. US08271467B2
A World Wide Web registration processing system is disclosed for assisting World Wide Web users in registering at World Wide Web web sites. For each such user, the registration processing system includes a long term repository for the user's web site registration information so that this information can be automatically transferred to a plurality of web sites to which the user may at time to time request to be registered. Further, the registration processing system provides the user with the capability to have a common user identification that may be used for accessing services at a plurality of web sites. US08271459B2
A computer-implemented method for providing hypertext content to a mobile device may include obtaining a network-accessible electronic document that has content and an image, advertising material, or a plurality of similarly formatted hyperlinks. The network-accessible electronic document may be reformatted by collapsing the image, the advertising material, or the plurality of similarly formatted hyperlinks into a first expandable display element. The first expandable display element and at least a portion of the content may be provided for display in a first page on the mobile device. The method may further include receiving input that selects the first expandable display element. The first expandable display element may be reformatted into an image, advertising material, or a plurality of hyperlinks. The image, the advertising material or the plurality of hyperlinks may be provided, along with at least a portion of the content, for display in a second page on the mobile device. US08271458B2
A markup language document representing computing elements of a computing architecture, such as data storage elements of a data storage architecture, is constructed and analyzed. A first computing element contained by a second computing element is represented; a first tag of the document corresponding to the first computing element is nested within a second tag of the markup language document corresponding to the second computing element. A non-containing/contained relationship from the first computing element to a third computing element is also represented; a pointer tag of the document corresponding to the data access path is nested within the first tag, and references a third tag of the document corresponding to the third computing element. Get-pointer-node and get-child-node application programming interfaces for the markup language are called to traverse among containing/contained relationships. Pointer tags are followed to traverse among non-containing/contained relationships. Redundant attributes among the relationships can thus be detected. US08271450B2
A method for monitoring a data structure maintained by guest software within a virtual machine is disclosed. Changes to the contents of the data structure are determined, such as by placing write traces on the memory pages containing the data structure. Also, the method involves determining when memory pages containing the data structure are swapped into and/or out of guest physical memory by the guest software, such as by placing write traces on the memory pages containing the guest page table and detecting changes to the present bit of page table entries involved in mapping virtual addresses for the data structure. Information about the contents of the data structure is retained while memory pages containing the data structure are swapped out of guest physical memory. US08271443B1
A system and method for backing up data from a client computer system are described. The system may include the client computer system, a primary backup server computer system, and an alternate backup server computer system. The primary backup server computer system may be privately accessible to the client computer system via a virtual private network (VPN). The alternate backup server computer system may be accessible to the client computer system via a public or open network such as the Internet. The client computer system may be configured to backup a first set of data to the alternate backup server computer system at a particular time via the Internet in response to determining that the client computer system is not connected to the VPN at the particular time. US08271427B1
A computer database system for storing, processing, displaying, and analyzing single molecule data is capable of managing and processing variously formatted, different kinds of single molecule data and displaying subsets thereof upon instructions by a user. A component-based architecture is implemented where the processing and the displaying are separately performed. The data is dynamically loaded for processing as needed. Embodiments of computer database systems can be utilized in managing single molecule data, particularly image data derived from single molecule images. Such single molecule images may be generated by a variety of technologies, e.g., optical mapping, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and flow cytometry. Systems may be deployed over a computer network. One or more additional databases may be included which are interconnected through a network. US08271425B2
In an image processing system including a plurality of image processing devices, each image processing device includes an authenticating unit, a function implementing unit and a function specifying unit. The authenticating unit performs user authentication. The function specifying unit specifies a specific image processing function in another image processing device for each of the users. The function implementing unit implements the specific image processing function for the user already logging in the authenticating unit. US08271408B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for binary classification of items. Methods and systems are provided for constructing a machine learning-based and pairwise ranking method-based classification model for binary classification of items as positive or negative with regard to a single class, based on training using a training set of examples including positive examples and unlabelled examples. The model includes only one hyperparameter and only one threshold parameter, which are selected to optimize the model with regard to constraining positive items to be classified as positive while minimizing a number of unlabelled items classified as positive. US08271407B2
The present invention concerns a method for the rule-based monitoring of a component (C1) added to a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the SOA comprising a plurality of components (C2, . . . , Cn) being monitored by a plurality of monitoring components (M2, . . . , Mn), the method comprising the following steps: a. selecting a component (C2) from the plurality of components (C2, . . . , Cn) of the SOA which is similar to the added component (C1) based on a similarity-metric; b. selecting at least one rule (R2) from the monitoring component (M2) of the selected component (C2), wherein the at least one rule (R2) has already been validated during the operation of the SOA; and c. adding the at least one rule (R2) to a new monitoring component (M1) of the added component (C1). US08271398B2
A method and system for anticipatory package shipping are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include packaging one or more items as a package for eventual shipment to a delivery address, selecting a destination geographical area to which to ship the package, shipping the package to the destination geographical area without completely specifying the delivery address at time of shipment, and while the package is in transit, completely specifying the delivery address for the package. US08271397B2
According to one aspect, the invention provides a system for authenticating identities of a plurality of users. In one embodiment, the system includes a first handheld device including a wireless transceiver which is configured to transmit authentication information, a second device including a wireless receiver, where the second device is configured to receive the authentication information. US08271396B2
An electronic commerce system managing sale and distribution of products over the Internet or other type of network. In order to prevent attempts by users to fraudulently obtain the products, system analyzes the information submitted by the users in connection with stored and associated information in an order to determine that likelihood that the order is an attempt at fraud. Based upon the determination, system accepts or declines the order. The system also saves the user-entered information for use in determining whether to accept to decline future orders. US08271393B2
The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating a transaction between two or more parties. One or more electronic documents are received at a server computer from a client communications device of a first party to the transaction. All of the one or more electronic documents are locked against future changes. The identity validation of the first party indicates that the first party has agreed to the one or more electronic documents. Registration information is received from the client communications device of a second party to the transaction. The registration information includes the identity validation of the second party. The second party is provided with access to the received electronic documents. Whenever an acceptance of the electronic documents is received from the client communications devices of the second party, the identity validation from the first party and the second party to the agreed to electronic document. US08271386B2
A system for managing and processing exceptions to shared global treasury limits across multiple different platforms can be utilized by an organization to eliminate inconsistent client experiences and increase overall operating efficiency. A management and processing system can decision transactions of clients (e.g., customers, users, members, account-holders, clients, and the like) through a combination of straight-through and manual processes that are utilized according to select qualifying criteria. The system provides for auto-decisioning of low-risk, low-amount transactions while enabling authorized users to manually decision and otherwise manage transactions through various workflow-driven graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The GUIs can be configured to allow transaction approvers to standardize workflow for manual processing and approval of transactions that cannot be entirely decisioned by, or are exempt from, automated straight-through processing and can further be configured to provide users with numerous viewing, reporting, routing, tracking and decision override capabilities. US08271381B2
The Greenlist tool provides payors desiring to pay a merchant a means to locate, validate and effect the transfer of assets to another party by routing transaction requests to a third party that functions as the transaction enabler. This task is performed without divulging confidential information about transactors while assigning liability for certain risk consequences to the lowest cost risk bearers: banks. Greenlist verifies identities before making financial transactions or before obtaining access to restricted information. The Greenlist can be completely trusted by risk-bearers. Liability for risk can be transferred to the registrars of the information contained within the registry. This liability transfer substantially reduces the payor's cost of bearing risks. Banks or third parties responsible for certifying that someone or some entity claiming to be an authorized party is not an impostor can now offer new levels of service at a substantially lower cost for a variety of transactions. US08271373B2
A system and method for risk analysis of a portfolio of derivative products is disclosed which is conducted based on a set of flexible rules. The system and method allow creating predefined sets of products for the purpose of future risk offsets. If a futures trade as a subset of that set of products that met a threshold level, then the subset is assigned the offset value (or a pro rata or other portion of the offset value) of the predefined set. For example, assume that the predefined set consists of one S&P 500 futures, one NASDAQ futures, one S&P Midcap 400 futures and one Russell 1000 futures and the threshold is three. If the futures trader holds any three of those four futures, the three futures can be grouped, assigned an offset value, and this group can be used as one asset for purpose of further risk offsets. US08271367B1
Embodiments provide computerized stress testing for evaluating the effect of changes in the financial position of one or more borrowers. A stressed financial parameter (e.g., a risk rating or financial ratio) is generated for a borrower based on a selection of a borrower account type, a stress amount for applying to the account type, and additional financial inputs corresponding to the borrower. In some cases the stressed financial parameter is generated as a function of an unstressed financial parameter for the borrower, the stress amount, a numerator factor corresponding to the selected account type, and a denominator factor corresponding to the selected account type. Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided with the stress testing functionality. US08271366B2
The present invention relates to a compliance system that allows users to verify that trading rules and regulations are being followed throughout the intraday trading activity. In particular, the systems and methods of the present invention allow a user to verify compliance with trading rules locally at a trading terminal. US08271358B2
A method is described for user customized single screen order taking. The method saves users time to submit subsequent orders by storing their selection of items and having the system use that stored information to avoid selecting the desired items for each subsequent order. In practice, upon initial logon, a menu of items is presented to the user in response to the users inputted identification and password. The user can then select a subset of items from the displayed menu for the present and subsequent logons. The system eliminates duplicates and prioritizes presentation attribute from the selected items. A single data entry screen presenting the specific data entry needs for the selected items then is displayed on the present and subsequent logins. This ordering method also permits the user to save all data entered on a data entry screen in modified or unmodified format for submission at a subsequent time for fulfillment. Additional time is saved by the user in the placement of orders by positioning all required data fields in different regions that the non-required data fields in the data entry screen. US08271356B1
An information system environment is described that, among other things, facilitates integration of electronic commerce and physical store front retailer selling channels. In some realizations, the system includes a shopper accessible kiosk co-located with a physical store front retailer and an electronic commerce information service accessible from locations external to the physical store front retailer. Both access inventory information supplied from a suitable information service. The shopper accessible kiosk allows a user thereof to access inventory information particular to the physical store front retailer, while the electronic commerce information service allows a user thereof to order items from out of stock of the physical store front retailer. US08271355B2
A sales force automation system and method of facilitating a sales process which integrates computerized intelligent automated salesperson support for multiple phases of the sales process. Various subsystems may be provided to facilitate the sales process which may include pre-sales lead generation, maximize time spent with the customer, effectively manage an order, ensure customer satisfaction and retain the customer for future sales. Also provided to support the phases of the sales process are additional tools, integrated in the system. The additional tools may include self management subsystems, sales management subsystems and training subsystems. US08271353B2
A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner. The system and method then generates a naturally-reading narrative product summary by combining the new attribute with the new retrieved assertion model, and by combining the selected alternative product with another retrieved assertion model to recommend the selected alternative product in the narrative. US08271343B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for electronic gifting. In an exemplary gift purchasing method, a control system receives from a purchasing system a gift purchase request that includes a mobile telephone number (or other unique telephonic identifier) associated with a wireless gift recipient system, sends to a payment authorization system a payment authorization request, receives a payment authorization, and notifies the wireless gift recipient system of an electronic gift certificate. In an exemplary gift redemption method, the control system receives a gift redemption request for goods/services from a point-of-sale (POS) system, sends an authentication request addressed to the wireless gift recipient system by way of text message or other format, receives an authentication confirmation originating from the wireless gift recipient, and sends a redemption authorization to the vendor POS system. The control system has modules for conducting a targeted marketing campaign utilizing purchase and/or redemption information. US08271338B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, an approach is provided for estimating how a particular user would rate a particular item from a plurality of items. The approach is applicable to any type of items, including rental items such as movies, music and games, and the invention is not limited to any particular type of item. One or more items from the plurality of items that have ratings similar to the particular item are identified. One or more other users are identified that have given ratings to the one or more items that are substantially similar to ratings given by the particular user to the one or more items. An estimation is made of how the particular user would rate the particular item based upon ratings for the particular item given by the one or more other users. US08271336B2
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for a first business entity to provide a network-based supply chain framework for collaborative order management between at least a second and a third independent business entity, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, manufacturer and the like. A request for an order is received over a network with an automated system, from at least a second business entity. The order is transmitted over a network, with an automated system, to at least the third business entity. Information is received from the third business entity relating to a status of completion of the order by the third business entity using a network. The progress in completing the order is tracked based on the information received from the third business entity. Progress reports from the tracking are generated periodically; and transmitted to the second business entity using the network. US08271333B1
A media player provides on-screen desktop imagery such as background wallpaper and/or interactive features, related to music or other content being played. The presentation of the content-related imagery and/or features is not limited to the area of the screen associated with the media player, but can extend to other areas of the screen as well. The content-related imagery and/or features may be displayed, for example, as desktop wallpaper, so that it appears as a background to other user interface elements such as icons and windows. US08271330B2
A system and method for researching virtual markets and using the research to optimize product placements and displays. The system includes a monitoring engine configured to monitor information about user reactions and/or at least one product. The system also includes a recommendation engine configured to recommend a location within a virtual universe to display the at least one product based on the information monitored by the monitoring engine and a display engine configured to display the at least one product at a recommended location. US08271318B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods generate a near-optimum product markdown plan for a plurality of uniform pricing levels having a required inventory sell-through target over all of the plurality of uniform pricing levels. A plurality of feasible markdown schedules are generated for the uniform pricing level, where each of the plurality of feasible markdown schedules meets all individual constraints for the uniform pricing level. All dominated feasible markdown schedules are removed for the uniform pricing level to generate one or more candidate markdown schedules for the uniform pricing level. A near-optimum product markdown plan is generated, where generating the near-optimum product markdown plans includes executing a limited exact algorithm solver for a plurality of iterations, and executing a dynamic programming solver if no product markdown plan generated by the limited exact algorithm solver is within the threshold percentage of the revenue upper bound. US08271317B2
A computer implemented method of providing feedback to a sales representative for a sales opportunity to a customer, comprising: determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale by the sales representative; determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a location on a sales cycle time line for the sales opportunity; assigning a priority to the sales opportunity in dependence on the location on the sales cycle time line and the probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale; and rendering on a display a visual representation of the probability and the priority. US08271315B2
The object of the present invention is to improve quality of service for customers by sharing and utilizing personal information on customers among variety of industries. In order to achieve the objective, the present invention comprises a personal information storage means (12), a communication means (8) to an external device and an information processing means (14) for controlling operation of each means thereof; wherein said personal information storage means (12) stores not only personal information on an information disclosing person, but also commodity provision information, etc. on commodity service which is provided for the information disclosing person for each information disclosing person of the personal information. And, the processing means (14) comprising: receiving personal information on an information disclosing person from an information search side terminal via the communication means (8), checking the received personal information with personal information stored in the personal information storage means (12), identifying an information disclosing person of the received personal information if the received personal information coincides with the personal information stored in the personal information storage means (12), as a result of the checking, reading out commodity provision information, etc. on the identified information disclosing person from the personal information storage means (12), transmitting said read out commodity provision information, etc. to the information search side terminal. US08271309B2
Method and system for providing and administering online rental vehicle reservation booking services
A system and method is disclosed herein for customizing pages of a rental vehicle reservation booking website with deep-links for specialized rental vehicle reservations. The specialized rental vehicle reservations may comprise reservations for a division of a customer entity and/or promotional offer reservations. Multi-division and multi-offer pages can also be defined for the website through an administrative tool. US08271308B2
An electronic product code information service (EPCIS) interface is provided that allows accessing applications residing on a variety of systems to receive EPC-related data. In setting up an insurance policy, the EPC-related data may be used to determine objects covered by the insurance policy and to valuate the covered objects. An insurance premium may be generated for the insurance policy based on this valuation. In addition, changes to the covered objects may be detected based on the EPC-related data and may be used to automatically adjust the insured value and/or insurance premium. US08271305B2
An account management system has been developed that enables customer or client-related information to be stored, viewed and manipulated in a manner that reflects the relationship among different customers. The account management system includes an account data structure that defines accounts and relates customers to accounts so that the accounts include a group of related customers. In addition, a method of managing an underwriting account for an insurance policy has been developed. In particular, a method comprises the steps of establishing a plurality of participants; assigning each participant of the plurality of participants to an account; establishing business rules at an account level; and providing an underwriting decision for an account based upon the business rules. US08271298B2
Grouping, categorizing, and profiling pharmaceutical claims data to assist health care managers is described. In aspects, a method is described including receiving pharmacy claims data records, validating each of the claims data records for a valid drug code, establishing a number of validated pharmacy claims data records received for each drug identified, grouping the validated pharmacy claims data records to one or more pharmacy episodes, categorizing each pharmacy episode, and storing the validated pharmacy claims data records and associated pharmacy episodes for monitoring usage of prescription drugs. In various embodiments, a pharmacy episode group is a pharmacologically homogenous grouping of drugs with the same therapeutic ingredients used by a patient once or over an extended period of time, and pharmacy episodes are categorized based on algorithms linking the pattern of a physician's recommended use and the patient's pattern of compliance. US08271296B2
This invention provides a method of improving operational effectiveness in a clinical trial, the method comprises the steps of: obtaining historical clinical trial operation data for a disease condition; normalizing data from different clinical trials; grouping different clinical trials into groups; and calculating Site Effectiveness Index (SEI), wherein the SEI is useful for improving operational effectiveness in a clinical trial. In one embodiment, using the method disclosed herein would result in reducing the cost for the clinical trial. US08271290B2
An audio system comprises an encoder (209) which encodes audio objects in an encoding unit (403) that generates a down-mix audio signal and parametric data representing the plurality of audio objects. The down-mix audio signal and parametric data is transmitted to a decoder (215) which comprises a decoding unit (301) which generates approximate replicas of the audio objects and a rendering unit (303) which generates an output signal from the audio objects. The decoder (215) furthermore contains a processor (501) for generating encoding modification data which is sent to the encoder (209). The encoder (209) then modifies the encoding of the audio objects, and in particular modifies the parametric data, in response to the encoding modification data. The approach allows manipulation of the audio objects to be controlled by the decoder (215) but performed fully or partly by the encoder (209). Thus, the manipulation may be performed on the actual independent audio objects rather than on approximate replicas thereby providing improved performance. US08271289B2
An audio decoding method and apparatus and an audio encoding method and apparatus which can efficiently process object-based audio signals are provided. The audio decoding method includes receiving first and second audio signals, which are object-encoded; generating third object energy information based on first object energy information included in the first audio signal and second object energy information included in the second audio signal; and generating a third audio signal by combining the first and second object signals and the third object energy information. US08271286B2
A method, apparatus, and system are directed towards employing machine representations of phonemes to generate and manage domain names, and/or messaging addresses. A voice input signal is received using at least one computing device. The voice input signal is converted into a text representation of the voice input signal. It is then determined if the voice input signal is to be employed for use as at least one of: a domain name and a messaging address. In response to determining the voice input signal is to be employed for use in a domain name, a uniform resource identifier (URI) is generated by appending to the text representation of the voice input signal at least a top-level domain identifier. A registration status of the URI is then determined, the registration status comprising one of: registered and unregistered. US08271282B2
A voice recognition apparatus includes an extraction unit extracting a feature amount from a voice signal, a word dictionary storing a plurality of recognition words; a reject word generation unit storing reject words in the word dictionary in association with the recognition words and a collation unit calculating a degree of similarity between the voice signal and each of the recognition words and reject words stored in the word dictionary by using the feature amount extracted by the extraction unit, determining whether or not a word having a high calculated degree of similarity corresponds to a reject word, when the word is determined as the reject word, excluding the recognition word stored in the word dictionary in association with the reject word from a result of recognition, and outputting a recognition word having a high calculated degree of similarity as a result of recognition. US08271279B2
A speech enhancement system improves the perceptual quality of a processed voice signal. The system improves the perceptual quality of a voice signal by removing unwanted noise components from a voice signal. The system removes undesirable signals that may result in the loss of information. The system receives and analyzes signals to determine whether an undesired random or persistent signal corresponds to one or more modeled noises. When one or more noise components are detected, the noise components are substantially removed or dampened from the signal to provide a less noisy voice signal. US08271275B2
A scalable encoding device capable of reducing an encoding rate to reduce a circuit scale while preventing sound quality deterioration of a decoded signal. An extension layer is coarsely divided into a system for processing a first channel and a system for processing a second channel. A sound source predictor for processing the first channel predicts a drive sound source signal of the first channel from a drive sound source signal of a monaural signal, and outputs the predicted drive sound source signal through a multiplier to a first CELP encoder. A sound source predictor for processing the second channel predicts the drive sound source signal of the second channel from the drive sound source signal of the monaural signal and the output from the first CELP encoder, and outputs the predicted drive sound source signal through a multiplier to a second CELP encoder. The first and second CELP encoders perform CELP encoding operations of the individual channels using individual predicted drive sound source signals. US08271274B2
The invention aims at constructing improved dictionaries of CELP excitation vectors for coding/decoding digital audio signals. Usually, each vector of dimension N comprises pulses capable of occupying N valid positions. The invention concerns the construction of dictionaries with particular structure by: providing a common sequence of pulses forming a base pattern; and assigning the base pattern to each excitation vector of the dictionary, based on one or more occurrences at one or more respective positions among said N valid positions. The invention also concerns a combination of dictionaries thus constructed with optionally standard multipulse dictionaries, by union or summation or cascading. US08271263B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for transcoding received text fragments and documents. A featurization configuration is produced to create token components for evaluating the content of the text fragment. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. US08271262B1
The invention comprises a lip reading device having a capacitive array for enhanced portable speech recognition.The capacitive array of the invention produces a sequence of signal frames or signal data sets (i.e., digitized output) representative of the proximity and motion of a user's lips at a predetermined sample rate and resolution.The sequence of signal data sets is stored in a first electronic memory and are compared against a reference data set representative of a predetermined acoustic signal stored in a second electronic memory.The attributes of signal data set are compared against the reference data set for likely data matches based on predetermined criteria. US08271259B2
The virtual supercomputer is an apparatus, system and method for generating information processing solutions to complex and/or high-demand/high-performance computing problems, without the need for costly, dedicated hardware supercomputers, and in a manner far more efficient than simple grid or multiprocessor network approaches. The virtual supercomputer consists of a reconfigurable virtual hardware processor, an associated operating system, and a set of operations and procedures that allow the architecture of the system to be easily tailored and adapted to specific problems or classes of problems in a way that such tailored solutions will perform on a variety of hardware architectures, while retaining the benefits of a tailored solution that is designed to exploit the specific and often changing information processing features and demands of the problem at hand. US08271251B2
There is provided a high throughput automated single molecule image collection and processing system that requires minimal initial user input. The unique features embodied in the present disclosure allow automated collection and initial processing of optical images of single molecules and their assemblies. Correct focus may be automatically maintained while images are collected. Uneven illumination in fluorescence microscopy is accounted for, and an overall robust imaging operation is provided yielding individual images prepared for further processing in external systems. Embodiments described herein are useful in studies of any macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, peptides and proteins. The automated image collection and processing system and method of same may be implemented and deployed over a computer network, and may be ergonomically optimized to facilitate user interaction. US08271244B2
A sequence in the earth, defined by an upper sequence boundary and a lower sequence boundary, where at least one of the boundaries includes an unconformity, is modeled by creating a restored space corresponding to the sequence by reconstructing a portion of the sequence missing because of the unconformity. The sequence in restored space has a restored top boundary having a position and a restored base boundary having a position. Stratigraphic layering is performed within the restored space sequence, using as guides the positions of the restored top boundary and the restored base boundary of the sequence in restored space. US08271241B2
A metamaterial includes a dielectric substrate and an array of discrete resonators at the dielectric substrate, wherein each of the discrete resonators has a shape that is independently selected from: an F-type shape; an E-type shape; or a y-type shape. A parameter of a chiral metamaterial is determined and a chiral metamaterial having such a parameter is prepared by the use of a model of the chiral metamaterial. The metamaterial model includes an array of discrete resonators. In one embodiment, each of the discrete resonators has a shape that is independently selected from the group consisting of: an F-type shape; an E-type shape; and a y-type shape. To the metamaterial model, electromagnetic (EM) radiation, preferably plane-polarized EM radiation in a visible, ultraviolet or near-infrared region, having at least one wavelength that is larger than the largest dimension of at least resonator of the metamaterial model, is applied. Varying at least one characteristic of the metamaterial model and/or at least one wavelength of the applied EM radiation modulates EM interaction of the applied EM radiation with the metamaterial model, thereby determining a parameter of the chiral metamaterial. By the use of a model of the chiral metamaterial, a number of discrete resonators of a chiral metamaterial that are arrayed in a direction perpendicular to a propagation axis of EM radiation is also determined. US08271234B1
A system for implementing a situational awareness includes a plurality of data gathering devices for observing the physical environment and transforming observations of physical phenomena into digital information; a plurality of field monitoring units with each of the plurality of units communicating with a corresponding plurality of data gathering devices to obtain data therefrom; and an aggregate monitoring unit communicating with each of the plurality of field monitoring units to monitor and control each of the plurality of field monitoring units and collect and store data from the plurality of data gathering devices. US08271230B2
Disclosed herein are methods for monitoring a thermoelectric heating and cooling device (103, 203, 303) of a system (100, 200, 300) for cycling liquid reaction mixtures through a series of temperature excursions, and such systems adapted to perform these methods. A first quantity being either an electric current or an electric voltage is applied to the heating and cooling device (103, 203) or a portion (314) thereof (303), and a second quantity being either the non-selected first quantity or temperature is measured to obtain a first test value. The selected first quantity is applied to another thermoelectric heating and cooling device (104, 204) or another portion (315) of the first device (303), and the second quantity is measured to obtain a second test value. Comparison of the first and second test values yields a monitoring value which is compared with a pre-defined threshold value to obtain a monitoring result. US08271223B2
The present invention is related to multi-dimensional error definition, error measurement, error analysis, error function generation, error information optimization, and error correction for communication systems. Novel techniques are provided that can be applied to a myriad of applications for which an input to output transfer characteristic must be corrected or linearized. According to embodiments of the present invention, error can be described, processed, and geometrically interpreted. Compact formulations of error correction and calibration functions can be generated according to the present invention, which reduce memory requirements as well as computational time. US08271221B2
Provided is a phase detection device which can detect a phase by using a simple configuration. The phase detection device 5 has the section specifying part 27 specifying which of the eight sections obtained by dividing a range from 0 to 2π for each π/4 from 0 contains the phase θ based on the sign of the sine wave signal Ssa, the sign of the cosine wave signal Sca, and the magnitude relationship between the absolute value of the sine wave signal Ssa and the absolute value of the cosine wave signal Sca, and the arctangent calculation part 37 adjusting the signs of the sine wave signal Ssa and the cosine wave signal Sca and making one of the sine wave signal Ssa and the cosine wave signal Sca a sine wave and making the other a cosine wave so that the sign of the sine wave, the sign of the cosine wave, and the magnitude relationship between the absolute value of the sine wave and the absolute value of the cosine wave coincide regardless of which of the eight sections contains the phase θ, thereby calculating the arctangent of the tangent based on the sine wave and the cosine wave according to a procedure common to the eight parts. US08271218B2
A reader device (104) for a contactless remote measurement system by inductive coupling provided with at least one RLC passive sensor (102) having a resistance and a capacitance or inductance provided for varying depending on one or more physical parameters, the measurement of which is desired, the reader including an inductive antenna (105), and means for iterative identification of at least the resistance and the capacitance or inductance of said sensor, provided for carrying out an iterative identification method comprising steps consisting of: emitting a test signal at the input of said antenna, achieving an estimation ŷk of the time response of the sensor to said test signal with means forming a discrete filter (112) provided with coefficients which may be modulated, adapting the coefficients of the discrete filter, depending on a criterion J depending on said estimation and on a discrete signal sk formed from a real signal taken at the terminals of the antenna in response to the emission of said test signal. US08271217B2
An electrical device is powered by a battery. The device includes transition phase determining circuitry operatively connected to the battery to determine that the battery has entered a transition phase based on the occurrence of a change in direction of current flowing through the battery. Battery capacity determining circuitry is operatively connected to the transition phase determining circuitry and configured to determine, in response the transition phase determining circuitry determining that the battery is in the transition phase, a capacity of the battery based on a transition phase battery capacity model of capacity-vs.-voltage. The transition phase determining circuitry is further configured to determine an end of the transition phase based on the transition phase battery capacity model and a non-transition battery capacity model of capacity-vs.-voltage yielding the same capacity value for a given measured voltage of the battery. US08271211B2
An in-situ gas flow measurement controller measures the temperature and rate of pressure drop upstream from a flow control device (FCD). The controller samples the pressure and temperature data and applies the equivalent of a decimating filter to the data to produce filtered data at a slower sampling rate. The controller derives timestamps by counting ticks from the sampling clock of the A/D converter that is sampling the pressure at regular intervals to ensure the timestamps associated with the pressure samples are accurate and do not contain jitter that is associated with software clocks. The controller additionally normalizes the temperature reading to account for power supply fluctuations, filters out noise from the pressure and temperature readings, and excludes data during periods of instability. It calculates the gas flow rate accounting for possible non-linearities in the pressure measurements, and provides the computed gas flow measurement via one of many possible interfaces. US08271208B1
A method for calibrating a flame ionization detector (FID). The method includes receiving a request to schedule a calibration. After scheduling the calibration, a flow request command is sent to a gas distribution system at a scheduled calibration. The flow request command instructs the gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID. After the gas distribution system provides the gas at the gas concentration level to the FID, the method includes receiving a raw count from the FID and correlating the raw count with the gas and the gas concentration level provided to the FID. The method then stores the results of the correlation in a calibration log. US08271203B2
Computer-implementable methods consistent with the present teachings can be used in the design of selective- and multiple-reaction monitoring experiments for the identification of proteins and peptides of interest. By determining candidate parent-daughter ion transition pairs and scoring the pairs based on their ability to be detected experimental design time can be reduced and with a more focused list of transition pairs more experiments can be run successfully in a given period of time. US08271194B2
A method for locating GNSS-defined points, distances, directional attitudes and closed geometric shapes includes the steps of providing a base with a base GNSS antenna and providing a rover with a rover GNSS antenna and receiver. The receiver is connected to the rover GNSS antenna and is connected to the base GNSS antenna by an RF cable. The receiver thereby simultaneously processes signals received at the antennas. The method includes determining a vector directional arrow from the differential positions of the antennas and calculating a distance between the antennas, which can be sequentially chained together for determining a cumulative distance in a “digital tape measure” mode of operation. A localized RTK surveying method uses the rover antenna for determining relative or absolute point locations. A system includes a base with an antenna, a rover with an antenna and a receiver, with the receiver being connected to the antennas. A processor is provided for computing positions, directional vectors, areas and other related tasks. US08271193B2
A navigation apparatus for displaying maps includes a current position detection section configured to detect the current position of the navigation apparatus; a touch-sensitive panel configured to be installed on a display screen of the display section; and a control section configured to control changes in what is displayed on the display section in response to operations performed by a user on the touch-sensitive panel. The control section displays either the current position or route directions in text form in a strip-shaped area along one edge of the display screen, and a map in all or part of the remaining area of the display screen, and according to an instruction given from the user, the control section changes the display of the strip-shaped area to the display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding the map. US08271189B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating position location of a mobile device. US08271183B2
A method of operating a vehicle including an engine is provided The engine may include at least one cylinder, a boosting device to boost intake air to the at least one cylinder, a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister to store fuel vapors vented from the fuel tank, and an emission control device to treat exhaust gas from the engine. The boosting device includes a compressor at least partially driven by an electric motor. The method includes during an engine cold start condition, operating the electric motor of the boost device to boost intake air, directing the boosted intake air through the fuel vapor canister to release a fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister, directing the fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the engine, and performing combustion in the at least one cylinder using the fuel vapor during the engine starting. US08271179B2
A system and method for aiding airdrop computations is described. The system includes a ground system, a data link, and an airborne system. The ground system accumulates substantially real time drop zone GPS and meteorological data, which is transferred to the airborne system via the data link. The airborne system makes adjustments to a release point of the airdrop based on the data received from the ground system. Additionally, the airborne system provides airdrop status to the ground system via the data link. US08271170B2
In a clutch control system for a vehicle having a hydraulic type clutch in the course of power transmission between an engine and a drive wheel the operational response of the clutch is enhanced and the influence of a hysteresis present in oil pressure-stroke characteristic is suppressed. When the clutch is disconnected, a control oil pressure thereof is maintained at a predetermined stand-by oil pressure (allowance compensating oil pressure) P1. At the time of connecting the clutch, the control oil pressure is increased to a predetermined connection oil pressure P2. In bringing the clutch from the connected state into the disconnected state, the control oil pressure is lowered to an oil pressure P3 being below the stand-by oil pressure P1 and being near 0, and is thereafter increased again to the stand-by oil pressure P1. US08271166B2
A device and a method for control of an automatic transmission (1) in a vehicle having one control unit (2), which can receive signals produced by a transmission gearshift lever (7), and/or a first transmission control (8). The signals of the first transmission control are bridgeable so that the automatic transmission can be manually operated. In order to make it possible to efficiently operate the vehicle with low fuel consumption and great flexibility of the driver at the moment, manual operation of the automatic transmission is possible only when the vehicle is at speed (v) lower than a predetermined speed limit. US08271162B2
A management system using Global Positioning System receivers for tracking remote units from a central office and quickly and conveniently determining if those remote units have varied from a set of predetermined parameters of operation. The system also includes provisions that allows information to be sent from the remote units to the central office and vice versa. The system also has safety features that promote the rapid dispatch of law enforcement personnel when requests for emergency assistance have been made from the remote units. US08271156B2
When determined that a driver's accelerator operation is rough during the turn-on condition of an ECO switch 88 while a hybrid vehicle 20 is driven without an operation of an engine 22 (Step S120), a threshold value Pref with respect to a power demand P* is set to a value P2 that is larger than a value P1 of the turn-off condition of the ECO switch 88 so as to give priority to fuel consumption of the engine 22 (Step S140). Then, the engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled with a start of the engine 22 as necessary so as to ensure torque equivalent to a torque demand Tr* (Steps S150-S230). US08271150B2
Methods and systems for a position indicating display system for an aircraft are provided. The system includes a moving map display representative of an area being traversed by the aircraft such that a current relative position of the aircraft is maintained proximate a center of the display, a first overlay on the moving map display that is indicative of a predetermined track of travel, and a second overlay on the moving map display indicative of a distance range from a suitable alternate airport. The second overlay also displays equal time points to assist flight crews in determining closest suitable alternate airport in the event of a required diversion. Constraints regarding the intended flight route on the organized track system are available for display to the flight crew. US08271148B2
Provided are a novel distribution automation system and its voltage control method, which can supply a stable voltage to a user by properly adjusting the settings of a control device so as to compensate for reactive power at each load terminal. The voltage control method includes: a first step of modeling a distribution system in the form of a distribution load based on constants of four terminals according to the connection type of each node and a distribution line, which constitute the distribution system; a second step of determining a formula for estimating the magnitude of a voltage at a node from a current value of an adjacent node; a third step of determining an objective function including the magnitude of the voltage, calculated through the formula determined in the second step, and a control variable for controlling the magnitude of the voltage; and a fourth step of calculating a value of the control variable to allow the determined objective function to have a minimum value and applying the calculated value to each voltage control device provided in the distribution system. US08271147B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems for managing energy demand of one or more appliances. In one example, an appliance controller apparatus is provided, comprising a user interface configured to receive a user input indicative of a demand flexibility associated with an appliance, a communication interface configured to receive a control input indicative of a request to modify a power demand of the appliance, and a processor programmed to determine whether the power demand of the appliance is to be modified based on the user input and the control input. In a further aspect, a meter controller apparatus is provided, comprising a communication interface configured to receive a message from an appliance controller apparatus coupled to an appliance, the message comprising information regarding a power demand of the appliance and a demand category associated with the appliance. The meter controller apparatus may further comprise a processor programmed to compute an updated meter controller model based on the message received from the appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model. US08271145B2
A handy terminal for a wind turbine generator, includes a connecting portion connectable to a connector provided in the wind turbine generator, an operating ends group including an operating button to generate an operating signal which selectively validates a control logic within a control circuit provided in the wind turbine generator, and a display portion for displaying the operating state of the operating ends group. The operating ends group includes a mode selecting button for selectively validates one of a maintenance mode and an operating mode of the wind turbine generator; and a rotor turning button for switching to the blades pitch control state in which blades of the wind turbine generator side are driven in the predetermined low speed with adjusting the pitch angle of the blades according to the rotational speed. US08271139B2
An accurate blending system for blending a feed liquid and first and second adjusting liquids includes a first feed means adapted to communicate with a supply of feed liquid, a second feed means adapted to communicate with a supply of the first adjusting liquid and a third feed means adapted to communicate with a supply of the second adjusting liquid. The first, second and third feed means may be pumps, valves or combinations thereof. A mixing device is in communication with the first, second and third feed means. First and second sensors are in communication with the mixing device. A controller communicates with the first and second sensors so that first and second characteristics of the solution in the mixing device can be detected. The controller also communicates with the first and second feed means so that delivery of first and second adjusting liquid to the mixing device can be controlled based upon the detected first and second characteristics of the solution in the mixing device. US08271122B2
A method for monitoring a manufacturing tool features acquiring metrology data (“Step a”). Data is acquired for process variables for a first process step performed by the manufacturing tool (“Step b”). A mathematical model of the first process step based on the metrology data and the acquired data is created (“Step c”). Steps b and c are repeated for at least a second process step (“Step d”). An nth mathematical model is created based on the metrology data and the data for the process variables for each of the n process steps (“Step e”). A top level mathematical model is created based on the metrology data and the models created by steps c, d and e (“Step f”). A multivariate metric is calculated based on the top level model of step f and data from subsequent runs of the manufacturing tool. Service is performed if the metric satisfies a condition. US08271108B2
There is provided an audio playback device that prevents a user from losing an opportunity to use a content that is not playable on an AOP mode. In the case where the playback device functions on the AOP mode, when a DVD-Audio disk 1 being a subject of playback contains an ATT_GR that is not playable in the AOP mode, a navigation manager 11 of a DVD-Audio playback device displays such situation on a display device 15 via a display control unit. On the other hand, in the case where the playback device functions in a VCAP mode, when the DVD-Audio disk 1 being the subject of playback contains an ATT_GR that is playable only in the VCAP mode, the navigation manager 11 displays the ATT_GRN of the ATT_GR on the display device 15 via the display control unit to urge the user to use the ATT_GR. US08271107B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for controlling audio operation for data management and data rendering. Embodiments include selecting one of a plurality of predetermined audio configurations in dependence upon context information and setting audio operation of a data management and data rendering module to the selected predetermined audio configuration. A predetermined audio configuration typically identifies an audio output device and an audio input device. Some embodiments of the present invention also include creating audio configuration selection rules including receiving from a user audio configurations and associating the audio configurations with predetermined context parameters. US08271096B2
An implantable medical system for anchoring a medical lead implanted in a patient includes a medical lead, an anchoring device received coaxially over the medical lead, and at least one fastener secured circumferentially about the anchoring device to cause compression of the anchoring device on the medical lead. The anchoring device includes an elastomeric sleeve having a substantially elongate, hollow, and tubular body and a compression governor coaxially secured about the elastomeric sleeve. The compression governor is adapted to limit compressive forces exerted on the lead by the anchoring device at a predetermined limit and provides a visual indicator that the predetermined limit has been reached. US08271092B2
A swallowing stimulation system has a swallowing stimulator for use in triggering an act of swallowing in a patient. The swallowing system has an operating unit including operating elements for receiving user inputs, whereby the operating elements are allocated to different possible physical properties of a food, such that a user can allocate a particular food by means of the operating elements to at least one of at least two categories. The operating unit is designed to generate a control signal corresponding to a user input for the swallowing stimulator, and the swallowing stimulator is designed so that a stimulus for triggering an act of swallowing is formed in response to the control signal. US08271084B2
An earlier intrinsic activation and a later intrinsic activation of a right ventricle and a left ventricle are determined. This information is used for computing a biventricular pacing interval as a function of an interval from a pacing energy delivered to a ventricle corresponding to the later intrinsic activation and a depolarization sensed in a ventricle having earlier intrinsic activation, the depolarization evoked in response to the pacing energy. US08271083B2
A method and system for managing refractory periods in a cardiac rhythm management device configured for biventricular or biatrial sensing. Refractory periods for each channel of the pacemaker are provided by interval timers that are triggered by sensed or paced events in order to prevent misinterpretation of sensing signals. US08271081B2
Techniques are described for discriminating ventricular tachycardia (VT) from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in circumstances when the ventricular rate exceeds the atrial rate (i.e. V>A). In one example, an initial atrial rate is detected while employing adjustable atrial channel detection parameters that can affect the detection of the true atrial rate—such as a post-ventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) interval or an atrial channel sensitivity level. If the ventricular rate exceeds a VT rate zone threshold with V>A, the device does not immediately deliver high voltage shock therapy as done in other devices. Rather, the device instead selectively adjusts the atrial channel detection parameter(s) to determine if the true atrial rate is equal to the ventricular rate. If so, then such is an indication that the arrhythmia might be SVT rather than VT and various discrimination procedures are employed to distinguish SVT from VT before therapy is delivered. US08271080B2
Assessing decongestive therapy delivered to a heart failure patient involves use of an implantable sensor configured to sense a physiologic parameter indicative of the patient's diuresis status and a processor coupled to the implantable sensor. The sensor may comprise a thoracic fluid sensor, a heart sounds sensor, a cardiac chamber or arterial pressure sensor, a respiration sensor, or a blood chemistry sensor, for example. The processor is configured to determine if a target level of patient diuresis has been achieved based on a relationship between the sensed physiologic parameter and a threshold developed for the patient, and to produce an output in response to determining that the target level of patient diuresis has been achieved. The processor may be disposed in an implantable housing, in a patient-external housing, or in a network server system. US08271078B2
An apparatus for use in connection with biosignal measurement from the skin of a living object, comprising means for applying a test input impedance to the biosignal measurement, means for determining a response of a biosignal characteristics to the test input impedance, and means for setting a usage input impedance on the basis of the response. US08271071B2
Described is an apparatus for sensing and processing electrical cardiac signals in a user's body, the apparatus comprising a contact surface having a plurality of electrical signal sensing electrodes associated with an electronic processing circuit and communication unit. The apparatus is configured for sensing electrical signals and is arranged within a single housing. It is configured to perform complete ECG bipolar, unipolar and unipolar precordial leads by at least four associations of the apparatus with the subject's skin. Also described is a method of remote sensing and processing of electrical cardiac signals which, via the apparatus, enables a lay user, or even the patient, to obtain the patient's heart signals. US08271068B2
A method of determining a three-dimensional (3D) position of a catheter tip includes: compensating a 2D position of the tip of the catheter for respiratory motion to generate a compensated 2D catheter position, generating weighted sample points around the compensated 2D catheter position, determining correspondent points of the weighted sample points in a 3D image, computing a weighted mean and a weighted covariance of each correspondent point, and determining the 3D position of the catheter tip in the 3D image from a fusion of the weighted means and weighted covariances. US08271066B2
The invention includes a method of determining a surgical patient's pelvic position and inputting that position into a computer via a tracking system, suitable for use in navigating partial or total hip replacement surgery. The patient is first aligned with anatomical reference points in relation to corresponding locating features on a patient positioner. The positions of index features on the patient positioner are then acquired via a tracking system. Based on the positions of the index features and their known relationship to the locating features, the locations of the anatomical reference features are calculated and a pelvic plane is defined therefrom. The invention also includes a surgical tool for mounting a trackable target to a human bone, suitable for fixation to a human femur. This tool includes a removable bone clamp and a releasable coupling member, integrated with said removable bone clamp. US08271060B2
An antenna device for a portable wireless terminal is provided. The antenna device includes a main antenna for mobile communication for transmitting and receiving signal in a first frequency band, a Transmit (Tx) sub-antenna for transmitting signals in a second frequency band, a Receive (Rx) sub-antenna for receiving signals in a third frequency band, and a controller for selectively using one of the Tx sub-antenna and the Rx sub-antenna if the second frequency band overlaps with the third frequency band, and for providing control such that the Tx sub-antenna and the Rx sub-antenna are simultaneously used if the second frequency band does not overlap with the third frequency band. Accordingly, without increasing the volume of the portable wireless terminal, an antenna space can be ensured and radiation performance can be improved. US08271053B2
A mobile terminal and power source controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which inter-power source power forwarding operations among a plurality of power sources can be efficiently performed to correspond to a power forwarding command operation inputted by a user. The present invention includes a power supply unit including a first power source and a second power source, an output unit displaying first power source state information of the first power source and second power source state information of the second power source, a user input unit receiving an input of a power forwarding command action for forwarding a power from one of the first and second power sources to the other, and a control unit controlling the power supply unit to forward the power from one of the first and second power sources to the other to correspond to the inputted power forwarding command action, the control unit controlling the output unit to display the first and second power source state informations according to the power forwarding. US08271047B2
A mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying an operating screen on the first display module and displaying an operation control menu on the second display module; determining whether the first display module is bent or folded; and choosing one of a plurality of menu items of the operation control menu corresponding to a bent or folded portion of the first display module. Therefore, it is possible to control various operations performed by the mobile terminal according to whether the first display module is bent or folded. US08271040B2
A network element (230) for communicating with a wireless communication unit (214) in a communication cell (200) of a communication system (200) comprises a receiver arranged to perform a frequency sweep across a plurality of operational frequencies. Signal processing logic (255), operably coupled to the receiver, processes the received signals from the frequency sweep and providing an estimate of a level of interference at a number of frequency carriers of the swept frequencies. The signal processing logic (255) is capable of determining whether a transmit power level at a frequency selected from the processed frequency sweep satisfies at least one predetermined quality criterion of the communication system (200). A transmitter (270) is arranged, upon initial activation of the network element (230), to transmit to a wireless communication unit at the determined transmit power level. US08271038B2
A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. US08271037B2
A method (500) and system (100) of sensing the position of an audio accessory (102) having at least a microphone (103) can include a sensor (104 and/or 106) for detecting one among a plurality of positions of the audio accessory and a processor (118) programmed to equalize an audio input from the microphone based on which one among the plurality of positions was detected. The sensor can be a thermal sensor, an optical sensor, or a proximity sensor. The audio accessory can be a remote speaker/microphone accessory. Among the plurality of positions that can be detected can include a Mouth Reference Point (MRP) or a Shoulder position. The processor can be further programmed to automatically equalize (508) a microphone input audio based on one of the plurality of positions detected. The system can also be programmed to automatically equalize (512) when a push-to-talk activation occurs at the audio accessory. US08271027B2
A mobile terminal device equipped with radio communicating portions capable of holding a radio communication in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and a standard signal outputting portion for outputting a signal in a format based on a predetermined signaling system to any display device prepared on an outside, includes a communication standard detecting means for detecting a type of the communication standard selected based on operating conditions of radio communicating portions, when one of the radio communicating portions conforms to plural types of communication standards or when a plurality of radio communicating portions conform to plural types of communication standards respectively, and a signaling system selecting means for selecting automatically a signaling system of the signal that the standard signal outputting portion outputs, in response to the type of the communication standard that the communication standard detecting means detects. US08271007B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing Short Messaging Service (SMS) spoofing using Short Messaging Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocol. An SMPP protocol communication includes an SMPP transmitter and an SMPP transceiver. The SMPP transmitter identifies or receives an SMS message for transmission to a destination. The SMPP transmitter identifies a source address for the SMS message, and determines whether the source address is authentic. If the source address is not authentic, then the SMPP transmitter inserts a validity indicator in an SMPP Packet Data Unit (PDU), along with the SMS message, that the source address is not authentic before transmitting the SMPP PDU to the SMPP transceiver. Upon receiving the SMPP PDU from the SMPP transmitter, the SMPP transceiver may determine whether or not to deliver the SMS message to the destination based on the validity indicator provided by the SMPP transmitter. US08271004B2
A method of operating a mobile service comprising the steps of receiving a first request via the World Wide Web or WAP to create said mobile service, said first request comprising instructions to modify a mobile service template, creating said mobile service from said instructions and said template, receiving a second request to execute said mobile service, said second request comprising an access number and delivered via a text message communication device having an MSISDN, determining said mobile service from a reference table comprising said MSISDN and said access number, and executing said mobile service. US08270995B1
A reservation is made over a wireless network for a group-based activity, such as golf, using a network-independent composite application. The composite application registers with a geo-fencing application, and receives notifications from the geo-fencing application when certain triggering criteria have been satisfied. In certain embodiments, the triggering criteria relate to the presence of target subscriber within a predetermined area. The availability of certain target subscribers is also determined and, if available, such target subscribers are provided with the opportunity to opt-in to the group-based activity. A reservation may be automatically made for the group-based activity using an online reservation application for target subscribers who chose to participate. US08270988B1
A method is disclosed for implementing an overlay carrier frequency in a wireless coverage area in response to low load in the coverage area. Normally, an carrier frequency may be added in response to high load. However, the disclosed method involves adding a carrier frequency in response to low load, as the addition of a carrier may advantageously increase the likelihood of soft handoff in certain situations, and as low load may facilitate operation on the added carrier without the need to add expensive supporting infrastructure that would typically be added to support full operation on an added carrier frequency. US08270986B1
A method for content transmission in a cellular network having a collection of cellular zones. The method includes obtaining a statistical trace associated with the cellular network, comprising attributes of historical content chunks received from prior users of the cellular network and trajectories of the prior users moving within the cellular zones, analyzing the statistical trace to identify a portion of the cellular zones as drop zones, allocating drop zone transmission bandwidth to the drop zones based on a pre-determined criterion, receiving, subsequent to the allocating, a transmission request for a content chunk from a mobile device of a user outside the drop zones, delaying transmission of the content chunk while the mobile device remains outside of the drop zones, and transmitting the content chunk in response to detecting the mobile device within the drop zones. US08270985B2
A wireless communication apparatus 10 having a plurality of frequency channels and being capable of wireless communication with a plurality of different terminals includes a channel allocation control unit 15 for allocating a different frequency channel to a terminal in a different rank based on a rank indicating a priority of communication quality of the terminal. US08270984B2
A wireless communication system based on a Cognitive Radio (CR) is provided. A method includes checking channels unused by a licensed system through a spectrum sensing; selecting one of the channels unused by the licensed system as a control channel based on a channel quality per channel; and transmitting control information to terminals within a cell over the control channel. US08270977B2
System and method for temporarily reconfiguring a communications system to provide selected services
A method for temporarily providing selected services by a base station cell of a communications system includes changing an operating mode of the cell in response to receiving a first command. The operating mode is indicated to a first selected device and a first non-selected device. The cell operating in the operating mode serves the first selected device based on the first command. The first non-selected device was a selected device and was capable of accessing the cell before the cell changed the operating mode. The first non-selected device is not capable of accessing the cell after the cell changed the operating mode. US08270973B2
A wireless device (e.g., a wireless smart phone) uses Global Positioning System (GPS) data, or other position-indicating data, to accurately determine its location in relation to multi-layered wireless networks that the device may see concurrently. If location information is available, the device employs a user-defined priority table to select the order of user-contracted networks available at that location in which the device will register. If location information is unavailable, the device employs a technology priority table to select Common Air Interface (CAI) options for the invention device radio parameters (e.g., GSM, cdma2000, IS-136, IEEE 802.11x, etc.) to search for an available network to access. Information is gathered and stored in databases within the invention device allowing it to be registered in multiple wireless networks. The inventive device provides unique access codes to each wireless network with which a user has contracted, without the intervention of any “anchor” (home) network. The invention facilitates equivalent “home”, or personalized, service in any network by using these features for automatic technology adaptation. This allows the invention device to receive service as if it is in a “home” network no matter what network it is traveling through. The invention provides a ubiquitous experience allowing the user to traverse multiple wireless networks with seamless access to multiple systems and services provided by those networks. It also provides a platform to facilitate the customization of wireless services for business customers. US08270965B2
Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device's wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device's Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the Wi-Fi interface. When a VoIP call is initiated on the device, or when the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is automatically enabled. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point. The server then initiates a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the mobile device, between the mobile device and a VoIP calling device. US08270960B2
A method performed by a mobile terminal may include receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors on a mobile terminal, determining when the received sensor data satisfies a rule, transmitting information from the mobile terminal to a network device, where the information includes at least one of an application identifier, a rule or some of the received sensor data, and connecting the mobile terminal to another mobile terminal, where the another mobile terminal is selected by the network device based on the transmitted information from the mobile terminal. US08270959B2
A call forwarding user interface for a mobile communication device provides selective access to pre-stored identifying data (e.g., an address book) for a user to define one or more call forwarding destinations for predetermined call forwarding conditions. Call forwarding profiles of such identifying data may also be defined and stored for subsequent selective actuation. Such interface features facilitate user-defined call forwarding functions with reduced requirements for memorization and/or reference to written or printed records. US08270941B2
A method of processing a user interface component is provided and includes receiving one or more user interface components that can be communicated to a wireless device. A component risk level for each of the one or more user interface components is determined and assigned to each of the one or more user interface components. Each of the one or more user interface components can be digitally signed using an embedded risk code that indicates the assigned risk level. Further, the component risk level can be selected from a plurality of component risk levels. In a particular embodiment, the component risk level can be determined based on the type of the user interface component. Further, the component risk level can be determined based on a developer of the user interface component. US08270931B1
Methods and apparatus are provided for a wireless communication device (WCD) to adjust a respective search-window size for one or more search windows. In an embodiment, the WCD monitors a battery power level of a WCD. The WCD then adjusts a respective search-window size of one or more search windows of a WCD based on at least the battery power level. In another embodiment, the WCD monitors a WCD's battery power level and the strength of one or more signals in an active set. The WCD 102 then adjusts a respective search-window size of one or more search windows based on at least the battery power level and the strength of one or more active-set signals. US08270928B2
A radio receiver may determine whether a received frequency modulated radio signal includes interference from an adjacent channel. The receiver may compare a frequency deviation above the center frequency of the received signal to a frequency deviation below the center frequency of the received signal. The receiver determines that the radio signal is affected by adjacent channel noise when the frequency deviation below the center frequency is substantially different from the frequency deviation above the center frequency. Alternatively, the presence of noise from an adjacent channel may be detected by comparing a positive amplitude and a negative amplitude of a demodulated version of the frequency modulated radio signal. In this alternative, the receiver determines that the radio signal is affected by adjacent channel noise when the extent of the positive amplitude is substantially different from the extent of the negative amplitude. US08270923B2
To mitigate interference between multiple peer-to-peer devices, transmitter yielding and/or receiver yielding may be performed among devices operating in a peer-to-peer network. Generally, a transmitter device will yield communications on a time slot to a higher priority transmitter device if it will cause unacceptable interference to a higher priority receiver device. Likewise, a receiver device may yield use of the time slot if interference is unacceptably high. Both transmitter and receiver yielding may be improved by use of beamforming at a receiver device. By utilizing beamforming information to make the transmitter and/or receiver yielding decisions, better interference mitigation may be achieved. US08270920B2
Devices and methods for receiving, processing and formatting digital video. The devices may include a single semiconductor chip on which is imprinted a radio frequency signal tuner module and a display interface module. The display interface module may be configured to receive programming information from the radio frequency signal tuner module. The display interface module may be configured to communicate the programming information to a digital video recorder. The radio frequency tuner module may include a first radio frequency input channel and a second radio frequency input channel. The radio frequency signal tuner module may include a system oscillator and a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) circuit configured to generate a clock signal. The phase-locked loop circuit may be configured to transmit the signal to the display interface module and to any other suitable modules on the chip. US08270906B2
The invention comprises a method and a corresponding apparatus (53). A candidate set of sensors that are available to participate in an occasion of cooperative spectrum sensing is obtained. For each sensor in the candidate set, its radial distance to a central coordinating node in a communication system is also obtained (73). A sequence of minimum radii is produced (75,79). For each minimum radius in the sequence, an accommodation number is determined (75,87). The accommodation number associated with a minimum radius is the greatest number of sensors that can be placed on circle having this radius without a probability that all these sensors are mutually uncorrelated falling below a design probability threshold. Sensors from the candidate set are then selectively added (91,95) to an active set of sensors based on the minimum radii, the corresponding accommodation numbers and the obtained radial distances. US08270899B2
Methods, systems and apparatus for ground-based beamforming of a satellite communications payload (200) within a satellite communications network (100). An embodiment of the invention comprises a satellite (11) communicatively coupled to at least one gateway (12) via a feeder link (13) and a plurality of user terminals (16), each communicatively coupled with the satellite by a user link (17) where a ground based beam forming system (400) receives, via feeder link (13), return path signals (452) traveling from the user terminals (16) via the satellite (11) to the at least one gateway (12) and forward path signals (457) traveling from the at least one gateway (12) via the satellite (11) to the user terminals (16), and measures and corrects amplitude and phase errors of the return path signals (452) and the forward path signals (457). US08270889B2
Various embodiments provide low adhesion coatings that can be used for an image-side member in an image fixing system of an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer, wherein the low adhesion coatings can exhibit a low sliding angle ranging from about 1° to about 30° with a solid ink, a toner, hexadecane and/or water. US08270875B2
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image carrying member, an image transfer device, a fixing device, a registration unit, a guide member, an upstream-side transportation unit, and a downstream-side transportation unit. The image transfer device transfers a toner image from the toner image carrying member to a recording medium. The fixing device fixes the toner image. The registration unit transports the recording medium. The guide member guides the recording medium. The upstream-side transportation unit includes an upstream-side transportation member, disposed at an upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium. The downstream-side transportation unit includes the downstream-side transportation member, disposed at a downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium. The upstream-side transportation unit includes an upstream-side positioning member to position the guide member to the upstream-side transportation member. The downstream-side transportation unit includes a downstream-side positioning member to position the guide member to the downstream-side transportation member. US08270870B2
An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a plurality of processing units, a cleaning unit, a waste toner retainer, and a waste toner conveying unit. The plurality of processing units is juxtaposed above the endless belt. The cleaning unit is disposed above the endless belt to collect a waste toner deposited on the endless belt. The waste toner retainer is provided in one processing unit in the plurality of processing units. At least one of the other processing units in the plurality of processing units is interposed between the cleaning unit and the one processing unit. The waste toner conveying unit conveys the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit to the waste toner retainer, and extends from the cleaning unit to the waste toner retainer. US08270860B2
An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to resolve correction error of potential unevenness caused by insufficient mounting accuracy of an image carrier, in a relatively short time period without performing a conventional operation for removing the image carrier. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure unit, an electrical potential sensor, a shading data ROM, and a CPU. Electrical potential data items associated with respective positions on the surface of the photosensitive drum are stored in the shading data ROM. The CPU corrects an exposure amount onto the photosensitive drum by the exposure unit, based on the electrical potential data read from the ROM, and based on the result of correction, adjusts timing for reading out the data. US08270852B2
A reclaimed material container includes a container body that is removably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and that accommodates a reclaimed material existing after forming an image, a receiving portion that is provided at a bottom portion of the container body, and that is supported by a support of the mounting portion from therebelow, and a mounting member that mounts the container body to the mounting portion as a result of rotation of the container body with the receiving portion as a fulcrum while the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. In the container, the container body has a first recess that provides a field of view for the support when the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. US08270850B2
A demodulator includes: a splitter that branches a differential phase shift keying optical signal into a first branched optical signal passing through a first optical path and a second branched optical signal passing through a second optical path; a multiplexer that multiplexes the first branched optical signal having passed through the first optical path and the second branched optical signal having passed through the second optical path and makes interference between the first branched optical signal and the second branched optical signal; and a double refraction medium that reduces difference between phase differences between each polarized wave between the first branched optical signal and the second branched optical signal multiplexed by the multiplexer. US08270831B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network; comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node; determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path. US08270830B2
Leaf switches and spine switches in a Clos network are interconnected by optical fibers. The network enables large numbers of servers or other apparatus to communicate with each other with minimal delay and minimal power consumption. US08270828B2
An optical line monitoring apparatus, including: a group information recording portion which records group information about to which splitter respective terminators are connected; a normal information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from a plurality of terminators in a state in which a failure is not occurring in optical lines; a monitored information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from the plurality of terminators in failure monitoring time; an attenuation amount determination portion which determines a terminator the reflected light intensity of which is attenuated compared with the corresponding reflected light intensity in normal information; and a control portion which determines, if the intensities of the reflected lights of all the terminators connected to the same splitter are attenuated by the same value, that a failure has occurred between the test apparatus and the splitter to which all the terminators are connected. US08270808B2
The present invention provides a content data recording/reproducing device, comprising a communication unit that engages in communication with an external device, a storage unit that stores content data and additional data related to the content data, a content data extraction unit that selectively extracts the content data from the storage unit based upon condition data received at the communication unit from the external device and the additional data stored in the storage unit and a contents list generation unit that generates a contents list based upon the condition data and additional data corresponding to the content data extracted by the content data extraction unit. US08270801B2
A method for capturing videos applied in a video device is provided. The video device includes a video capturing unit having a field of view and a timer. The video device includes a position sensing unit capable of sensing first position information, and an orientation sensing unit. The video device rotatingly receives second position information and personal information periodically. The method included is first to clear the timer and begin the timer again. Then, obtaining the second position information, the personal information, the first position information, and the orientation. Next, forming a coordinate system and converting the first position information and the second position information to a set of coordinates. Then, determining which person correspond to which of the portable communication devices, and associating the personal information with each person. Next, generating a composite image and a composite video comprising the composite images. US08270796B2
An adapter block constructed to mount to more than one mounting configuration of a telecommunications panel. The adapter block including a housing constructed to slide mount to a panel, and pivot mount to a panel from either a front or a rear of the panel. The housing including flexible levers that provide a snap-fit connection to secure the adapter block relative to the panel in each of the mounting configurations. The adapter block providing access to cable terminations of the block in each of the mounting configurations. US08270766B1
A system and method for expansion and reduction of images uses a hybrid resizing technique combining seam carving and image scaling techniques to reduce or expand an input image. Seam carving techniques may be used to remove or add seams of the image to perform a portion of an overall resizing operation, according to a configurable seam carving tolerance. For example, the technique may only remove and/or replicate a predetermined number or percentage of the lowest-cost seams of the image, or may only remove or replicate the number of low-cost seams needed to achieve a specified percentage of the target resizing operation. The hybrid technique may apply scaling techniques to further resize the image to achieve a target size and/or ratio for the resized image. The hybrid technique may be implemented by program instructions of an image editing application, and the seam carving tolerance may be configurable by a user. US08270765B1
A system and method for expansion and reduction of images uses a hybrid resizing technique that combines seam carving and image scaling techniques to reduce or expand an image. Seam carving techniques may be used to remove or add seams having an average or total energy cost below a configurable threshold, where the cost of each seam is dependent on the energy values of the pixels of the seam. If a target size and/or ratio for the resized version of the image is not reached by removing or adding these seams, the hybrid resizing technique may apply standard or custom image scaling techniques to further reduce or expand the image to achieve the target size and/or ratio. The hybrid technique may be implemented by program instructions of an image editing application, and the cost threshold may be configurable by a user through a user interface of the image editing application. US08270757B2
A magnification chromatic aberration included in image data in a color filter array captured by an imaging device is corrected by performing a coordinate transformation with respect to each pixel in the image data. A defective pixel due to the color filter array is compensated with respect to magnification-chromatic-aberration-corrected image data. US08270755B2
An image contrast evaluation method is disclosed. First, focusing is performed based on the contrast value of an image rendered by a lens on optical sensors, wherein the calculation of the contrast value comprises: selecting an area of the image, calculating the absolute value of brightness difference between each neighboring pixel, and selecting a specific value there from as the contrast value of the image based on a distribution of the calculated absolute values of the brightness differences. US08270751B2
A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component determines the degree of artefacts and whether to inform the user that the image is blurred by identifying at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image. In another embodiment, the digital processing component calculates a trajectory of at least one feature in a plurality of preview images, extrapolates such feature on to the main image, calculates a PSF in respect of the feature, and informs the user based on the calculated PSF. In another embodiment the digital processing unit after determining the degree of blur notifies the photographer of the existing blur or automatically invokes consecutive captures. In another embodiment, the digital processing unit determines whether the image quality is acceptable from real time analysis of the captured image and provides this information to the user. Such real time analysis may use the auto focusing mechanism to qualitatively determine the PSF. US08270742B1
A method of compressing data can include forming at least one container by grouping calls of data according to at least one data element of each call. The method can include arranging, via the processor, calls of the at least one container into a plurality of segments according to a minimal coordinate set and extracting common coordinates corresponding to a first coordinate type from the plurality of segments. Coordinates of a second coordinate type of each segment of the at least one container can be replaced with a segment start coordinate and first distance information specifying the coordinates of the second coordinate type. The common coordinates of the at least one container can be replaced with a common start coordinate and second distance information. US08270740B2
On the first hierarchical layer, the input image adjuster selects an overlap processing area from a frequency-unconverted image. On the first hierarchical layer, the overlap processor performs overlap processing on the overlap processing area, and holds the image data of the remaining processing areas, which cannot be frequency-converted. The remaining processing area, which is a linear area, can have an image width reduced down to the displacement between the overlap processing area and the block areas. The processes on the second hierarchical layer are identical to those on the first hierarchical layer. As a result, the encoder maximizes the advantage of the high performance achieved by hardware implementation. US08270732B2
Techniques are disclosed for discovering object type clusters using pixel-level micro-features extracted from image data. A self-organizing map and adaptive resonance theory (SOM-ART) network is used to classify objects depicted in the image data based on the pixel-level micro-features. Importantly, the discovery of the object type clusters is unsupervised, i.e., performed independent of any training data that defines particular objects, allowing a behavior-recognition system to forgo a training phase and for object classification to proceed without being constrained by specific object definitions. The SOM-ART network is adaptive and able to learn while discovering the object type clusters and classifying objects. US08270726B2
An authentication apparatus is provided. A forgery determination threshold is determined on the basis of two types of parameters, a forgery similarity and a forgery difficulty. If a calculated value for an object under test is lower than or equal to the forgery determination threshold, then, it is determined that the object is a biologic object. Thus, easiness in impersonation with a fake of a biologic object that is easy to forge may be reduced, and a false rejection due to a determination in which a biologic object is erroneously determined as a fake may be reduced. US08270725B2
A method for creating a page template corresponding to a form for use in a mark recognition system includes identifying at least one path of traversal across a form, detecting edge transitions along each such path, and creating page template using the detected edge transitions. US08270724B2
An image signature to be used for matching is generated by the following generation method. First, region features are extracted from respective sub-regions of a plurality of pairs of sub-regions in an image, and for each of the pairs of sub-regions, a difference value between the region features of two sub-regions forming a pair is quantized. When performing the quantization, the difference value is quantized to a particular quantization value if an absolute value of the difference value is smaller than a predetermined value. Then, a collection of elements which are quantization values calculated for the respective pairs of sub-regions is used as an image signature to be used for discriminating the image. An image signature matching device matches an image signature of a first image and an image signature of a second image, generated by the above-described generation method, in such a manner that a weight of an element having the particular quantization value is reduced. US08270718B2
A method for manipulating an image, the method includes: capturing image information representative of an image that includes images of textual characters; recognizing the textual characters by applying Optical Character Recognition; identifying the layout of the image; and applying at least one de-identification process on textual characters of interest to provide de-identification process results. US08270715B2
A method for correcting red-eye is described. Through facial features, at least one facial region is obtained in an image, a nose position in each facial region is obtained by using a nose feature, and at least one eye position is obtained based on a relative position relation between the nose and the eyes. After a color gamut of the image is converted, a red region is obtained from the eye position, and a plurality of edges is formed by using a luminance of the color gamut on the image with the converted color gamut according to the eye feature, so as to exclude the red region out of the plurality of edges, thereby improving accuracy of the red region on the eye position. Then, the red region is covered by an iris color, so as to correct the red-eye. US08270714B2
A visual summary of the image sequences is generated, displaying at least one image from a plurality of the image sequences. Color correction is applied to a feature in one of the displayed images and images comprising at least one feature being close to the color corrected feature according to a distance criterion are selected, displayed, and color correction, based on the color correction to the feature, is applied to the features in the selected images. An apparatus is also provided. US08270707B2
A learning device includes a feature-point extracting section extracting feature points from a generation image, a feature-point feature-quantity extracting section extracting feature-point feature-quantities representing features of the feature points, a total-feature-quantity generating section generating a total feature quantity represented by a multi-dimensional vector, and an identifier generating section generating an identifier using the total feature quantity and a true label indicating whether or not the generation image is a positive image or a negative image. US08270702B2
A device is provided having a robotic arm for handling a wafer, the robotic arm including one or more encoders that provide encoder data identifying a position of one or more components of the robotic arm. The device also having a processor adapted to apply an extended Kalman Filter to the encoder data to estimate a position of the wafer. US08270697B2
The conventional display of a medical 3-dimensional image fails to display both the left and right sides of the patient simultaneously and symmetrically. The medical 3-dimensional image information cannot be therefore utilized efficiently for a comparative evaluation on the symmetrical left and right sides when making a diagnosis or a plan for surgery or treatment. According to a display control program, by displaying medical 3-dimensional images to be displayed on the display screen in a pair on the left and right sides, and by rotating a pair of the displays on the left and right sides in opposite directions with respect to the vertical axis (Z axis) to form and display an image on the opposite side corresponding to one viewpoint direction, both the left and right sides of the patent can be displayed simultaneously and symmetrically. Further, according to this program, when a slice plane is specified in one of the 3-dimensional images on the left and right sides, a slice plane at the symmetrical position is automatically formed in the other image. It is thus possible to display the cross sections on both the left and right sides of the patient simultaneously and symmetrically. US08270687B2
A medical image diagnosing support apparatus comprises: a first extraction means which extracts a body region of a subject from a tomographic image of the subject acquired by a medical tomographic apparatus; a second extraction means which extracts a non-adipose region from the body region; a third extraction means which extracts a total body adipose region from the body region; a separation means which separates the total body adipose region into a visceral adipose region and a subcutaneous adipose region based on positional information of the non-adipose region; and a display control means which controls of displaying the tomographic image on an image display device with clear indication of the visceral adipose region and the subcutaneous adipose region. US08270679B2
A biometrics authentication system includes: a light source applying light to a living organism; a microlens array section condensing light from the living organism, and including a plurality of microlenses each having a different refractive power; an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data of the living organism on the basis of the light condensed by the microlens array section; a rotation angle determining section determining the rotation angle of the living organism on the basis of the image pickup data of the living organism; a three-dimensional information producing section producing three-dimensional information of the living organism on the basis of the image pickup data of the living organism; and an authentication section performing authentication on the basis of the rotation angle determined by the rotation angle determining section and the three-dimensional information produced in the three-dimensional information producing section. US08270677B2
A method of detecting a click event for sensing a motion of a finger corresponding to a click on a sensing area of an optical pointing device, the method including: obtaining an image of the finger from the sensing area; sensing a change in the image of the finger; analyzing a horizontal movement of the finger based on the change in the image of the finger; and generating a click signal when the horizontal movement of the finger is within a predetermined range is provided. US08270663B2
The watermarked information embedding apparatus which inputs an image and embeds watermarked information in the input image, comprises: picture element determining means which determines whether it is a picture element constituting a background image for each of picture elements which constitute the input image; background picture element removing means which removes all of background picture elements determined as picture elements constituting the background image by the picture element determining means; and watermarked information embedding means which embeds the watermarked information in an image constituted by a picture element from which the background picture element constituting the input image is removed by the background picture element removing means. US08270661B2
The present invention relates to a miniature electro-acoustic transducer including a magnetic circuit, a diaphragm and a voice coil operatively connected to the diaphragm. The magnetic circuit includes first and second air gap portions adapted to receive first and second voice coil segments, respectively. The magnetic flux acting on the first voice coil segment is provided by inner magnetic means and first outer magnetic means in combination and the magnetic flux acting on the second voice coil segment is essentially provided by the inner magnetic means only. US08270650B2
A hearing aid, wherein a front sound opening and a front microphone are acoustically connected via a front sound guide path, and the front sound guide path includes a first space formed between the front microphone and the electrical connection part inside the main body case, and a second space formed between the electrical connection part and the inner wall face of the main body case. US08270647B2
A cochlear implant system includes: an electrode array implanted within a cochlea; an internal processor in communication with the electrode array; an implanted antenna which is electrically coupled to the internal processor; and a modular external headpiece which is removably positioned over the implanted antenna, the modular external headpiece including a core containing a sound processor for processing sound and providing a corresponding signal to the implanted antenna; and a modular component configured to releasably engage the core and supply electrical power to the core. A modular speech processor headpiece includes a core comprising a microphone and sound processor for producing a signal representing ambient sound to be transmitted to a cochlear implant, the core further comprising a number of electrical contacts; and a modular component containing a number of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the core; wherein the core is configured to engage with the modular component such that electrical communication is made between the core and the modular component. US08270645B2
A hearing aid includes a main body and a battery holder that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body by revolving around a revolving shaft. The main body has a lock bar provided so as to traverse the space in which the battery holder is installed, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward this installation space. The battery holder has a first concave portion and a second concave portion that latch the lock bar and the protruding portion. US08270644B2
A binaural hearing instrument set is described in which algorithms are split into a server part and a thin-client part. The respective server part of the algorithm is located in a first hearing instrument unit, while the thin-client part is located in a second unit in the binaural hearing instrument set. This is advantageous in that it enables optimization of the usage of combined processing resources in the two units. US08270638B2
A communication apparatus includes a bone conduction communication apparatus with a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of at least one tooth of a user; a transceiver mounted in the housing; and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth to transmit sound through the at least one tooth. A positioning system is provided to transmit positional information to the transceiver to be delivered to the transducer; and a communication device links the transceiver with a second person. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure. US08270637B2
A wireless headset is adapted to communicate with a sound source such as a music player or a cell phone or a suitable audio or sound communicated through a one-way or two-way communication device. The headset includes a mouth wearable communicator; and a linking unit coupled to the mouth wearable communicator, the linking unit adapted to communicate with the sound source. US08270634B2
A microphone system has a primary microphone for producing a primary signal, a secondary microphone for producing a secondary signal, and a selector operatively coupled with both the primary microphone and the secondary microphone. The system also has an output for delivering an output audible signal principally produced by one of the to microphones. The selector selectively permits either 1) at least a portion of the primary signal and/or 2) at least a portion of the secondary signal to be forwarded to the output as a function of the noise in the primary signal. US08270627B2
An adaptive noise control system is deployed in a box-like structure positioned within the transfer path along which the noise is being transmitted from the source of the generated noise to the receiver of the noise in the passenger compartment of an automobile. The adaptive noise control system is can be deployed in the dual bulkhead of the vehicle dashboard to provide a constrained volume within which engine noise can be controlled. The adaptive control system generates a mathematical model of the noise to be controlled in response to the acoustic environment identified by sensors placed within the engine compartment. Sensors in the passenger compartment define the effectiveness of the noise control system. The controller is operable to update the mathematical model in response to the changes in the acoustic environment, thus providing the appropriate acoustic response within the dual bulkhead plenum for control of noise along the transfer path. US08270618B2
In processing a multi-channel audio signal having at least three original channels, a first downmix channel and a second downmix channel are provided, which are derived from the original channels. For a selected original channel of the original channels, channel side information are calculated such that a downmix channel or a combined downmix channel including the first and the second downmix channels, when weighted using the channel side information, results in an approximation of the selected original channel. The channel side information and the first and second downmix channels form output data to be transmitted to a decoder, which, in case of a low level decoder only decodes the first and second downmix channels or, in case of a high level decoder provides a full multi-channel audio signal based on the downmix channels and the channel side information. Since the channel side information only occupy a low number of bits, and since the decoder does not use dematrixing, an efficient and high quality multi-channel extension for stereo players and enhanced multi-channel players is obtained. US08270614B2
A group key update method and a group key update apparatus for updating a key of members in a group are provided. The group key update method includes selecting a sub-root node among nodes on the binary tree; performing a node change with respect to the group according to a type of the sub-root node, and generating a changed binary tree; and performing a node key update with respect to the changed binary tree. US08270611B2
An encryption key interface system (200) includes a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) peripheral (209) that communicates with a key variable loader (KVL) (201) through a communications link (205, 207). A driver application (211) associated with the UART peripheral (209) is used to both receive and transmit commands to the KVL (201). The invention operates to allow the driver application (211) to communicate key command information to the KVL (201) without the use of a timer peripheral enabling the system to interface with a much broader range of devices utilizing encryption keys without requiring the use of timer system resources. US08270610B2
A wireless communication system includes first and second communication apparatuses transmitting/receiving encrypted communication data by radio. The first includes: a first encrypting/decrypting unit encrypting communication data and decrypting encrypted communication data; a first interface unit electrically connectable with a portable nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), to which the NVRAM can be physically removably inserted; and a first cryptography key processing unit generating a temporary cryptography key used for encrypting/decrypting the communication data and a master cryptography key for generating the temporary cryptography key. The second communication apparatus includes: a second encrypting/decrypting unit encrypting the communication data and decrypting the encrypted communication data; a second interface unit electrically connectable with the NVRAM, to which the NVRAM storing the master cryptography key is physically removably inserted; and a second cryptography key processing unit generating the temporary cryptography key based on the master cryptography key read from the NVRAM connected with the second interface unit. US08270607B2
A method of protecting a broadcast frame, the method comprising broadcasting a beacon and a maintenance beacon frame (MBF) from an access point (AP) to a plurality of terminals during a maintenance beacon waiting period (MBWP); and broadcasting broadcast management frames (BMFs) from the AP to the plurality of terminals during a broadcast management frame waiting period (BMFWP), wherein the MBF comprises a BMFs message integrity code (MIC) field including a BMFs MIC calculated from concatenated BMFs to be sent in a current beacon interval. US08270602B1
Examples of methods for generating data based on a communications channel are described. In one such example, a processing unit may generate a first vector representation based in part on at least two characteristics of a communications channel. A constellation having at least two dimensions may be addressed with the first vector representation to identify a first symbol associated with the first vector representation. The constellation represents a plurality of regions, each region associated with a respective symbol. The symbol may be used to generate data, which may stored in an electronic storage medium and used as a cryptographic key or a spreading code or hopping sequence in a modulation technique. US08270601B2
A method of generating a public key in a secure digital communication system, having at least one trusted entity CA and subscriber entities A. For each entity A, the trusted entity selects a unique identity distinguishing the entity A. The trusted entity then generates a public key reconstruction public data of the entity A by mathematically combining public values obtained from respective private values of the trusted entity and the entity A. The unique identity and public key reconstruction public data of the entity A serve as A's implicit certificate. The trusted entity combines the implicit certificate information with a mathematical function to derive an entity information ƒ and generates a value kA by binding with ƒ with private values of the trusted entity. The trusted entity transmits the value kA to the entity to permit A to generate a private key from kA, A's private value and A's implicit certificate. The entity A's public key information may be reconstructed from public information, and A's implicit certificate. US08270596B2
An incoming call prompting method is provided. The method includes the step of: providing a data storage for storing a note table, a melodic companion table, and an audio clip database; receiving an incoming call and sending the incoming call to a decoder to phone number of the incoming call; storing the phone number in the data storage; obtaining a predetermined digit set from the incoming call phone number stored in the data storage; obtaining the assigned note of each digit of the digit set, and piecing together a melodious sequence of note based upon a pre-determined algorithm guiding selection and sequencing of a combination of the primary notes and/or companion notes of the melodic companion table to edit a melody; and obtaining and outputting audio clip of each note of the edited melody in turn to generate a music. US08270591B2
A channel and agent state control system and method is used in a contact center having a plurality of multi-media contact channels and a plurality of agents for handling communications over the contact channels. The agents are allocated to one or more contact channel tasks corresponding to the contact channels. The system and method reallocates the agents between the contact channels based upon real-time contact channel state data and the agent states. The system and method can be configured by a user to determine when reallocation is needed within a contact channel and to determine how the agents are reallocated. US08270587B2
Method of and arrangement for associating voice clips with a document, the document being reviewed by at least one participant during a telephone conference set up between a convener communication set (T5, C5) and one or more participant communication sets (T1-T4, C1-C4), where the voice clips contain spoken comments by the participants. The voice clips associated with locations in a section of the document synchronized in time such that each voice clip is associated with a certain location in the section and contains speech that was spoken by the participant at the 10 time that the image of the section was shown to the participant. US08270583B2
A method for enabling group communications includes: establishing a group identity for a communication group comprising a first set of communication devices, and storing an identity for each of the communication devices in the first set; establishing a session to associate a second set of communication devices with the group identity, wherein the communication devices in the second set are different from the communication devices in the first set, wherein the session with the second set of communication devices is set up irrespective of a call being initiated for the communication group; detecting a first event associated with the initiation of a call for the communication group; and in response to detecting the first event, using the stored identities to join at least one of the communication devices in the first set to the session. US08270581B2
A telephone subscriber registers with a digital telephone service provider (DTSP) to obtain telephone service. The telephone subscriber also registers with an instant messaging service provider (IMSP) and receives a screen name. The telephone subscriber registers the screen name with the DTSP to receive caller identifying information (CID) via instant messaging (IM) (sometimes referred to herein as “CID IM service”). When a call to the telephone number of the telephone subscriber is received at a switch operated by the DTSP, the DTSP confirms that the telephone subscriber has registered a screen name with the DTSP and then sends the caller identification information to the IMSP. The IMSP then sends an instant message containing the caller identification information to the telephone subscriber's instant message client. US08270578B2
An apparatus for engaging in wireless commercial transactions includes a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated actuator for initiating a commercial transaction, and an optical input for receiving information concerning prices of goods; a network hub for wireless exchange information between a commercial establishment and said mobile phone within the boundaries of the establishment; and a financial/authorization institution for associating a PIN number with said mobile phone and for authorizing transactions initiated by said mobile phone. US08270575B2
A campaign strategy manager (CSM) component for a hosted communications campaign system allows users to define more granular and specific campaign strategies, including pass escalation for alternative channels (e.g., text and email) and/or based upon attempt results, contact attributes and response group data. The campaign strategy manager allows users to define pass strategies statically and dynamically, to manage lists across multiple campaigns, and to view results in real-time. A defined strategy is a static strategy created by a user for a particular campaign that, once created, typically is not modified. A dynamic strategy is one where, during the course of a day (e.g., as a sub-campaign is running), a user may alter the defined strategy, preferably just for that day (or portion thereof). In particular, the campaign strategy manager enables the user to make changes to the current strategy as a sub-campaign is running through a particular list. US08270574B2
A device receives an emergency call invite generated by a user device associated with an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) media gateway, and forwards the emergency call invite to a location resource function/route determination function (LRF/RDF) device for determining public safety answering point (PSAP) routing information. The device receives, from the LRF/RDF device, the PSAP routing information based on the emergency call invite, and routes the emergency call invite to a particular PSAP based on the PSAP routing information. If the emergency call invite is routed to a legacy PSAP, the emergency call is routed to the legacy PSAP via legacy mobile switching center (MSC) direct trunks. If the emergency call invite is routed to an IP PSAP, the emergency call is routed to the IP PSAP via an IP connection. US08270567B2
An X-ray imaging device includes an X-ray detection section, a cold electron source, and a light-shielding coating layer. The X-ray detection section includes an X-ray conversion layer made of an X-ray converter material which generates electric charges upon incidence of an X-ray, a first charge injection blocking layer formed on an incidence surface of the X-ray conversion layer, and a second charge injection blocking layer formed on a rear surface of the X-ray conversion layer. The cold electron source has a plurality of electron emission sections arranged in a matrix form, each of the electronic emission sections being capable of emitting electrons toward the second charge injection blocking layer of the X-ray detection section. The light-shielding coating layer blocks incidence of the visible light into the X-ray detection section. US08270554B2
Methods of producing cesium-131. The method comprises dissolving at least one non-irradiated barium source in water or a nitric acid solution to produce a barium target solution. The barium target solution is irradiated with neutron radiation to produce cesium-131, which is removed from the barium target solution. The cesium-131 is complexed with a calixarene compound to separate the cesium-131 from the barium target solution. A liquid:liquid extraction device or extraction column is used to separate the cesium-131 from the barium target solution. US08270552B1
An apparatus for transferring data in a non-spread domain to a spread domain. The apparatus comprises a first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory; a write pointer generator adapted to generate a write pointer for writing data into the FIFO memory in response to a non-spread clock signal; a spread-clock generator adapted to generate a spread clock signal based on the non-spread clock signal; a read pointer generator adapted to generate a read pointer for reading data from the FIFO memory in response to the spread clock signal; and a controller adapted to control the spread-clock generator in response to the read and write pointers indicating predetermined potential data overflow or underflow of the FIFO memory. US08270551B2
The disclosure relates to a method of synchronising a device for receiving scrambled data, using at least one periodic scrambling sequence which is divided into K time intervals, each interval comprising N bit periods known as symbols. In particular, one such method includes calculating a synchronisation value of at least one polynomial that generates the aforementioned scrambling sequence within a pre-determined synchronisation time interval and synchronisation bit period. During the calculation step, the sequence is progressed through at increments of at least one time interval and at least one bit period, using a matrix calculation of the synchronisation value. US08270546B2
In a transmission diversity control method in which a request to start or stop transmission diversity is issued by a reception station to a transmission station having a transmission diversity function, the reception station is provided with an equalizer to reduce multipath interference on the basis of a signal correlation, a transmission diversity start request is issued from the reception station to the transmission station when an effect generated by the equalizer is small, and a transmission diversity stop request is issued from the reception station to the transmission station when the effect generated by the equalizer is large. US08270544B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided to enable weather band radio signals to be received and processed using a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP can include functionality to implement both frequency modulation (FM) demodulation and weather band data demodulation, i.e., specific area encoding (SAME) demodulation. In one such embodiment, soft decision samples of a SAME message can be combined, and based on a combined result, a hard decision unit can generate a bit value of weather band data. US08270530B2
A distortion compensating apparatus includes a processing circuit that calculates each of a plurality of series operation coefficient pairs based on a transmission signal and a feedback signal of an output from an amplifying circuit performing power amplification of the transmission signal, executes a series operation process with respect to the transmission signal based on the plurality of the series operation coefficient pairs as a distortion compensation of the transmission signal, and inputs a result of the series operation process to the amplifying circuit performing the power amplification, and a selecting unit that, on the basis of power of the transmission signal, selects the series operation process to be executed corresponding to one of the plurality of series operation coefficient pairs, or selects one of the plurality of series operation coefficient pairs to be used in the series operation process to be executed. US08270524B2
In a communication system, a postcoder is coupled between first and second portions of each of a plurality of receivers. The postcoder is configured to receive an adaptive index representation of a scaled signal associated with the first portion of a first one of the receivers, and to process the adaptive index representation using an adjusted postcoder coefficient to generate a postcompensation signal. The postcompensation signal is supplied by the postcoder to the second portion of a second one of the receivers for use in postcompensation of at least one signal received by the second receiver. US08270519B2
A method for selecting a pre-coding matrix, and a device and a telecommunication system for implementing the method are provided. The method includes calculating an effective signal noise ratio (SNR) at each layer for each pre-coding matrix, comparing the lowest SNR at each layer for each pre-coding matrix against the threshold SNR, selecting a proper pre-coding matrix, and considering high and low SNRs of a system during selection of a pre-coding matrix to achieve good pre-coding effects and improve the system performance. US08270513B2
The present invention provides a method and system for transmitting a multi-frequency signal composed of discrete tones of constant envelope parts that are amplified by a bank of fully saturated transmitters operating in their most power efficient mode. After amplification and transmission, the signals are multiplexed in the air as opposed to multiplexing before amplification that allows for more efficient amplification as well. In a preferred embodiment, the system has two or more transmitting antennas, and the method comprises: (a) generating a first signal of a first carrier frequency and a second signal of a second carrier frequency; (b) transmitting the first signal of a first carrier frequency on a first antenna and the first signal of a second carrier signal on a second antenna for a predetermined time period; and (c) transmitting a second signal of the second carrier frequency on said first antenna and a second signal of the first carrier frequency on the second antenna for the predetermined time period. Preferably, the signals are transmitted using an amplifier that is essentially fully saturated. US08270505B2
A method for transmitting a signal from a transmitter over a channel to a receiver on a Power Line Network, wherein said signal is OFDM-modulated on a set of sub-carriers, is proposed, wherein an OFDM tonemap and an eigenbeamforming encoding matrix are determined based on a channel estimation for each sub-carrier, a tonemap feedback signal and an eigenbeamforming feedback signal are generated, which are descriptive of said OFDM tonemap and said eigenbeamforming encoding matrix, respectively, and transmitted to the transmitter. A corresponding receiver, a transmitter, a power line communication and a power line communication system are described as well. US08270504B2
A method for configurating a basic signal allocation unit and a method of transmitting signals using the configurated basic signal allocation unit are disclosed. In particular, a basic frequency domain signal allocation unit is configurated by considering at least one selected from the group consisting of a signaling overhead, a size of a coherent bandwidth and a number of divisors among specific numbers and an OFDM symbol number corresponding to a multiple of a subframe unit, each of the specific numbers multiplied to a predetermined subcarrier spacing to enable a result value of the multiplication to have a difference smaller than a prescribed threshold from a divisor of a system bandwidth. And, a time domain unit is configurated by 1-subframe unit. Accordingly, signaling overhead can be efficiently reduced. US08270502B2
In one embodiment, a demodulator demodulates a multi-carrier modulated signal having two pilot tones. The demodulator calculates a first phase angle for the first pilot tone and a second phase angle for the second pilot tone based on the time-domain multi-carrier modulated signal. A timing-frequency offset estimate is calculated using the first and second phase angles. Further, a fine carrier-frequency offset estimate is calculated for each pilot tone based on the corresponding phase angle and the timing-frequency offset estimate. Each fine carrier-frequency offset estimate is combined with a coarse estimate and weighted. The weighted estimates are then combined. In further embodiments, the timing-frequency offset estimate is weighted and combined with a weighted timing-frequency offset estimate generated using a cyclic prefix. In yet further embodiments, the weighted carrier-frequency offset estimates are combined with a weighted carrier-frequency offset estimate generated using a cyclic prefix. US08270495B2
Techniques are provided herein to produce encoded video bitstreams and to similarly decode encoded video bitstreams according to a coding standard not supported by an on-chip encoder/decoder. For purposes of encoding, a video sequence is received at a first device. A first bitstream is generated at the first device by encoding the video sequence according to a first coding standard and information associated with the video sequence is generated at the first device according to a second coding standard. The first bitstream and the information are then transmitted to a second device. At the second device the first bitstream is decoded to produce a second bitstream. The second bitstream and the information are combined by removing syntax elements associated with the first coding standard from the second bitstream and adding the information to produce a third bitstream according to the second coding standard. Similar techniques are provided for decoding an encoded bitstream to recover a video sequence. US08270494B2
A method for concatenating MPEG-4 or H.263 segments is provided. The method includes extracting and comparing the VOL or picture header information of each segment. If the two segments have the same VOL or picture header information, the method merges the two segments directly by appending one segment to another to form a new bit stream. If the two segments have the different resolution, the method completely decodes and re-encodes the segments and then merges the segments. Otherwise the method takes the VOL or picture header information of one segment as reference to produce the new bit stream. The method parses the other segment frame at a time, re-encapsulates it according to the reference VOL or picture header information, and appends it to the one segment. During the process, the method only uses VLD to parse the other segment without using the tools of DCT, IDCT, ME, and MC. US08270485B2
The invention relates to a method of watermarking a binary stream resulting from the encoding of a set of coefficients comprising at least one coefficient encoded by predictive coding, called predictively coded coefficient. The method comprises the steps of: a) identifying, in the binary stream, a first binary word representing the predictively coded coefficient; b) computing a modified coefficient from the predictively coded coefficient on the basis of at least one watermarking bit; c) encoding the modified coefficient into a second binary word; and d) replacing in the binary stream the first binary word with the second binary word. US08270480B2
There are provided video encoders and corresponding methods for encoding video data for an image that is divisible into super-macroblocks (super-MBs). A video encoder includes an encoder for classifying a super-MB in the image with respect to one of a frame mode or a field mode using a band-pass/high-pass filter applied vertically to the image. US08270472B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for adaptive reference filtering of bi-predictive pictures in multi-view coded video. An apparatus includes an encoder (100) for encoding a current picture as a bi-predictive picture. The encoder (100) performs adaptive filtering of at least one reference picture to respectively obtain at least one filtered reference picture, and bi-predictively codes the current picture using the at least one filtered reference picture. The at least one reference picture is a picture wherein at least one sample thereof is used for inter-prediction either of subsequent to the least one sample being applied to an in-loop filter or in an absence of the at least one sample being applied to an in-loop filter. Reference filter coefficients for the adaptive filtering are determined responsive to at least one of luma values and chroma values of pixels grouped based on at least one of depth and disparity and motion. US08270468B2
A scalable video bitstream may have an H.264/AVC compatible base layer (BL) and a scalable enhancement layer (EL), where scalability refers to color bit depth. The H.264/AVC scalability extension SVC provides also other types of scalability, e.g. spatial scalability where the number of pixels in BL and EL are different. According to the invention, BL information is upsampled (TUp,BDUp) in two logical steps in adaptive order, one being texture upsampling and the other being bit depth upsampling. Texture upsampling is a process that increases the number of pixels, and bit depth upsampling is a process that increases the number of values that each pixel can have, corresponding to the pixels color intensity. The upsampled BL data are used to predict the collocated EL. A prediction order indication is transferred so that the decoder can upsample BL information in the same manner as the encoder, wherein the upsampling refers to spatial and bit depth characteristics. US08270465B1
A system and method for a radio controlled clock receiver adapted to extract timing and time information from a phase modulated signal. The official time signal is broadcast from a central location using a modulation scheme that adds phase modulation to legacy pulse width modulated/amplitude modulation that allows for greatly improved performance. The information modulated onto the phase contains a known synchronization sequence having good autocorrelation properties, error-correcting coding for the time information and notifications of daylight-saving-time (DST) transitions that are provided months in advance. The modulation scheme is based on a form of phase modulation, such as binary-phase-shift-keying (BPSK) or phase reversal keying (PRK). A superframe comprising multiple frames with repeated information allows for the accumulation of received energy over multiple frames to provide for a corresponding gain in the receiver. US08270464B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an input signal from a receiver, receiving a data clock (DCLK) signal, and receiving a boundary clock (BCLK) signal. The method includes, based on the input signal and the DCLK signal, recovering data from the input signal to produce a first output signal. The method includes, based on the input signal and the BCLK signal, recovering boundaries between bits in the input signal to produce a second output signal. The method includes, based on the first and second output signals, producing the DCLK and BCLK signals, with the DCLK signal being delayed with respect to the BCLK signal less than approximately 0.5 unit intervals (UIs) and greater than or equal to approximately zero UIs. US08270462B2
An adaptive equalizer circuit includes an equalizer circuit configured to produce an output data signal in response to an equalizing factor, a data detecting circuit configured to detect a signal level of the output data signal in a given unit time at predetermined timing, a boundary detecting circuit configured to detect a signal level of the output data signal at a timing that is ½ unit time away from the predetermined timing, and a control unit configured to detect, multiple times, a pattern having consecutive data items of a first value followed by a data item of a second value, and to adjust the equalizing factor such that a data detection value and a boundary detection value obtained for the data item of the second value are equal to each other a certain percentage of times, and are different from each other substantially the same percentage of times. US08270459B1
A system and/or integrated circuit are disclosed that may include a receiver, a harmonic signal generator and a signal injector. The receiver may use at least one signal line to create a baseband signal to further create a quality measure used to improve the quality of reception and based upon the receiver response to the baseband signal. The harmonic signal generator may generate harmonic signal(s) including at least one harmonic component within the receiver's reception range. The signal injector may receive the harmonic signal and a control signal to generate the signal line from the harmonic signal in response to the control signal. The receiver may implement WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS, AM, mobile TV, FM, and/or Television. A transmitter compatible with the receiver may or may not be included, and may be configured to couple at least one of its outputs to the receiver to create a second quality measure. US08270458B2
Apparatus arranged to analyse a signal comprising a series of symbols, the apparatus comprising means for calculating a metric of said signal, filter means for filtering said signal, means for calculating a metric of said filtered signal and means for comparing said metrics, wherein the filtering means is arranged to track a spectral feature of the signal and maintain that feature within the pass band of the filtering means. US08270451B2
An edge emitting semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor body, which has a waveguide region. The waveguide region has an active layer for generating laser radiation. The active layer is arranged between a first waveguide layer and a second waveguide layer. The waveguide region is arranged between a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer. The semiconductor body has a main region and at least one phase structure region in which is formed a phase structure for the selection of lateral modes of the laser radiation emitted by the active layer. The phase structure region is arranged outside the waveguide region or formed by a region in which a dopant is introduced or an intermixing structure is produced. US08270450B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser having an end surface window structure includes the steps of forming a groove near at least the formation position of the end surface window structure of a substrate, and growing a nitride-based group III-V compound semiconductor layer including an active layer formed of a nitride-based group III-V compound semiconductor including at least In and Ga on the substrate. US08270448B2
A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer reflector of a first conduction type that is formed on the substrate and is composed of stacked pairs of relatively high refractive index layers and relatively low refractive index layers; a cavity region that is formed on the first semiconductor multilayer reflector and includes an active region; and a second semiconductor multilayer reflector of a second conduction type that is formed on the cavity region and is composed of stacked pairs of relatively high refractive index layers and relatively low refractive index layers. A cavity length of a cavity that includes the cavity region and the active region between the first semiconductor multilayer reflector and the second semiconductor multilayer reflector is greater than an oscillation wavelength. US08270445B2
A light-emitting device is provided which includes a gain medium having an optically-active phosphosilicate glass, wherein the phosphosilicate glass includes at least one active ion dopant and from about 1 to 30 mol % of phosphorus oxide. The phosphorous oxide may be present in an effective amount for reducing any photodarkening effect and increasing the saturation energy of the system. The active ion dopant may be a rare earth dopant. The light-emitting device may include an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide including the gain medium. The optical waveguide may have a core and at least one cladding, and the gain medium having the phosphosilicate glass may be found in the core and/or in one of the cladding. US08270437B2
Embodiments of a wireless network and method for communicating aggregated packets are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an aggregation header frame that identifies the originator is included in an aggregation of media-access control (MAC) frames to allow the originator to be easily identified when none of the MAC frames are properly received. US08270431B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided to determine a home macro sector linked to a femto access point and adjust inter-carrier scanning in a mobile device that operates in the home macro sector. A femto access point (AP) can determine a home macro sector through cell or sector identifier that is extracted via scan(s) of macro wireless environment of the femto AP. Femto AP can rank extracted sector identifier(s) and establish home macro sector (HMS) identifier(s), and also can generate scanning requirements for idle-mode scan(s) by mobile device(s) that operates in a HMS. Scanning requirement(s) can force periodic inter-carrier measurements of a HMS wireless environment, and establish HMS-specific radio link quality threshold(s). Wireless network can receive at least one of HMS identifier(s) and scanning requirement(s) and deliver same to mobile device(s) authorized to exploit wireless coverage through femto AP associated with the HMS ID(s) and the scanning requirement(s). US08270424B2
Disclosed is a method of signaling hopping locations selected by a scheduling entity using a frequency hopping pattern indicator for indicating hopping locations for at least two re-transmissions. The frequency hopping pattern is selected by the scheduling entity which may have knowledge of all or at least a plurality of scheduled reverse link transmissions or restrictions upon reverse link transmissions, thereby allowing reverse link re-transmissions to be scheduled in a manner compatible with other reverse link transmissions and restrictions. Overall signaling overhead associated with scheduling re-transmissions is reduced through the signaling of a single message which indicates hopping locations for at least two re-transmissions instead of two or more separate messages, wherein each of the two or more separate message indicates a hopping location for an individual re-transmission. US08270418B2
A method of controlling access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) by a user based upon the user's location. In response to a user requesting access to a service, information identifying the user's location is provided to the IMS. Within the IMS, the provided information is compared with authorization information stored in a database. The authorization information includes information identifying prohibited and/or allowed access locations. Dependent upon the result of the comparison, access to the IMS services is allowed or denied. US08270414B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of dynamically handing over master functionality from a wireless station configured as a master station to another peer station in a wireless network, comprising, discovering the peer station's Master/AP capability, which may be, but is not required to be, via a (Re)Association request, selecting the peer station to be a new master station based on predetermined parameters, passing the basic service set (BSS) context from the master station to the new master station in a master station Role Request message before transitioning, notifying the new master station to activate its master station role via the master station Role Request message, and switching by the client station to the role of new master station upon receipt of an AP Role Activation message and starting to send Beacons with a BSSID that is the same as used in Beacons of the previous master station. US08270410B2
Embodiments of sampling techniques for server farms are described herein. In an implementation, the sampling techniques may be performed to find a range of values, in which, a quality of service measurement belongs. Each range is thought of as a “bucket” and may include a corresponding counter that is incremented for each quality of service measurement that falls within the bucket. The countes may then be converted into measurement curves which are published at periodic intervals for examination. US08270407B2
A method for managing a data stream in a communication system. One or more user stations and switching and management infrastructure are configured with a function that maps packet data protocol addresses of data transmissions to defined service access point identifiers. A packet data context for data transmissions of a packet data service is created by associating a packet data protocol address with a service access point identifier used in an interface between one or more user stations and the switching and management structure. A function is used for determining independently in the one or more user stations or the switching and management infrastructure the service access point identifiers for data transmissions of the packet data service. US08270405B2
Devices and method with hardware configured to support phantom register programming. Where phantom register programming allows a device driver for an endpoint device to program multicast registers in the device without support of the operating system. US08270398B2
A plurality of systems for routing signals are described. The system includes a cross point switch that can couple any one of a plurality of input terminals to a plurality of output processor terminals. Signals received at the input terminals are coupled to corresponding output terminals and are processed by output modules. The resulting processed signals are provided at output terminals. In some embodiments, one or more input modules are provided to process input signal prior to routing through the cross-point switch. US08270397B2
The Fibre Channel standard was created by the American National Standard for Information Systems (ANSI) X3T11 task group to define a serial I/O channel for interconnecting a number of heterogeneous peripheral devices to computer systems as well as interconnecting the computer systems themselves through optical fiber and copper media at gigabit speeds (i.e., one billion bits per second). Multiple protocols such as SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface), IP (Internet Protocol), HIPPI, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) among others can concurrently utilize the same media when mapped over Fibre Channel. A Fibre Channel Fabric is an entity which transmits Fibre Channel frames between connected Node Ports. The Fibre Channel fabric routes the frames based on the destination address as well as other information embedded in the Fibre Channel frame header. Node Ports are attached to the Fibre Channel Fabric through links. US08270391B2
The present invention relates to a method and a receiver (135) for determining the status of a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) packet stream. The method includes the steps of determining (220) a time period elapsed since reception of the last RTP packet, determining (250) the content of the last received RTP packet and categorizing the status of the RTP packet stream based on the elapsed time period and the content of the last received RTP packet. The present invention is preferably implemented in a processor or processing means (180) of the receiver and is advantageous in that the risk of false detection of dead RTP packet streams is reduced. US08270389B2
A method of synchronizing a first transceiver with a second transceiver during a low power idle mode is disclosed for use in network communication devices. A LDPC counter, which initiates a count operation upon transition to PAM16 mode, serves as a master counter to determined when, based on predetermined count values, each channel reactivates from low power idle mode to active mode to generate and send a refresh signal. The transmitter and associated remote receiver both reactivate at the predetermined refresh period to process the refresh signal. Each transmitter/receiver pair has predetermined refresh periods during low power idle mode. The refresh signal is processed for maintain clock synchronization and for filter and equalizer adaptation. US08270387B2
Systems and methods for improved digital RF transport in a DAS are provided. In one embodiment, a transceiver comprises: a receive path circuit including an RF reception interface coupled to an ADC, the ADC receiving a down-converted analog RF spectrum from the RF reception interface and producing a digitized RF spectrum at an input sampling rate; a logic device receiving the digitized RF spectrum and producing a first set of baseband data samples at a first sampling rate, corresponding to a first spectral region of the analog RF spectrum and a second set of baseband data samples at a second sampling rate, corresponding to a second spectral region of the analog RF spectrum. The logic device maps the first set and second sets of baseband data samples to a respective first set and second set of timeslots of a serial data stream transport frame. US08270386B2
It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to obtain an appropriate receiving environment in a communication system using a slot connecting transfer system. A mobile communication system (1) includes a transmitting part (13) sequentially transmitting time slots containing communication signals, an S/N ratio acquiring part (24) acquiring receiving environment information that indicates the receiving environment in mobile station apparatuses (20) of the respective transmitted time slots, a request generating part (26) determining whether or not at least some of the control bit sequences for a continuous plurality of time slots are to be represented by the control bit sequence of a single time slot on the basis of the amount of variation in the receiving environment indicated by the acquired receiving environment information, and a time slot control part (18) that operates so that at least some of the control bit sequences for a continuous plurality of time slots are represented by the control bit sequence of a single time slot when a base station apparatus (10) transmits time slots, in accordance with the determination results. US08270377B1
What is disclosed is a method of operating a communication system. The method includes receiving a first request to initiate a first communication session with a wireless communication device, determining a first spreading code for the first communication session, and transferring the first spreading code for delivery to the wireless communication device. The method also includes receiving a second request to initiate a second communication session with the wireless communication device, determining a second spreading code for the second communication session, where the second spreading code is determined based upon the first spreading code, and transferring the second spreading code for delivery to the wireless communication device. US08270376B2
Methods for improving uplink communications in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) communication system, wherein mobile terminals can transmit at various transmission power levels. In a mobile terminal, the method includes the steps of receiving a configuration message having at least one of a power offset parameter and a maximum number of retransmission attempts parameter; when the mobile terminal performs a non-scheduled transmission, it transmits according to the parameters contained in the configuration message. In a network node, the method includes the steps of transmitting to at least one mobile terminal the configuration message having at least one of a power offset parameter and a maximum number of retransmission attempts parameter; and, adjusting a power setting for the transmission of acknowledgement or negative-acknowledgement messages from the wireless network to one or more of mobile terminals. US08270372B2
The techniques introduced herein provide a system and method for determining whether an inter-RAT handover is an SRVCC handover, and for performing the subsequent SRVCC handover. The techniques include receiving a handover command message that does not include SRVCC related information elements, for example “RAB info to replace,” but continuing with an SRVCC handover using a circuit-switched RAB provided in the information for setup. The techniques also include receiving a handover command message that does include SRVCC related information elements and performing the SRVCC handover by an alternative method. US08270361B2
A method and apparatus of managing a radio bearer is disclosed. A relay node (RN) sets up at least one UuRB for a Uu interface between a user equipment (UE) and the RN and a UnRB for a Un interface between the RN and a base station (BS). The at least one UuRB is mapped to the UnRB according to quality of service (QoS) guaranteed by the at least one UuRB to setup a RB between the UE and the BS. US08270346B2
A system for dynamically anchoring a call initiated by a mobile unit can include call anchor logic programmed with anchoring criteria to determine if a new outbound call being initiated from the mobile unit should be anchored at an anchor point located outside of a service provider network for the mobile unit based on application of the anchoring criteria to input data. The call anchor logic provides an anchor control signal to cause the outbound call to be one of (i) anchored at the anchor point and (ii) connected to a called party without anchoring at the anchor point. Memory that stores the input data, the memory being accessible by the call anchor logic. US08270343B2
A wireless communication system comprises a broadcast transmitter broadcasting textual and multimedia information to a remote receiver unit. The broadcast transmitter is operably coupled to a signal manipulation function and arranged to receive and process a broadcast signal that comprises both a textual portion and multimedia information. The signal manipulation function separates the textual and multimedia information into multiple bursts of data sub-blocks, wherein substantially each sub block comprises the textual data and a sub-block of multimedia information for transmitting to the remote receiver unit.By implementing the aforementioned inventive concepts, faster access to the most important (i.e. semantic) part of the transmitted information can be obtained. US08270333B2
A data relaying apparatus for relaying data bidirectionally transmitted between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus includes a first symbol string generator configured to generate, in accordance with a first modulation method, a first symbol string from first data transmitted from the second communication apparatus; a second symbol string generator configured to generate, in accordance with a second modulation method, a second symbol string from second data transmitted from the first communication apparatus; and a combining unit configured to combine a first symbol of the first symbol string and a second symbol of the second symbol string by calculating an exclusive OR on the first symbol and the second symbol to generate a third symbol string to be multicasted to the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus. US08270325B2
Systems and methods for establishing IT services in edge environments are described. In some examples, the system comprises a transportable housing capable of being carried by personnel, a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components contained in the housing and coupled together and configured to provide the broadband communications network, a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of components, a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of components and configured to establish access to the broadband communications network, and a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of components and that provides a user with a connection to the broadband communications network via the network connection subsystem. US08270317B2
A method and an apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system are disclosed. Moreover, the method includes: establishing and maintaining, by a border node of the autonomous system, the border connection information of the autonomous system; flooding the border connection information within the autonomous system; and receiving, by nodes of the autonomous system, the border connection information. The method and the apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system of embodiments of the present invention may adapt to dynamic change of network topology, and dynamically advertise the border connection information of the autonomous system within the system in time, so as to optimize networks and improve quality of service of the networks. US08270316B1
An on-chip Radio Frequency (RF) Interconnect (RF-I) for communication between internal circuit nodes of an integrated circuit is provided. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided that includes an on-chip transmission line, a first circuit node associated with an RF transmitter connected to the transmission line, and a second circuit node associated with an RF receiver connected to the transmission line. In order to transmit data from the first circuit node to the second circuit node, the RF transmitter associated with the first circuit node modulates the data onto an RF carrier frequency to provide a modulated RF signal and transmits the modulated RF signal over the transmission line. The RF receiver associated with the second circuit node receives the modulated RF signal from the transmission line and demodulates the modulated RF signal to recover the data for the second circuit node. US08270295B2
A system and method for reassigning buffer space during to maximize IO performance of virtual lanes is set forth. More specifically, the system and method for reassigning buffer space takes buffer space from unused virtual lanes and reassigns the unused buffer space to used virtual lanes. For example, in an embodiment that supports four virtual lanes where only two virtual lanes are in use, the system and method reassign the buffer space from the other two unused virtual lanes for use by the two virtual lanes in use. US08270289B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for framing synchronization control for a framer/mapper/multiplexor (FMM) device with 1+1 and equipment protection. FMM device are disclosed that synchronize one or more internal signals by changing a phase of the one or more internal signals without changing a frequency of the one or more internal signals based on a desired phase at a destination of each of the one or more internal signals. A programmable synchronization signal may optionally be employed for the synchronization. US08270281B2
According to the present invention, of all beams of light reflected from the optical disc, only light in a peripheral region excluding a push-pull region is used to generate a DPD signal. In this method of signal generation that optimizes internal light-receiving surface interconnections in a photodetector, the lens error signal required for the generation of a tracking error signal in the DPP scheme is amplified at a lower amplification factor. In addition, the light reflected from the multilayered optical disc will be divided into a plurality of regions and the divided beam of light will be focused at different positions on the photodetector. When the beam is focused upon a desired layer, stray light from recording layers other than those to be subjected to information reproduction will not enter the photodetector light-receiving surfaces used for servo signals. US08270276B2
This invention provides accurate control of laser light power in a recording operation to achieve more stable recording operation. An optical disc drive in an embodiment of this invention monitors the power of laser light with a monitor diode and controls the laser light power based on the result of monitoring. The optical disc drive changes data transfer rate (recording frequency) depending on the disc radial position. The optical disc drive controls the gain of the monitor diode across the recording surface depending on the recording frequency. This control improves the accuracy in laser light power control to achieve stable recording operations by precise servo control. US08270273B2
A calibration circuit and a calibration method thereof for data recovery are provided. The calibration circuit includes an amplitude detector, a period detector, and a compensation circuit. The amplitude detector samples amplitudes of a data signal according to a zero-crossing signal and outputs an amplitude signal accordingly. The period detector counts a clock signal according to the zero-crossing signal and outputs a period signal accordingly. The compensation circuit receives the amplitude signal, the period signal, and the data signal. The compensation circuit adjusts a phase of the data signal by calculating differences between a reference signal and the amplitude signal and between the reference signal and the period signal and outputs a calibrated data signal accordingly. Accordingly, a better recognition performance on the data signal is achieved by calibrating the data signal in real-time. US08270264B2
[Object] A recoding playback apparatus and an optical disk are provided that allows reduction of a low frequency noise at a time of playback of a super resolution optical disk including small record marks whose size is below the diffractive limitation, to enhance quality of a playback signal.[Means for Solution] The reflective beams from the optical disk are received by dividing into outer portion beams and a center portion beam, and a playback signal is created by combining such beams based on respective different gains. Based on received amounts of light or amounts of low frequency noise in respective light receiving regions, adjustment or determination of gain values is made, or the optical head apparatus is optically adjusted, whereby the low frequency noise is optimally suppressed. Further, a specific region is provided on the optical disk for making the foregoing adjustment. US08270260B2
An optically assisted magnetic recording head causes light to be efficiently incident on a near-field light generating element and is thereby capable of efficiently generating near-field light. The optically assisted magnetic recording head, according to one embodiment, has a waveguide and a thin metal film. The waveguide has a core and a clad at least partially surrounding the core and serves as near-field light generating device. The core has a plate-shaped portion that has a small width and protrudes from an edge of the core. The edge of the core is located on the air bearing surface side. The thin metal film is provided on an upper portion and side portions of the plate-shaped portion to cover the edge of the core at the air bearing surface side. Other systems and methods are disclosed as well to achieve efficient incident light on a near-field light generating element. US08270259B2
A near field light generating element has a polyhedron core and a clad covering the core so as to contact side surfaces of the core. The polyhedron core has a reflection surface that reflects a luminous flux in a direction different from a direction of introduction of the luminous flux via one end side of the near field light generating element. A luminous flux condensing unit condenses the luminous flux reflected by the reflection surface and propagates the condensed luminous flux to the another end side. A near field light generation unit generates near field light from the propagated condensed luminous flux and emits the near field light to the exterior of the near field light generating element via the another end side. The near field light generation unit has an end surface that is exposed to the exterior on the another end side and has at least one side surface that is shielded by a light-shielding film. US08270257B2
A system according to one embodiment comprises a slider having a first light channel and a second light channel, the first and second light channels having axes oriented at an angle relative to each other, the angle being less than 180 degrees; and a reflection portion adjacent an exit of the first light channel and an entrance to the second light channel, the reflection portion having an index of refraction that is different than an index of refraction of the first light channel, such that light from the first light channel is reflected into the second light channel. Additional systems and methods are provided. US08270256B1
A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk drive uses a “wide-area” heater with “shingled” recording. In shingled recording, the write head pole tip is wider than the read head in the cross-track direction and writes magnetic transitions by making a plurality of consecutive circular paths that partially overlap. The non-overlapped portions of adjacent paths form the data tracks, which are thus narrower than the width of the write pole tip. The data tracks are grouped into annular bands and when data is to be rewritten, all of the data tracks in an annular band are also rewritten. The wide-area heater may be a waveguide with an output end that generates a heated area on the disk recording layer which is wider than the cross-track width of the write pole tip. It has been determined that the use of a wide-area heater with shingled recording does not result in any significant adjacent track erasure (ATE). US08270254B2
Phased array ultrasonic contact transducer, with a flexible wedge and a profilometer. This transducer applies to the non-destructive monitoring of an object and comprises: a set of elements that are rigidly integral with each other, at least part of the elements serving as ultrasound transmitters, a wedge whereof at least the front face is flexible to be applied against the surface of the object and the rear face of which is made integral with the set of elements, and a profilometer to measure surface variations and supply signals representative thereof to allow the transmitters to create a focused ultrasonic beam whereof the characteristics are controlled in relation to the object. US08270250B2
In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to select an amount of imaging coverage associated with a substantially tubular object and a rotary scanner coupled to a telemetry system. Determining circumferential and longitudinal scan sampling intervals to provide substantially full coverage of the substantially tubular object may be included. Waveform sampling and transducer driving waveform parameters may also be determined according to an available data transmission bandwidth associated with the telemetry system. US08270244B2
A dual function memory device architecture compatible with asynchronous operation and synchronous serial operation. The dual function memory device architecture includes one set of physical ports having two different functional assignments. Coupled between the physical ports and core circuits of the memory device are asynchronous and synchronous input and output signal paths or circuits. The signal paths include shared or dedicated buffers coupled to the ports, asynchronous and synchronous command decoders, a network of switches, and a mode detector. The mode detector determines the operating mode of the dual function memory device from a port, and provides the appropriate switch selection signal. The network of switches routes the input or output signals through the asynchronous or synchronous circuits in response to the switch selection signal. The appropriate command decoder interprets the input signals and provides common control logic with the necessary signals for initiating the corresponding operation. US08270231B2
A configurable processor architecture uses a common simulation database for multiple processor configurations to reduce the cost of producing customized processor configurations. An unchanging core portion is used in each processor configuration. To support different memory modules, identification signals are provided from the memory modules or an identification module to configure the core portion. US08270227B2
A method of reading a nonvolatile memory device comprises sensing data stored in memory cells adjacent to selected memory cells to identify adjacent aggressor cells, and performing separate precharge operations on bitlines connected to selected memory cells having adjacent aggressor cells and on bitlines connected to selected memory cells having adjacent non-aggressor cells. US08270222B2
A memory includes a local word line driver for a memory array having a first word line and a second word line. The local word line driver includes a first selection transistor, a second selection transistor, and a middle transistor disposed between the first and second selection transistors. The first word line couples to the first selection transistor and the middle transistor, and the second word line couples to the middle transistor and the second selection transistor. US08270221B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a cell string, including a drain select transistor coupled to a bit line, a source select transistor coupled to a common source line, and memory cells coupled in series between the drain select transistor and the source select transistor, a latch unit, including a first latch for storing a detection result of a threshold voltage of a second memory cell adjacent to a first memory cell selected from among the memory cells and a second latch for storing a detection result of a threshold voltage of the first memory cell, and a first reset unit electrically coupled between the first and second latches and configured to reset the second latch, during a time in which a read operation is performed on the first memory cell, in response to a first reset signal and the detection result stored in the first latch. US08270216B2
A semiconductor storage device including a semiconductor substrate including an upper surface having a plurality of trenches formed into the upper surface; a plurality of element isolation insulating films filled in each of the trenches so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the element isolation insulating films containing an oxide material; a tunnel insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate situated between the element isolation insulating films; a charge storing layer comprising a first nitride film and being formed on the tunnel insulating film; a block film formed across an upper surface of the charge storing layer and an upper surface of the element isolation insulating film to prevent charge transfer; a gate electrode formed on the block film; and a barrier layer containing a second nitride film formed between the element isolation insulating film and the block film. US08270212B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes first and second upper-layer contact members. The upper-layer contact members are arranged alternately with the first upper-layer contact members in a first direction and shifted in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Plugs are formed on the second upper-layer contact members. First metal wirings are provided on the first upper-layer contact members. Second metal wirings are provided on the plugs. A height of a top surface of the plugs is higher than a top surface of the first metal wirings. A width of a bottom surface of the first metal wirings in a shorter-side direction is shorter than a width of a top surface of the first metal wirings. A width of a bottom surface of the second metal wirings in a shorter-side direction is shorter than a width of a top surface of the second metal wirings. US08270200B2
A nanoscale three-terminal switching device has a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and a side electrode, each of which may be a nanowire. The top electrode extends at an angle with respect to the bottom electrode and has an end section going over and overlapping the bottom electrode. An active region is disposed between the top electrode and bottom electrode and contains a switching material. The side electrode is disposed opposite from the top electrode and in electrical contact with the active region. A self-aligned fabrication process may be used to automatically align the formation of the top and side electrodes with respect to the bottom electrode. US08270198B2
A nonvolatile optical memory element in which a ferromagnetic body is provided on a semiconductor causes such a problem that in a case where magnetization of the ferromagnetic body is read by light, magneto-optical response becomes very small when the ferromagnetic body is small in volume. The present invention provides a memory element, a memory device, and a data reading method, each of which is applicable to data reading from a nonvolatile optical memory element. In a nonvolatile optical memory element having a structure in which a ferromagnetic body is provided on a semiconductor that is connected to an optical waveguide, electrons are injected into the semiconductor via the ferromagnetic body so that the electrons that are spin-polarized according to a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic body are injected into the semiconductor, thereby enlarging a region in which a photomagnetic effect occurs effectively. By applying an electric pulse and an optical pulse to the nonvolatile optical memory element, it is possible to effectively read recorded data according to a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic body. US08270196B2
Interface circuitry in communication with at least one non-volatile resistivity-sensitive memory is disclosed. The memory includes a plurality of non-volatile memory elements that may have two-terminals, are operative to store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be determined by applying a read voltage across the memory element, and retain stored data in the absence of power. A plurality of the memory elements can be arranged in a cross-point array configuration. The interface circuitry electrically communicates with a system configured for memory types, such as DRAM, SRAM, and FLASH, for example, and is operative to communicate with the non-volatile resistivity-sensitive memory to emulate one or more of those memory types. The interface circuitry can be fabricated in a logic plane on a substrate with at least one non-volatile resistivity-sensitive memory vertically positioned over the logic plane. The non-volatile resistivity-sensitive memories may be vertically stacked upon one another. US08270192B2
A circuit arrangement comprises a memory cell array (2) with at least one memory circuit (99). The memory circuit (99) comprises one non-volatile memory cell (98) inserted in a first current path (106) between a supply voltage terminal (9) and a reference potential terminal (8), and a volatile memory cell (97) inserted in a second current path (107) between the supply voltage terminal (9) and the reference potential terminal (8). The volatile memory cell (97) is coupled to the non-volatile memory cell (98) for reading the non-volatile memory cell (98). US08270183B2
A chassis structure includes a chassis member including a receiving portion and a case member including a contact surface portion mounted on the receiving portion. The contact surface portion is not fixed to the receiving portion but is movably supported by the receiving portion. A positioning portion protruding in a direction intersecting a direction extending along the surface of the contact surface portion is provided in the receiving portion, and the case member is mounted on the chassis member while an edge of the contact surface portion is in contact with the positioning portion. US08270172B2
A wedge lock for use with a single board computer includes a cooling plate positioned with respect to a printed circuit board (PCB), a clamp device configured to secure the single board computer in an operating environment, and a heat conductance plate positioned along a top surface of the cooling plate and a top surface of the clamp device to facilitate conduction cooling of the PCB. US08270165B2
An electronic apparatus has a case having a bottom wall in which a first vent is formed and a circumferential wall connected to a perimeter of the bottom wall; a printed circuit board housed in the case; an electronic component which is mounted on the printed circuit board and generates heat when powered; a fan which has an air outlet and sends out a wind through the air outlet in such a direction that the wind goes away from a rotation axis of a rotor; a heat radiation member opposed to the first vent and the air outlet of the fan; and a heat pipe which is disposed between an associated part of the circumferential wall and the heat radiation member and transmits heat generated by the electronic component from the electronic component to the heat radiation member. US08270163B2
A display apparatus includes an accommodation chamber having a sealed structure, a display panel accommodated in the accommodation chamber, a cooling part which cools the air inside the accommodation chamber, a drain pipe extending from a bottom part of the accommodation chamber, and a check valve provided in the drain pipe. US08270161B2
A chassis for a plurality of computers for use in a data center, the chassis at least one extensible fin, the fin either extensible perpendicularly from the front of the chassis or extensible parallel with the front of the chassis. US08270150B2
A drive-removal mechanism may include, but is not limited to: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is detached from at least one drive to be removed. A drive enclosure may include, but is not limited to: at least one drive-receiving member including at least one drive-receiving channel; and at least one drive-removal mechanism including: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is configured to at least partially remove at least one hot swappable drive from the at least one drive-receiving channel. US08270135B2
A circuit for driving a transistor half bridge is disclosed that comprises a series circuit of a first and a second transistor both having intrinsic or external free-wheeling diodes coupled in parallel. The circuit for driving a transistor half bridge comprises: an over-current detection circuit that is configured to signal an over-current condition when a load current flowing through the first transistor exceeds a first threshold; a protection circuit that is coupled to the over-current detection circuit and that is configured to disable an activation of the first transistor in response to a detected over-current and to re-enable the activation of the first transistor after a first time interval has elapsed; an evaluation circuit that is coupled to the over-current detection circuit and that is configured to check whether a further over-current condition is detected within a second time interval that follows the first time interval. An active free-wheeling by activating the second transistor is disabled when a further over-current condition is detected within the second time interval, and an active free-wheeling by activating the second transistor is enabled during the first time interval when no further over-current condition is detected within the second time interval. US08270127B2
Magnetoresistive effect elements R1 to R4 are a TMR element or CPP-GMR element. A multilayer film forming the magnetoresistive effect elements is formed to have a width dimension T1 and a length dimension L1 perpendicular to the width dimension T1. The length dimension L1 is longer than the width dimension T1. The width dimension of magnetic field generators of the coil is T2. The multilayer film 31 is positioned within the width dimension T3 of 60% in total of 30% each to the width dimension T2 of the magnetic field generators 3 and 4 of the coil in the direction towards both sides from the center of the width dimension T2 when seen in a plan view. US08270125B2
A magnetoresistive tunnel junction sensor having improved free layer stability, as well as improved free sensitivity. The free layer is constructed to have a low magnetic coercivity which improves free layer sensitivity. The free layer is also constructed to have a negative magnetostriction which improves free layer stability by preventing the free layer from having an easy axis that is oriented perpendicular to the air bearing surface. US08270119B2
In a voice coil motor (VCM) of a disk drive, a coined feature formed on a ferromagnetic plate reduces magnetic flux leakage from a disk drive without increasing the weight of the drive or adding complexity to the manufacturing process. The coined feature is shaped and positioned to alter the path of magnetic flux lines produced by the VCM in a way that significantly reduces the flux leakage from the VCM. The coined feature may be formed without adding material to the ferromagnetic plate by the same stamping process used to fabricate the plate. US08270107B1
A disk controller for a hard disk drive includes a disk formatter interfaced via an NRZ bus to a read channel for the disk. The disk formatter includes an LFSR accumulator coupled to the NRZ bus, as well as an LSFR generator that generates synthetic test data for the disk formatter. Under control of a test flag which signifies a test mode, the LSFR generator generates synthetic test data, which is used by the disk formatter to drive the NRZ bus. The LSFR accumulator accumulates data on the NRZ bus, together with data on servo information and sector information. An interface is provided through which the accumulated information is provided to test equipment, for offline analysis of the accumulated information, so as to confirm proper operation of the disk subsystem and/or to detect failures therein. US08270106B2
A lens module includes a barrel, a holder, and a ring-shaped elastic member. The barrel includes a connecting portion and a resisting portion, the connecting portion includes a first screw thread. The holder includes a second screw thread engaged with the first screw thread. The ring-shaped elastic member is compressed between the resisting portion of the barrel and the holder. The elastic member includes a number of first segments and a number of second segments, the first segments and the second segments are arranged in an alternate fashion and connected to each other, at least one of the first segments and the second segments is V-shaped. US08270102B2
A lens device includes a lens assembly, a lens barrel receiving the lens assembly therein and a barrel holder. The lens barrel includes a first end, an opposite second end, a first flange extending outwards from the first end, and a second flange extending outwards from the second end. The barrel holder is located between the first flange and the second flange. The barrel holder includes a first part, a second part, and two pairs of magnetic units each including a first magnetic element fixed to one of the first part and the second part, and a second magnetic element fixed to the other of the first part and the second part, the second magnetic element magnetically attracted to the first magnetic element. The first part is securely attached to the second part by magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements. US08270097B2
An imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, an aperture stop, and a fourth lens, sequentially arranged from the object-side. The first lens has negative power, and an object-side surface is convex and an image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the second lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the second lens has negative power, and the object-side surface is concave and the image-side surface is convex. Both surfaces of the third lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the third lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is convex, and the image-side surface is convex. Both surfaces of the fourth lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is concave, and the image-side surface is convex. US08270091B2
Disclosed is a projection variable focusing lens and a projection display device that has a reduction side which is telecentric, a high magnifying power, a small size, a light weight, and a low manufacturing cost and is capable of correcting all aberrations occurring when power varies with good balance.A projection variable focusing lens that moves only one lens group when power varies includes a first negative lens group G1, a second positive lens group G2, and a third positive lens group G3, arranged in this order from a magnification side. When a focal length varies, only the second lens group G2 is moved along an optical axis X. During focusing, the first lens group G1 is moved along the optical axis X. A reduction side is substantially telecentric. US08270087B2
In a half mirror of a head mounted display which is formed by stacking a dielectric film and a metal film to a plate-shaped resin member, reflectivity of a P-polarized light and reflectivity of an S-polarized light do not agree with each other in at least a partial band of a visible band which contains wavelengths of three primary colors which constitute the image light. On the other hand, the reflectivity of the P-polarized light and the reflectivity of the S-polarized light with respect to the three primary colors are set approximately equal. An average value of transmittance of the P-polarized light and transmittance of the S-polarized light with respect to the respective wavelengths in the visible band which contains the wavelengths of the three primary colors is suppressed to a value which falls within a regulated range in the whole visible band. US08270086B1
A beam splitter optical surface comprises a transparent substrate and a multilayer optical coating applied in a pattern onto the transparent substrate. The multilayer optical coating has at least an optically reflective layer and an optically absorbent layer. US08270085B2
A lens array plate of long-size or large area is provided reducing deterioration of optical performance. A lengthy lens array plate (10), which is based on manufacturing process in accordance with the present invention, is formed by connecting a plurality of planar-shaped lens array plates (1) in the longer direction thereof, the planar-shaped lens array plate (1) including a plurality of lens portions that are regularly arranged. The connecting portion (3) is linearly formed at the position other than the plurality of lens portions. Thereby, a lengthy lens array plate with any length may be formed. US08270080B2
An element includes a first resin layer and a second resin layer disposed between a first glass lens substrate and a second glass lens substrate, a boundary surface between the first resin layer and the second resin layer having a diffraction grating shape including a plurality of inclined surfaces and wall surfaces. The second resin layer is composed of a fluororesin in which fine metal oxide particles are dispersed. Since a refractive index distribution easily occurs in this material during curing by application of ultraviolet light, by applying ultraviolet light substantially perpendicular to the inclined surfaces of the diffraction grating shape, a refractive index distribution is formed in the thickness direction perpendicularly to the inclined surfaces. |
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