Patents Issued in October 9, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080247497
    Abstract: A 10GBASE-T clocking method that limits EMI and increases SNR, while reducing power and conserving chip space is provided. The method includes simultaneous clocking of transmitters in an analog front end of a 10 gigabit Ethernet. The method includes providing at least two channels to a 10GBase-T analog front end, where the channel has at least a transmitter port and a receiver port, and providing at least two phase interpreters to the analog front end, where each phase interpreter is dedicated to one receiver port. A central clock generator is disposed to distribute a transmit clock to the phase interpreters and to the transmitter ports, where the transmit clock is further provided to the receiver ports from the phase interpreters. Any clock delay between the clock generator and each channel is balanced and clock phases between the channels are matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Dyer, James M. Little
  • Publication number: 20080247498
    Abstract: Method of repairing nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: removing a damaged section of one of the one or more submerged lines; and replacing the damaged section of the one of the one or more submerged lines without welding. Methods of operating nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: shutting down the nuclear reactor; repairing damage to at least one of the one or more submerged lines without welding; and starting up the nuclear reactor. Methods of operating nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: cooling down the nuclear reactor; repairing damage to at least one of the one or more submerged lines without welding; and heating up the nuclear reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Fred Charles Nopwaskey, Ke Ling Lee, Alfred Wilhelm Dalcher
  • Publication number: 20080247499
    Abstract: A handling method for a natural circulation boiling water reactor having a chimney having cylindrical chimney shell disposed above a core in a reactor pressure vessel, a plurality of square tubes disposed in the chimney shell, and a grid support plate with grid holes supporting and in communication with a lower end portion of the square tubes so that adjacent square tubes are disposed at an interval which exceeds the width of one square tube between them. The method includes steps shifting predetermined ones of the square tubes to the interval between the square tubes, and performing maintenance and inspection of members around a core via the grid holes which appear at positions from which the predetermined square tubes are taken out due to the shift of the predetermined square tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Atsushi WATANABE, Yoichi Wada, Makoto Nagase, Kazushige Ishida, Hideyuki Hosokawa, Fumihito Hirokawa, Masaaki Tsubaki, Shiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080247500
    Abstract: In order to provide an IF counting method for realizing an IF counter with a smaller circuit configuration, an IF counter comprises a countdown IF counting unit 1 for counting frequency-divided IF signals, an IF count time period determination unit 2 for determining a count time period, an IF count upper limit presetting unit 3 for providing the countdown IF counting unit 1 with an initial value, a lower-order m-bit comparison unit 5 for comparing the lower-order m bits of the value counted by the countdown IF counting unit 1 with information preset in the IF count upper/lower limit difference presetting unit 3 and a determination unit 6 for determining whether the count value is within a prescribed range, according to the higher-order (n+1?m) bits of the value counted by the countdown IF counting unit 1 and the comparison result of the lower-order m-bit comparison unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Shigetaka Goto, Hiroshi Miyagi
  • Publication number: 20080247501
    Abstract: A FIFO register unit is provided, comprising a first sub-register unit, an input multiplexer and an output multiplexer. The first sub-register unit comprises a first register, a second register and a third register. The first register comprises an input terminal to receive a first input data. The second register receives data from the first register. The third register receives the first input data from the input terminal, data from the first register or data from the second register and determines one of them to output as a first output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Guangyu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080247502
    Abstract: The present invention is a tomographic reconstruction algorithm, which is highly effective improving image quality and accuracy by reducing or eliminating artifacts within images produced by limited data tomography. Using algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART), depending on whether or not an object has higher or lower densities, a current threshold value is set to either a high or low threshold parameter and then decreased or increased, respectively, to reduce or eliminate the artifacts in a reconstructed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Hstau Y. Liao
  • Publication number: 20080247503
    Abstract: A system and method of obtaining perfusion data for cerebral tissue is described. The system includes a C-arm X-ray device and a computing system configured to obtain sets of rotational projection X-ray data suitable for reconstructing 3D voxel data sets. A first data set is obtained of the patient, and then contrast material is injected into the vascular system to obtain a second 1 data set. A first voxel data set is subtracted from the second voxel data set, and the resultant data set is processed so as to segment the contrast-enhanced vasculature from the remaining data. The segmented voxels are subtracted from the resultant voxel data set, so as to yield a functional data set representing the difference between the attenuation of the tissues after administering contrast agent and the tissues prior to administering the contrast agent, without the contrast enhanced vasculature. The attenuation of the functional data set represents the perfusion or cerebral blood volume (CBV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Guenter Lauritsch, Thomas Redel, Michael Zellerhoff
  • Publication number: 20080247504
    Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, at least one x-ray source coupled to the gantry and configured to project x-rays toward the object, a detector coupled to the gantry and having a scintillator therein and configured to receive x-rays that pass through the object, and a generator configured to energize the at least one x-ray source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Michael Edic, Samit Kumar Basu
  • Publication number: 20080247505
    Abstract: The present invention is claimed as an apparatus and a method for acquiring multi-angle images for a region of interest. The apparatus includes a x-ray source producing a beam of radiation; a surface to support the region of interest that moves the region of interest to at least two locations; and a x-ray detector located to receive a portion of the beam that has passed through the region of interest, the x-ray detector producing from the received portion of the beam an image. In another apparatus the surface that supports the region of interest and the detector move simultaneously while the x-ray source remains fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Rohit Patnaik, Dale Thayer
  • Publication number: 20080247506
    Abstract: There is described a system for carrying out and monitoring minimally-invasive interventions with an x-ray device, in which at least one x-ray emitter and a x-ray detector are attached to one or more robot arms of one or more multi-axis articulated-arm robots, with which they are able to be moved for recording images from different projection directions on a predeterminable path around a patient support facility. The system includes a control and evaluation unit with interfaces for catheters and devices for carrying out the minimally-invasive intervention. The control and evaluation unit is embodied for the processing of measurement and/or image data which it receives from the catheters and devices and for control of the catheters and devices for recording the measurement and/or image data. With the proposed system the workflow is covered completely and seamlessly from the examination to the therapy, especially in the treatment of tachycardial arrythmias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Maschke
  • Publication number: 20080247507
    Abstract: A tomographic apparatus includes a radiation source (12) having a plurality of focal spots (Fa, Fb, Fc, Fd) and a detector (20) which generates output signals indicative of radiation received along a plurality of rays. A height rebinner (34) performs a height rebinning of the acquired rays to generate height interpolated readings. A transverse rebinner (36) performs a two-dimensional transverse interpolation of the height interpolated rays in a canonical space to generate a plurality of transversely interpolated readings (302). The transversely interpolated readings (302) are reconstructed to generate a human readable image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V.
    Inventor: Gilad Shechter
  • Publication number: 20080247508
    Abstract: A device used to warm a mammography machine comprises a warmer and a holder for the warmer. The holder includes an enclosed heating element and non-insulating filler material adjacent the heating element. The heating element is precisely regulated to ensure that the sensitive imaging elements are not damaged by an overtemperature condition, while at the same time permitting a rapid heating of the warmer for high cycle use. The warmer warms surfaces of the mammography machine that contacts human skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Ann Harrington, Mark Dexter, William Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20080247509
    Abstract: (Problem) To obtain radiation images providing a tomogram which is higher in quality. (Means for Solving the Problem) Thickness of the object is detected and the amount of radiation projected in the projecting directions so that the amount of radiation entering the radiation image detector is uniform according to the projecting direction and the thickness of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI
  • Publication number: 20080247510
    Abstract: A radiosurgery system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, other disorders or tissues of a body are treated with the dose of radiation. In some embodiments, the target tissues are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the target tissues inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the target tissues within the coordinate system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized in which beam energy and direction and duration of time for treatment is determined for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial marker is used to identify the location of the target tissues. In some embodiments, an eye is held with force and in alignment with the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gertner, Steven D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080247511
    Abstract: A method for detecting a mass density image of an object. An x-ray beam is transmitted through the object and a transmitted beam is emitted from the object. The transmitted beam is directed at an angle of incidence upon a crystal analyzer. A diffracted beam is emitted from the crystal analyzer onto a detector and digitized. A first image of the object is detected from the diffracted beam emitted from the crystal analyzer when positioned at a first angular position. A second image of the object is detected from the diffracted beam emitted from the crystal analyzer when positioned at a second angular position. A refraction image is obtained and a regularized mathematical inversion algorithm is applied to the refraction image to obtain a mass density image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Miles N. Wernick, Yongyi Yang
  • Publication number: 20080247512
    Abstract: An x-ray focusing device generally includes a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof, a rail unit fixed with respect to the pivotable slide, a forward crystal for focusing x-rays disposed at the forward end of the pivotable slide and a rearward crystal for focusing x-rays movably coupled to the pivotable slide and the fixed rail unit at a distance rearward from the forward crystal. The forward and rearward crystals define reciprocal angles of incidence with respect to the pivot point, wherein pivoting of the slide about the pivot point changes the incidence angles of the forward and rearward crystals while simultaneously changing the distance between the forward and rearward crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Zhong Zhong, Jonathan Hanson, Jerome Hastings, Chi-Chang Kao, Anthony Lenhard, David Peter Siddons, Hui Zhong
  • Publication number: 20080247513
    Abstract: A radiographing system wherein, in the “Receiving” state of having received the radiographing order from one control terminal apparatus, an FPD does not receive other radiographing reservation, or in the “Receiving” state of having received the radiographing order from one control terminal apparatus, a management server does not receive any other radiographing order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Amitani, Mamoru Umeki
  • Publication number: 20080247514
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: an imaging unit 7, an X-ray detecting unit 90, outputting, upon irradiation of X-rays, an X-ray detection signal over the irradiation period; an operation controlling unit 13, generating a trigger indicating an imaging start timing based on the X-ray detection signal and using the trigger to perform operation controlling of the imaging unit 7; and a signal cable L1, containing, within a tube 11, one or a plurality of each of a detection signal line L11, transmitting the X-ray detection signal, a controlling signal line L12, transmitting a controlling signal for drive control of the imaging unit 7, and an image signal line L13, transmitting image signals, resulting from imaging by the imaging unit 7, and in the signal cable L1, the detection signal line L11 is disposed at an inner central portion of the tube 11 and the other signal lines are disposed so as to surround the detection signal line L11. The occurrence of malfunctions in the X-ray imaging apparatus is thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Akira Taoka, Kazuhisa Miyaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080247515
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotor combining the advantages of a single-piece wheel, which, when it is operating, only exhibits a slight and constant variation in shape (expansion shift) in the guiding region of its path, with those of a rimmed rotor with spokes, enabling, by virtue of its light weight, the bearings to be easily arranged. Further, because of its tendency to exhibit a tensile stress higher than a bending load, the rotor provides for a wide selection of rotor materials. The rotor has at least one segment arranged on the hub, enclosing at least a closed recess. A preferred embodiment concerns a rotor comprising at least three rotor segments uniformly distributed, said segments having each two recesses, such that the regions of materials surrounding them are in the form of three spokes arranged substantially parallel. The inventive rotor is particularly suitable for receiving graphite crystals, in the form or a vibrating disc for a back-scattering spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Ulrich Probst, Hans Kammerling, Tadeusz Kozielewski, Heidi Straatmann, Peter Rottlander, Thomas Koppitz
  • Publication number: 20080247516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceiling support system for a movable component (7) of a diagnostic X-ray device (1). The system comprises a horizontally movable carriage (8), a crane (9) attached to the carriage (8), which crane (9) is vertically extensible and contractible by means of telescoping sections (10), and at least one flexible electrical cable (17) for the power supply and/or for the control of the movable component (7). In order to provide such a ceiling support system with improved movability of the X-ray tube and/or the X-ray image detector, the invention suggests that the electrical cable (17) is led from the carriage (8) through the telescoping sections (10) of the crane (9), wherein a cable drum (18) is arranged at the top end of the crane (9) for winding the electrical cable (17) during vertical movement of the component (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Henning Fink, Uwe Meyer-Douque, Horst-Hartwig Schwieker, Janos Csikos, Gyorgy Medgyesi
  • Publication number: 20080247517
    Abstract: A broadband telecommunications carrier routes a location-based service call, e.g., an emergency service call, through a facility shared by an information/call center. This facility receives the call, along with information indicative of the location of the call originating device and, thus, the caller's location. Based on such location information, it searches a database for contact information concerning the location-based service provider, e.g., an emergency dispatch service provider, in proximity to the call-originating device location. The call is then transferred to the service provider based on the contact information identified in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Christopher A. Huey
  • Publication number: 20080247518
    Abstract: The invention discloses a web communicating device, within which a web communicating function and a briefing controller function are coexisted, and a central processing unit is provided for processing the voice signal of a web communication and the control signal of a briefing controller is a way, such that a priority choice may be made for handling either mode in time; according to the invention, an online communication may be made by dialing a keypad to receive an agreement of the counter part, and the message may be further displayed on a display by changing the voice frequency through a voice control module; under a briefing mode, the briefing page may be controlled by the keypad, one key of which can make a lighting module emit visible light, in the meantime, the coming communication being hold or rejected through a preset function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Kwan Ho
  • Publication number: 20080247519
    Abstract: A spoken dialog system and method having a dialog management module are disclosed. The dialog management module includes a plurality of dialog motivators for handling various operations during a spoken dialog. The dialog motivators comprise an error handling, disambiguation, assumption, confirmation, missing information, and continuation. The spoken dialog system uses the assumption dialog motivator in either a-priori or a-posteriori modes. A-priori assumption is based on predefined requirements for the call flow and a-posteriori assumption can work with the confirmation dialog motivator to assume the content of received user input and confirm received user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Alicia Abella, Allen Louis Gorin
  • Publication number: 20080247520
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for managing calls to voice mail is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system having a controller element that receives a call redirected away from a targeted communication device without providing the targeted communication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemail redirection request supplied by signaling information associated with the call. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventor: CHARLES SCOTT
  • Publication number: 20080247521
    Abstract: A system and method for voicemail delivery is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system having a controller element to initiate a communication session with a communication device of a called party to supply one or more recorded voicemail messages. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: Haifeng Bi, Xiaolian Bi
  • Publication number: 20080247522
    Abstract: A PBX transmits a superimposed signal to telephones via internal lines, the signal being generated from a transmission data signal modulated and converted into an analog form and a transmission voice signal. The PBX also receives a superimposed signal from the telephones via the internal lines, the signal being generated from a reception data signal and a reception voice signal. The PBX then retrieves the reception data signal and the reception voice signal separately, and digitally converts and modulates the reception data signal. The telephones also have similar functions as those of the PBX and communicate with the PBX via the internal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuuichi OKUYA
  • Publication number: 20080247523
    Abstract: A shared multi-user IP telephone device for receiving, based on SIP, calls transmitted over VoIP network, a system using such a device and method thereof. The shared multi-user IP telephone device includes a storage device for storing user profiles, an ID extraction portion for receiving from the VoIP network a SIP packet including at least the callee's ID, and extracting the ID contained in the SIP packet, and a personalized feature presentation portion for searching in the storage device for the user profile corresponding to the ID according to the extracted ID for presenting the corresponding personalized feature according to the search result. Thus it is possible for everyone using such a phone to receive directly the call for him/herself without anyone else or other device forwarding the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Chun Ying, Wei Lu, Dong Liu, Qing Bo Wang, Bo Yang
  • Publication number: 20080247524
    Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a calling party. First, the called party receives a telephone number of a calling party. The called party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the calling party's computer-network address is retrieved, calling-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the called party's CPE. Also, the calling party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the calling-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the called party's CPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Arnold M. Lund
  • Publication number: 20080247525
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a call from a user at an endpoint, placing the user on hold in response to a particular event, and rendering one or more games that are playable by the user at the endpoint. The rendering of the one or more games enables the user to play one or more of the games while the user is on hold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher C. LeBlanc, Harun G. Gadatia, Devanjan Sarkar
  • Publication number: 20080247526
    Abstract: A system for improving operations in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Telephone Number Mapping (ENUM) system having a controller element to receive from a terminating Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) first contact information for a communication device and second contact information for the terminating S-CSCF. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: CHAOXIN C. QIU, BERNARD KU, MEHRAD YASREBI
  • Publication number: 20080247527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a communication terminal apparatus comprising: an application execution unit operable to perform prescribed operations for communications; an address book updating unit operable to update first party information included in an address book to second party information, the address book being stored on an address book storage medium and including one or more pieces of party information and one or more names in one-to-one correspondence; and an application information updating unit operable to update a piece of party information that is stored on an application information storage medium and the same as the first party information to the second party information according to the updating by the address book updating unit, the application information storage medium storing thereon one or more pieces of party information and being referred to by the application execution unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Nagata
  • Publication number: 20080247528
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an audio conference includes receiving audio from a moderator via a circuit-switched telephone network, transmitting a representation of the audio to a first listener group via the circuit-switched telephone network, and transmitting a representation of the audio to a second listener group via a packet-switched network. The audio conference is preferably transmitted to the first listener group and the second listener group in real-time or near real-time (e.g., within a few seconds). Although the method and system could be used with any suitable circuit-switched telephone network, the method and system are preferably used with a public switched telephone network. Further, although the method and system could be used with any suitable packet-switched network, the method and system are preferably used with the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Avrohom Y. Charish
  • Publication number: 20080247529
    Abstract: Incoming calls or other messages are automatically categorized and handled based on information gleaned from one or more of the following sources: user location (available contact modes, available contact devices), user-specified preferences, a dialog with the caller, and direct interaction with the callee over a non-telephonic channel. Based on speech recognition of dialog information with the caller and one or more of presence or location information, static rules and direct callee interaction, the disposition of an incoming call is determined by an automated Personal Virtual Assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Barton, Francisco M. Galanes, Anand Ramakrishna, Tal Saraf
  • Publication number: 20080247530
    Abstract: An automated intelligent component (the Personal Virtual Assistant or PVA) is located between a caller and a callee. A caller calls the PVA and directs the PVA to make one or more calls to one or more call recipients. Based on the information obtained from a voice or text dialog with the caller and a combination of other available informational sources, the disposition of an outgoing call is determined and acted upon by PVA. During the call the PVA remains available to take further actions at the request of the call participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Barton, Francisco M. Galanes, Anand Ramakrishna, Vishwa Ranjan, Tal Saraf
  • Publication number: 20080247531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, device, computer readable medium, and process for populating a contact list using a client device with service provider contact information based on location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel M. Borislow, Gregory L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080247532
    Abstract: A software method and system for efficiently representing values of quantitative properties, or dimensions, such as scientifically measured or computed quantities. Each quantitative dimension may be represented by a class defined in an object-oriented programming language. Each quantity of a dimension is represented by an object of the class representing the dimension objects may be used without knowledge of the internal representation of its objects. The class provides storage and computational efficiency comparable to that of using a computer's native numbers of the same range and precision as the quantities involved. The classes may include object constructors, arithmetic operators, and constants representing conventional units of measurement. Type-safe operators and functions in a mathematical expression accept quantity objects as arguments and compute objects as results. The method and system provide for compile-time validation of the dimensional integrity of the expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Waldean Allen Schulz
  • Publication number: 20080247533
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing incoming customer service requests directly to the most appropriate destination within a call center without requiring customer knowledge of a specific telephone number or extension to call and without requiring the customer to select from a series of menus. The receiving location or inbound call center accepts a voice call from a customer. The incoming voice call includes an associated data stream. This data stream is processed by the inbound call center and is used to route the call to the appropriate destination or customer service representative, for example a specific person, a department, a subsidiary, an individual either working within a facility or working outside the facility, a subcontractor and combinations thereof. Additional functionality is provided by including additional data, e.g. data in addition to routing data, along with voice data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARIA RENE EBLING, WILLIAM FRANCIS JEROME, BARRY LEIBA, EDITH HELEN STERN
  • Publication number: 20080247534
    Abstract: A process identifies multiple campaign activation points associated with a voice-based menu hierarchy such that the voice-based menu hierarchy is accessed by multiple callers. The process continues by identifying a campaign associated with the voice-based menu hierarchy and determining a campaign value associated with the campaign. Additionally, the process determines an opt-in rate associated with the campaign and determines a likelihood that callers will reach each campaign activation point. A score associated with the campaign is then calculated for each campaign activation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Donald R. Steul
  • Publication number: 20080247535
    Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the adverse impact of echo on audio quality in a two-communication system. The method includes two parts. The first part begins by detecting non-linear effects (e.g. clippings and audio glitches). If a non-linear effect is detected, the system temporarily disables adaptation of the adaptive filter. In this way, filter coefficients obtained before the non-linear effect happens will not be corrupted, so the AEC can quickly recover from the non-linear effects. The second part begins by monitoring a parameter reflecting signal quality (e.g., ERLE). If the signal quality parameter falls below a given value the system switches from a full-duplex mode of operation to a half-duplex mode of operation. In this way, when a non-linear effect that is undetectable or occurs repeatedly (e.g., speaker volume changes) and which can corrupt an acoustic echo canceller (AEC) for a relatively long period of time, the system switches from full-duplex operation to half-duplex operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Qin Li, Chao He
  • Publication number: 20080247536
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-linear echo canceller and method for cancelling echo during full duplex communication in a hands free communication system. An input signal from a far-end talker and an input signal from the output from an echo canceller are received. K spectral subbands are created for each input signal. The spectral echo residual power at each subband is estimated and compared to a clean signal power to calculate a signal to echo ratio. Gains are calculated based on each calculated ratio and non-linear echo is cancelled based on the calculated gains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Kamran Rahbar
  • Publication number: 20080247537
    Abstract: The specification describes a new technique for reducing interference in EDSL signals caused by local BPL transmission lines. It involves sampling the power line signal to derive a noise signal representing the BPL noise causing the EDSL interference, and mixing the BPL noise signal with the EDSL signal to cancel the BPL noise in the EDSL signal. The technique may be implemented by plugging into a conventional home electrical receptacle, and inserting a small noise canceling module in the EDSL line. Since the method involves an attachment only to the EDSL service, it avoids any involvement with BPL service users and providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Henry, Byoung-jo Kim
  • Publication number: 20080247538
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a panel having a surface of three-dimensional patterns and the structure thereof, first of all, provides a piece body, on the surface of which plane panel patterns are arranged by means of ink printing process, and which is thermally pressed into a plurality of projected three-dimensional panels. The piece body having projected three-dimensional panels is then placed between a lower mould and a first upper mould. A material of hard resin is injected into the clearance between the lower mould and the three-dimensional panel surfaces, and thus a transparent cladding layer capable of wear-resistance and protection for three-dimensional panels is formed. Next, material of hard resin is again injected into the space between the inner wall surfaces of the three-dimensional panels and a second upper mould for forming a supporting layer for supporting the three-dimensional panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Che-Tung WU
  • Publication number: 20080247539
    Abstract: A method for transmitting sensed data in a wireless sensor network including multiple sensors, includes: encrypting the sensed data with an encryption key and a verification key to generate encrypted data in each of the multiple sensors that senses data; wirelessly receiving the encrypted data from the multiple sensors; determining that the sensed data from one of the multiple sensors is different from the sensed data from others of the multiple sensors without decrypting the encrypted data; and transmitting the encrypted sensed data determined to be different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Shih-I Huang, Shiuh-Pyng Shieh
  • Publication number: 20080247540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting digital content stored in a universal serial bus (USB) mass storage (UMS) device from unlimited distribution are provided. According to the method and apparatus, a UMS device generates a random key according to a request from a user and shows the generated random key to the user, and then, by using the random key, registration data is encrypted. Accordingly, only a USB host that registers the UMS device after the user connects the USB host directly to the UMS device, can freely use digital content of the UMS device, and even if encrypted registration data of the UMS is leaked out, unauthorized devices cannot register the UMS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-sup Ahn, Jun-bum Shin, Bong-seon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080247541
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for connecting, e.g., bridging, a cable network to other networks and/or devices is described. A bridge device facilitates the distribution of cable provider content to end users operating IP based devices. The bridge device performs one of more of the following: interface protocol conversions, user device controlled tuner selection, transcoding of data, transrating of a data stream, decryption in accordance with a conditional access protocol and re-encryption in accordance with an authorized service domain protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Chris Cholas, George Sarosi, William Helms, Louis D. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20080247542
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method are described to enable reading apparatus to access content data of an optical disc such as a DVD where the content data carried by the DVD is encrypted by an encryption technique that requires a decryption key or keys. Reproduced content data corresponding to the encrypted content data is provided and this reproduced content data, at least some of which may be encrypted using a different technique, is made available for access by a reading apparatus. The reproduced content data may be stored on the same optical disc as the encrypted content data or at a different location, for example on a storage medium which may be coupled to the reading apparatus or at a location on a network that can be accessed by the reading apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Adrian Aylward, Mark A. Hollar
  • Publication number: 20080247543
    Abstract: A video network includes public kiosks having digital storage capacity. Centralized inventory control manages the video files stored at individual kiosks or network LANs. A user requests a multimedia file for download, and selects various ancillary files and control features, such as languages, subtitles, control of nudity, etc. The requested file is encrypted according to an encryption key, watermarked, and downloaded from a high-speed port of a public kiosk to a hand-held proprietary high speed memory device of a user. Payment is received at the time of request or at the time of download, and royalties are distributed by the video network to copyright holders. Computer applications or playback devices allow users to store and/or play video files that have been downloaded to a hand-held device while managing and enforcing digital rights of content providers through the watermarking and/or encryption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Colin Kennedy Mick, Ronald R. Shea, Kevin P. Grundy, Joseph C. Fjelstad
  • Publication number: 20080247544
    Abstract: A method and structure for authentication in a system having devices capable of communicating via multiple signal paths. Authentication is carried out between first and second devices. A first device communicates with a second device over a first data signaling path of an interface between the first and second devices in a first portion of an authentication process. A second device communicates with the first device over a second data signaling path of the interface between the first and second devices in a second portion of the authentication process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Aravind Asam, Takashi Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20080247545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to communication system, communication method, information processor, method, device, program, and recording medium which permit plural algorithms to be treated and which can impart expansibility to communications. A capability list 102 stores a capability list in which capabilities regarding algorithms for encryption and decryption treated by a reader/writer 100 are described. Similarly, a capability list 202 stores a capability list in which capabilities regarding algorithms for encryption and decryption treated by an IC card 200 are described. The reader/writer 100 and the IC card 200 exchange their mutual capability lists, select algorithms capable of securing a security level according to the importance of the data sent and received, and perform communications based on the selected algorithms. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a device that performs communications by the NFCIP method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Teruyama
  • Publication number: 20080247546
    Abstract: Provided is a method of preventing digital content stored in a universal serial bus (USB) mass storage (UMS) device from being distributed without restriction. In the method, registration data is encrypted in order to allow a UMS device to decrypt and use digital content using time information only within a predetermined term of validity. Accordingly, even if encrypted registration data of a UMS device is disclosed, it is possible to make it difficult for unauthorized devices to store the registration data, thereby preventing content of the UMS device from being distributed without restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bong-seon KIM, Jun-bum Shin, Chang-sup Ahn