US08489555B2
A technique for managing storage of a data object in a storage device involves receiving the data object (A) to store in the storage device, where the data object has an indicator bit pattern (P). Successive compression data transformations are applied to data object A to obtain respective corresponding compressed data objects, and one of these compressed data objects is selected, such that the selected compressed data object (C) has the shortest length with respect to the remaining compressed data objects. Compression information (I) is then associated with the compression data transformation used to generate data object C, and a threshold value T is calculated at least partly from the length of compression information I. If length (C)+T.gtoreq.length (A), then the indicator bit pattern of data object A is reset and the data object A is written to the storage device. If length (C)+T
US08489554B2
A method for recording a sequence of events is provided. The method includes operating a sequence of events recorder in a normal mode, wherein data stored is related to the sequence of events in a history buffer. The method also includes initiating a snap-shot mode of the events recorder after a triggering event occurs in the sequence of events. The snap-shot mode operates by freezing data related to a moment in the sequence of events that occurred prior to the triggering event, storing data related to the sequence of events at the time of the triggering event in the snap-shot buffer, and continuing to record the data related to the sequence of events to a snap-shot buffer until a predetermined event.
US08489550B2
A method, apparatus, and a computer program product for storing and accessing multi-tenancy data. The method includes the steps of: creating a plurality of table sets in one or more databases, wherein each table set is used to store data of a group of tenants selected from a plurality of tenants; accessing data of a tenant in a table set in response to receiving a data access request from the tenant; and recording relationships between the tenants and the table sets in a multi-tenancy metadata repository, wherein the step of accessing the data of the tenant comprises the steps of finding the table set by querying the metadata repository and accessing the data of the tenant in the table set based on the result received from the query of the metadata repository.
US08489544B2
A computer enabled system and method aggregates data describing a particular subject. The data is then divided into a predetermined group of categories which are graphically displayed according to a predetermined pattern. Distortions in the data or anomalies in the data are made visually apparent. Associated with the display is a prioritized array of interventions recommended in response to the distortions in the data or anomalies appearing in the data.
US08489538B1
Systems and methods for analyzing documents are provided herein. A plurality of documents and user input are received via a computing device. The user input includes hard coding of a subset of the plurality of documents, based on an identified subject or category. Instructions stored in memory are executed by a processor to generate an initial control set, analyze the initial control set to determine at least one seed set parameter, automatically code a first portion of the plurality of documents based on the initial control set and the seed set parameter associated with the identified subject or category, analyze the first portion of the plurality of documents by applying an adaptive identification cycle, and retrieve a second portion of the plurality of documents based on a result of the application of the adaptive identification cycle test on the first portion of the plurality of documents.
US08489535B2
In an industrial control configuration, various instances can exist that are based upon a definition. A definition can be changed and thus it can be appropriate to alter related instances in accordance with the change. However, changing an instance can cause disruption in other actions even when the change is minor. Therefore, various standards can be used to determine if a change to an instance should be propagated automatically or at another time, such as after an operation. The determination can be based on artificial intelligence techniques, user preference, a defined rule set, user instruction, as well as other standards.
US08489534B2
Methods and apparatus are provided involving adaptive content inspection. In one embodiment, a content inspection processor may identify information with respect to input data and provide the information to a host controller. The host controller may adapt search criteria or other parameters and provide the adapted parameter to the content inspection processor. Other embodiments may include a content inspection processor having integrated feedback, such that results data is fed back to the content inspection processor. The results data may be processed before being provided to the content inspection processor.
US08489520B2
The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.
US08489508B2
Multiple service servers can store identification tags, which identify each user, after associating the identification tags with the identification tags of other users; and can also store identification data, which uniquely identifies users across multiple service servers, after associating the identification data with an encryption key for each identification datum. A management server device stores as identification data the user address data encrypted by means of an encryption key that has been generated for each identification datum. A gateway server device receives the identification tags from a first service server, receives the other identification tags associated with the first identification tags, receives the encryption keys associated with the other identification tags, and obtains the encrypted data from the management server. The gateway server device then decodes the encrypted information, and commands delivery that uses the obtained address data.
US08489494B2
The present invention creates a secondary market in private equities by auctioning venture-backed private equities over the Internet to qualified investors. Typical sources for the private equities will be interests in limited partnerships and pre-IPO or pulled-IPO securities. The operator of the system may sometimes take a position in certain private equities so as to have “inventory” to later sell on the system. In a typical buyer-driven transaction using the present invention, a qualified buyer puts out a bid for private assets in a particular area. Sellers who subscribe to the system receive notice of the bid and can then respond. In a typical seller-driven transaction using the present invention, a seller puts out a notice on the system of equities for sale. Buyers who subscribe to the system receive notice and can respond. Either the buyer or the seller may be charged by the system, depending on the transaction.
US08489488B2
A system mitigates market spike effects caused by conditional ordering triggering and election in an automated matching system. The system monitors trading as a result of cascading triggering of conditional orders. When an order is executed beyond a predetermined price threshold, an instrument may be flagged, allowing matching to occur only at or within the predetermined price threshold. Orders within the price threshold are matched at the price threshold against orders beyond it, dampening any instantaneous damaging effects of the price spike. The system may adjust the price threshold when market appropriate, allowing the order flow to bring the market back to whatever is the true price level. The system mitigates purely conditional order cascade driven price fluctuations, but allows the market to continuously trade in controlled price and time intervals ensuring that true market moves can still occur without price control mechanisms hindering trade matching and true price discovery.
US08489473B2
A method for tracking status of an inventory shipment sent to a recipient includes monitoring whether the recipient has transmitted an electronic acknowledgment of the status of the shipment; and automatically transmitting a message to the recipient requesting acknowledgment of receipt of inventory if the electronic acknowledgment is not transmitted by the recipient within a first predetermined amount of time.
US08489469B1
Method and structure for a simplified coding of templated display pages for use in close circuit e-shopping for product and services via shopping terminals comprising video interphone monitors, dedicated terminals, television, cable television, shopping box, set top box and other well known boxes, each include a CPU, a memory and a display monitor operated via touch screen, remote control or hand movement, the templated screen uses assigned blocks and icons codes to select display pages, covering products and services. The shopping terminal connected via internal communication lines and interface propagates the simplified code, enabling loading and updating of products and services communicated via a building server for updating at all time data stored in the memory as per the dweller choice, enabling a dweller to shop from his private shop inside his residence, and be provided with programmed services, delivery and payments, supervised by the close circuit shopping entity center.
US08489468B2
Techniques for interacting with an online media store to obtain a media asset bundle, such as a digital boxset, are disclosed. These techniques involve, for instance, browsing for a media asset bundle that includes at least one non-playable media asset, purchasing the media asset bundle, obtaining the media assets contained in the media asset bundle, determining if a presentation request has been made for a media asset in the media asset bundle, and presenting the requested media asset. Further, these techniques involve playing the media assets in a media asset bundle by selecting a media asset in the media asset bundle, determining whether the media asset is playable or non-playable, presenting the media asset using an appropriate media asset viewer if it is playable, not playing (skipping) the media asset if it is non-playable, and selecting/playing other media assets in the media asset bundle until no more media assets are available to be played.
US08489466B1
A method and system are provided that enable buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and to negotiate the purchase terms of featured merchandise in a group-buying opportunity. Sellers and buyers may use various forms of on-line group-buying mechanisms in conjunction with the negotiation features of the invention. Buyers may send various inquiries to sellers regarding merchandise offered for sale through the online group-buying sale. Sellers may respond to buyer questions and queries, and in some instances, sellers may communicate instructions to the on-line group-buying mechanism to alter the course of an on-line group-buying sale in progress, e.g., a further reduction in price. The method and system further provides a mechanism for calculating a demand curve based on received buyer offers and applying the demand curve to an on-line group-buying sale.
US08489462B2
A first entity maintains an advanced sales system on a server accessible over a global communications network. The first entity provides access to the server to a second entity which is a sales oriented business. The server houses at least a database, a product selection module, and a proposal generator. The database contains information on products for sale, information about the sales oriented business, and information about customers of the sales oriented business. The product selection module facilitates selection and accessorizing of products by the second entity. The proposal generator creates proposals based on input to the product selection module and information in the database. The advanced sales system provides structure to extremely large product offerings with large numbers of accessories associated with the product offerings. Some embodiments of the advanced sales system provide additional ordering support.
US08489458B2
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that receives at a server a first request to rebroadcast a first sponsored content item that was displayed on the social network to the first user to a second user. A second request to display at least one sponsored content item to the second user when the second user accesses an electronic document associated with the social network is received at the server. The first sponsored content item is retrieved for rebroadcast from one or more sponsored content items indicated for rebroadcast to the second user. The first sponsored content item is output to the second user of the social network in response to the second request to display and without requiring the second user to select the first sponsored content item for display.
US08489451B2
A method for outputting information about a person includes identifying the person utilizing a wireless system upon entry into a physical location, and also includes locating the person within the physical structure. An engagement plan is retrieved based on the identification of the person and output. The engagement plan has information useful for interacting with the person. The engagement plan is created based at least in part on personal information of the person, the preferences of the person, and the past transactions of the person. A system for outputting information about a person, such as a customer, includes an object carried by the person, which is capable of being identified by a wireless system. A wireless interface communicates with the object. A computing device correlates the identification of the object with the person. An output device outputs information relating to the person.
US08489447B1
A computer enabled method adjusts a price to be offered to a buyer for a sales lead in an online market for sales leads based upon past performance of the buyer. The method determines a projected percent to cap value for the buyer based upon a rate at which the buyer is accepting sales leads in a current billing period, determines an opportunity performance value associated with the buyer based upon a ratio of received offers to accepted proposals for offers; determines a delta amount based upon the percent to cap value and the opportunity performance value; and adjusts the price to be offered for the sales lead by the delta amount. A maximum cost percentage value that limits the price to be offered is generated based upon the projected percentage to cap value and the number of sales leads the buyer is projected to purchase in a billing period.
US08489443B2
A method and apparatus for selecting a subset of proposals from a set of proposals submitted via a web site, including defining proposal attributes for the selecting, formulating selection requirements for the subset, establishing metrics for comparing proposals according to the proposal attributes and the selection requirements, evaluating each of the set of proposals according the established metrics, distributing the results of evaluating each of the set of proposals to the submitter of each proposal, formulating an optimization problem for determining the subset of proposals, determining the subset of proposals by solving the optimization problem, and accepting feedback about the determining including changing the optimization problem based on the feedback.
US08489441B1
An embodiment of the invention, directed to assessing quality of recorded service data, comprises the step of receiving a record containing service data at a service record evaluator. The method further comprises selecting at least one information field of a plurality of information fields contained in the received record, and determining a numerical quality score for each selected information field. Each of the quality scores is used to compute a cumulative quality score for the record, and it is determined whether the cumulative quality score is no less than a minimum quality threshold.
US08489434B1
Automobile insurance rates are established by performing calculations for defining a single tier placement dependent upon a combination of mutually exclusive factors based on applicant data. The factors include a household driving record gradient, a stability gradient and an operator driving record gradient. In the case of a new policy, the factors also include a named insured driving experience gradient and a prior insurance gradient. Alternately, in the case of a renewal policy, the factors also include a household claims record gradient, a member relationship gradient and an operator claims record gradient. No single factor is the sole determinant for placement in a tier.
US08489433B2
A system and method for estimating loss propensity of a vehicle and providing driving information are provided. A loss propensity estimation server receives information from a telematics device installed in a vehicle, determines at least one loss cost area through which vehicle has traveled, and calculates a numeric loss cost factor based upon the at least one loss cost area relative to the amount of risk indicated by the vehicle's garaging loss cost. The numeric loss cost factor can be transmitted to an insurer for subsequent use by the insurer in underwriting or pricing a future insurance policy. A driving information database in the loss propensity estimation server stores driving information obtained from the telematics device installed in the vehicle, which can subsequently be transmitted to an insurer.
US08489428B2
A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. The patient data may also include information supplied by a physiological monitoring device such as a blood glucose monitor that is connected to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. When the patient data arrives at the health care provider apparatus, the patient data is processed for further management of the patient's health condition by the health care provider, such as forwarding another script program to the remotely programmable patient apparatus.
US08489425B2
A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.
US08489418B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods for referring physicians based on hierarchical disease profile matching are disclosed. An example system includes a data store to include a plurality of disease profiles, each disease profile associated with a patient condition, a user interface to accept a user request for a referral of a patient to a physician, and a referral processor to compare a profile associated with the patient including a patient symptom to the plurality of disease profiles to generate one or more physician recommendations for referral, the referral processor to refine the one or more physician recommendations based on one or more characteristics associated with each of the one or more physician recommendations, the referral processor to provide the refined one or more physician recommendations to a user for review and selection via the user interface.
US08489413B1
A system and method which facilitates the reliable collection of data during a single appointment through a plurality of queries configured to obtain responses or present further queries as necessary to ultimately obtain all of the information required for generating a report in a format which satisfies the applicable standards.
US08489404B2
A method for detecting a transient in an audio signal that has been broken up into frames includes obtaining a time domain feature of the frames and comparing the domain feature with a predetermined value. If the time domain feature is greater than the predetermined value, the frames are taken as transient and if the time domain feature is less than the predetermined value, the frames are taken as non-transient. The method has a low computational intensity and is thus very suitable for devices with limited processing resources.
US08489389B2
An electronic apparatus includes a storage which includes dictionary information, a conjugation chart database which stores conjugation charts for a language stored in the dictionary information so as to cause the charts to correspond to conjugation chart numbers, and a verb-verb conjugation chart correspondence table which stores the conjugation chart numbers so as to cause the numbers to correspond to the spellings of verbs, and a processor which causes to display letter strings stored in the dictionary information, accepts the specification of an arbitrary word from the letter strings displayed, when the specified word is a verb, refers to the verb-verb conjugation chart correspondence table and determines a conjugation chart number caused to correspond to the spelling of the specified verb, and reads a conjugation chart corresponding to the determined conjugation chart number from the conjugation charts stored in the conjugation chart database and displays the conjugation chart.
US08489388B2
A method for detecting data in a sequence of characters or text using both a statistical engine and a pattern engine. The statistical engine is trained to recognize certain types of data and the pattern engine is programmed to recognize the grammatical pattern of certain types of data. The statistical engine may scan the sequence of characters to output first data, and the pattern engine may break down the first data into subsets of data. Alternatively, the statistical engine may output items that have a predetermined probability or greater of being a certain type of data and the pattern engine may then detect the data from the output items and/or remove incorrect information from the output items.
US08489387B2
Methods and systems for selecting a language for text segmentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least a first candidate language and a second candidate language associated with a string of characters are identified, at least a first segmented result associated with the first candidate language and a second segmented result associated with the second candidate language are determined, a first frequency of occurrence for the first segmented result and a second frequency of occurrence for the second segmented result are determined, and an operable language is identified from the first candidate language and the second candidate language based at least in part on the first frequency of occurrence and the second frequency of occurrence.
US08489386B2
A system for directing media streams during a conference call, including an enterprise, at least one network provided within the enterprise and in communication with a plurality of communication devices, a platform provided within the enterprise and in communication with the network, the platform comprising a protocol layer, a services layer and an application layer, and a conference call server in communication with the platform, wherein the platform is configured for receiving media streams from each of the communication devices and instructing the conference call server on how to direct the media streams to and from each of the communication devices.
US08489382B1
A system receives a model, internals associated with a target processor, and code information associated with the target processor, and obtains a bit-true model simulation for the target processor based on the model, the target processor internals, and the target processor code information.
US08489381B1
Method and system to configure a common set of electronic components using software in order to simulate different electronic, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical instruments or instrument functions. For each instrument function or traditional mode of operation to be simulated, software models are created which when directed to the electronic components, cause the electronic components to respond to input in the same manner that the actual, traditional physical instrument would respond to satisfy the same test requirement input. The software models are preferably stored in a model repository which is searchable to enable a user to select the instrument function or traditional mode of operation to be simulated with the corresponding model being provided to the electronic components. Once the model, i.e., a function for each synthetic element, is downloaded and the electronic components configured according to the model functions, testing of the assemblies or other UUTs can begin.
US08489370B2
Computer device for simulating a set of objects in interaction and corresponding method. A computer device for simulating a set of objects in interaction comprises: a memory (8) with a tree representation of the objects, each node being associated with dynamic, geometric and interaction data dependent on the data of the child nodes and local interaction data for certain nodes, a simulation controller (4), for actuating repeatedly: + a distributor (10) of interaction data, with a mechanism for interaction updating which scans the tree representation and updates an item of interaction data of a node as a function of the local interaction data of its child nodes, + a mechanism for updating the dynamic data (12) which scans the tree representation and operates as a function of the geometric interaction data concerned, + a mechanism for updating the geometric data (14) which scans the tree representation for nodes subject to interaction and operates as a function of the dynamic data updated. The invention also relates to a method for simulating a set of objects in interaction, and a computer program product.
US08489366B2
A system and method for determining a desired portion of a subject to receive a radiation dose includes iteratively choosing weight vectors to run to gradually build up a Pareto surface (PS). BY examining the current points that have been found on the PS along with the weights used to produce those points, a new vector is produced and run. This process is repeated until a geometric stop tolerance is met.
US08489363B2
A tool for evaluating operation of a generator is provided. Diagnostic data is obtaining from a sensor in a generator. An associated computer system evaluates the diagnostic data to determine whether an anomaly exists in the data. If an anomaly exists, the computer system can provide a fault code that indicates a nature of an error in the generator that caused the anomaly.
US08489362B2
A method for determining a failure rate of an electrochemical sensor type for a process, wherein the process is defined by determined values, or value intervals, of a plurality of specified process parameters, and wherein a plurality of defect types is specified for the sensor type, comprising steps as follows: assigning, by means of expert knowledge, a defect rate to each combination of one of the values, or value intervals, of the specified process parameters and one of the specified defect types; and calculating the failure rate of the sensor type according to a calculational specification with application of the defect rates assigned to the combinations of a value, or value interval, of a process parameter and a defect type.
US08489361B2
In a transient state caused by fuel cut, a normal output of an A/F sensor having normal response and a lowered output having response lowered by a predetermined value as compared to the normal output are estimated, and an actual output of the A/F sensor is sensed. S1 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the lowered output and S2 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the actual output are calculated respectively until the normal output and the lowered output converge to an oxygen concentration equivalent to an atmosphere. S2 changes in accordance with a lowering degree of the response of the actual output. Therefore, the lowering degree of the response of the A/F sensor can be diagnosed based on S2/S1.
US08489360B2
A system and method of monitoring and diagnosing on-line multivariate process variable. Multivariate process data includes multiple process variables each having a multiple observations. On-line process data is collected from a process control system when the process is on-line. The on-line process data includes multiple observations of multiple process variables. A multivariate statistical analysis represents the operation of the process based on a set of the on-line process data. The representation a result. The representation and the set of on-line process data are stored. An output is generated based on a parameter of the representation. The parameter includes a result generated by the representation of the operation of the process, a process variable used to generate the representation of the operation of the process and/or the set of collected on-line process data.
US08489359B2
A surface measurement instrument for obtaining surface characteristic data of a sample surface is described. Relative movement between a reference surface and a sample support is caused to occur while a sensor senses light intensity at intervals along a scan path to provide a series of intensity values representing interference fringes produced by a region of a sample surface during said relative movement and from which series of intensity values surface characteristic data can be derived. The sample support is both translatable and tiltable in at least one direction perpendicular to a scan direction so that the sample support can be both tilted to cause the scan path to be normal to the sample surface region and translated to compensate for translation movement due to the tilting.
US08489358B2
The present invention refers to a method for determining loads in clothes washing machines which comprises the following steps: (E1) Acceleration of the mobile assembly of the washing machine until the mobile assembly reaches a low rotation speed; (E2) Acceleration of the mobile assembly until the mobile assembly reaches a medium rotation speed faster than the speed in the first step (E1); (E3) Deceleration; (E4) Acceleration of the mobile assembly and measurement of the engine current; (E5) Measurement, whereby parameters regarding the engine are measured; (E6) Shutdown of the engine and measurement of the deceleration time; (E7) Repetition, whereby the forth (E4), fifth (E5) and sixth (E6) steps are repeated at least once before the performance of the eighth step (E8); (E8) Calculation of the average of each one of the parameters measured in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh steps; and (E9) Obtainment of clothes load value.
US08489355B2
A method for determining long-term offset drifts of acceleration sensors in a motor vehicle is provided. In one step, the longitudinal vehicle speed is determined in the vehicle's center of gravity. In another step, the share of the driving dynamics in the longitudinal reference acceleration formula and in the transversal reference acceleration formula is calculated from the longitudinal vehicle speed and the yaw rate. In yet another step, the share of the driving dynamics in the reference acceleration on the vehicle level formula is calculated by converting the driving dynamic reference accelerations formula calculated for the center of gravity to the position formula and the orientation of the sensor formula. In a further step, the long-term offset drift of the sensor is determined from the measured values of the sensor and the share of the measured value in the driving dynamics by means of a situation-dependent averaging process.
US08489350B2
An RF test and measurement device, including a front end for receiving a time-varying signal and a real-time engine for generating digital frequency domain spectrums based on the time-varying signal. The device also includes a memory subsystem containing a frequency domain bitmap which is updated through sequential receipt and storage of the digital frequency domain spectrums. The real time engine is further configured to monitor the frequency domain bitmap for occurrence of a signal characteristic, and in response to detection of the signal characteristic, cause a capture of the time-varying signal into a storage location of the RF test and measurement device.
US08489341B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring fluid in a fluid line are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first capacitor and a processor in communication with the first capacitor. The first capacitor is configured to sense the capacitance of the fluid line at the first capacitor. The processor is configured to compare the sensed capacitance at the first capacitor with a reference capacitance to determine the composition of the fluid in the fluid line at the first capacitor. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a second capacitor. The second capacitor is configured to sense the capacitance of the fluid line at the second capacitor. The processor is configured to compare the sensed capacitance at the second capacitor with a reference capacitance to determine the composition of the fluid in the fluid line at the second capacitor.
US08489336B2
A method for repurposing a pharmaceutical compound. The method includes identifying a pharmaceutical compound, the pharmaceutical compound corresponding to a drug that has failed in clinical development or an approved drug. A mathematical model describing the physiological processes related to at least one disease and the effects of the pharmaceutical compound on the disease is created. The model is adjusted based upon information from preclinical or clinical trials. A new treatment protocol is suggested to salvage the failed drug or a new way to use an approved drug. The suggested treatment protocol is displayed. Systems and computer program products encompassing the above techniques are also disclosed.
US08489334B2
Method for identifying disease-related pathways that can used to identify discovery targets, to identify new uses for known drugs, to identify markers for drug response, and related purposes.
US08489331B2
A user interface is presented via which user inputs can be received and maps can be displayed. A user selection of a destination and a user specification of a region of interest on a map are received. The region of interest surrounds the destination on the map. In response to receiving the user specification of the region of interest, a destination map is displayed via the user interface. The destination map includes both the destination and the region of interest, and a layout of one or more roads that include one or more routes to the destination at multiple different scales.
US08489322B2
Course guidance systems, methods, and programs determine that a vehicle is exiting from a facility to an out-of-facility road via an exit lane, and determine an estimated connection angle of the exit lane at an exit/entrance node. The systems, methods, and programs generate course guidance information based on the determined estimated connection angle when the vehicle is determined to be exiting. Based on the vehicle location information and the road information, the systems, methods, and programs detect whether an actual traveling road and the guidance road differ. Based on the vehicle location information and the road information, the systems, methods, and programs correct the estimated connection angle at the exit/entrance node based on a relative angle between the actual traveling road and the guidance road, and record the corrected estimated connection angle.
US08489321B2
Methods and apparatus for nature event signaling are provided. Example mobile electronic devices of the present disclosure can include a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The processor executes the instructions to calculate a distance between a reference location and a current location, and calculate a travel time for the distance based on a speed. The processor also executes the instructions to determine a nature event time and cause a return alert indication to be signaled, via the mobile electronic device, based on a comparison of a calculated travel time and the nature event time.
US08489320B2
A method and computer program product for defining a plurality of addresses. Driving directions between each of the plurality of addresses are defined, thus generating a plurality of driving directions. The plurality of driving directions are stored on a client electronic device.
US08489307B2
In a method and device for operating an internal combustion engine with an intake tract, a switching device for modifying an effective intake pipe length and/or an effective intake tract volume is arranged. By a dynamic intake tract model an estimated intake pipe pressure is determined. The dynamic model is adapted dependent on a trimming value. If a switching position modification is controlled, an estimated old position intake pipe pressure on the one hand is determined with the previous switching position and preventing of the adaptive trimming value adjustment and on the other hand an estimated new position intake pipe pressure is determined with the modified switching position and prevention of the adaptive trimming value adjustment and dependent on a correlation check of the estimated old position pressure and the estimated new position pressure with respect to the measured pressure an actual switching position of the switching device is identified.
US08489298B2
A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter located between the engine and the transmission. Subsequent to a rapid increase in engine torque commands, torque converter slip is controlled by monitoring a measured torque converter slip after the rapid increase in engine torque commands, determining a maximum measured torque converter slip value resulting from the rapid increase in engine torque commands based upon the measured torque converter slip, determining a target value to which to reduce the torque converter slip, determining a recovery profile to reduce the torque converter slip from the maximum measured torque converter slip to the target value, and utilizing the recovery profile to controllably reduce the torque controller slip. Determining the recovery profile includes commanding reducing slip through the profile at commanded torque converter slip values selected to prevent the torque converter slip from reaching zero.
US08489289B2
Disclosed is a converter (200) for signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle. At the converter (200) the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2). It is proposed to embody the converter (200) such that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), in particular a diagnostics condition signal and converts it into a condition accordingly predefined at the control device interface (200.1), preferably in a manner which does not require an adaptation of the control device or of its software.
US08489274B2
A device and method are provided for automatically monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle, as well as a method for displaying information about vehicle tire inflation. The method for automatically monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle encompasses indirectly determining the actual temperature in a vehicle tire. The actual temperature is ascertained based on empirically determined families of characteristics as a function of parameters that describe environmental conditions, driving conditions and/or material properties of the vehicle tires.
US08489273B2
An electric control unit may include a behavior check unit, a drive information store unit, a classify unit, a count unit and a condition set unit. The behavior check unit determines whether a vehicle behavior is generated by comparing the vehicle behavior with a detection condition. The drive information store unit stores information of the vehicle behavior in a memory unit drive when the vehicle behavior is generated. The classify unit classifies the vehicle behavior into one of a plurality of behavior classes. The behavior classes are arranged to classify the vehicle behavior according to a magnitude of the vehicle behavior. The count unit controls a counter for each behavior class according to the classification of the vehicle behavior. Based on the counters of each of the behavior classes, the condition set unit sets the detection condition as a boundary condition of one of the behavior classes.
US08489270B2
The invention relates to a method and corresponding device for diagnosing the dynamics of an exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas upstream or downstream of a catalytic converter and with which the air/fuel ratio of the gas mixture supplied to the internal combustion engine is controlled via a control circuit. During diagnosis, provision is made for at least one actuator intervention to be specified by means of a control algorithm of a diagnostic controller specifically m the direction of an asymmetric behavior, which is achieved by an extension of one of the two ramps, until the actuator intervention is compensated by an asymmetric dynamic error of the exhaust gas sensor, a reaction to said actuator intervention being used as criterion for assessing an asymmetric dynamic error of said exhaust gas sensor.
US08489265B2
A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a control system, a traction motor, and an engine includes generating an activation signal during a predetermined vehicle maneuver. The predetermined vehicle maneuver is a threshold hard braking maneuver on a surface having a low coefficient of friction. The method also includes processing the activation signal using the control system, and using the traction motor to command an injection or a passing of a feed-forward torque to the driveline of the vehicle. The feed-forward torque is in the same direction as the engine torque, and prevents a drive shaft of the engine from spinning in reverse during the maneuver. The method may include generating the activation signal in response to detecting an active state of the ABS controller. A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a traction motor, and a control system configured to execute the above method.
US08489256B2
A method is described that involves performing the following with a parafoil's control unit composed of electronic circuitry while the control unit is being transported with a parafoil: determining a desired exit of a turn; determining a desired time for the turn; determining the parafoil's actual entrance for the turn; determining an arc between the actual entrance and the desired exit; and, incorporating said arc as said parafoil's planned flight trajectory through said turn.
US08489255B2
A method and a device are described for compensation of mechanical stresses in an aircraft structure. The method comprises the steps of producing signals that represent mechanical stresses occurring in the aircraft structure, and operating actuators, which absorb at least some of the mechanical stresses and are arranged in the aircraft structure, such that the mechanical stresses are compensated.
US08489251B2
Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchair comprises: a reprogrammable, non-volatile memory programmed with a plurality of programs executable by the controller to operate the wheelchair, the non-volatile memory disposed at the wheelchair and coupled to the wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computer programmed to reprogram the non-volatile memory while disposed at the wheelchair, the programmed computer for storing main programs for use in reprogramming the non-volatile memory, the programmed computer being coupleable to the wheelchair controller for accommodating an exchange of data therebetween; and wherein the wheelchair controller being operative to communicate with the programmed computer to reprogram the non-volatile memory with the main programs while the non-volatile memory is disposed at the wheelchair. Methods for reprogramming the non-volatile memory are also disclosed.
US08489249B2
An intelligent power saving system, disposed between a Utility Power Supply and at least a load, comprising: at least an energy storage device; at least a power supply line, connected to said Utility Power Supply and said load; at least an energy-storage-device-parallel-connection circuit, connecting said energy storage device electrically to said power supply line; and a power monitor, connected electrically to said Utility Power Supply, said energy storage device, and said energy-storage-device-parallel-connection circuit, thus determining whether said energy storage device is required to join in providing power to said load through said energy-storage-device-parallel-connection circuit, thus regulating percentage of total power supplied by said Utility Power Supply, preventing overload of said Utility Power Supply, hereby saving expense of the electric utility bills.
US08489248B2
A portable power system for use with an electrical device. The system includes a portable power storage device, a motor, a controller, an alternator, an inverter, and a first monitor. The portable power storage device provides a DC voltage. The first monitor generates a first indication related to a characteristic of the portable power source. The controller monitors the primary power source delivering primary power to the electrical device, couples the portable power storage device to the inverter for generating an AC output, and selectively drives the motor in response to the first indication. The alternator is responsive to the motor for converting mechanical motion of the motor into an electrical signal for use to recharge the portable power storage device.
US08489245B2
Demand response to reduce energy consumption by individual consumers is provided by aggregating individual consumers, and providing feedback to such consumers regarding their energy consumption relative to other energy consumers in a group. The resulting feedback may result in reduced energy consumption by the individual consumer.
US08489236B2
There is provided a control apparatus and control method for robot arm, robot, control program for robot arm, and integrated electronic circuit, which can improve robot arm operability upon performing tasks such as cooperative conveyance and direct teaching. The grip portion separated from the end effector attached to the robot arm is provided. When a person grips and shifts the grip portion, a tracking control unit controls so that the robot arm follows the shift. A fixing switch unit switches between a fixing state where, upon switching to “playback mode”, a fixing portion is located at a fixed position to fix the end effector and the grip portion to maintain a gap distance therebetween and a relatively shiftable state where, upon switching to “teaching mode”, the fixing portion is located at an accommodated position to relatively shift them from each other without maintaining the gap distance.
US08489229B2
A method and system for loading a loading carrier, in particular pallets, with packages by means of an automated manipulator, a model of a package stack on the loading carrier is automatically determined, an initial desired position for a package in the mode is determined, the package stack is detected on the loading carrier, a deviation between the detected package stack and the model is determined, the package is placed by the manipulator, and the steps are repeated until a termination criterion is reached.
US08489228B2
A method of path planning for a working resource to access storage bins in a warehouse, the warehouse comprising a plurality of storage bins, the warehouse being divided into a set of activity areas, each activity area comprising a number of the bins of the warehouse; the method comprising the following steps: Selecting one out of a set of activities of a working resource in the warehouse; selecting a sort sequence which is associated with the selected activity, the sort sequence defining a path through the activity area the working resource has to follow when accessing the bins; determining, based on the selected activity area and the selected sort sequence, the path through the activity area to the bins.
US08489221B2
A method and apparatus are set forth for controlling and actuator in a moving web manufacturing process. The method includes: (1) measuring a plurality of actuator profiles and in response generating nominal response models thereof; (2) generating a multivariable profile prediction based on the nominal response models; (3) generating a multivariable control target based at least one of the actuator profile; and (4) adjusting control of the actuator by minimizing error between the multivariable control target and the multivariable profile prediction.
US08489220B2
A variable tape feeder is provided. The variable tape feeder includes a frame having an accommodating section and a component feeding section on a transfer path that transfers a carrier tape having components packaged with a cover tape. Width adjusters for the transfer path, the accommodating section, and the component feeding section are installed respectively on the transfer path, accommodating section, and component feeding section to adjust widths thereof according to widths of the carrier tape, the accommodating section, and the component feeding section, respectively. Width sensors for the transfer path, the accommodating section, and the component feeding section detect widths adjustment of the transfer path, the accommodating section, and the component feeding section width adjusters, respectively. A controller outputs a response signal in response to signals detected by the respective sensors installed in the component feeding section and the accommodating section.
US08489219B1
Disclosed is an improved buffering method for controlling excess fiber length (EFL) and reducing post-extrusion shrinkage in loose buffer tubes. In this way, the method yields first-quality loose buffer tubes not only during steady-state operation but also during ramping, thereby increasing production efficiency and reducing waste.
US08489213B2
There is provided a portable digital media device, including: a storage device; a force sensor coupled to the storage device; a display; and a controller coupled to both the storage device and the display, wherein the display shows information. The device may also be used as a cursor control and input device when connected to a computer. Other applications of the device are also disclosed.
US08489201B2
An applicator supplying RF power for therapeutic diathermic treatment of a patient includes a radiation shielding device for shielding the applicator against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body, and a coupling device for electrically coupling the radiation shielding device to at least one point of the body of a patient in a low impedance manner that reduces the potential drop from the grounded radiation shield to the body tissue.
US08489200B2
An implantable transcutaneous energy transfer device secondary coil module includes a housing, a secondary coil, power conditioning circuitry, and a low voltage, high power connector. The transcutaneous energy transfer secondary coil is disposed outside the housing and is configured to receive a time-varying magnetic field provided by a transcutaneous energy transfer primary coil, and to convert the time-varying magnetic field into a high voltage, alternating current electric signal within the coil. The power conditioning circuitry is mounted within the housing and is electrically coupled to the secondary coil. The power conditioning circuitry including electronics for converting the high voltage, alternating current electric signal from the secondary coil into a high power, low voltage direct current electric signal. The low voltage, high power connector electrically coupled to the power conditioning circuitry and extending outside the housing for connecting the secondary coil module to a power bus for delivering power to implanted devices.
US08489194B2
A system and method of signal processing for a hearing implant. The hearing implant includes at least one electrode, each electrode associated with a channel specific sampling sequence. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate for each electrode a band pass signal representing an associated band of audio frequency. For each electrode, a sequence signal is determined as a function of the electrode's associated band pass signal and channel specific sampling sequence. An envelope of each band pass signal is determined. The envelope of each band pass signal is filtered to reduce modulations resulting from unresolved harmonics, creating for each electrode an associated filtered envelope signal. Each electrode's sequence signal is weighted based, at least in part, on the electrode's associated filtered envelope signal.
US08489177B2
A fiducial marker for use in a gamma-guided stereotactic localization system for imaging a suspected cancer and guiding a physician in the removal of tissue samples for biopsy. The fiducial marker includes a fiducial source that can be accurately located in a positioning system and used to correlate the location of the positioning system with the detector and therefore the region-of-interest. The fiducial can be made radioactive such that it can be seen by the gamma camera. The fiducial marker enables the accurate positioning of other hardware in proximity to the object to be viewed.
US08489169B2
A method for making a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes the steps of: forming an insulative carrier from an insulative material; coupling at least one conductive component to the carrier by inserting a pre-formed tab of the conductive component through the carrier, from a first side thereof to a second side thereof, so that the conductive component is secured to the carrier with the tab extending along a surface of the second side of the carrier and an inward facing surface of an electrode portion of the conductive component being disposed against a surface of the first side of the carrier; coupling an elongate flexible conductor to the tab of the component; and forming an insulative layer over the second side of the carrier, the tab and the conductor electrically coupled to the tab.
US08489168B2
A first concentration of a chromophore corresponding to a measurement volume of an optical sensor is determined. A second concentration of the chromophore is obtained in the vicinity of the measurement volume corresponding to a change in at least one of a total concentration of the chromophore and a relative concentration of a first form of the chromophore to the total concentration of the chromophore in the measurement volume. Light remittance measurements including a first light wavelength and a second light wavelength are obtained corresponding to the first chromophore concentration and the second chromophore concentration. A coefficient for computing an index of a change in the chromophore concentration is computed using the difference between the first and second chromophore concentrations and the first and second light remittance measurements.
US08489167B2
An evaluation kit for monitoring, testing, and debugging a medical monitoring module is provided. The kit includes a hardware and software to provide for monitoring of communication between the medical monitoring module and a host or host simulator. The kit may provide for various system configurations having a sensor device, a computer having a protocol analyzer and a host simulator, a medical monitoring module, a software host, a medical monitor, or any combination thereof.
US08489165B2
The present invention relates to a device for measuring blood and physiological characteristics by passing light through human tissue that is configured for deployment on a human finger. The device includes a lower finger-trough configured in the main housing of the device; a hingedly attached closeable lid that has an upper finger-trough configured for deployment of at least one finger stabilizing element, the lid being latchable in a closed position; a finger stabilizing element made of a material having flexibly soft malleable characteristics so as to sealingly engage the top of the finger; a light source that is deployed in the sloped end wall of the lower finger-trough adjacent to the lower portion of the finger tip; and an end cap the is deployable on the open end of the device when the lid is in the closed position, which enables calibration of the device with a minimum of light wave “noise” from ambient light.
US08489157B2
A clam-shell style handheld electronic device having a dual-hinged interconnector between a display housing and a keyboard housing. The dual-hinged interconnector can be configured to act as a handle when the device is being held during text entry and to act as a stand when the open device is placed on a substantially flat surface.
US08489155B2
A portable electronic apparatus provided with a biaxial hinge mechanism that connects a first body and a second body to be openable and closable and rotatable via a hinge portion that allows for a reduction in thickness in a thickness direction and a size of a set of the bodies in a closed state, while securing sufficient strength in the biaxial hinge mechanism.
US08489151B2
A modular wireless headset having integrated but detachable elements is operable to service a cellular wireless terminal, streamed media or playback device. This modular wireless headset may include a wireless microphone and a wireless earpiece. The wireless earpiece may physically couple to the wireless microphone and a base unit in order to exchange information and share power resources. A power distribution controller allocates power between the wireless earpiece, wireless microphone, and base unit when physically coupled to operate or charge internal power supplies of the components.
US08489146B2
A graphical user interface is used to display information on small screens that would otherwise be incomplete. The interface consists of a dialog box that appears over the existing screen, displaying the full information required, when a user makes an input to view the information.
US08489139B2
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a power sharing method and a base station, wherein the method comprises: according to a power demand of the communication systems of at least one mode among communication systems of different modes sharing a power amplifier, determining whether to perform power sharing among communication systems of different modes; if it is determined to perform power sharing among communication systems of different modes, adjusting an available power of communication systems of one or more modes therein. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, when it is determined to perform the power sharing according to the power demands, power sharing is performed among communication systems of different modes, thereby realizing dynamic and flexible power sharing among communication systems of at least two modes.
US08489136B2
A communication system including a host transceiver, one or many device transceivers, and a wireless or wired link, in which encoded digital audio data and optionally also other auxiliary data are transmitted and received between the host transceiver and one or many device transceivers. The wireless link can but need not be a Certified Wireless USB (“CWUSB”) link, which utilizes WiMedia Ultra-Wideband (“UWB”) radio technology. For certain embodiments, packets of encoded audio data are transmitted from a host to a device or multiple devices over the wireless link utilizing a variety of data packet transfer methods, with the host adapting its algorithms dynamically to provide the digital audio content over a changing wireless error rate environment. The host intelligently controls the method of data transmission, including data encoding format, synchronization, latency, and transmission rate, in response to data transfer error information it detects or receives from each individual device in the system. Other embodiments are devices that employ audio-data-specific error concealment methods. Other embodiments concern host and device management of graceful muting and restart of audio on a device-by-device basis.
US08489134B2
A method is provided in one example implementation and the method includes interacting, via a first communication resource manager located in a first domain, with a second communication resource manager located in a second domain. The method further includes determining whether to establish a link for multicasting between users in the first domain and users in the second domain, and the link between the domains is established based on presence data of at least one user in the first domain and at least one user in the second domain.
US08489132B2
Disclosed are a system, method, and article of manufacture for context-enriched microblog posting. In one aspect, a message component is provided. A context data related to a context of a computing device used to generate the message component is provided. The message component and the context data are associated. The context data may be communicated to a web browser. The message component may be communicated to the web browser. The message component may be rendered in a format for communication as a short message service (SMS) message that includes a reference to the context data. The message component and the context data may be rendered in a format for communication as a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.
US08489131B2
Disclosed are a method, system and apparatus of a smart device configured to determine higher-order context data. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a sensor to acquire a context data. The context data provides information of an attribute of an event within the range of the sensor. A processor analyzes an attribute of the context data and determines a higher-order context data. A message generator generates a supplemental context message transmittable through a network. The supplemental context message includes the higher-order context data. A network interface device communicatively couples the apparatus to the network.
US08489124B2
Methods and apparatus for position location in a wireless network. In an aspect, a method is provided that includes determining whether a symbol to be transmitted is an active symbol, wherein the symbol comprises a plurality of subcarriers, and encoding identification information on a first portion of subcarriers if it is determined that the symbol is the active symbol. The method also includes encoding idle information on a second portion of subcarriers if it is determined that the symbol in not the active symbol. In an aspect, an apparatus includes detector logic configured to decode a plurality of symbols to determine identification information that identifies a plurality of transmitters, and to determine a plurality of channel estimate associated with the plurality of transmitters. The apparatus also includes position determination logic configured to calculate a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.
US08489123B2
A wireless receiver for receiving signals from a satellite positioning system, and receiving signals from a communications system uses a common path in the receiver, and derives position information (60, 230) from the received signals by correlation (50, 210, 220) with a code. In a first mode the deriving is carried out from the received signals excluding selected signals received in time slots used for communications signals. A second mode includes such signals. This enables control of the trade off between accuracy and the latency of the positioning processor to improve the performance over a range of conditions. The mode input can be changed dynamically according to signal strength, or according to the needs of an application.
US08489101B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to provide call routing in converged networks. In various examples, a converged call routing system can be used determine routing information associated with an incoming connection request. Routing information can be based upon one or more of a current location of a communications device or a profile associated with a communications device.
US08489099B2
In the field of wireless network communications, in order to solve a problem in the prior art that a user equipment (UE) cannot be handed over in time between a mobile access point (AP) and a fixed access point, a UE and an access method thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps. A relative speed between a UE and each access point is calculated. The access point is selected to establish a communication connection if the relative speed between the UE and the access point is smaller than a threshold speed. Therefore, a beneficial effect that the UE can be handed over in time between the mobile access point and the fixed access point is achieved.
US08489086B2
Communication is provided which includes receiving a transmitted radio signal at a powerline wherein the powerline functions as a receiving antenna for the wirelessly transmitted radio signal. The powerline is coupled to an input of a radio receiver using a coupler to communicate the radio signal to the radio receiver. For calibration purposes a second antenna not coupled to powerline may be used. A method for powerline communication across transformers, open circuit breakers, and other devices is also provided. In addition, a method of monitoring a device connected to a powerline is provided.
US08489076B2
Provided is a contact management method in a mobile terminal that provides a contact synchronization function. A contact list editing screen is displayed, wherein, when a contact integrating function is performed, an entire contact list is scrollably displayed in a first area and a contact list for integrated management is displayed in a second area. Contacts selected from the first area are registered in the contact list of the second area. A primary contact in the contact list registered in the second area is maintained in the first area, while secondary contacts registered in the second area are deleted from the first area.
US08489066B2
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method, system and device for determining information about a location of the mobile device. The mobile device is configured to contact a private response call center (PRCC), e.g., by pressing or selecting one or more buttons or a softmenu. A PRCC operator can identify a potential emergency situation and, upon such an identification, initiate a conference call between a PRCC operator, a user of the mobile device, and a public safety answering point (PSAP) operator. The mobile device may transmit location information previously determined before PRCC call and be commanded to gather new location information during the call. The mobile device may also, while on a call with the PRCC, determine and transmit to the PRCC location information.
US08489063B2
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for providing emergency messages to a mobile device. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for communicating emergency messages is provided comprising a mobile device comprising an emergency message application and a personal emergency message transceiver, an emergency message control center, wherein the emergency message application is enabled to receive a plurality of emergency messages generated by the emergency message control center.
US08489056B2
The present invention is a hybrid RF-digital signal processor-based filter for multiband radio architectures, systems capable of spectrum re-farming and software defined radios It performs low-loss frequency agile multiple notch filtering at RF where a large dynamic range exists at a filter input between signals in a stopband and passband It is a frequency dependent signal attenuation apparatus having two paths connected together by directional couplers The first path comprising a component such as a delay component or duplexer The second path comprising, in series, a down converter, a digital filter, an up converter, and a bandstop filter At the output of a power amplifier, the invention can be used to attenuate spurs, or noise within bands with strict emission constraints At the input of a low noise amplifier, the invention can be used to attenuate blockers and transmitter noise outside of the receiver passband.
US08489054B2
An oscillator is described, comprising at least one transistor having a first terminal connected to a power supply voltage. The oscillator comprises at least one inductive element connected to a second terminal of the transistor and to a bias voltage and at least one capacitive element coupled between a third terminal of the transistor and ground. The oscillator further comprises means to collect the output signal of the oscillator on the second terminal of the transistor. The oscillator is of the millimeter wave type, i.e., both the inductive element and the capacitive element are sized such that the oscillation frequency is between 30 and 300 gigahertz.
US08489053B2
Digital logic circuitry is disclosed. The circuitry includes local oscillator drift and phase compensation logic that compensates the frequency drift and the phase noise of a local oscillator generated by a digitally controlled oscillator.
US08489050B2
A method for tuning to a radio broadcast frequency in a portable terminal is disclosed. The method includes: determining whether a condition for requiring tuning information is satisfied; computing tuning information using received signal strength indication (RSSI) values of signals received by frequencies if a condition for requiring tuning information is satisfied; and tuning to a radio broadcast frequency corresponding to a radio broadcasting requested by a user, using the computed tuning information, and receiving radio broadcast signals. The tuning information includes: a threshold of RSSI serving as a reference value determine the presence of a radio broadcasting channel; and a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) value to minimize noise levels.
US08489049B1
A receiver can extract digital data from wireless radio frequency signal. The digital data contains at least two compressed digital audio data each associated with a different audio program. One compressed digital audio data is delivered in a first frequency band and the other compressed digital audio data in a second frequency band. A user can select the audio program. The receiver also receives a command instructing the receiver to receive digital audio data from a communication channel in a frequency band.
US08489047B2
A transmitter (50) includes a low power memoryless nonlinear predistorter (58) that inserts predistortion configured to address a nonlinearity (146) corresponding to gain droop and another nonlinearity (148) corresponding to deviations from an average bias condition. When efforts are taken to reduce memory effects, such as configuring a network of components (138) that couple to an HPA (114) to avoid resonance frequencies within a video bandwidth (140), high performance linearization at low power results without extending linearization beyond that provided by the memoryless nonlinear predistorter (58). Each nonlinearity is addressed by applying gain to a communication signal (54). The amount of gain applied is determined by a look-up table (170) for one nonlinearity (146) and by a look-up table (198) in combination with a differentiator (202) for the other nonlinearity (148). The look-up tables (170, 198) are updated in accordance with modified LMS control loops.
US08489046B2
A multi-mode communications transmitter includes a signal decomposer that converts rectangular-coordinate in-channel and quadrature channel signals into polar-coordinate amplitude and angle component signals and form therefrom first and second modulation signals. The signal decomposition process performed by the signal decomposer combines envelope-reduction and restoration (ERR) with filtering to reduce the bandwidths of the first and second modulation signals compared to the bandwidths of the unmodified amplitude and angle component signals. The reduction in signal bandwidths eases the design requirements of the electrical components needed to process and generate the signals applied to the power supply and radio frequency (RF) input ports of the multi-mode communications transmitter's power amplifier (PA). It also makes the multi-mode communications transmitter more forgiving to gain and delay mismatches between the signals applied to the power supply and RF input ports of the PA, compared to conventional polar modulation transmitters.
US08489039B2
Techniques are provided to enable computation of beamforming weights for beamforming MIMO wireless communication between first and second wireless communication devices. At the first device comprising a first plurality of antennas, signals are received that are wirelessly transmitted from a different one of a second plurality of antennas of the second device during a corresponding one of a plurality of time slots. The first device computes beamforming weights from the received signals. When signals are to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, the first device applies the beamforming weights to signals to be transmitted from the first plurality of antennas of the first device to the second plurality of antennas of the second device.
US08489033B1
A method for operating an integrated transceiver, comprising coupling an operating transmitter and an operating receiver within the integrated wideband receiver, inputting a signal into the operating transmitter, performing a first conversion of the signal, wherein the signal is converted into a second signal, transmitting the second signal into the operating receiver, performing a second conversion of the signal, wherein the signal is converted into a third signal, transmitting the third signal into the operating transmitter, and adjusting the operating transmitter.
US08489028B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate improved resource partitioning and interference management in a wireless communication system. Techniques are described herein for the transmission and use of various types of signaling, such as Access Request commands, Reverse Link Special Resource Utilization Message (R-SRUM) signaling, Forward Link Special Resource Utilization Message (F-SRUM) signaling, and the like, for managing interference associated with range extension, restricted association networks, and other jamming scenarios. As described herein, downlink resource coordination and interference management are accomplished through the use of Access Request or R-SRUM signaling conducted in a unicast or broadcast fashion, and uplink resource coordination and interference management are accomplished through the use of F-SRUM signaling. As further described herein, a clean communication channel such as a Low Reuse Preamble (LRP) channel can be utilized for interference management signaling and/or leveraged for determining timing of various signaling messages.
US08489025B2
Front bandpass filters that are essentially transmissive only between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency filter the magnetic resonance signals. Front frequency mixers mix output signals of each of the bandpass filters with a front LO frequency that is standard for all the magnetic resonance signals. Rear bandpass filters that are essentially transmissive only around a front intermediate frequency filter the output signals of the front frequency mixers. Rear frequency mixers mix output signals of each of the rear bandpass filters with a respective constant rear LO frequency. Frequency filters that are transmissive for frequencies in the range of the difference of the rear LO frequency that is supplied to the rear frequency mixer arranged upstream thereof and the front intermediate frequency filter the output signals of the rear frequency mixers. Output signals of the frequency filters are combined into a common signal, which is transmitted onward.
US08489023B1
Arbitration between two wireless protocols in a wireless device. The wireless device may include first wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process first signals according to a first wireless protocol and second wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process second signals according to a second wireless protocol. The wireless device may also include coexistence circuitry. The coexistence circuitry may be configured to receive a request from the first wireless protocol circuitry to perform transmission or reception and arbitrate the requested transmission or reception between the first wireless protocol circuitry and the second wireless protocol circuitry. The decision may be based on current or future priority information, current configuration, or other factors. The coexistence circuitry (or other circuitry) may be configured to determine position of switches controlling antennas or transmission using shared or unshared antennas (or chains). The two wireless protocols may be WLAN and Bluetooth.
US08489022B1
Arbitration between two wireless protocols in a wireless device. The wireless device may include first wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process first signals according to a first wireless protocol and second wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process second signals according to a second wireless protocol. The wireless device may also include coexistence circuitry. The coexistence circuitry may be configured to receive a request from the first wireless protocol circuitry to perform transmission or reception and arbitrate the requested transmission or reception between the first wireless protocol circuitry and the second wireless protocol circuitry. The decision may be based on current or future priority information, current configuration, or other factors. The coexistence circuitry (or other circuitry) may be configured to determine position of switches controlling antennas or transmission using shared or unshared antennas (or chains). The two wireless protocols may be WLAN and Bluetooth.
US08489019B2
A repeater device may be utilized to enable forwarding extreme high frequency (EHF) communication between EHF-enabled wireless devices. The repeater device may utilize spatial isolation to prevent and/or reduce interference between received and transmitted EHF RF signals, wherein reception and/or transmission of EHF RF signals in the repeater device may be performed via narrow beams that may enable minimal interference by transmit EHF RF signals to reception of EHF RF. The repeater device may utilize phased arrays to enable performing beamforming, and signal processing operations, including shift and/or amplitude adjustment, may be performed on signals received and/or transmitted via antenna elements in the phased arrays to enable beamforming during reception and transmission of EHF RF signals. Signal processing operations performed in the repeater device may be modifiable to enable continued spatial isolation between receive and transmit EHF RF signal in the repeater device.
US08489012B2
An automated paper handling system for sending print media through a printer comprising a scan module for scanning print media and producing raw data regarding characteristics of the print media. The paper handling system also has a controller comprising a memory and a processor for receiving and processing the raw data to produce an information set. One or more connection ports connect the controller to a group of equipment, the group may comprise a printer, a paper detector, a cutting system, or an alignment system.
US08489008B2
A fixing device includes an endless fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, a heater, a heater support, and a belt tensioner. The endless fuser belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof. The contact member extends in the axial direction inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends in the axial direction with the belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member is pressed against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to heat the fuser belt. The heater support is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to hold the heater in position. The belt tensioner is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to tighten the fuser belt.
US08489001B2
A powder conveyance device includes a powder container, a conveyance pipe extending downward and including first, second, and third conveyance portions disposed in that order, a first bent portion connecting together the first and second conveyance portions, bent in a direction to increase a horizontal gradient of the second conveyance portion from that of the first conveyance portion, and a second bent portion connecting together the second and third conveyance portions, bent in a direction to reduce a horizontal gradient of the third conveyance portion from that of the second conveyance portion, a powder conveyance member disposed inside the conveyance pipe, and a first powder regulator movably disposed inside the third conveyance portion of the conveyance pipe, to restrict an amount of powder discharged through the discharge port by varying a cross sectional area of a space present above a discharge port in the conveyance pipe.
US08488982B2
Provided is a method of controlling electric power of a coil which performs induction heating in an imaging apparatus. The method includes: detecting an input current of the coil; detecting a resonant current of the coil; calculating a difference between the detected resonant current and the detected input current; and controlling electric power supplied to the coil based on the difference. These operations are repeatedly performed whenever the detected input current is changed.
US08488979B2
An apparatus for use with an optical computation system may comprise a monolithic device with no free space optical components and may include a phase modulator and a polarization modulator. The phase modulator may be configured to receive a beam of light and two digital data streams and operable to modulate the phase of the beam of light to at least four phase states, the at least four phase states representing the two digital data streams. The polarization modulator may be configured to receive two additional digital data streams and the modulated beam of light from the phase modulator and operable to modulate the polarization of the beam of light to at least four polarization states, the at least four polarization states representing the two additional digital data streams.
US08488978B2
A probe light source produces probe light having a second wavelength different from a first wavelength of signal light. To a light modulator, the probe light and signal light produced from the probe light source are supplied. The light modulator multiplexes the probe light and signal light produced from the probe light source, and supplies it to a nonlinear optical medium. Further, the light modulator modulates the probe light by an intensity change of the signal light in the nonlinear optical medium, and outputs modulated light having the second wavelength based on the data of the signal light.
US08488975B2
An optical transmitter includes: a pre-compensator calculating an electrical field of an optical signal subjected to an electronic pre-compensation with respect to an input digital signal; a parallelizer parallelizing the electrical field of the optical signal calculated by the pre-compensator; a plurality of optical modulators modulating an optical signal based on each of parallelized electrical fields of optical signals; and a time-division multiplexer time-division-multiplexing an optical signal output from the plurality of the optical modulators.
US08488965B2
It is necessary to completely remove overlapping of signals between plural PONs in order to make the PONs coexist. Accordingly, it is required to share or intensively manage bandwidth use conditions over an optical fiber that serves as a common band between plural systems. Therefore, transmission clocks should be synchronized with high accuracy between plural systems. A reference clock is provided from an external device or a representative OLT to the entire systems to perform clock synchronization between plural systems, so that the overall systems are synchronized by synchronizing each OLT with the reference clock. A hierarchical management method is selected that manages ONUs under the control of each OLT by managing band use information arranged for each OLT with respect to an external device or a representative OLT for sharing of bandwidth use conditions between plural systems.
US08488964B2
In an access network using optical switches, communications between an OLT and ONUs are established without a photoelectric conversion performed at an optical switching unit.The OLT controls the downlink optical switch SW(DOWN) to sequentially select each ONU in slots arranged in a discrete manner, and transmits a Discovery Gate message. Upon receipt of the Discovery Gate message, each ONU consecutively transmits Register Request messages. The uplink optical switch SW(UP) sequentially switch signals from ONU#1 through ONU#128 in the slots arranged in a discrete manner, and outputs the signals to the OLT, Some of the Register Requests transmitted from the respective ONUs pass through the SW(UP), and reach the OLT. Based on the received Register Requests, the OLT determines the timing of transmission for the ONUS, and notifies the ONUS of the timing of transmission through a Gate message.
US08488958B2
Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for an improved automatic exposure algorithm attempt to classify an image into a particular “scene category,” and, based on the determined scene category, meter the scene according to a generated metering weighting matrix. In one embodiment, the average luminance is calculated for a central exposure metering region of the image and a plurality of peripheral exposure metering regions surrounding the central exposure metering region. Based on comparisons of the average luminance values of the peripheral exposure regions to the average luminance of the central exposure region, a target metering weighting matrix may be generated. In another embodiment, the scene category corresponds to a predetermined metering weighting matrix. In video applications, it may be desirable to reduce oscillations in metering parameter values to limit any visually jarring effects on the camera's preview screen by only adjusting metering parameter values when predetermined criteria are met.
US08488947B2
Provided is an information recording apparatus which, in a state where the content of moving picture image information, etc. can be prevented from being inadvertently recognized by the user due to inadvertent presentation to the user of a relevant representative picture image, enables recording the respective information into a recording medium. A reproduction list PL that is to be reproduced is not only recorded into an optical disc 1 but is there also recorded in it a reproduction list display prohibition flag PHF indicating at least whether limiting the display of a representative picture image that represents the content of the reproduction list PL.
US08488943B1
Systems and methods for editing an MP4 multimedia container without transcoding are disclosed herein. Editing operations can be accomplished by transforming data included in the multimedia container rather than by transforming raw data streams and then reconverting to MP4 (or another) file format. In response to a target range that identifies a portion of the media content to maintain, a corresponding sample range in terms of the MP4 format can be constructed and data outside that range can be discarded, e.g., from the mdat atom and the sample tables atom(s).
US08488940B2
The amount of data stored in a video buffer (3) that temporarily stores multi-angle streams (A, B) is controlled from information giving the distance between the angle blocks (A—1, B—1, A—2, B—2, . . . ) of the multi-angle streams and an audio stream (C) on a recording medium (10). In multi-angle playback, in which multiple files are read simultaneously, this can shorten the time from when the user switches the angle until the image reproduced by a video display apparatus changes to the intended angle.
US08488936B2
Systems and methods for the management and routing of telecommunication cables include cable trough members. Generally, the trough members include a plurality of retainer members coupled to sidewalls of the trough members. The retainer members assist in maintaining cables within an interior of the trough members.
US08488933B2
Apparatus for mechanically cleaving a stripped end section of an optic fiber core, including a receiving section including an optic fiber guide for receiving the stripped end section of the optic fiber core; a clamping section for receiving a terminal end section of the optic fiber core from the receiving section and securing said terminal end section in a fixed position; and a cleaving section including a cleaving member and cleaving blade, said member being operable to move between an optic fiber receiving position and an optic fiber cleaving position where the blade is positioned to at least partially fracture the optic fiber core extending between the receiving section and the clamping section, wherein movement of the cleaving member towards the cleaving position effects at least partial separation movement between the guide and the clamping section so as to tension and thereby cleave the optic fiber core extending therebetween.
US08488932B2
An optical fiber having increased mechanical strength is provided. The optical fiber includes an over cladding layer that has a compressive stress of at least 100 MPa.
US08488927B2
The invention relates to an optical component including an array of coupled waveguides, wherein said waveguide array includes: a first area made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a first coupling coefficient; a second area adjacent to the first area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a second coupling coefficient lower than the first coupling coefficient; a third area adjacent to the second area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a third coupling coefficient higher than the second coupling coefficient; a fourth area adjacent to the third area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a fourth coupling coefficient lower than the third coupling coefficient; and a fifth area adjacent to the fourth area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a fifth coupling coefficient higher than the fourth coupling coefficient.
US08488917B2
A doping profile for a modulator facilitates rapidly changing the carrier density in a waveguide. The carrier density change causes rapid changes in the index of refraction of the waveguide. Example modulators include a ring modulator and a Mach Zender modulator. A charge reciprocating section may be provided to control the amount of injected charge.
US08488896B2
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method blurs a background portion of an image. The image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit for acquiring original image data; an image processing unit for separating background pixels from foreground pixels in the original image; an image filtering unit for filtering the background pixels; and an image merging unit for merging the foreground pixels with the filtered background pixels in order to generate a new image having a blurred background.
US08488895B2
A portable, lightweight digital imaging device uses a slit scanning arrangement to obtain an image of the eye, in particular the retina. In at least one embodiment, a digital retinal imaging device includes an illumination source operable to produce a source beam, wherein the source beam defines an illumination pathway, a scanning mechanism operable to cause a scanning motion of the illumination pathway in one dimension with respect to a target, an optical element situated within the illumination pathway, the optical element operable to focus the illumination pathway into an illumination slit at a plane conjugate to the target, wherein the illumination slit is slit shaped, a first two dimensional detector array operable to detect illumination returning from the target and acquire one or more data sets from the detected illumination, wherein the returning illumination defines a detection pathway, and a shaping mechanism positioned within the illumination pathway, wherein the shaping mechanism shapes the source beam into at least one arc at a plane conjugate to the pupil. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the digital retinal imaging device is operable to minimize at least one aberration from the optical element or an unwanted reflection from the target or a reflection from a device.
US08488893B2
An image compression apparatus performs image compression on high-resolution image data of various resolutions while reducing the circuit size. A generation unit generates complementary information based on an arrangement pattern of pixel values in each of the divided blocks each including 2 by 2 pixels. Further, image data of 1/(2^M) times the resolution is compressed using a first compression method, and image data of 1/(2^N) times the resolution is compressed using a second compression method. The apparatus determines whether to cause a combination of the complementary information and first compressed data to be output, or a combination of the complementary information and second compressed data to be output, based on the data size of each.
US08488892B2
A compression controller is capable of executing prediction mode selection for selecting any one of forward prediction, backward prediction, or bidirectional prediction as a prediction mode used for encoding based on spatial frequencies of an image to be encoded. The compression controller determines whether or not to execute the prediction mode selection based on image mobility information indicating an amount of motion in the image to be encoded.
US08488887B2
The invention relates to a method of determining an image distribution (Dopt) for a light field data structure, which method comprises obtaining a plurality of images (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) from a plurality of image sources (C1, C2, . . . , Cn), performing image analysis on each image (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) of the plurality of images (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) to determine whether a specified criterion is satisfied by the content of that image (F1, F2, . . . , Fn), and identifying a group (12) of images (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) whose contents satisfy the specified criterion. The image group (12) is compared to each reference image distribution (D1, D2, . . . , Dm) of a set of predefined reference image distributions (D1, D2, . . . , Dm,) to select an optimal image distribution (Dopt), wherein a reference image distribution (D1, D2, . . . , Dm) comprises a predefined arrangement of I-images and P-images of the light field data structure. Each image (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) of the plurality of images (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) of the light field data structure is subsequently designated to be either an I-image or a P-image according to the selected image distribution (Dopt). The invention also describes a system (1) for determining an image distribution (Dopt) for a light field data structure.
US08488885B2
A method and system utilizing both (x, y) coordinate (“spatial”) stroke data and associated pressure information for improved handwriting recognition. The method and system can also be applied to all types of handwriting-based data entry applications and also to user authentication. The digitizer pad used in the computer system gives both spatial information and associated pressure data when a stroke is being drawn thereon, e.g., by a stylus. Pressure information can be used to differentiate between different character sets, e.g., upper case and lower case characters for certain alphabetic characters. The spatial stroke data then identifies the particular character. The pressure information can also be used to adjust any display attribute, such as character font size, font selection, color, italic, bold, underline, shadow, language, etc. The associated pressure information can also be used for recognizing a signature. In this case, a user is allowed to sign a name on the digitizer pad. This provides non-character based user authentication that relies not only on the spatial stroke data but also on the pressure applied at different points in the signed name or image. Pressure information can also be used to provide improved handwriting-based data entry. For instance, in a drafting program, the pressure of a drawn line can be used to determine its width. Generally, pressure data can also be used to improve handwriting recognition tasks and heuristics.
US08488884B2
Methods and several apparatus embodiments are disclosed operating Optical Characteristic Systems (OCS) in a container storage and/or transfer yard supporting the automated recognition of container codes displayed on various sides of the containers being stored and/or transferred. At least one processor may initiate an operational process by an OCS mounted on a container handler to create an operational result, select the operational process based upon an operational schedule and communicate with at least one OCS to receive an image of a container being handled by the container handler to at least partly create a container code estimate for a container inventory management system. A program system directing at least one computer implementing these operations, and may reside in computer readable memory, an installation package and/or a download server. The computer readable memory may or may not be accessibly coupled to the computer.
US08488882B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving an image file including image data corresponding to a digital image, the digital image being provided in a first space, and projecting the digital image using a non-linear invertible map projection to generate a projected image, the projected image being provided in a second space, projecting the digital image is achieved by: dividing the digital image into segments, scaling each segment to provide modified segments, and generating the projected image using the modified segments.
US08488878B2
Disclosed is a sky detection system that detects sky in an image collection device. The system includes an image collection unit that collects information of a color image; a color-feature extraction unit that extracts a color feature of each pixel from the collected image; a distance measurement unit that measures a distance between each pixel of the collected image and a lens; a first classification unit that classifies each pixel of the collected image as either a sky pixel or a non-sky pixel based on the color feature; and a second classification unit that further classifies each pixel of the collected image as either the sky pixel or the non-sky pixel based on the distance and a result of the first classification unit.
US08488875B2
A method or computer program product for color selection in a color image, including operations or instructions for selecting a base color in a base color portion of a color image; computing a perceptual color difference between the base color and a respective second color in the color image; comparing the perceptual color difference to a tolerance; and, identifying whether the color difference satisfies the tolerance.
US08488872B2
An imaging device (100) includes: an imaging element (103) obtained by repeatedly arranging a pixel W for entire wavelength band, a W-R pixel for R, a W-G pixel for G, and a W-B pixel for B; a filter (102) configured such that a portion corresponding to the pixel W allows the entire wavelength band of a wavelength band within a certain range to pass and portions corresponding to the W-R pixel, the W-G pixel, and the W-B pixel reflect wavelength bands of corresponding colors, respectively; a reflection amount calculating unit (113) for calculating signal values of R, G, and B by subtracting a value of an image reading signal of each of the W-R pixel, the W-G pixel, and the W-B pixel from a value of an image reading signal of the pixel W.
US08488871B2
A three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer disposed m×n piezoelectric vibrators in a matrix; a signal processing device to receive, detect an echo, and generate a three-dimensional image data by processing an electric signal of the echo detected; and a display processing device to display a result of processing the three-dimensional image data generated by the signal processing device, wherein the display processing device includes a peak detecting unit to detect a first peak and a second peak of an intensity distribution of the three-dimensional image data in a depth (z) direction, a joint portion image creation unit to create a three-dimensional image of the joined area by mapping z direction distance of the first peak and the second peak to x-y plane, a determination unit to determine whether the joined area is sound or not, and a display unit to display the three-dimensional image and the determination result of the joined area.
US08488870B2
A disparity value between corresponding pixels in a stereo pair of images, where the stereo pair of images includes a first view and a second view of a common scene, can be determined based on identifying a lowest aggregated matching cost for a plurality of support regions surrounding the pixel under evaluation. In response to the number of support regions having a same disparity value being greater than a threshold number, a disparity value indicator for the pixel under evaluation can be set to the same disparity value.
US08488869B2
An image processing method including: obtaining points on left-eye and right-eye images to be generated from a two-dimensional (2D) image, to which a predetermined pixel of the 2D image is to be mapped, by using the sizes of holes to be generated in the left-eye and right-eye images; and generating the left-eye and right-eye images respectively having the obtained points to which the predetermined pixel of the 2D image is mapped.
US08488866B2
A inspection image data of the chip A is captured and the data representing the amount of correction of flare corresponded to the chip A is appropriately loaded from the map storage block. Next, a inspection image of the chip A′ is captured, and the data representing the amount of correction of flare corresponded to the chip A′ is loaded from the flare map storage block as the amount of shifting of the edge of the contour of the pattern. The amount of correction is converted, by a correction data generation block which is a correction data generator, into the amount of geometrical correction of pattern which provides correction data. In the comparison block, the images of the geometry of two chips are compared and corrected on the amount of correction of flare generated by a correction data generation block, to thereby judge whether defect is found or not.
US08488864B2
An emission analysis device has an image obtaining module configured to obtain a plurality of first images and a plurality of second images by changing multiple times an end test pattern address, the first images being obtained by integrating an emission from a nondefective semiconductor device determined to be nondefective by a function test while test patterns from a predetermined start test pattern address to the end test pattern address are inputted to the nondefective semiconductor device, the second images being obtained by integrating an emission from a defective semiconductor device determined to be defective by the function test while the test patterns from the predetermined start test pattern address to the end test pattern address are inputted to the defective semiconductor device, and a comparator configured to compare each of the first images with each of the second images by the end test pattern address to determine whether there is a difference between the first images and the second images.
US08488860B2
MRI signal data is received individually by multiple element coils. For each channel assigned to each element coil at a positioning image taking time, the collected magnetic resonance signal data is entered into a storage unit. An image is reconstructed from the magnetic resonance signal data stored in the storage unit, by referring the storage unit regarding the channel selected at the positioning image taking time. The reconstructed image is displayed. When a channel selection change command is received, an image is reconstructed using the magnetic resonance signal data stored in the storage unit, by referring to the storage unit regarding the changed channel. The after-change corrected image is displayed.
US08488859B2
A method for determining a concentration of fat within a region of a subject includes acquiring at least three gradient echo images from at least two different flip angles. The first and third images occur at an in-phase time when resonance signals of fat and water are in-phase with one another. The second images occur at an opposed-phase time when the resonance signals of fat and water are 180° out of phase with one another. T2* and T1 relaxation time maps are approximated based on the acquired images. Fat and water signals are distinguished based on observed relative signal phase. The amplitude of the fat and water signals are modulated using the T2* and T1 relaxation time maps. A ratio between fat and water signals for one or more voxels of the images is calculated based on the amplitude modulated fat and water signal images.
US08488857B2
A scanner (10) is used to provide images for automated diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers disease. The images are registered (90) to a template (78). The aligned image is analyzed (60) in relation to reference image data (76, 80) which has been registered to the template which is contained in a knowledge maintenance engine (70) for similar patterns of hypo-intensity that would indicate (in the case of an FDG tracer) reduced glucose uptake in the brain. The most appropriate reference images for the analysis of the present study are chosen by a filter (74). The present study is then given a dementia score (84) as a diagnostic feature vector that indicates to a clinician the type and severity of the ailment based on the analysis. The scanner (10) can produce PET or other metabolic and MR images for diagnosis. The MR can be used to measure blood flow rate into the brain. From the blood flow rate and the metabolic image, tracer, e.g. FDG, uptake maps can be generated for use in the automated diagnoses.
US08488855B2
Methods and features of a transportable PET insert unit are disclosed. A transportable PET insert unit is provided. The transportable PET insert unit is operable to be coupled with a non-PET imaging system. The transportable PET insert unit is rented to a client.
US08488830B2
A condenser microphone includes a support pipe made of a metallic material; a microphone body supported on a front end side of the support pipe, and including a microphone unit and an output module part having a sound signal output circuit and a shield housing; a proximal housing having an output connector therein and attached to a rear end side of the support pipe; a connecting member arranged between the support pipe and the shield housing; and a metal cover arranged in the connecting member and having a peripheral portion contacting with the shield housing. One end of a shield cover of a microphone cable and a ground part of the sound signal output circuit are connected electrically to the metal cover so that a complete shield in which a contact portion between the metal cover and the shield housing is a base point of grounding is formed.
US08488824B2
The invention relates to a method for sequencing spectral components of elements to be encoded (A1, . . . , AQ) originating from an audio scene comprising N signals (Sii=1 to N), in which N>1, an element to be encoded comprising spectral components associated with respective spectral bands, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: calculation of the respective influence of at least some spectral components which can be calculated as a function of the spectral parameters originating from at least some of the N signals on the mask-to-noise ratios determined over the spectral bands as a function of the encoding of said spectral components; and allocation of an order of priority to at least one spectral component as a function of the influence calculated for said spectral component compared to the other influences calculated.
US08488823B2
A hearing aid tailored to a hard-of-hearing person is designed using sampled-data control theory. The method is for designing an audio signal processing system for a hearing aid, wherein the system comprises an AD converter for converting an analog audio input signal (yc) inputted to the hearing aid into a digital audio input signal, a hearing aid digital filter (K(z)) for performing a signal processing on the digital audio input signal outputted from the AD converter, and a DA converter for converting a digital signal outputted from the hearing aid digital filter into an analog audio output signal to be outputted to the hard-of-hearing person. The hearing aid digital filter (K(z)) is designed according to sampled-data control theory so as to reduce an error (ec) occurring between: a restored analog signal (zc) obtained from filtering the analog audio output signal outputted from the DA converter through an analog filter (P(s)) that has characteristics corresponding to auditory characteristics of the hard-of-hearing person; and the analog audio signal (yc) inputted to the hearing aid.
US08488811B2
A method and apparatus for limiting the absolute magnitude of an audio signal. The method may include firstly variable-gain reducing the gain of an audio signal, and then secondly variable-gain reducing the gain of the audio signal faster than the first variable-gain reduction, thereby limiting the absolute magnitude of the audio signal to a threshold. The first variable-gain reduction may include variable-gain reducing the gain of the audio signal in a first stage, and the second variable-gain reduction may include variable-gain reducing the gain of the audio signal in a second stage that reduces the gain faster than the first stage. The second variable-gain reduction may include delaying the audio signal, finding a peak among the delayed audio signal, calculating a fast gain from a found peak, and modifying the delayed audio signal with the calculated fast gain.
US08488810B2
An audio processing chip includes a connecting port, an audio amplifier module and a pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit. The connecting port receives a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal; the audio amplifier module amplifies an audio signal according to a control signal to thereby output an audio output signal; and the pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit is coupled between the connecting port and the audio amplifier module, and outputs the control signal to the audio amplifier module according to the PWM signal to thereby control an operation of the audio amplifier module.
US08488795B2
Cryptographic material is generated for a protocol for the encrypted transmission of media data between a subscriber device and a provider device. A first symmetric key of the subscriber device and the provider device is inserted in a symmetric key protection mechanism of a network protocol of a control layer to establish a communication session between the subscriber device and the provider device. A first time-variable parameter is transmitted from the provider device to the subscriber device. A second symmetric key for protecting the key management protocol is calculated by both the provider device and the subscriber device using a defined function depending at least on the first symmetric key and the first time-variable parameter.
US08488782B2
Some embodiments provide systems and techniques for performing parameterizable cryptography. An encryption key can be determined based at least on a string associated with an authorization policy. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt information. The decryption key can also be determined based at least on the string associated with the authorization policy. Note that the authorization policy must be satisfied to decrypt information. In some embodiments, the systems and techniques for performing parameterizable cryptography are blindable. These blindable embodiments can be used to preserve privacy.
US08488775B2
A method for recording automatic call distributor calls includes receiving from a caller a call for distribution to one of a plurality of agents and distributing the call to a first agent of the plurality of agents for handling. The method includes creating a call signature associated with the call for recording verification and recording communications of the call to a recording file. The method also includes embedding the call signature in the recording file.
US08488773B1
A call center system in which agents are geographically dispersed based on agent skill-set, agent location and caller location that results in a call being delivered to the best available agent. The call center system is comprised of a call center application module coupled to a database module with a communications network being used to couple incoming calls from customers, as well as various call center agents, to the system. The database contains a ranking of available agents, based on a dataset including information regarding skill-set, previous interaction with the customer, proximity to the customer, language capability, current availability, and so forth. The system then chooses the best available agent to service a customer call based on the agent rankings. In the case where the customer has a preference for proximity of the agent to the customer, the system adjusts the agent rankings according to the agent's distance from the customer prior to making a selection.
US08488771B2
In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
US08488767B2
In accordance with the present invention, when a user makes an information assistance call to an information/call center requesting a listing, the user can make arrangements for various services relating to the requested listing in the same call. These services may be presented to an operator as options, and in turn presented to the user for selection. However, the options undesired by the user, based on personal preferences stored in a personal profile, or unsupported by the telephone service to which the user subscribes are not presented to the operator and thus not made available to the user. If the user is interested in any of the available options, the operator accesses the selected option and makes an appropriate arrangement for the underlying service for the user.
US08488754B1
A method, system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for providing Internet protocol enabled information delivery are provided. Information from a calling party is received at an Internet protocol enabled device. A lookup of information relating to the calling party is performed in a database via an Internet protocol connection. A message is received from the database comprising information relating to the calling party.
US08488753B2
In a communication system, a wireless transceiver receives a request message from a caller system for an information service. The information service is associated with an Internet address and an image format. A control system determines a location of the caller system. The control system selects a text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system. The control system transmits a setup message to the information service indicating the selected text message format. In some examples, the control system receives a text message from the information service responsive to the set-up message, and the wireless transceiver transfers the text message to the caller system.
US08488749B2
Call replay systems and methods are disclosed. A call replay system can record a telephonic communication and replay the recorded communication upon request. The entire communication may be recorded, or only a portion, such as the most recent few minutes. The entire recording can be transmitted to a requestor, or only a portion. The recording may be altered before it is transmitted to a requestor. Alterations may include actions taken to reduce playback time, such as removing spaces in the recording where no conversation is taking place, or speeding up the recording. Other alterations may include adjusting the sonic characteristics of the recording, translating the recording, or transcribing the recording to create a text version.
US08488738B2
A radiographic apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a radiation source control unit for instructing the radiation source to emit the radiation, and a radiation detector for detecting the radiation. The radiation detector outputs real-time detection data when the radiation source emits the radiation intermittently or continuously, and outputs quiescence detection data when the radiation source emits still radiation. The quiescence detection data is acquired by the radiation source control unit controlling the radiation source to start emitting the radiation at a time earlier than a predicted point of time by a predetermined time calculated based on an estimated irradiation time.
US08488735B2
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device and the like having a structure for capturing a high-resolution image even when any of the reading-out wiring and row selecting wiring is disconnected. A pixel portion Pm,n of the photodetecting section (10) includes a photodiode PD generating charge of an amount according to an incident light intensity and a reading-out switch SW1 connected to the photodiode PD. The pixel portion Pm,n occupies a substantially square region, and most of the region is a region of the photodiode PD. A field-effect transistor serving as the reading-out switch SW1 is formed in one corner of the region. A channel stopper CS is continuously formed in a region sandwiched by pixel portions. In a region surrounded by any 2×2 pixel portions adjacent to one another, a dummy photodiode PD1 surrounded by the channel stopper CS is formed.
US08488734B2
Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.
US08488725B2
A spatial channel state information (CSI) feedback technique is incorporated into multiple-input multiple-output mobile communications technologies. Spatial channel state information is measured at receiving equipment and then decomposed into components. The components are then quantized using codebook(s) and fed back as multiple indices to transmitting equipment.
US08488724B2
Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to suppressing interference in a wireless communication system. For example, a method of suppressing interference can include receiving one or more first signals including components from a plurality of sub-channels. Each of the first signals can be converted into a respective plurality of first sub-band frequency components. A respective spatial filter can be determined for each frequency sub-band using one or more corresponding first sub-band components for each respective spatial filter. One or more second signals including components from the plurality of sub-channels can be received. Each of the second signals can be converted into a respective plurality of second sub-band frequency components. A corresponding plurality of filtered sub-band components can be generated by applying the respective spatial filters to the corresponding second sub-band components for each of the second signals.
US08488717B2
A method of processing digital broadcast data in a digital broadcast transmitter includes performing Reed-Solomon (RS) encoding and Cyclic Redundancy Check encoding on mobile service data to build an RS frame; dividing the RS frame into a plurality of portions; mapping one of the plurality of portions into a first data group and inserting known data sequences, transmission parameters, place holders for non-systematic RS parity data, place holders for main service data, and place holders for MPEG header data into the first data group; deinterleaving data of the first data group to output a second data group; and removing the place holders for non-systematic RS parity data and the place holders for main service data in the second data group and replacing the place holders for MPEG header data in the second data group with MPEG header data to output mobile service data packets.
US08488714B2
A modulation mapper selects respective data blocks (DBs) hierarchically and sequentially in a descending order of a transmission power ratio control by a gain multiplexer; decides, from a resource element group, unused REs to which modulation symbols can be allocated; and decides the allocation of modulation symbols in the REs. A channel resource element mapper performs the mapping of modulation symbols of the respective DBs to the REs on the basis for the decided allocation. A complex-value transmission signal is generated from the group of REs.
US08488713B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a data encoding unit that generates an encoded signal by encoding first input data based on CMI (Coded Mark Inversion) coding rules and encoding second input data using errors of the CMI coding rules, a clock signal addition unit that generates a transmission signal by synchronously adding a clock signal having an amplitude value larger than that of the encoded signal to the encoded signal generated by the data encoding unit, and a signal transmission unit that transmits the transmission signal generated by the clock signal addition unit.
US08488709B2
Methods and apparatuses for providing CQI feedback with common code rate to a transmitter station are described herein. In one implementation, the methods may include a receiver station that is communicatively linked to a transmitter station via k spatial channels transmitting a first CQI to the transmitter station that indicates a modulation level for use by the transmitter station to transmit (i.e., to configure for transmission) a first of k streams of signals to be transmitted to the receiver station. The first CQI may further include a common code rate to be used by the transmitter station for transmitting the first of the k streams of signals as well as for transmitting the rest of the k−1 additional streams of signals to the receiver station. The receiver station may further transmit to the transmitter station k−1 additional CQIs to indicate to the transmitter station the k−1 modulation levels to be used by the transmitter station for transmitting the k−1 additional streams of signals to the receiver station.
US08488707B2
The present invention relates to a multi-antenna subsystem for a SDR (software defined radio) capable of supporting a multi-antenna technique to an antenna system using a multi-antenna subsystem. The multi-antenna subsystem of a multi-antenna system includes an algorithm executing unit for carrying out an algorithm for a multi-antenna technique to be required in the multi-antenna system, a frame synchronization unit for a synchronization acquisition, and a control unit for controlling the algorithm executing unit and the frame synchronization. The algorithm executing unit has a plurality of functional blocks and the functional block has state information, which can be referred by other functional blocks, for supporting SDR system.
US08488703B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining the appropriate combination of at least two MIMO transmission techniques for a radio link in between a transmitter (10) and a receiver (20). The MIMO transmission techniques use at least two antennas (12, 14, 16, 18) with at least two polarizations. According to the invention the appropriate combination is the combination of beamforming and at least one of polarization time coding, closed loop coherent combination of polarization beams and polarization multiplexing. The appropriate combination is chosen dependent on at least one of radio conditions of the radio link (20) and relative velocity in between the transmitter (10) and the receiver (30). The invention further relates to a method for receiving a transmission of a radio link (20) in between a transmitter (10) and a receiver (30). The invention also relates to a base station comprising a transmitter, a mobile terminal comprising a receiver and a communication network.
US08488701B2
A wireless communication method by which unnecessary retransmission request is suppressed and feedback information is reduced at the same time in a MIMO communication system. The wireless communication method is provided for transmitting signals by using a plurality of antennas, and has a step of applicably selecting the group configuration of the antennas, and a step of adding data to be used for error detection to a signal to be transmitted by using the antennas, by following the results of the selection.
US08488699B2
A physical layer device including a plurality of ports and a clock synchronization module. Each port of the plurality of ports is programmable to receive a grandmaster clock. The clock synchronization module is configured to i) receive the grandmaster clock from a first port of the plurality of ports (wherein the first port has been programmed to receive the grandmaster clock), and ii) clean up the grandmaster clock, wherein cleaning up the grandmaster clock includes one or more of removing jitter from the grandmaster clock, controlling a voltage swing or the grandmaster clock, or establishing fixed edge rates of the grandmaster clock. Other ones of the plurality of ports, not including the first port, are programmed to receive the cleaned up grandmaster clock for use when transmitting data.
US08488695B2
A receiving apparatus for receiving an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal including a frame having one frame length of a plurality of patterns. The apparatus comprises an acquiring section to acquire information regarding a preamble signal from an OFDM signal from a transmitting apparatus; a frame determining section to determine whether the one frame length is short in the frame based on the information regarding the acquired preamble signal; and a time interpolating section to obtain transmission path characteristics by comparing a pilot contained in the preamble signal with a known pilot corresponding to the pilot in a phase of transmission, when the frame determining section determines that the one frame length is short in the frame, and to interpolate a data portion in a time direction based on transmission path characteristics.
US08488694B2
A method for generating a pilot pattern for data to be transmitted in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system includes: allocating pilot symbols for a plurality of data streams to form a plurality of pilot clusters in the pilot pattern, wherein each of the pilot clusters includes ones of the pilot symbols, the ones of the pilot symbols being for respectively different ones of the data streams.
US08488693B2
A method used in a wireless communication apparatus based on reference signals is provided. The method may include obtaining a plurality of pilot rules and obtaining radio channel information of a radio channel between the wireless communication apparatus and another wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus may be in an area including at least one cell and using one or more data streams. Further, the method may include selecting applicable pilot rules from the plurality of pilot rules based on the radio channel information, creating at least one pilot structure to be used in the radio channel; and using the created at least one pilot structure to transmit data over the radio channel.
US08488692B2
Provided are a radio transmission device and a radio transmission method capable of improving downlink and uplink throughput even when performing dynamic symbol allocation. In the device and the method, BS and MS share a table correlating a basic TF as a combination of parameters such as TB size used for transmitting only user data, an allocation RB quantity, a modulation method, and an encoding ratio, with a derived TF having user data of different TB size by combining L1/L2 control information. Even when multiplexing L1/L2 control information, Index corresponding to the basic TF is reported from BS to MS.
US08488690B2
A method of channel estimation and a channel estimator for a multiple carrier radio transmission system is described. The method comprises receiving a signal comprising a symbol-carrier matrix, the symbol-carrier matrix comprising a pre-determined pattern of pilot symbols, and determining first channel estimates at pilot symbol positions of the pilot symbols in the symbol-carrier matrix. The method further comprises determining second channel estimates at intermediate positions of the symbol-carrier matrix, wherein the intermediate positions are separated from the pilot symbol positions of the pilot symbols by positions associated with non-determined channel estimates and determining third channel estimates at further positions of the symbol-carrier matrix.
US08488688B2
Radio transmission is performed even to a communication party whose bandwidth that can be used for transmission and reception is limited without having an influence of an offset of a DC component. A radio transmitter applied to an OFDMA communication system in which a plurality of different terminals performs communication using OFDM signals at the same time that includes a mapping part that allocates transmission power to each subcarrier, and also selects a subcarrier to which minimum power of the transmission power to be allocated is allocated and modulates transmission data in units of communication slots to output the modulated data; and a transmission part for transmitting radio signals including the modulated data using each of the subcarriers.
US08488685B2
An active bidirectional splitter (212) for transmission and reception of data signals over a single ended transmission medium (105) comprises an input port (150), an output port (152) and a differential combined input/output port (151), a first differential output driver (115) for receiving an input signal (144) from the input port (150) and transmitting this signal to the differential input/output port (151), a second differential output driver (116) for receiving the input signal (144) from the input port (150), a first averaging circuit (121) for averaging the differential signal (146, 147) at the differential input/output port (151), a second averaging circuit (120) for averaging the differential signal (144, 145) at the output of the second differential output driver (116), and a receiver (117) for receiving both averaged signals (118, 119) from the first averaging circuit (121) and the second averaging circuit (120) and for generating therefrom an output signal on the output port (152).
US08488684B2
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure allow a receiver to utilize both a minimum mean square error (MMSE) detection algorithm and a maximum likelihood (ML) detection algorithm. The receiver may control, based on various conditions, a mode selection signal to select between output generated with the MMSE detection algorithm and the ML detection algorithm. By sharing logical components, certain embodiments may allow a receiver to implement both ML and MMSE detection algorithms with minimal computational overhead when compared to implementing a single one of the decoding algorithms.
US08488682B2
Caption boxes which are embedded in video content can be located and the text within the caption boxes decoded. Real time processing is enhanced by locating caption box regions in the compressed video domain and performing pixel based processing operations within the region of the video frame in which a caption box is located. The captions boxes are further refined by identifying word regions within the caption boxes and then applying character and word recognition processing to the identified word regions. Domain based models are used to improve text recognition results. The extracted caption box text can be used to detect events of interest in the video content and a semantic model applied to extract a segment of video of the event of interest.
US08488680B2
A video sequence including images in the form of digital samples is encoded by: subsampling the video sequence to produce: a number N of multiple descriptions of the video sequence, each multiple description including 1/N samples of the video sequence, and a subsampled version of the sequence, the subsampled version having a resolution lower or equal to the resolution of the N multiple descriptions. The N multiple descriptions and the subsampled version are subjected to scalable video coding (SVC) to produce an SVC encoded signal having a base layer and N enhancement layers predicted from said base layer. The subsampled version of the sequence and the N multiple descriptions of the video sequence constitute the base layer and the enhancement layers, respectively, of the SVC encoded signal.
US08488668B2
This disclosure describes techniques for scanning coefficients of video blocks. In particular, the techniques of this disclosure adapt a scan order used to scan a two-dimensional block of coefficients into a one-dimensional coefficient vector based on statistics associated with one or more previously coded blocks. For example, statistics that indicate the likelihood that a given coefficient value in each position of a two-dimensional block is zero or non-zero may be collected for one or more previously coded blocks. At some point, an adjustment to the scan order can be made in order to better ensure that non-zero coefficients are grouped together near the front of the one-dimensional coefficient vector, which can improve the effectiveness of entropy coding. The collection of statistics and adjustment of scan order may be made separately for each possible prediction mode.
US08488658B1
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for improving linearization of a transmitter comprising transmitting, using the transmitter, a predetermined signal. The method further comprises receiving, using a receiver, the predetermined signal transmitted by the transmitter. The method further comprises determining, using a modem, one or more differences between the transmitted predetermined signal and the received predetermined signal. The differences are in at least one of a phase and an amplitude of at least a portion of the signal. The method further comprises altering, using the modem, at least one signal being transmitted over the transmitter based on the determined differences.
US08488649B2
A code converting apparatus is designed to estimate the incoming time and the like of a signal modulated by a spreading sequence composed of m elements in a set A having n kinds of symbols as elements accurately. A symbol sequence memory section 102 stores a converted sequence of symbols obtained by concatenating consecutive 2d symbols at the center of each sequence pattern pi composed of 4d elements in the set A. The converted sequence of symbols is structured so that d symbol immediately preceding the 2d symbols and d symbol immediately following the 2d symbols are identical to d symbol immediately preceding corresponding 2d symbols and d symbol immediately following the corresponding 2d symbols of a corresponding sequence pattern. A symbol sequence specifying section 103 specifies a matching sequence pattern for every consecutive 2d symbols in a symbol sequence obtained by assigning a symbol to the signal in a coding cycle of the spreading sequence. A signal generating section 104 adds a portion to which the 2d symbols are assigned of the signal. A signal converting section 105 concatenates each pattern signal added for each sequence pattern, in an order equivalent to an order of the 2d symbols at the center of each sequence pattern concatenated in the converted sequence of symbols.
US08488646B2
Enhanced reflectivity High-Contrast Gratings are described which operate in different medium. An HCG is described with a deep/buried metallization layer separated at a distance of least three to four grating thicknesses from the grating. Reflective bandwidth of the HCG is substantially increased, such as by a factor or five, by inclusion of the deep/buried metallization layer. An HCG is described which provides high reflectivity, even when embedded into materials of a moderate to high index of refraction, such as semiconductor material. Vertical cavity surface emitting laser embodiments are described which utilize these reflectivity enhancements, and preferably utilize HCG reflectors for top and/or bottom mirrors.
US08488638B2
A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment.
US08488634B2
A method and system for a method of transmitting data within a signal frame. The method comprises inserting a first synchronization preamble into a first location within the signal frame and inserting a second synchronization preamble into a second location within the signal frame, wherein the first synchronization preamble conveys information indicative of the second location. The method further comprises issuing the signal frame towards a receiving device in a wireless communication environment.
US08488633B2
Dynamic time-spectrum block allocation for cognitive radio networks is described. In one implementation, without need for a central controller, peer wireless nodes collaboratively sense local utilization of a communication spectrum and collaboratively share white spaces for communication links between the nodes. Sharing local views of the spectrum utilization with each other allows the nodes to dynamically allocate non-overlapping time-frequency blocks to the communication links between the nodes for efficiently utilizing the white spaces. The blocks are sized to optimally pack the available white spaces. The nodes regularly readjust the bandwidth and other parameters of all reserved blocks in response to demand, so that packing of the blocks in available white spaces maintains a fair distribution of the overall bandwidth of the white spaces among active communication links, minimizes finishing time of all communications, reduces contention overhead among the nodes contending for the white spaces, and maintains non-overlapping blocks.
US08488630B2
A transmission device which capsules and decapsules data of a frame and/or a packet includes a decapsuling circuit, wherein the decapsuling circuit includes a bit de-stuff processor configured to perform bit de-stuffing processing on an input data; a byte de-stuff processor configured to perform byte de-stuffing processing on duplicated data of the input data; a check processor configured to perform frame check sequence (FCS) processing on output from the bit de-stuff processor and the byte de-stuff processor; and a mode determination circuit configured to determine a stuffing mode of an opposite transmission device, based on a code conversion result from the bit de-stuff processor and the byte de-stuff processor and the stuffing mode in which the check processor detects the input data with a normal FCS.
US08488629B2
A wireless communication system and method is provided for the transfer and processing of data in accordance with specialized data transfer protocols while utilizing conventional base station equipment. For example, the wireless communication system may include a subscriber station that provides for the modification of data packets in accordance with a proprietary protocol and the addressing of the modified data packets to a server. The server is adapted to reconstruct the data packets for transmission to other local subscriber stations or to a packet-switched network. In additional embodiments, the base station itself rather than a server operates to reconstruct the data packets.
US08488626B2
Presented is a method of managing the operation of a system including a processing subsystem configured to run a multimedia application and a telecommunication subsystem. The method includes determining telecom environment conditions, and selecting a working point from a plurality of predetermined working points. The selecting is based at least in part on the determined environmental conditions. The method also includes setting control parameters in the multimedia application and/or the telecommunication subsystem to configure the system to operate at the selected working point, and operating the system at the selected working point.
US08488613B2
Systems and methods for scheduling multiple user equipments such as mobiles for transmission in the downlink of a cellular communications system. At each scheduling instant the systems and methods return a set of users who should be scheduled based on the past scheduling history of the users, the current individual link gains of the users to the base station, and how the simultaneous scheduling of multiple users affect each other's performance. Since optimal scheduling for communication systems require high computational complexity, low complexity systems and methods are utilized with a performance that is close to the theoretical optimal solution.
US08488606B2
A semiconductor device capable of connecting plurality of external devices. When an interface with a first external device that can be connected to the semiconductor device is tested, a packet to be transferred from the first external device to another second external device is artificially generated. The generated packet is transferred to the second external device, and a response is monitored. Thus, the interface for connection to the first external device is tested while avoiding an actual packet transfer between the semiconductor device and the first external device.
US08488600B2
The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider's database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.
US08488599B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, systems, and devices adapted to configure a dual-mode device to the appropriate mode(s). The dual-mode device is adapted to provide analog/POTS service, digital/VoIP service, and multimedia terminal adapter (MTA) service, typically based on the enabled mode(s). A device is also provided providing MTA service to an analog or legacy phone connected to an on-premises phone wiring system via an inactive POTS line.
US08488594B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and a system for bridging communication signals. According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bridging apparatus comprising a first interface connectable to a first signal source, the first signal source for conveying signals within a first frequency range. The bridging apparatus further comprises a second interface connectable to a second signal source, the second signal source for carrying signals within a second frequency range comprising a subset of the first frequency range. The bridging apparatus further comprises a bridging module having a bridged position in which it connects the first and second interfaces and a disconnected position in which the first and second interfaces are not connected, the bridging module being operable to selectively change from the disconnected position to the bridged position, responsive to detection of a triggering event.
US08488592B2
A unified session detail records of a multi-hop session is provided. The multi-hop session may be established through multiple nodes in a VoIP network. Each node may generate session detail records for the legs of the multi-hop session that are connected to the node. The nodes on the path of the multi-hop call may send the record to a single node to consolidate the session detail records of the legs of the multi-hop call in the single node so that the single node can provide unified session detail records of the multi-hop session. By providing unified session detail records, the user does not need to track down the nodes that are on the path of the multi-hop call to obtain the session detail records of the multi-hop session.
US08488588B1
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a loopback module configured to receive a first copy of a target vector during a clock cycle. The target vector can include a quantity of set bit values and can be defined based on a portion of data. The loopback module can be configured to define a loopback vector that has a quantity of set bit values that is less than a quantity of set bit values included in the first copy of the target vector. The apparatus also can include an index module configured to receive a second copy of the target vector during the clock cycle. The index module can be configured to define, during the clock cycle, an index vector based on the second copy of the target vector. The index vector can be configured to trigger an element associated with a switch fabric to process the data.
US08488587B1
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing automatic resource distribution is presented. A number of ports of a resource to hold (H) as needed for each Multi Media Platform (MPP) is determined. Further, the maximum number of ports of a resource that can be acquired (M)—M−H of which are borrowed from other MPPs—for each MPP is also determined. The ports are then allocated for an MPP from at least one server in accordance with the number of ports to hold as needed and the number of ports that can be borrowed.
US08488585B2
There is provided a mobile station that minimizes a pause or a silent period during communication at the time of a reconnection process of communication, thereby to improve the user's convenience and achieve the reduction in the load applied onto the communication network or the mobile station. When an out of synchronization detection unit 4 of a mobile station 2 detects out of synchronization, an individual timer value determination unit 53 selects two or more timer value change triggers from timer value change triggers stored in a timer value change trigger memory 51, and then determines the timer values respectively for the timer value change triggers that have been selected, based upon the determination rules stored in an individual timer value determination rule memory 52. A reconnection timer value calculation unit 54 calculates an appropriate reconnection timer value based upon the two or more individual timer values that have been determined by the individual timer value determination unit 53. A timer switching control unit 5 sets the reconnection timer value, and a timer management unit 6 activates a timer. When the timer expires, a radio communication unit 3 transmits a reconnection request.
US08488579B2
A wireless transmit receive unit and methods for code division multiple access telecommunications are disclosed that process data in a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The physical and MAC layers communicate data between each other via transport channels. The transport channels are associated with logical channels. Logical-channel data for the transport channels is provided in data units having a bit size evenly divisible by an integer N. The respective logical channels associated with a transport channel utilize MAC headers that have a selected modulo N bit size such that there is bit alignment of the MAC headers of all the logical channels associated with a particular transport channel.
US08488578B1
An apparatus for identifying a scrambling code used in the received CDMA-based signal. The apparatus includes a frame timing estimation unit configured to estimate a frame timing of the received CDMA-based signal, a searching unit configured to search for and select a scrambling code seed based on at least the estimated frame timing, and a seed evaluation unit configured to determine if the selected scrambling code seed is the correct seed used in the received CDMA-based signal. The searching unit is further configured to provide an identified scrambling code seed based on an indication from the seed evaluation unit that the selected scrambling code seed is the correct seed. The apparatus may also include a scrambling code generator configured to generate the scrambling code from the identified seed.
US08488573B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for delivering Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Broadband Internet access and Private Data services using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over an Ethernet based transport network though a private fixed wireless network. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a Class 4/5 soft switch connected to a private fixed wireless network designed and constructed to deliver near toll quality PSTN, Broadband Internet and Private Data services to a Subscriber. Specifically, a combination of known managed routers, switches, Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA), Integrated Access Devices (IAD), and fixed wireless equipment based on IEEE 802.11x standards may be interconnected with a Class 4/5 soft switch. The resulting network may be uniquely configured to utilize redundant automatic failover backbone connectivity to access points (AP) within the private fixed wireless network. Additionally, the network may utilize TCP/IP prioritization standards throughout the private fixed wireless network to consistently deliver near toll grade quality Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
US08488567B2
Methods and apparatuses for a User Equipment (UE) to transmit an acknowledgement signal over multiple Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs). The acknowledgement signal is in response to a data packet reception and is transmitted in a different resource in each of the multiple TTIs, if the data packet reception is through a scheduling assignment, or is transmitted in the same resource in each of the multiple TTIs, if the data packet reception is periodic. The UE transmitting an acknowledgement signal over multiple TTIs should not transmit additional acknowledgement signals in subsequent TTIs before the initial acknowledgement signal transmission is completed. The UE should also not transmit data signals or other control signals in the same or subsequent TTIs before completing transmission of an acknowledgement signal over multiple TTIs.
US08488563B2
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing information indicative of traffic delay of a wireless link are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08488561B2
To improve throughput of the whole system while reducing power consumption, in a mobile communication system comprising a mobile station apparatus and a base station apparatus, the base station apparatus creates an interference information table based on channel quality of an uplink channel, and transmits the interference information indicator table to the mobile station apparatus. The mobile station apparatus determines a state of interference in an uplink frequency band based on the interference information indicator table, determines a frequency band of a measurement pilot channel used to determine received quality, and makes a request to the base station apparatus for a transmission resource. For example, the mobile station apparatus determines a frequency band with lowest interference among the uplink frequency bands as a frequency band of the measurement pilot channel.
US08488555B2
A handover-source base station transfers a data packet destined to a mobile device received from a base station control device to a handover-destination base station as an inter-base-station transfer packet during a stopping period for which the handover-source base station stops a wireless transmission of a data packet to the mobile device. The handover-destination base station calculates a wireless transmission priority for the inter-base-station transfer packet based on a station retention time in the handover-destination base station and an estimated value of a retention time in the handover-source base station.
US08488551B2
A method for sending buffer status information includes checking if a quality of service (QoS) parameter is defined for a first logical channel and at least one condition of the set of predetermined conditions associated with a logical channel group is fulfilled. If the QoS parameter is defined and at least one condition of the set is fulfilled, the method includes setting a number of bits in a media access control header according to a first semantic. The bits carry buffer status information, and the first semantic—is based on the QoS parameter of the first logical channel. Otherwise, the method includes setting the number of bits carrying the buffer status information according to a second semantic that is based on an amount of data available for transmission across the logical channel group.
US08488549B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information when TDD and a plurality of cells are configured, and comprises the following steps: receiving one or more of at least one PDCCH signal and at least one PDSCH signal; generating for each of the cells reception reply information on one or more of the at least one PDCCH signal and the at least one PDSCH signal; and transmitting the reception reply information for each of the plurality of cells which are connected.
US08488548B2
A system and method of a hybrid scheme of DL link adaptation in a network having mobile stations (MSs) in communication with a base station (BS). The system may include a mode decision module associated with the base station. The mode decision module may include one or more processors configured to select a first mode configuration for use during transmission of a first communication from the base station. The BS may receive first feedback information associated with the first communication, where the first feedback information includes a first mode recommendation and first channel information. Based on the first feedback information, the BS may generate a BS-derived mode configuration based on the first channel information and compare the first mode recommendation and the BS-derived mode configuration. Based on the comparison, the BS may determine a second mode configuration to use to configure a second communication.
US08488529B2
Methods and apparatus for signaling an implicit signaling bit in a scheduling grant message are disclosed, including the implicit signaling of parameters related to the configuration of sounding reference signals. In various embodiments, implicit signaling is achieved by observing that certain codepoints in downlink control information formats are unused for certain scheduling assignments. The information content of certain information fields in the DCI format are redesigned to exploit this unused bandwidth, allowing the implicit signaling of one or more bits that can be used to extend the number of SRS configurations that can be specified in the DCI. In alternative embodiments, the implicit signaling concept is exploited in order to reduce the signaling payload while maintaining flexibility in dynamically assigning different SRS configurations by way of scheduling grant messages.
US08488523B2
A method of transmitting a data block at a transmitting side in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention generates a data block including polling information but no upper layer data, the polling information requesting a transmission of acknowledgement information (status report) on at least one data block transmitted to a receiving side and then transmits the data block to the receiving side, thereby it is possible to raise efficiency in wireless transmission.
US08488513B2
A method of operating a wireless communications system comprising at least a base station, a first relay station, a second relay station and one or more subscriber stations; using at least a first wireless protocol with the first relay station, and using at least a second wireless protocol with the second relay station. Operation of the method comprises using a subframe which comprises: a first-protocol access period; a firstprotocol relay period; a second-protocol access period; and a second-protocol relay period. The subframe further comprises an idle period to avoid communications using the first wireless protocol interfering with communications using the second wireless protocol and the overall frame structure is arranged to position the idle period for the first relay station between the first-protocol access period and the first-protocol relay period, to accommodate switching of the first relay station between transmit and receive modes.
US08488511B2
A communication device is removable and operable within a vehicle and is in communication with a data network as the communication device travels in the vehicle. Vehicle identification data is obtained from the communication device, and a type of media file supported by a media system of the vehicle is determined based upon the vehicle identification data. Media content is obtained in a format corresponding to the determined type of media file. When the communication device is within a desired range of a target location, the media content is transmitted to the communication device for presentation on the media system of the vehicle.
US08488509B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a user equipment (UE) providing wireless communication services, and more particularly, a method of minimizing an unnecessary MSI (MCH Scheduling Information) reception by a terminal (UE) during a reception of a MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) service in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, and a LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system that have evolved from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), thereby preventing an unnecessary battery consumption of the terminal.
US08488508B2
A method and apparatus is described which provides reliable multicasting in a WLAN. The use of at least two distinct MAC multicast addresses are used to separate the first multicast frame transmissions from subsequent multicast frame re-transmissions. Thereby enabling legacy devices to ignore duplicate retransmitted multicast frames, because the duplicate frames are sent using a multicast address they do not listen to. Thus, the legacy devices are not confused with duplicated frames. In addition, new devices benefit from the retransmissions sent on the second multicast address and can re-order the frames before delivering to the applications or upper layers; thereby improving the QoS for the multicast.
US08488496B2
A situation is circumvented where wireless communication becomes impossible in a wireless LAN system under the influence of a blocking object, noise caused by an electromagnetic wave, or the like. A wireless LAN system comprises: a relay which can communicate with an external system; a master which can communicate with the relay; and a plurality of slaves which can wirelessly communicate with the master, the plurality of slaves including a first group and a second group, the first group comprising an alternative slave having a function of transmitting, when a portion of the slaves cannot receive a synchronization signal from the master, an information signal received from the master to the portion of slaves, and the second group comprising non-alternative slaves and not having the function of transmitting the information signal to the portion of slaves.
US08488486B2
A router, if judging that a routing function is impossible to execute, sends out a connection instruction message including the address of a terminal on a local network terminating the relaying flow, to another router to solicit switching. The router having received the connection instruction message starts a process for connecting with an external network while executing a process for link connection with a terminal, and then sends out a connection completion notice message when the connection with both the external network and the terminal is established. This process enables the router to switch a path rapidly.
US08488484B2
A power saving method, system and apparatus may include detecting a traffic mode based on statistics of packet network traffic. A packet-free time may be predicted based on a quality of service metric associated with the traffic mode. A low power state may be entered based on the predicted packet-free time, the quality of service metric and the traffic mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08488473B2
A system for assessing a voice communication quality of a communication path between first and second nodes over a network, wherein coded data of voice communication signals are transferred in a stream of packets via the communication path, including: a capturing unit for capturing at the first node at least one packet containing coded data representing non voice signals among the packets of the coded data to be transferred from the first node to the second node; a replacing unit for replacing a part of the coded data representing non voice signals in the captured packet with a predetermined code before the captured packet is transferred from the first node; a retrieval unit for retrieving at the second node said at least one packet containing coded data representing non voice signals; and an assessment unit for assessing the voice communication quality of the communication path.
US08488463B2
A method for controlling a wireless communication apparatus includes request processing for requesting information regarding traffic to an access point, measurement processing for performing data transmission and reception wirelessly on the basis of the information regarding traffic requested by the request processing and measuring traffic during the data transmission and reception, and re-request processing for updating the information regarding traffic to be requested to the access point so as to correspond to the traffic measured by the measurement processing and re-requesting the updated information.
US08488462B2
A method and system of handling traffic flows across a network is disclosed. The method includes issuing a request for establishing a first communication pathway end to end over the network, the communications pathway including the radio communication channel and the packet communication channel, the request identifying multiple traffic flows with their associated attributes. The method further includes identifying any of the traffic flows which require a different flow treatment across the network, and establishing the first communication pathway, and at least one second communication pathway end to end over the network, the second communication pathway providing a different flow treatment.
US08488461B2
In a peer-to-peer asymmetric communication environment, an adaptive upload Data Rate Control element—called Adaptive-DRC—is used to detect increase in data return-trip time (RTT) caused by the congestion associated with the uploading of data in an uplink which in turn impacts on downloading data on an associated downlink, namely a downlink sharing resources with the uplink. Using Adaptive-DRC, the congestion is detected and thereupon adjustments to are made to allow continued communication. Adaptive-DRC comprises: (i) RTT estimation; (ii) detection of the onset of congestion, herein pre-congestion detection; and (iii) adaptation of the upload data rate limit. Two specific embodiments are contemplated, namely two versions of Adaptive-DRC wherein the difference lies in the upload data rate limit adaptation technique.
US08488460B2
A method and apparatus (400) for evaluating the performance of a user service executed in a communication network by means of one or more user-independent system services. A measuring block (400a) measures a set of system service key performance indicators S-KPIs for each system service, the S-KPIs being carefully selected to reflect the performance of the system services from a user perspective. Relevant data for measuring the S-KPIs is collected from sensors and counters, including infrastructure data (402c), traffic data (402b) and end user data (402a). A service evaluating block (400b) then evaluates or estimates the performance of the user service based on the measured S-KPIs. By making a distinction between system services and user services in this way and using measurable S-KPIs, more consistent and reliable service evaluations can be obtained.
US08488453B2
A method and apparatus used for enhanced uplink data transmission include monitoring the communication status of a plurality of UEs (user equipment) which conduct uplink data transmission in the RAN; receiving the data transmitted on at least one dedicated uplink channel from at least one of the plurality of UEs; and according to the communication status of the plurality of UEs, dynamically allocating the number of dedicated uplink channels for at least one UE of the plurality of UEs.
US08488447B2
A system and method for establishing a phone call over a packet network. The process may receive a call request from an originating call device to a termination call device. A determination may be made to determine whether the terminating call device is available. If the terminating call device is determined to be available, transmission path status information between the originating and terminating call devices may be retrieved. Status of the transmission path on the packet network between the originating and terminating call devices may be determined. If the status of the transmission path is determined to be within a first range, a call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via an encoder/decoder (CODEC) having a first data rate. Otherwise, the call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via a CODEC having a second, lower data rate.
US08488440B2
System and methods are disclosed for optimizing wireless communication for a plurality of mobile wireless devices. The system uses beamforming vectors or precoders having a structure optimal with respect to the weighted sum rate in a multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) downlink. A plurality of base stations communicate with the mobile devices and all base stations perform a distributed non-convex optimization exploiting the determined structure.
US08488437B2
In a recording medium, an extension address is obtained without changing the number of bits of the address embedded in the wobble. The wobble address is partially or wholly encoded to embed the address information. At the time of reproducing the address information, the original address information is obtained by restoring the embedded information by the decoding process.
US08488435B2
An apparatus includes a transducer assembly including a waveguide and a grating structured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide, and a laser module including a laser diode and a transparent cover adjacent to an output facet of the laser diode, wherein the laser module is bonded to the transducer assembly and the laser diode directs electromagnetic radiation through the transparent cover and onto the grating. A method of making the apparatus is also provided.
US08488430B2
A recording medium includes a photosensitive layer, a nonphotosensitive layer, and a recording layer formation region in which the photosensitive layer and the nonphotosensitive layer are laminated. The photosensitive layer includes a recording layer in which interference fringes formed in parallel with a recording medium surface are deleted or changed within a portion irradiated with focused light to record information or light reflected during irradiation of focused light is used to reproduce information.
US08488429B2
When applying an electron beam to a master substrate of disk-shaped recording medium placed on a rotation stage, while rotating the master substrate by rotating the rotation stage, to write a master pattern of disk-shaped recording medium on the master substrate, causing the writing to be suspended based on abnormality information of environment and storing a rotation angle of the master substrate when the writing is suspended and causing, thereafter, the writing to be resumed from a suspended position of the writing on the master substrate based on the rotation angle.
US08488426B2
Provided is an optical disc drive device which stably controls an actuator of an optical pickup, by individually controlling an optical spot when following the guide track and an optical spot when recording/reproducing information on/from each recording layer. An optical spot when following the guide track and an optical spot when recording/reproducing information on/from each recording layer are individually controlled. At this time, the optical spot exclusive for the track and the optical spot exclusive for the recording/reproducing are formed on an optical disc.
US08488423B2
A servo control device includes: a phase compensator configured to generate a plurality of types of control values for controlling a driver based on a signal output from an optical pickup, and output the control values; and a transfer data generator configured to serially transfer the control values to the driver. The phase compensator sends, to the transfer data generator, a notification that the phase compensator has output a control value which needs to be sent with a reduced delay among the control values. In response to the notification, the transfer data generator determines whether or not the transfer data generator is transferring one of the control values, and if the transfer data generator is not transferring one of the control values, the transfer data generator starts transferring a control value associated with the notification among the control values.
US08488422B2
A mounting structure of an optical element, includes: an optical element; an elastic member usable when the optical element is mounted; and a holding unit configured to be mounted with the optical element and the elastic member, the elastic member configured to be pressed into the holding unit, the holding unit configured to be mounted with the optical element by use of the elastic member.
US08488420B2
An information storage medium having a plurality of recording layers is provided. The information storage medium including a physical ADIP address (PAA) which corresponds to an address recorded on the information storage medium. In the case in which an address of a layer i to which a pickup will move corresponds to PAAi, an address of a layer j in which the pickup is currently located corresponds to PAAj, and n corresponds to the number of the recording layers, the PAAi and the PAAj satisfy the equation PAAi= PAAj+(7−(i+j))*40 00 00h+00 00 01h(i+j=odd and i,j=0,1,2, . . . ,n−1) in response to the pickup moving from an even layer to an odd layer or from an odd layer to an even layer, and satisfy the equation PAAi=PAAj+(i−j)*40 00 00h(i+j=even and i,j=0,1,2, . . . ,n−1) in response to the pickup moving from an even layer to another even layer or from an odd layer to another odd layer.
US08488417B2
A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that generates and outputs time information containing internal time data; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units; an external input unit that generates, through manual operation thereof, command information that instructs the reception unit to enter a reception mode; a reception timing start setup unit that, when in the reception mode, sets the start time of reception so that the subframe information units are acquired at the time determined by the internal time data; and a corrected time information storage unit that stores the satellite-time-related information as corrected time information. A determination unit determines whether the satellite-time-related information received in a particular segment of subframe information unit(s) is correct or erroneous, and if correct, is used as time adjustment information to correct the generated time information.
US08488411B2
A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is located away from the handset receiver and serves to pick up voice of a near end user of the device for transmission to the other party during a call. Another microphone is located near the handset receiver and serves to pick up acoustic output of the handset receiver (a far end signal). A signal processor measures the frequency response of the receiver. The signal processor performs spectral analysis of the receiver frequency response to determine whether or not the device is being held at the ear of the user. On that basis, the device automatically changes its operating mode, e.g., turns on or off a touch sensitive display screen during the call. Other embodiments are also described.
US08488406B2
A semiconductor device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes first and second power-supply circuits each of which generates an internal power-supply voltage by converting a voltage value of a power-supply voltage into a different voltage value, a first internal circuit that receives a supply of the internal power-supply voltage from the first power-supply circuit through a first line, a second internal circuit that receives a supply of the internal power-supply voltage from the second power-supply circuit through a second line, an inter-block line that connects the first and second lines to each other, and a control circuit that operates the first and second internal circuits in a predetermined operating cycle, and controls a length of a period during which the first and second internal circuits operate simultaneously.
US08488404B2
A counter control signal generator comprises a first pulse signal generator configured to generate a first pulse signal including a pulse generated when a self-refresh period is terminated, a second pulse signal generator configured to generate a second pulse signal including a pulse generated in sync with a cyclic signal generated during a refresh period, and a signal generator configured to generate a counter control signal counting an address of a memory cell, corresponding to a memory cell on which a refresh operation is conducted, in response to the first and second pulse signals.
US08488403B2
An offset cancellation scheme for sense amplification is described. The scheme consists of group of transistors which are selectively coupled to high and low voltage levels via multi-phase timing. This results in a voltage level on sensing nodes of interest which are a function of transistor mismatch. The resulting voltage levels act to compensates for the transistor mismatch, thereby improving the reliability of the sense amplifier in the presence of process non-idealities. The offset cancellation scheme is applicable to numerous types of sense amplifiers, amplifiers, and comparators.
US08488397B2
Providing increased capacity in heterogeneous storage elements including a method for reading from memory. The method includes receiving a read word from a block of memory cells, where physical characteristics of the memory cells support different sets of data levels. The read word is separated into two or more virtual read vectors. For each of the virtual read vectors, the codebook that was utilized to generate the virtual read vector is identified and a partial read data vector is generated. The generating includes multiplying the virtual read vector by a matrix that represents the codebook. The partial read data vectors are combined into a read message and the read message is output.
US08488392B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, circuits configured to receive program data when a program operation is performed and output a random signal in response to the program data, and a page buffer configured to logically combine the program data and the random signal and to store the logically combined data in the memory cells.
US08488391B2
A memory chip includes: a memory region; a chip determining unit configured to perform a chip determination, in writing operation, to determine whether or not the memory region is a writing target on the basis of an inputted address of writing destination, and to output a determination result of the chip determination; an address-cycle identifying unit configured to detect a final cycle of the address of writing destination, and to output a detection result at a timing before the output of the determination result; and a buffer controller configured to switch an input buffer from one state to another on the basis of the determination result, wherein the buffer controller keeps the input buffer in an active state irrespective of the determination result of the chip determination while the address-cycle identifying unit is outputting the detection result.
US08488387B2
A memory device includes an array of dielectric charge trapping structures memory cells including word lines and bit lines. Control circuitry is coupled to the array arranged to control read, program and erase operations. A controller is arranged with supporting circuitry thermally annealing charge trapping structures in the memory cells in the array. Word line drivers and word line termination circuits can be used to induce current flow on the word lines to induce heat for the annealing. The thermal annealing can be applied interleaved with normal operations for recover from cycling damage. Also, the thermally annealing can be applied during mission functions like erase, to improve performance of the function.
US08488378B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to one aspect includes a semiconductor substrate, a memory string, a plurality of first conductive layers, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer. The memory string has a plurality of memory cells, a dummy transistor and a back gate transistor connected in series in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of first conductive layers are electrically connected to gates of the memory cells. The second conductive layer is electrically connected to a gate of the dummy transistor. The third conductive layer is electrically connected to a gate of the back gate transistor. The second conductive layer is short-circuited with the third conductive layer.
US08488377B2
A mass storage device that utilizes one or more solid-state memory components to store data for a host system, and a method for increasing the write endurance of the memory components. The memory components are periodically heated above an intrinsic operating temperature thereof to a preselected temperature that is sufficient to thermally recondition the memory component in a manner that increases the write endurance of the memory component.
US08488371B2
In a random access memory, one of a first conductivity type well constituting a first bit in one column group and another first conductivity type well constituting a second bit selected simultaneously to the first bit in an adjacent column group, is isolated from a common well of the first conductivity type by providing a deep well of a second conductivity type, such that the area of the deep well of the second conductivity type does not exceed the area of one column group.
US08488370B2
Embodiments and examples of differential threshold voltage non-volatile memories and related methods are described herein. Other embodiments, examples thereof, and related methods are also disclosed herein.