Patents Examined by Tariq Hafiz
  • Patent number: 8001289
    Abstract: An audio/video (AV) apparatus such as a digital television set and a digital set-top-box device, which can perform additional operations such as an electronic album, MP3 and FIMS, and an additional operation performing apparatus appropriate for the digital AV apparatus. The digital AV apparatus can include an AV decoder to output video and audio data, a scaler to adjust resolutions of video data output from the AV decoder and additional information video data provided from an external video source and to output the adjusted resolution, an audio processor to process audio data output from the AV decoder and additional information audio data provided from an external audio source, and a controller to receive a command provided from an external commander and to control a selection operation of the scaler and the audio processor based on the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-hun Choi
  • Patent number: 8001290
    Abstract: A vehicle computer system has an audio entertainment system implemented in a logic unit and audio digital signal processor (DSP) independent from the host CPU. The audio entertainment system employs a set of ping/pong buffers and direct memory access (DMA) circuits to transfer data between different audio devices. Audio data is exchanged using a mapping overlay technique, in which the DMA circuits for two audio devices read and write to the same memory buffer. The computer system provides an audio manager API (application program interface) to enable applications running on the computer to control the various audio sources without knowing the hardware and implementation details of the underlying sound system. Different audio devices and their drivers control different functionality of the audio system, such as equalization, volume controls and surround sound decoding. The audio manager API transfers calls made by the applications to the appropriate device driver(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Beckert, Mark M. Moeller, Hang Li
  • Patent number: 8001292
    Abstract: A data transfer controlling device is mounted in an IC card having: a communication device for data communication with an external device; a memory device for storing data received from and transmitted to the external device; and an operation processing device for controlling the memory device and the communication device, and controls a data transfer process. The controlling device comprises: a status information acquiring section for acquiring status information including at least error detection information from the communication device; a determination section for determining whether or not the data transfer process can be executed based on the status information acquired by the status information acquiring section when the data transfer process is being executed; and a data transfer process executing section for executing the data transfer process in accordance with a result of determination as to whether or not the data transfer process can be executed by the determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8001303
    Abstract: In an information handling system, a universal serial bus (USB) key emulation system includes a USB hub operable to communicate with a USB host, a USB bus communicatively coupled with the USB hub, a USB controller communicatively coupled with the USB bus via a set of endpoints, and a USB virtual media module communicatively coupled with the USB controller and operable to communicate data between the USB controller and a plurality of data storage devices as if the plurality of data storage devices are a single USB key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Brundridge, Charles T. Perusse, Jr., Stephen D. Cochran, Anand Joshi, Abhay Arjun Salunke
  • Patent number: 8001286
    Abstract: A multi-port SERDES transceiver includes multiple parallel and serial ports, and the flexibility to connect any one of the parallel or serial ports to another parallel or serial port. The ports include programmable pads that are capable of supporting multiple different data protocols, timing protocols, electrical specifications, and input-output functions. A management data IO pad also enables the transceiver to support different electrical requirements and data protocols at the same time. The substrate layout of the transceiver is configured so that the parallel ports and the serial ports are on the outer perimeter. A logic core is at the center, where the logic core operates the serial and parallel data ports, and the bus that connects the data ports. The bus can be described as a “ring” structure (or donut “structure”) around the logic core, and is configured between the logic core and the data ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hoang T. Tran, Howard A. Baumer
  • Patent number: 7996576
    Abstract: In described embodiments, a method of generating an identifier for a disk includes the steps of requesting an ASCII identification string for the disk and generating a padded string by processing the ASCII identification string into a predetermined number of bytes. The padded string is divided into portions and an encoded value is generated for each portion. The two or more encoded values for the portions are combined into a candidate value compatible with a World-Wide Name (“WWN”). The candidate value is compared to a list of previously generated candidate values and if the candidate value differs from the values in the list, the candidate value is included in the list of generated values and the candidate value is provided as the system-wide name for the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Kay Hall
  • Patent number: 7996583
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and systems operable to receive a work queue pair from one of a plurality of host nodes, to scan the work queue pair for known data formats corresponding to one of a plurality of transport protocols, to optionally convert the work queue pair to produce a standard work queue pair data format, to add the work queue pair to a scheduler queue for a virtual host channel adapter (HCA) scheduler, and to update a context associated with the work queue pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Iain Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7996582
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit that transmits/receives data to and from an external device; a detection unit that detects communication connection with the external device by the communication unit; an operation input unit that accepts an operation input; a command allocation unit that, when the detection unit detects communication connection with the external device, allocates a data transmission command with respect to a one-click operation to a symbol corresponding to a data storage place to be displayed on a display unit, which is accepted by the operation input unit; and a control unit that, when the operation input unit accepts the one-click operation to the symbol, in case the data transmission command is allocated with respect to the one-click operation, controls so that the communication unit transmits data stored in the data storage place corresponding to the symbol to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kumiko Tokuhara, Toru Sasaki, Akira Tange, Kentaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7991922
    Abstract: A system on a chip for network devices. In one implementation, the system on a chip may include (integrated onto a single integrated circuit), a processor and one or more I/O devices for networking applications. For example, the I/O devices may include one or more network interface circuits for coupling to a network interface. In one embodiment, coherency may be enforced within the boundaries of the system on a chip but not enforced outside of the boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Hayter, Joseph B. Rowlands, James Y. Cho
  • Patent number: 7991921
    Abstract: A memory system for an I/O controller which includes a memory with multiple memory blocks, a supply voltage control circuit providing power to each memory block, and control logic. Each memory block retains stored information with reduced power consumption when receiving a reduced voltage level. The control logic allocates buffers in the memory and controls the supply voltage control circuit to provide the full voltage level to at least one memory block of at least one allocated buffer and to provide the reduced voltage level to remaining memory blocks. Each memory block includes one or more buffers. In various embodiments the control logic fully powers each memory block of a buffer or less than all of the memory blocks. A linked buffer structure may be used to reduce the memory blocks of an allocated buffer receiving full power, such as only one memory block in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7991930
    Abstract: A tape drive unit has a data compression engine coupled to an incoming data stream. A buffer memory stores data of the incoming data stream. A control module enables or disables the data compression engine in response to a function of the data occupancy level of the buffer memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Christopher Martin
  • Patent number: 7991920
    Abstract: System and method for controlling the presentation of information, such as dynamically displayed text, includes a computer with a display device and one or more sets of electrode plates and capacitive field sensors arranged facing each other on a substantially flat and substantially stationary surface, such as a table top. The method includes forming capacitive fields between the electrodes and sensors by electrically charging the electrode plates. The sensors monitor for gestural movements made by a user's hands within the fields by detecting changes in voltage levels of the fields. In response to detected gestural movements, the computer adjusts the manner in which the information is presented in the display device, such as the display rate, information source, font size and contrast control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Maribeth Joy Back, Margaret H. Szymanksi
  • Patent number: 7987301
    Abstract: A direct memory access controller comprises a plurality of registers defining parameters for multiple direct memory access transactions and transfer control circuitry responsive to data in the plurality of registers. The transfer control circuitry is adapted to automatically execute multiple, consecutive data transactions using the parameters of the plurality of registers. At least two consecutive data transactions are executed with respect to non-contiguous system locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: William R. Schmidt, Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 7984172
    Abstract: An open network system transacts communication over on open network. The system includes an input device associated with a non-standard I/O device for obtaining communication transaction data and a client program for generating a communication transaction message in an extended open network protocol with the communication transaction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Datascape, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Hiers Wagner
  • Patent number: 7979603
    Abstract: A storage system including a queue corresponding to each priority level of command and an activation order control part. A command received from a host is accumulated in the queue corresponding to the specified priority. The activation order control part decides the number of activation object commands to be activated among accumulated commands, based on the priority corresponding to the queue. The activation order control part decides the activation order of the activation object commands, based on a activation object command number decided for each queue, so that the average value of logical response time of the activation object command may be shorter at the higher priority. The activation object command is activated in accordance with the decided activation order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Yamaguchi, Ken Tokoro, Youichi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7979612
    Abstract: A communication method allows a host to access and send commands to an apparatus across a network or communication system by encoding data as a sequence of status signals and sending the data from the host on a communication channel between the host and an auxiliary device. The apparatus detects the status signals sent on the communication channel and decodes the status signals to retrieve the data. The apparatus further comprises a data filter to filter keystroke data by removing break code data. The keystroke data can be reconstructed by the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Keyghost Limited
    Inventors: Theodore Kerdemelidis, Andreiko Kerdemelidis
  • Patent number: 7979589
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for enhancing port multipliers. In one embodiment, a port multiplier is configured to couple a network host with port multipliers. The port multiplier includes a top port multiplier to establish and maintain communication with each of the port multipliers to communicate with the network host, and the port multipliers having intermediate port multipliers and/or bottom port multipliers. Further, network devices are in communication with the port multipliers, the port multiplier, and the network host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Image, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyutaeg Oh, Eunjoo Hwang, Richard J. Wilcox, Conrad Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7979599
    Abstract: A method for allocation of a buffer memory with three buffers of a module having a processing unit and a bus connection is provided. The module sends or receives data via the bus connection and uses the processing unit to generate data for transmission via the bus connection and process data received via the bus connection. The bus connection and the processing unit function as a producer or consumer in a communication relationship established via the buffer memory. Each buffer assumes one of four statuses—“input area local”, “local”, “input area external” and “external”. Either the bus connection or the processing unit attempt to reserve one of the three buffers by a strategy: when one of the three buffers is already allocated, this buffer is used. Otherwise a buffer with the status “input area external” or “input area local” is used and the status “external” or “local” is assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Weber
  • Patent number: 7979608
    Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Lyonel Renaud, David M. Puffer, Sarah Kotamreddy, Daren J. Schmidt, Suneel G. Mitbander
  • Patent number: 7979620
    Abstract: A technique for monitoring computers connected to a hardware switch. The switch is used to selectively connect a single set of peripheral units to the central unit of a selected one of the computers. In the proposed solution, status information of each non-selected computer is transmitted from the corresponding central unit to the switch. For this purpose, it is preferably exploited a corresponding bi-directional input port—such as of the USE type. The switch routes the status information of the different non-selected computers to the central unit of the selected computer. The central unit of the selected computer aggregates the status information with its output information, and then transmits this aggregated information to the switch for its display on a monitor. For example, the output information is shown in a main area of the screen, while the status information is shown in a reserved strip on top of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fabio Benedetti, Rosario Boccia, Pietro Marella, Riccardo Rossi