Patents Issued in January 15, 2008
  • Patent number: 7320111
    Abstract: A key assignment method assigns large sets of alphabetic and other characters and functions to the keys of a standard numeric keypad for text/data entry on an electronic device. Two letters are assigned in pairs to each key of the standard 12-key keypad in a first character mode, and other symbols, characters, or infrequently used letters are assigned in a second or more optional character modes. A mode selection key is provided to select between the modes. In the first character mode, a keypress of a key selects the first letter of the pair and two keypresses in succession selects the second letter. The letter pairs may be assigned in alphabetic order, except for infrequently used letters, such as ‘Q’ and ‘Z’, or in QWERTY order, or in pairs of a more frequently-used letter with a less frequently-used letter. By comparison to the standard phone keypad layout having an average KPD=2.2, this method can achieve a KPD=1.4 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Oded Volovitz
  • Patent number: 7320112
    Abstract: Executing a desired processing immediately by a simple operation using a jog dial for example. The display unit (3) has a jog dial (4) (a first operating means) and a back button (5) (second operating means) provided vertically at the right upper corner thereof. The jog dial (4) can be rotated and pushed. The back button (5) is to undo an operation having been made by pushing the jog dial (4), and it is located near the jog dial (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Soichi Sato, Yoshitaka Narukawa, Kenichi Agata, Takashi Yamamoto, Kaoru Hayashi, Osamu Gomibuchi
  • Patent number: 7320113
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for displaying hierarchical data, such as extensible markup language (XML) data, in hypertext markup language (HTML) format in a convenient and efficient manner. For data having subordinate data, an actuatable subordinate data indicator is displayed on the user interface. When actuated, the subordinate data is displayed in a similar format as the parent data. Two methods are described for building the tables. A first method initially parses all the data and builds the necessary tables for display. A second method initially parses only the top level of data and then builds subordinate tables as they are requested by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Roberts
  • Patent number: 7320114
    Abstract: A method provides for verifying soft error handling in an integrated circuit (IC) design. A diagnostic program is executed on a virtual IC based on the IC design using a simulator. A soft error is injected into the virtual IC to trigger hardware error correction in the virtual IC and a software exception. A record of a type and a location of the soft error at the time of the injecting is created. The error log generated by hardware error correction is then compared with the record of injected error, the hardware error correction being part of the virtual IC. An IC design flaw is indicated when a discrepancy exists between the error log and the record of the injected error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Jain, Kenneth K. Chan, Kumarasamy Palanisamy, Chishein Ju
  • Patent number: 7320115
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for identifying a physical failure location on an IC without using layout-versus-schematic (LVS) verification tool. In the method, the integrated circuit is tested with one or more test patterns to identify a failure port thereon. Hierarchical information of the failure port is generated through the test patterns. A physical location of the failure port in a layout of the integrated circuit is identified through a relation between the hierarchical information and a floor plan report. Layout information of a routing path associated with the physical location of the failure port is retrieved from a layout database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Ming Kuo
  • Patent number: 7320116
    Abstract: A method of generating library data for a cell constructed of interconnected MOS transistors, includes a resistance extraction step which extracts source and drain resistances according to source and drain region surface areas by using a resistance calculating formula or referring to a resistance extraction reference file which, when the source and drain regions have a first surface area region, treats the source and drain resistances as resistance values depending on the surface areas, and when the source and drain regions have a second surface area region larger than the first surface area region, treats the source and drain resistances as fixed resistance values; and a simulation step which generates an input-output characteristic for the cell from a netlist containing a MOS transistor model that includes the extracted source resistances and drain resistances and connection information for the model, and from input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazunobu Mukaihira
  • Patent number: 7320117
    Abstract: A design method for a semiconductor integrated circuit device wherein for a path having a signal arrival time longer than a desired signal arrival time, and among multiple paths in the semiconductor integrated circuit device, a path isolation is performed so that a number of other components to be connected to the output of a component belonging to the path decreases. The design method can be integrated into an automatic design flow using a legacy electronic design automation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Nishikawa, Gen Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 7320118
    Abstract: A delay analysis device includes a receiving unit that receives a result of a timing analysis of a target circuit to be analyzed, a detecting unit that detects critical paths having delays within a predetermined range, a statistical-delay computing unit that computes a statistical delay of the target circuit based on a cumulative probability distribution of the delays of the critical paths, and a probability-density-distribution computing unit that computes a probability density distribution of delay of a critical path that has the greatest delay in the result. The detecting unit detects x number of critical paths having cumulative delays within computed probability density distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Homma, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Hidetoshi Matsuoka, Izumi Nitta
  • Patent number: 7320119
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies a problem edge in a mask layout which is likely to have manufacturing problems. During operation, the system creates an on-target process model that models a semiconductor manufacturing process under nominal process conditions. The system also creates one or more off-target process models that model the semiconductor manufacturing process under one or more process conditions that are different from nominal process conditions. Next, the system computes a process-sensitivity model using the on-target process model and the off-target process models. The system then computes an edge-detecting process-sensitivity model by convolving the process-sensitivity model with an edge-detecting function which can be used to detect edges in an image. Next, the system identifies a problem edge in the mask layout using the edge-detecting process-sensitivity model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Melvin, III, James P. Shiely, Qiliang Yan, Benjamin D. Painter
  • Patent number: 7320120
    Abstract: Described is a method, system and data structures to logically separate the notations from the semantics of model element objects into separate code components, and to enable subsequent re-association of a selected notation with a selected semantic. Various notations and semantics from different providers may be combined. The invention may be implemented in a Visual Modeling Framework which defines the API set and/or interfaces to which the semantic and notation objects conform, and allows a notation and a semantic to be plugged into each other to create a model element, thereby allowing pluggable notations and pluggable semantics. A paradigm server may load a selected semantic and notation component, combine them, and present the combination to the framework as a model element. The paradigm server may be a pluggable component, having specialized knowledge for validating whether a semantic object can be used in a paradigm and combined with a notation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vij Rajarajan, Casey L. Kiernan, Stewart P. MacLeod, Shawn E. Oberst
  • Patent number: 7320121
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating code. The system and method receive source code that includes a higher order computer language statement. Machine code is generated from the received source code. The generated machine code is placed directly into volatile memory for access by a computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7320122
    Abstract: A method of generating procedural language code for extracting data from a data warehouse comprising the steps of accepting a declarative specification and generating procedural language code to execute the declarative specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Business Objects Data Integration
    Inventors: Sachinder S. Chawla, Jason Chen, Alexander Gorelik, Hon C. Thio, Dave Wang
  • Patent number: 7320123
    Abstract: A method for controlling access to deprecated methods of an implementation is provided. The method includes receiving a request to access a method that has been marked as deprecated and building a call stack for the request. Also included is inspecting the call stack to determine if the request is from an application outside of the implementation. The method further includes acting on the request in accordance with a control policy defined by a pluggable policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivakumar Govindarajapuram, Rajesh Kanungo
  • Patent number: 7320124
    Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for analyzing and displaying the operation of a computer is provided, that can display a timing chart with which the relationship between transmission processes and reception processes, each relating to inter-process communications, can be easily grasped. The apparatus includes a measuring device for measuring and collecting as chronological event trace data a software event occurring within a computer to be measured, an analyzer for analyzing the operation of the computer based on the event trace data collected by the measuring device, and a display for manifesting the operation of the computer analyzed by the analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7320125
    Abstract: A digital computer call stack or combined call stack and data stack is traced and analyzed following the occurrence of an unhandled exception or crash. Stack frame sizes and other artifacts are used to form a distinctive stack signature that generally reflects execution of the program up to the point of failure, without being finely detailed. Stack signatures can be associated with program bugs, and stack signatures collected from other failure instances, at other times or on other machines, can be conveniently compared for recognizing particular types of failures, without access to source code and without detailed study of memory dumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Techtracker, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Clementson Elliott, Kenneth A. Gengler
  • Patent number: 7320126
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently enabling firmware associated with a flash memory card to be updated are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for updating firmware associated with a memory storage device includes providing new firmware to a host and sending the new firmware from the host to a reader which communicates with the host. The reader interfaces with the memory storage device which includes installed firmware. The method also includes sending the new firmware from the reader to the memory storage device, and incorporating the new firmware into the memory storage device such that the new firmware at least partially replaces the installed firmware. In one embodiment, the method further includes embedding the new firmware into a first command. In such an embodiment, sending the new firmware from the host to the reader includes sending the first command from the host to the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Chang, Ping Li, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi
  • Patent number: 7320127
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for maintaining configuration synchronization when an Active unit and a Standby unit have different versions of a software image. Preferred implementations allow the system to operate in a stateful mode even after the Standby unit has had an image upgrade. Other implementations allow the system to operate in a stateful mode when the Active unit has a higher-level version of the image than the Standby unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Banks, Praveen Joshi, Seok Anthony Koh, John Welder
  • Patent number: 7320128
    Abstract: It aims to provide a software installing method which can automatically perform appropriate link setup even when second software is installed after first software was installed, and a storage medium which stores the installed software. To do so, there are provided a first installation step of installing the first software, a second installation step of installing the second software, a first link setup step of performing link setup of the second software already installed, when the installation of the first software in the first installation step ends, and a second link setup step of performing link setup of the second software installed in the second installation step, when the installation of the second software ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7320129
    Abstract: The present invention includes a native language verification method for verifying native language information associated with an emulation class. Verification information associated with native language code is obtained. The native language code is referred to by an emulation language class. The legitimacy of the verification information is examined to confirm the native language is uncorrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Vanish Talwar, Dongni Chen
  • Patent number: 7320130
    Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for preventing computers in a network from concurrently processing a task, where the task can be successfully processed by only one computer in the network at a time. The system comprises a plurality of computers connected to the network and a locking device connected to the network, wherein the locking device uses a password change system to control which computer in the network is able to process the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Hepner, Eric M. Soderberg, Bruce Campbell
  • Patent number: 7320131
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for selecting a resource from several resources to process a request from a client. A client sends the request to a data communications device (e.g., network device or switch), which measures usage information from usage meters associated with each resource (e.g., server). The data communications device then makes a usage estimate for each server of the increase in usage required for that server to process the request from the client. Then the data communications device selects one of the servers depending on the usage estimates required to respond to the client's request. The data communications device can consider other factors such as the current level of usage, past usage, and the increased cost of responding to the request. In addition, the data communications device can consider the peak usage level of each resource already established in a current billing period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. O'Toole, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7320132
    Abstract: An API is provided to an optical networking apparatus to facilitate uniform access, control or interaction with its multi-protocol optical networking modules (MPONM) by its applications. Each of the MPONM has a number of function blocks having corresponding service routines. In response to an application's request to initialize a MPONM, the initialization function of the API cooperates with the function block service routines to create a data structure for the MPONM, and returns a handle of the data structure to the application. Thereafter, in response to a need to have an operation performed in a function block of a MPONM, the application makes the request with an externalized function the API associated with the function block, including with the request the handle of the data structure of the MPONM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert C. Garcelon
  • Patent number: 7320133
    Abstract: Apparatus to hold discs and other objects having interior holes are disclosed. An apparatus, in one aspect, may include a base, a top that is dimensioned smaller than a diameter of an interior hole of a data storage disc to allow the top to pass through the hole, sides connecting the top with the base, and a disc support surface of the sides to support the disc if the top is passed through the hole and the disc is rested on the sides. An apparatus, in another aspect, may include a disc holder including an electrically conductive material, and a conductive line coupled at a first end thereof with the electrically conductive material of the disc holder to conduct static electricity away from the conductive material. Methods of using the apparatus to hold the discs and other objects having interior holes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Eric Watson
  • Patent number: 7320134
    Abstract: A system and method are described for allowing cable operators to actively block, pass through, modify, append, filter, or replace triggers corresponding to various forms of enhanced content being transmitted across a cable system. Accordingly, cable operators may offer enhanced content customized for their subscribers and earn additional fees for local advertising and other closely allied services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Digeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mai-Ian Tomsen, Armando P. Stettner, Martin L. Behrens
  • Patent number: 7320135
    Abstract: An information serving system includes a broadcasting station module (TV), user module (RV), and advertising agency module (AD). The broadcasting station module (TV) broadcasts pieces of broadcast information including at least video information. The user module (RV) receives the broadcast information, selects an image component composing an image from the received broadcast information, and produces specification information indicative of the selected image component. The user module (RV) transmits the produced specification information, while receiving component information to represent the received component information. The advertising company module (AD) acquires the specification information, and transmits to the user module (RV) the component information indicating an image component specified by the acquired specification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamura, Michikazu Hashimoto, Hajime Miyasato, Toshio Tabata, Mitsuru Watanabe, Yukitaka Saito
  • Patent number: 7320136
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a computer and a TV is disclosed. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a TV coding unit for encoding various control signals such as a TV signal, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Won-Uk Yu
  • Patent number: 7320137
    Abstract: An editing device accesses a media program and a user of the editing device designates points of interest within the media program. Bookmarks are generated for the designated points of interest. The bookmarks are transmitted via a network from the editing device to a playback device. During presentation of the media program, the playback device uses the bookmarks to skip to one position of interest to another, as defined by the bookmarks, in response to user commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Digeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Novak, James K. Okamoto, Kory D. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7320138
    Abstract: A system classifies an image file into a first group if authentication data included in the image file has been generated using a private key cryptosystem, and classifies the image file into a second group if the authentication data included in the image file has been generated using a public key cryptosystem. The system authenticates whether or not image data included in the image file has been altered using the authentication data. The system displays an indication of whether or not the image data included in the image file has been altered in a display area corresponding to the first group, if the image file is classified in the first group. The system displays an indication of whether or not the image data included in the image file has been altered in a display area corresponding to the second group, if the image file is classified in the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Wakao, Takami Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7320139
    Abstract: This system for executing a program to which access by a user is controlled by credentials includes a terminal (T), first memory means (F) associated with said program for storing at least first credentials specific to said user, access control means for authorizing access to said program in response to a match between said first credentials and second credentials applied via said terminal, and a security device (PSD) personal to said user, associated with said terminal and including second memory means (M) for secure storage of said second credentials. The terminal (T) includes at least some of credentials management means (CMP) including means for reading said second credentials and transmitting them to said access control means in response to presentation of a request to access said program, and credentials updating; means for selectively commanding the generation and loading into said first and second memory means (F, M) of new credentials replacing the credentials previously stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Activcard
    Inventor: Yves Audebert
  • Patent number: 7320140
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining rights applicable to a digital object. A set of initial rights and a set of modifying rights are received for the digital object. At least one of the set of initial rights and the set of modifying rights specifies one or more conditions on rights in the respective set of rights. A new set of rights is defined for the digital object based on the set of initial rights and the set of modifying rights. The new set of rights specifies one or more new conditions on rights in the new set of rights. The new conditions are defined based on one or more of the conditions in the set of initial rights and/or the set of modifying rights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Jason Boyer, Lawrence MacLennan, Robert Mathews
  • Patent number: 7320141
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for plugging in a standard authorization system in a manner such that legacy applications can use the authorization APIs and backend remote interfaces of a legacy authorization system. When a legacy application makes a call intended for a routine within the legacy authorization system, the call is redirected to make the appropriate calls to the APIs of the standard authorization system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Kurt Hemsath, Donna E. Skibbie
  • Patent number: 7320142
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for use in intrusion detection includes storing a default signature file defining one or more default signatures and storing a customized signature file defining one or more custom signatures. The method also includes automatically generating, for each of the one or more signatures defined in the default signature file, executable code operable to detect intrusions associated with the default signatures. The method also includes automatically generating, for each of the custom signatures, executable code operable to detect intrusions associated with the custom signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Kasper, Paul A. Beriswill, Kevin L. Wiley
  • Patent number: 7320143
    Abstract: Method of gaining secure access from a host (13) to Intranet resources provided by at least a content server (18) in a data transmission system wherein the host is connected to the content server through a gateway (17). Such a method consists in generating and sending at predetermined transmission instants from either the host or the gateway verification messages wherein each verification message contains a signature which depends upon the data exchanged between the host and the gateway since the preceding verification message, the host and the gateway also called peer devices having at their disposal a same algorithm defining which of them sends a verification message at each of the predetermined instants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Jean-François Le Pennec, Aurélien Bruno, Nicolas Grisi, Jean-Marie Sommerlatt