Patents Issued in July 26, 2016
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Patent number: 9400927Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an arrangement unit that arranges documents within a multidimensional space in accordance with features of the documents; a clipping unit that clips a region in which the documents are distributed, from the multidimensional space in which the documents are arranged by the arrangement unit; an extraction unit that extracts a vector indicating a closed curved surface which is the region clipped by the clipping unit; and a retrieval unit that retrieves information corresponding to the vector extracted by the extraction unit, from a storage unit that stores the vector in the multidimensional space in association with information indicating meaning of the vector.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Seiji Suzuki, Motoyuki Takaai
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Patent number: 9400928Abstract: A method for compensating for transmission channel distortion effects for a data signal transmitted from a first computing device via the transmission channel to a second computing device is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Omarco Network Solutions LimitedInventor: Ralph Mahmoud Omar
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Patent number: 9400929Abstract: An object detection device includes a raster scan execution unit that executes a raster scan on an input image using a scan window in order to detect an object within the input image which is input by an image input unit, a scan point acquisition unit that acquires scan points of the scan window which are positions on the input image during the execution of the raster scan, and a size-changing unit that changes a relative size of the input image with respect to the scan window. When the relative size is changed by the size-changing unit, an offset is given to the starting positions of the scan points after the change with respect to the starting positions of the scan points before the change.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuichi Matsumoto, Megumi Nagata
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Patent number: 9400930Abstract: Embodiments disclosed obtain a plurality of measurement sets from a plurality of sensors in conjunction with the capture of a sequence of exterior and interior images of a structure while traversing locations in and around the structure. Each measurement set may be associated with at least one image. An external structural envelope of the structure is determined from exterior images of the structure and the corresponding outdoor trajectory of a UE. The position and orientation of the structure and the structural envelope is determined in absolute coordinates. Further, an indoor map of the structure in absolute coordinates may be obtained based on interior images of the structure, a structural envelope in absolute coordinates, and measurements associated with the indoor trajectory of the UE during traversal of the indoor area to capture the interior images.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mark Leo Moeglein, Christopher Brunner, Hui Chao, Murali Ramaswamy Chari, Arvind Ramanandan, Mahesh Ramachandran, Abhishek Tyagi
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Patent number: 9400931Abstract: Methods are described for presenting in an user interface information regarding the subject faces that will appear in upcoming images. In general, many of the images available to display will be comprised of images containing subject faces. Based on a subject affinity score between the viewer and the subjects, an image affinity is computed. Based on the image affinity scores, images are selected for presentation on the display. As images are displayed, the system analyzes one or more upcoming images to determine information to display. As each image is displayed, subject information comprising the subject's face is presented in an area of the display adjacent to the current image.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Ikorongo Technology, LLCInventor: Hugh Blake Svendsen
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Patent number: 9400932Abstract: An identification method and an apparatus utilizing the method are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises capturing a first examining image at a first direction, performing a face detection process on the first examining image to identify a first face image in the first examining image, detecting a number of straight lines which are within a detecting image block of the first examining image but outside the first face image, comparing the number of straight lines with a quantity threshold to obtain a first judgment value, and judging if the first face image pass an examination at least according to the first judgment value.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: WISTRON CORP.Inventors: Chin-Lun Lai, Jun-Horng Chen, Chih-Hong Chu, Shu-Chen Li, Jing-Ying Hsu
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Patent number: 9400933Abstract: Provided herein are a method and apparatus for identifying and labeling medications in overpack containers, and more specifically, to identifying a medication and generating information relating to the medication to be included on a label for an overpack container of the medication. In particular, methods may include receiving an article at an imaging station, capturing images of the article from a plurality of positions about the imaging station, receiving the article into a container, and identifying the article from at least one of the captured images. The at least one of the captured images may include identifying indicia. Methods may also include generating information related to the identified article in response to identifying the article, and causing the information related to the identified article to be presented on a label associated with the container. Generating information related to the identified article may include generating destination information associated with the article.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Aesynt IncorporatedInventor: Robert Jaynes
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Patent number: 9400935Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of detecting a human component from an input image. The apparatus includes a training database (DB) to store positive and negative samples of a human component, an image processor to calculate a difference image for the input image, a sub-window processor to extract a feature population from a difference image that is calculated by the image processor for the positive and negative samples of a predetermined human component stored in the training DB, and a human classifier to detect a human component corresponding to a human component model using the human component model that is learned from the feature population.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Maolin Chen, Moon-Sik Jeon
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Patent number: 9400936Abstract: Methods and systems for tag recognition in captured images. A candidate region can be localized from regions of interest with respect to a tag and a tag number shown in the regions of interest within a side image of a vehicle. A number of confidence levels can then be calculated with respect to each digit recognized as a result of an optical character recognition operation performed with respect to the tag number. Optimal candidates within the candidate region can be determined for the tag number based on individual character confidence levels among the confidence levels. Optimal candidates from a pool of valid tag numbers can then be validated using prior appearance probabilities and data returned, which is indicative of the most probable tag to be detected to improve image recognition accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Orhan Bulan, Howard Mizes, Vladimir Kozitsky, Aaron M. Burry
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Patent number: 9400937Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating capture of at least one image of a scene including a foreground object by at least one rolling shutter sensor. The at least one image includes a pattern in an image region of the foreground object comprising a series of alternate dark and bright pixel regions. The at least one image is captured by setting exposure time of the sensor as equal or less than a read-out time of a set of pixel rows of a plurality of pixel rows, and by facilitating a repeating sequence of ON and OFF of flash such that flash is ON while capturing the set of pixel rows, and OFF while capturing subsequent set of pixel rows. The method includes determining a contour of the foreground object in the at least one image based on the pattern.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Pranav Mishra, Rajeswari Kannan, Ravi Shenoy, Ramesh Raskar
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Patent number: 9400939Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for relating corresponding points in images with an overlapping scene. An example method includes generating transformed images of a target image using different image transformations for each of transformed images. Texture descriptors are extracted for feature points in the transformed images and a reference image. Matched feature points are identified and inliers from matched feature points are selected. An aligning transformation is generated using the inliers for at least one of the transformed images. A panorama image is created with the target image and reference image after the images are aligned.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Chung-Ching Lin, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti, John R. Smith
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Patent number: 9400940Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of the methods of processing an initial digital image IIN(p) made up of pixels (p). The method according to the invention comprises the following successive steps: Step 1: calculating the logarithm of the initial image in order to obtain a first intermediate image Log(IIN(p)); Step 2: filtering said first intermediate image using a low-frequency filter in order to obtain a second intermediate image BF(p); Step 3: determining the value of the minimum intensity and the value of the maximum intensity in the low-frequency image; Step 4: calculating a third intermediate image Log(IOUT(p)) using the following linear combination: Log(IOUT(p))=[Log(IIN(p)?BF(p)]·[K1·BF(p)+K2]+K3·BF(p)+K4 K1, K2, K3 and K4 being constants; Step 5: calculating the final image IOUT(p) by applying the exponential function to the third intermediate image.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: ThalesInventor: Matthieu Grossetete
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Patent number: 9400941Abstract: A method of matching image features with reference features comprises the steps of providing a current image, providing a set of reference features, wherein each of the reference features comprises at least one first parameter which is at least partially indicative of a position and/or orientation of the reference feature with respect to a global coordinate system, wherein the global coordinate system is an earth coordinate system or an object coordinate system, or at least partially indicative of a position of the reference feature with respect to an altitude, detecting at least one feature in the current image in a feature detection process, associating with the detected feature at least one second parameter which is at least partially indicative of a position and/or orientation of the detected feature, or which is at least partially indicative of a position of the detected feature with respect to an altitude, and matching the detected feature with a reference feature by determining a similarity measure.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Metaio GmbHInventors: Daniel Kurz, Peter Meier
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Patent number: 9400942Abstract: Undated photos are organized by estimating the date of each photo. The date is estimated by building a model based on a set of reference photos having established dates, and comparing image characteristics of the undated photo to the image characteristics of the reference photos. The photo characteristics can include hues, saturation, intensity, contrast, sharpness and graininess as represented by image pixel data. Once the date of a photo is estimated, it can be tagged with identifying information, such as by using the estimated date to associate the photo with a node in a family tree.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Christopher Brookhart, Jack Reese
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Patent number: 9400943Abstract: The disclosure relates to identifying an object associated with a nearby Internet of Things (IoT) device. In an aspect, a device receives identifying information associated with the nearby IoT device, detects a nearby object in a field of view of a camera application, determines whether or not the nearby object is associated with the nearby IoT device based on the received identifying information, and based on the nearby object being associated with the nearby IoT device, determines that the nearby object corresponds to the object associated with the nearby IoT device.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Sandeep Sharma, Amit Goel, Mohammed Ataur Rahman Shuman, Nivedita Sarkar
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Patent number: 9400944Abstract: A method of identifying a set of parameters representative of a data set is provided. An eigen decomposition of a covariance matrix is calculated to form a decomposed matrix and an eigenvalue vector. The covariance matrix is calculated for a matrix of data including a plurality of data values for each of a plurality of parameters. The decomposed matrix includes a number of eigenvectors equal to a number of the plurality of parameters with each eigenvector including a coefficient for each parameter. The eigenvalue vector includes an eigenvalue defined for each eigenvector. A first matrix is created by rank ordering the coefficient within each parameter of the plurality of parameters for each of the plurality of parameters. A score is determined for each parameter using the created first matrix and the eigenvalue vector. A parameter set is identified based on the determined score for each parameter.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.Inventors: Brian Oneal Miles, Dan Kelly
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Patent number: 9400945Abstract: A system and method may compare an image vector representing an image feature of a first image fragment of an image to database vectors representing the image feature of database image fragments of database images. It may be determined based on the comparison a first matching database vector of the database vectors which most closely, among the database vectors, describes the first image feature represented by the image vector. The system or method may determine, using a data structure in conjunction with the first matching database vector and previously matched database vectors, a second of the database vectors which includes the first matching database vector and the previously matched database vectors and most closely describes a second image fragment including the first image fragment. The system or method may determine an object feature based on the second database vector.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Aharon Bar Hillel, Dan Levi
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Patent number: 9400946Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit that forms a test image for correction of a position of an image on the recording medium, a reading unit that reads an image from the recording medium on which the test image is formed, a transport unit that transports the recording medium, and a correction unit that corrects the position of the image, wherein the test image includes a first mark that is provided at a distance determined from the first reference line, a second mark that is provided at the distance from a second reference line set with respect to a second side, and a code image that is provided at a position determined with respect to the first mark and the second mark, and that indicates information for correction of the position of the image by the correction unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomohiro Tanigawa, Kosuke Kubota
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Patent number: 9400947Abstract: A printing control method for printing an image onto a recording medium including inputting data to be used for printing a page, setting a position and a size of a margin for a plurality of pages represented by the input data, according to an instruction from a user, and causing a print device to print an image including the plurality of pages and in which the binging margin with the set width is arranged at the set position, onto the recording medium in a direction determined according to the width of the margin.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hirofumi Narita
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Patent number: 9400948Abstract: An image processing method includes receiving image data including a color lookup table, and rendering the image data without referring to the color lookup table for each pixel when a combination of color values defined in the color lookup table is a predetermined combination.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Ozawa
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Patent number: 9400949Abstract: In a state in which an authentication screen in any one display language of a plurality of display languages is displayed, every time a predetermined number of characters are input to an ID input field, an ID including the characters input to the ID input field in order from a first-input is retrieved from user data. Ids, obtained as a result of the retrieval, are set as candidate IDs. When all display languages selected by users having the candidate IDs are the same, the display language selected by the users having the candidate IDs is set as a first display language. When a display language of an authentication screen, which is being displayed, does not coincide with the first display language, an authentication screen in the first display language is displayed in place of the authentication screen, which is being displayed.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Norie Fujimoto
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Patent number: 9400950Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) card socket includes a frame having a fixing portion and a connector. The connector includes a first portion fixed by the fixing portion, a second portion connected to one end of the first portion to contact a motherboard, and a third portion connected to another end of the first portion. The third portion has a shape of at least a portion of a loop, and a portion of the third portion contacts an IC card moving toward the third portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-Joo Lee, Seok-Jae Han
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Patent number: 9400951Abstract: To realize a dot pattern which can be read even by a frame buffer of which algorithm for search is simple and of which resolution is low without sacrificing an information dot for defining a direction of a block. There is provided a dot pattern, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block having a predetermined information dot arranged thereon; a plurality of virtual reference points to be defined is arranged from the reference points (for example, a central point of a grid area); an information dot is arranged, of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the virtual reference point; and at least the information dot at the predetermined position is made into a direction dot showing the direction of the block by a direction from the virtual reference point.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventor: Kenji Yoshida
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Patent number: 9400952Abstract: A tamper-proof barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of time and temperature thresholds following actuation thereof, including a first barcode including a first colorable area and being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a second barcode including a second colorable area and not being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator, a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, at a rate which is at least partially a function of time, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable, and a tamper-proof actuator element operative to actuate the indicator.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Varcode Ltd.Inventor: Yaron Nemet
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Patent number: 9400953Abstract: Methods, algorithms, processes, circuits, and/or structures for laser patterning suitable for customized RFID designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of laser patterning of an identification device can include the steps of: (i) depositing a patternable resist formulation on a substrate having configurable elements and/or materials thereon; (ii) irradiating the resist formulation with a laser tool sufficiently to change the solubility characteristics of the resist in a developer; and (iii) developing exposed areas of the resist using the developer. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a relatively low cost and high throughput approach for customized RFID devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASAInventors: Criswell Choi, Joerg Rockenberger, Christopher Gudeman, J. Devin Mackenzie, Partick Smith, James Montague Cleeves
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Patent number: 9400954Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-scale spatio-temporal neural network system. One embodiment comprises a neural network including multiple heterogeneous neuron populations that operate at different time scales. Each neuron population comprises at least one digital neuron. Each neuron population further comprises a time scale generation circuit that controls timing for operation of said neuron population, wherein each neuron of said neuron population integrates neuronal firing events at a time scale corresponding to said neuron population. The neural network further comprises a plurality of synapses interconnecting the neurons, wherein each synapse interconnects a neuron with another neuron. At least one neuron receives neuronal firing events from an interconnected neuron that operates at a different time scale.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Dharmendra S. Modha
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Patent number: 9400955Abstract: Features are disclosed for reducing the dynamic range of an approximated trained artificial neural network weight matrix in an automatic speech recognition system. The weight matrix may be approximated as two low-rank matrices using a decomposition technique. This approximation technique may insert an additional layer between the two original layers connected by the weight matrix. The dynamic range of the low-rank decomposition may be reduced by applying the square root of singular values, combining them with both low-rank matrices, and utilizing a random rotation matrix to further compress the low-rank matrices. Reduction of dynamic range may make fixed point scoring more effective due to smaller quantization error, as well as make the neural network system more favorable for retraining after approximating a neural network weight matrix. Features are also disclosed for adjusting the learning rate during retraining to account for the low-rank approximations.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Sri Venkata Surya Siva Rama Krishna Garimella
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Patent number: 9400956Abstract: In a question-answering (QA) environment, a first answer sequence is identified. As identified, the first answer sequence includes a first answer and a second answer. A corpus is analyzed using the first answer and the second answer. Based on the analysis, a set of influence factors corresponding to both the first answer and the second answer are identified. A first answer relationship between the first answer and the second answer is then generated based on the set of influence factors.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri
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Patent number: 9400957Abstract: A quantum device is provided that includes controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds extending from a surface of a semiconductor material. Each of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds has a separation of at least one atom of the semiconductor material. At least one electrode is provided for selectively modifying an electronic state of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds. By providing at least one additional electron within the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds with the proviso that there exists at least one unoccupied dangling bond for each one additional electron present, the inventive device is operable at least to 293 degrees Kelvin and is largely immune to stray electrostatic perturbations. Room temperature operable quantum cellular automata and qubits are constructed therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, The Governors of the University of AlbertaInventors: Gino A. Dilabio, Robert A. Wolkow, Jason L. Pitters, Paul G. Piva
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Patent number: 9400958Abstract: Techniques for displaying information. Policy violations are identified, based at least in part on data stored in a data store. For the policy violations, a plurality of semantic objects related to the violations are identified. Arrangements of graphical objects are displayed where the graphical objects represent the identified semantic objects and where the arrangement indicates one or more relationships between pairs of the semantic objects.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Reza B'Far, Lloyd Boucher, Yasin Cengiz, Tsai-Ming Tseng, Logan Goh, Malini Chakrabarti, Huyvu Nguyen, Timothy Jason Bass, Minh Le, Rafael Paxi, Neeharika Adavikolanu, Elizabeth Lingg
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Patent number: 9400959Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a likelihood that a travel path is a correct travel path of a user using possible duplicate travel path information. A set of travel paths comprising at least two travel paths is obtained. Any paths that break up more than one reservation are removed. Each travel path is broken into at least one leg. Each leg in each travel path is compared to each leg in every other travel path to determine whether any travel paths are duplicates. A likelihood that each of the at least two travel paths is the correct travel path is determined using information about whether any of the at least two travel paths are duplicates.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: CONCUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Brian Jeffrey Ollenberger, Lisa Anne Silveria, Richard Thor Denmark
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Patent number: 9400960Abstract: Methods for verifying satisfaction of prognostic algorithm requirements for a component of a certain device of interest are provided. A method according to an example of an embodiment of the invention can include providing a prognostic algorithm requirements statement for a preselected component contained in each of a plurality of a certain type device, receiving field data indicating a number of premature component failures and a total number of replacements including both due to premature failures and scheduled maintenance, determining a probability density function providing a probability of failing to replace the prematurely failed components, determining a confidence value indicating a level of confidence that failure avoidance requirements provided in the prognostic algorithm statement are being met, and verifying whether or not the prognostic algorithm requirements provided in the prognostic algorithm requirements statement are being satisfied according to a preselected minimum level of confidence.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventors: Scott Clements, David S. Bodden
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Patent number: 9400961Abstract: A simple message mechanism serves to interface applications within content management system. The message management mechanism operates by extracting at least one selected parameter during execution of at least one task (e.g., application) during content workflow. The operator is then notified of whether the at least one task executed successfully in accordance with the extracted parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GVBB HOLDINGS S.A.R.L.Inventors: Eric Denis Dufosse, Nadine Patry, Wilfried Reiner
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Patent number: 9400962Abstract: In one embodiment, a distributed computing system includes a first worker node configured to execute a first job, a second worker node configured to execute a second job, and a master node including a processor coupled to a memory. The first job indicates a first portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The second job indicates a second portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The second worker node and the first worker node are configured to execute their respective jobs in parallel. The second job indicates a second portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The master node is configured to assign the first job to the first worker node, assign the second job to the second worker node, and integrate the results from the first worker node and the second worker node into a record of operation of the application.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Mukul Ranjan Prasad
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Patent number: 9400963Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for prioritizing tasks associated with a group of users based on number of times the users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of users associated with a task, the importance of each user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventor: Randy R. Morlen
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Patent number: 9400964Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for predicting asset availability in a supply chain, whereby assets are typically reusable assets such as packaging or bins which are expensive components yet hard to track. The present invention provides a mechanism for passively sensing when an asset enters or leaves a particular location in the supply chain and updates a database accordingly. This location and timing information is thereafter used in the present invention to model future movement of the assets for use in predicting whether a sufficient amount of the assets will be present at any particular location in the supply chain at any particular point in the future. An alert is generated if the modeling determines an insufficient amount is modeled to be present at the particular location. This allows a decision maker to make adjustments to ensure a sufficient amount of assets will be present at the particular location.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Surgere, Inc.Inventors: William J. Wappler, David J. Horvat
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Patent number: 9400965Abstract: According to some embodiments, a business bar code application may execute at a mobile user device associated with a user. The user may initiate a capture of an image of a bar code, and responsive to said capturing, information about the user may be automatically fetched. Information associated with the bar code may be transmitted to a remote business bar code server. The business bar code server may automatically determine a business model associated with the received bar code information and interact with an enterprise system to execute a business process workflow for the user in accordance with the determined business model.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SAP SEInventors: Guy Soffer, Michal Keidar
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Patent number: 9400966Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventor: Saak Dertadian
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Patent number: 9400967Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to a network of RFID readers which detect a location of an RFID transmitter coupled to a portable device. The network of RFID readers transmits the location to a user. The RFID transmitter couples to any personal device and broadcasts a unique ID. The nearest RFID reader(s) receive the unique ID and alert a server in communication with the network of RFID readers. The server calculates the distance of the RFID transmitter from each RFID reader receiving the unique ID. The server triangulates the location of the RFID transmitter when three or more RFID readers are receiving the unique ID. The server then securely transmits the location of the RFID transmitter to the user of the portable device. The user receives the transmission through a secure receiver.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventor: William A. O'Hern
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Patent number: 9400968Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for indexing synthetically modified images of a high quality image. An image recognition application receives images of a product, crops background regions from the images, scales the image based on a minimum value among width and height of the image and generates multiple image sizes, blurs the images, brightens the image and indexes the images as being associated with the product. The images can be of box-shaped packages that include four or six images or cylindrical packages that include, for example, eight images of the packages. The images can be indexed in a k-dimensional tree for faster retrieval.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Sri Kaushik Pavani, Anshul Garg
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Patent number: 9400969Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatic calibration of robotic mechanism functions according to accurate decoding and locating of target features using spot scanning. For example, a robotic mechanism in a storage library has one or more integrated scanners that can acquire contrast and/or topographic scan data from a scan window that represents a profile of the scan window expected to have one or more target feature sets. The scan data can be decoded according to predefined target masks (e.g., target type-specific fit tables) at a number of decode threshold levels to estimate target feature values, which can be used to converge on (or otherwise generate) a purported target definition with purported feature values. The purported target definition can be used to facilitate various functions, such as automatic calibration of robotic mechanism positioning and object identification.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Terry L. Lane
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Patent number: 9400970Abstract: A method and associated systems for automatically identifying critical resources in an organization. An organization creates a model of the dependencies between pairs of resource types, wherein that model describes how the organization's projects and services are affected when a resource type becomes unavailable. This model may include a system of directed graphs. This model may be used to automatically identify a resource type as critical if unacceptable cost is incurred by resuming projects and services rendered infeasible when the resource type is disrupted. The model may also be used to automatically identify a first resource type as critical for a second resource type when disruption of the first resource type forces the available capacity of the second resource type to fall below a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sreyash D. Kenkre, Sameep Mehta, Krishnasuri Narayanam, Vinayaka D. Pandit
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Patent number: 9400971Abstract: In some examples, a reader system is provided for managing inventory items in an inventory system. The reader system may be configured to read tags associated with items stowed in an inventory holder. The inventory holder may be detachably coupled to a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder to a first position near an antenna of the reader system and the tags may begin to be read. While reading or at other times in the reading process, the mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder relative to the antenna. The identified tags may be compared to a manifest list of items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Scott Russell, Thomas Matthew Ryle, Wesley Scott Lauka, Jonathan David Phillips, James Hollis Wood
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Patent number: 9400972Abstract: A method may include receiving or retrieving session information associated with one or more electronic communications that occurred outside of the social network site and included users of the social network site, comparing the session information with information associated with the users of the social network site, selecting one of the users as a user of the social network site and one or more of the users as one or more connections of the selected user of the social network site, based on the comparing, generating a weighted social graph for the selected user of the social network site, based on the session information, generating social network information based on the weighted social graph, and providing the social network information to at least one of the selected user of the social network site or the selected one or more connections of the user of the social network site.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Martin W. McKee, Paul T. Schultz, Robert A. Sartini
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Patent number: 9400973Abstract: User requested format alterations to interactive chart elements, comprising, but not limited to, legends, axes, gridlines, data labels, axes labels, error bars, and datapoints, whether they be represented as points, bars, pie wedges, etc., are persisted in spite of chart navigations, underlying data changes and/or format alterations. Interactive chart element format persistence is maintained by the association and storing of data identifying a format change on the data and index rule for the respective chart element.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Kristin Michele Tolle, Jenefer Lea Monroe, Stephen Michael Heijster
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Patent number: 9400974Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method is provided that can comprise receiving, by a server computer system from a user operating a client computing device, an electronic document and user input for adding one or more electronic annotations to the electronic document. The method can further comprise generating, by the server computer system, an annotated version of the electronic document that includes the one or more electronic annotations based on the user input. The server computer system can then send the annotated version of the electronic document to a recipient designated by the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: JN Projects, Inc.Inventors: Neal O'Mara, Joseph Walla
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Patent number: 9400975Abstract: A system for evaluating network users comprises one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memories operable to receive, over a network comprising a plurality of network users, electronic first user content generated by a first user, provide the first user content over the network to a second user, receive, over the network, a second user response to the first user content generated by the second user, determine a second user response delay time for the second user response, wherein the second user response delay time is associated with the amount of time between when the first user content was provided over the network and when the second user response was received, and generate a first list of network users that have responded to first user content, wherein the first list is organized based at least in part on the second user response delay time.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Keith Griffin, Patrick C. Linskey
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Patent number: 9400976Abstract: A system, method and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing services provided on behalf of a user through the invocation of a user profile. A service provision management system comprises a user profile registry, which further comprises a plurality of user profiles, each of which is associated with a user. A first user profile is compared to a second user profile within a user interface and recommended modifications to the first user profile are generated in response to user input. The user makes modifications to user information and service provider information contained in the first user profile. Upon invocation of the user profile, service provider instructions, which comprise service execution information, are issued to a service provider to provide a service on behalf of said user.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventor: Christopher P. Courtright
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Patent number: 9400977Abstract: In certain embodiments, an electronic device can include a secure element that detects a mechanical input. The mechanical input can correspond to an instruction to transmit securely stored payment information to another device and/or to release such information to an application on the device (e.g., for use in an in-app commerce transaction). This feature can inhibit or prevent unauthorized transmission of payment information. When the mechanical input is detected, payment information can be transmitted to a point of sale (POS) terminal (e.g., via near-field communication) or released to an app on the device. Further, a user can either use default payment information or interact with the device (before or after providing the mechanical input) to select appropriate payment information for a transaction. For example, the user can select between credit cards, debit cards and/or stored-value cards (e.g., transit card).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeremy T. Brown, Zachary A. Rosen, Morgan J. Grainger
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Patent number: 9400978Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct payment transactions at merchant locations including brick and mortar locations and remote locations as well as for person to person transactions.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Kevin Laracey