41st week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 54 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090254841 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CHARACTERIZING USER-DEFINED AREAS - A method of specifying a boundary for an area is provided, which includes receiving a first input from a first user regarding a first configuration of a boundary of an area. The first input may serve to establish an area of arbitrary and possibly irregular configuration, such as an area that is apolitical or otherwise legally undetermined. A second input may be received from a second user regarding a second boundary configuration. The second input may serve to modify the boundary of an area established by the first input. A particular configuration of the boundary based at least partially on the first and second inputs can then be determined. For example, the particular configuration of the boundary may be determined, in part, by spatially averaging the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, demographic data for an area defined by the particular configuration of the boundary may be compiled. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254842 | INTERFACING WITH A SPATIAL VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT - A spatial layout of zones of a virtual area in a network communication environment is displayed. A user can have a respective presence in each of one or more of the zones. Navigation controls and interaction controls are presented. The navigation controls enable the user to specify where to establish a presence in the virtual area. The interaction controls enable the user to manage interactions with one or more other communicants in the network communication environment. A respective presence of the user is established in each of one or more of the zones on response to input received via the navigation controls. Respective graphical representations of the communicants are depicted in each of the zones where the communicants respectively have presence. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254843 | SHARED VIRTUAL AREA COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT BASED APPARATUS AND METHODS - Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments. At least some of these systems and methods provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports realtime communications between the communicants. At least some of these systems and methods provide an interface that includes navigation controls that enable a user to navigate virtual areas and interaction controls that enable the user to interact with other communicants in the one or more virtual areas. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254844 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING EVENT RESERVATIONS AND RESOURCE DISPATCHING - A system and method for allocating resources to an event and/or managing the allocation of the resources. The event may comprise a ticketed event, such as, a tour, a shuttle service, an excursion, a sporting event, a concert, a play, a stage performance, or other type of performance or event, and the resources may comprise one or more ground transportation vehicles. According to an embodiment, the system comprises an interface configured to transfer event data from a reservation or ticketing system, one or more data structures for storing the event data and data for one or more resources, and a processor configured to allocate the one or more resources to the event. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254845 | METHOD OF ASSOCIATING PROPERTIES OR FIELDS OF GRAPHICAL OBJECTS WITH EACH OTHER FOR EFFICIENT COMPOSITION OF DOCUMENTS - An automated method is provided for preparing a document for editing. The document includes a first graphical object and at least one variable field or property in a second graphical object that is associated with a property of the first graphical object. The first graphical object has a plurality of properties. A user interface display screen is provided that allows a user to design a document that includes a plurality of graphical objects. Then, a document is created on the user interface display screen. A first graphical object and a second graphical object are added to the document. At least one variable field or property in the second graphical object is identified. The identified field or property in the second graphical object is associated with a property of the first graphical object. In this manner, a document is prepared for editing. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254846 | INTERACTIVE HOST-AWARE ADVERTISING - Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system, and media for enabling an advertisement to interact with a software application. This can include receiving advertising content that is to be hosted by a software application. The advertising content can include an advertisement to be presented as well as an object that includes product information. The object can be interacted with by the software application. The product information relates to a product offering that is being promoted by the advertisement. The method further includes presenting the advertisement within the software application, and enabling an interaction method with the software application such that the product information is utilized by the software application to present a presentation that becomes part of a work of the software application. The software application can then be used to modify imported product information. Links to the outside world enable dynamic updating of even the imported product information, and also enable transactions to be performed that are associated with the advertisement. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254847 | ANALYSIS OF VISUALLY-PRESENTED DATA - A person may interact with visually-presented data in order to specify an analysis to be performed on the data. Data may be presented through a browser or other program in a visual form, such as a chart or graph. The person may interact with the visual presentation of the data in order to choose a specific body of data or a portion thereof. An analysis may be performed on the chosen data. The analysis to be performed may be selected based on features of the data and/or based on the person's indication of which analysis is to be performed. A decision tree may be used to choose the particular analysis to be performed. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254848 | METHOD AND USER INTERFACE TO GENERATE AND PRESENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION RESULTS - A method for generation and presentation of medical examination results of at least one imaging device includes the steps of definition and input of measurement parameters via an input device, generation of spatially resolved image information with the at least one imaging device,) and storage of the image information as a respective image file on a storage medium, and selection of presentation parameters to show at least one of the image files depending on the selected presentation parameters. Selection and presentation of medical data acquired with imaging methods are optimized by the presentation parameters being automatically combined into multiple hierarchically organized groups. Each group of unselected presentation parameters is presented as a series of nested rectangles, wherein each presentation parameter corresponds to a rectangle, and each group of selected presentation parameters is presented as a step pyramid, wherein each presentation parameter corresponds to one pyramid level. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254849 | METHOD AND USER INTERFACE FOR THE GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MEDICAL DATA - Operation of a method and a device for the implementation of a medical examination via a user interface of at least one imaging device include determination and input of a group of measurement parameters via an input device of the user interface, generation of spatially resolved image information with the at least one imaging device depending on the group of measurement parameters, and storage of the image information on a storage medium and presentation of the image information as a data symbol on a screen of the user interface. Multiple data symbols are presented in a predetermined arrangement on the screen for a medical assessment. A UI element on the screen and a pointer symbol is positioned on the screen in one of the multiple data symbols via an input device. A predetermined region at the position of the pointer symbol is shown in the UI element. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254850 | System providing progress indicator for monitor firmware loading process - A method of providing an indication to a user of a status of an updating process of a video display monitor is disclosed. The method comprising receiving a set of instructions by the video display monitor, loading the set of instructions into a memory of the video display monitor, detecting a status of the loading of the set of instructions into the memory of the video display monitor, generating an indication of the status of the loading of the set of instructions into the memory of the video display monitor, and displaying the indication of the status of the loading of the set of instructions by the video display monitor. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254851 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING A SURVEY BY USING A WIRELESS DEVICE - A method of conducting a survey by a wireless device having a memory circuit and a display screen, the wireless device being capable of wireless communication with a server during a connection period, is provided. The method involves: downloading from the server during the connection period a metadata variable; displaying on the display screen of the wireless device presentation information associated with the metadata variable; receiving user input in response to the presentation information; after receiving the user input, allocating memory of the memory circuit for storing the user input in association with the metadata variable; and storing the user input in the memory in association with the metadata variable. A system for conducting a survey by a wireless device includes a server and a plurality of the wireless devices. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254852 | USER INTERFACE OVERLAY SYSTEM - A method and system for providing an overlay window for an application to display augmentation data over the user interface of the application is provided. An overlay system includes an overlay component and an engine component that interface with the application and a presentation manager used by the application to provide the application window. When the overlay system starts up, it initializes the overlay component and the engine component. The overlay component tracks the portion of the application that is currently visible and displays augmentation data in an overlay window over the application window. The engine component provides augmentation functionality that generates the augmentation data and generates the overlay window based on the augmentation data. When the visible portion of the application data changes, the overlay component requests the engine component to generate the overlay window for the currently visible application data. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254853 | METHOD OF VIEWING A SINGLE DOCUMENT IN MULTIPLE SCALED VIEWS - There is provided a method of viewing a document. The method includes displaying a first document in a first viewing window using a first scale value and a first origin coordinate. The first viewing window defines a coordinate array. The method includes determining a second origin coordinate within the coordinate array. The method includes determining a second scale value greater than the first scale value. The method includes displaying the first document in a second viewing window using the second origin coordinate and the second scale value. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254854 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VISUALIZING A MULTI-SCREEN WORKSPACE ON A SINGLE SCREEN DISPLAY | 2009-10-08 |
20090254855 | COMMUNICATION TERMINALS WITH SUPERIMPOSED USER INTERFACE - An electronic device includes a user input device and a display screen. A moving picture representative of a pointing object that is external to the electronic device is superimposed onto the display screen, and a plurality of features of the pointing object are interpreted as selection pointers so that a movement of the pointing object relative to the display screen may be interpreted as movement of a plurality of selection pointers. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254856 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROMPTING USERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO WEB FEEDS BASED ON WEB BROWSING ACTIVITY - A method (and corresponding system and computer program product) that prompts users for web feed subscription based on web browsing activities of the users is disclosed. The method monitors web browsing activities of a user related to a web page, and determines that the web page supports web feeds. Responsive to the user repeatedly visited the web page, the method determines whether the monitored web browsing activities related to the web page meets predetermined criteria. If so, the method prompts the user with options to subscribe to the web feed. If the user responds positively to the prompt, the method subscribes to the web feed. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254857 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE PRE-PURCHASE PERSONALIZATION - A portable electronic device or wireless communication device (WCD) has at least one provision for optional equipment or user services. Options are provided for a user in a menu selection for selection by the consumer of the options. The user selects the options for the particular WCD and the options are installed on delivery or prior to delivery, thereby providing the user with an initial selection of the options. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254858 | DYNAMIC E-MAIL SIGNATURE MANAGER - A dynamic electronic mail signature manager for managing a user's electronic mail signatures inserted into electronic mail messages. An electronic mail signature is displayed within a message composition user interface such that each component of the electronic mail signature is displayed in either an “include” display state or a visually distinct “omit” display state. Electronic mail signature components that are in the “omit” display state at the time the user indicates that the electronic mail message is to be sent are not included in the transmitted message. The user can toggle signature components between the “include” and “omit” display states by selecting individual objects. The initial state of each component when the user begins to compose a message (e.g. a new message, a reply message, etc.) may be automatically determined based on user configuration information, and/or based on message history information with respect to an indicated destination. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254859 | Automated selection of avatar characteristics for groups - Systems, apparatuses, and methods for automating avatar selection for groups are disclosed. A representative method includes providing a software application accessible to multiple users, and a database of available avatar characteristics that are selectively combinable to create user-specific avatars with which the users can represent themselves to each other in the application. User(s) associated with a group provide an instruction that associates a first set of the available avatar characteristics with the group. For users associated with the group, access is then restricted to the first set of avatar characteristics, and for users not associated with the group, access is restricted to a different second set of available avatar characteristics. Avatar characteristics in the first set may be selected by an automated procedure that analyzes user-specific avatars of some users, and selects which of the available avatar characteristics to include in the first set based on the analysis. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254860 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING WIDGET IN MULTI TICKER - Provided are a method and apparatus for processing a multi widget that unitively manages/displays various widgets in a multi ticker. The method includes registering predetermined widgets, analyzing information types of the registered widgets, determining a display type of widget information according to the information types of the registered widgets, and displaying the corresponding widget information on a screen according to the display type of the widget information. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254861 | DUAL DISPLAY CONTENT COMPANION - A method includes displaying a listing of content items in a first display area and displaying supplemental content items related to at least one of the content items in a second display area that is separate from the first display area. The listing of content items may represent content items that are available for rendering on a content rendering device. The listing of content items and the supplemental content items may be displayed simultaneously. One of the displayed content items may be selected and in response, the displayed listing of content items may be swapped to the second display area and the displayed supplemental content items may be swapped to the first display area. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254862 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER INTERFACE FOR CHILD ORIENTED COMPUTER NETWORK - The system provides a method and apparatus for implementing a user interface that is easily usable by children while still providing a rich network browsing environment for the child. The system provides a method of rating network content that is easily understandable by a child and uses images and words that make it easy for the child to accomplish goals and tasks. A unique loyalty system and feature rewards the child for time and activities on the network, allowing the child to obtain software widgets that can enhance the look and/or performance of the network interface. The system also implements a “contextual content presentation” feature that presents options and suggestions to the user based on a number of factors. The child can also customize a home page with a look generated by the child and including network tools selected by the child. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254863 | Systems and Methods for Accessing System Utilities - In one embodiment, an information handling system may include a processor, a display that may provide a user interface allowing a user to select one or more system utilities to be accessed, memory that may include a plurality of memory partitions storing a plurality of system utilities, and a management controller. During a configuration of the information handling system, the management controller may receive a request from the user via the user interface to access one or more selected system utilities; identify one or more memory partitions storing the one or more selected system utilities; and cause the display to display one or more user-selectable icons corresponding to the one or more identified memory partitions to provide the user access to the one or more identified memory partitions. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254864 | Visualization system and method - The invention is a method and system by which a visualization of a predetermined subject can be generated with the assets and/or attributes of the subject identified and, if assessed, the results of the assessment can be indicated. The visualization includes a center point with a core which represents the subject and a series of annular rings depending outwardly therefrom, each ring represents a set of assets or attributes and each ring has a segment representing each of the assets or attributes in the set. The visualization allows effective analysis and representation of the predetermined subject. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254865 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION ORGANIZED BY CONCENTRIC CLOSED PATHS - A graphical user interface for a computer system having a plurality of icons, each icon representing an activity. A display controller launches the activity associated with a selected icon when selected. An organization algorithm directs a processor of the computer system to arrange the plurality of icons along a sequence of consecutive closed paths, each closed path representing an organizational level of associated activities. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254866 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING A MULTITUDE OF OBJECTS ON A DISPLAY - A method displays a multitude of objects on a display, the display offering an electronic pointer device. A maximum number of objects to be displayed in an adaptable orientation at a time is determined. The multitude of objects are automatically grouped into at least one group containing at most the maximum number of said objects. The groups are listed in a first list. The objects grouped into the group are automatically displayed in a second list upon the electronic pointer device pointing to the group. Furthermore, a display used for the described method is described, as well as a computer system, a maintenance management system and a mobile phone using the described method and display. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254867 | ZOOM FOR ANNOTATABLE MARGINS - The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates interacting with a portion of data that includes pyramidal volumes of data. A portion of image data can represent a computer displayable multiscale image with at least two substantially parallel planes of view in which a first plane and a second plane are alternatively displayable based upon a level of zoom and which are related by a pyramidal volume, wherein the multiscale image includes a pixel at a vertex of the pyramidal volume. An edit component can receive and incorporate an annotation to the multiscale image corresponding to at least one of the two substantially parallel planes of view. A display engine can display the annotation on the multiscale image based upon navigation to the parallel plane of view corresponding to such annotation. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254868 | TRANSLATION OF GESTURE RESPONSES IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Translating gestures made by one avatar to a second avatar in a virtual world by receiving an input from a first user representing an input gesture to be made by the first avatar to the second avatar. The input gesture is translated to generate at least one translated gesture for display. The translated gesture may be output for display as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254869 | MULTI-PARAMETER EXTRACTION ALGORITHMS FOR TACTILE IMAGES FROM USER INTERFACE TACTILE SENSOR ARRAYS - A user interface employs a tactile sensor array producing a rich flux of independently-adjustable interactive control parameters, rates of change, and symbols derived from these as well as tactile shapes, patterns, gestures, syntaxes, and phrases from each of one or more regions of contact or proximity. The tactile sensor array may comprise a pressure sensor array, proximity sensor array, or other sensor such as a video camera. The user interface derives up to six independently-adjustable interactive real-time control parameters plus rates and symbols from a single finger tip. Simple running sums employed during scans so that individual sensor measurements need not be stored. The user interface supports multiple regions of contact or proximity wherein at least one of the regions has a non-convex shape. In addition, the tactile sensor array may be partitioned into sections or modules each with a separate scanning loop and/or processor. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254870 | Automatic transistor arrangement device to arrange serially connected transistors, and method thereof - When first and second hard macro transistors are arranged adjacently to each other, based on a circuit connection information and potentials of the first and second hard macro transistors are equal, a first programmable transistor is obtained by removing an unwanted diffusion region or an unwanted contact in the first hard macro transistor, and a second programmable transistor is obtained by removing an unwanted diffusion region or an unwanted contact in the second hard macro transistor. The first and second programmable transistors are arranged based on the circuit connection information. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254871 | Methods for Hierarchical Noise Analysis - Systems and methods for hierarchical noise analysis of digital circuits, wherein analysis of a cell is based on the configuration of the cell itself and also the upstream circuit components that are connected to the inputs of the cell. One embodiment comprises a method for noise analysis in an electronic circuit such as a digital CMOS circuit. The method includes identifying a cell and identifying the inputs of the cell. For each of the inputs of the cell, a corresponding first upstream circuit component is identified. The identified component is the first component upstream from the cell's input and is directly connected to the input. A noise analysis for the cell is performed based upon the configuration of the cell in combination with the identified upstream circuit components. The result of the analysis for the combination of the cell and the upstream circuit components can then be stored. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254872 | Method for Designing and Manufacturing a PMOS Device with Drain Junction Breakdown Point Located for Reduced Drain Breakdown Voltage Walk-in - A PMOS device can be designed and manufactured in accordance with the invention to locate its drain junction breakdown point and maximum impact ionization point to reduce or eliminate drain breakdown voltage walk-in. In some embodiments, the drain junction breakdown point and maximum impact ionization point are located sufficiently far from the gate that the device exhibits no significant drain breakdown voltage walk-in. The device can be a high voltage power transistor having an extended drain region including a P-type lightly doped drain (P-LDD) implant, with drain junction breakdown and maximum impact ionization points appropriately located by controlling the implant dose employed to produce the P-LDD implant. Other aspects of the invention are methods for designing a PMOS device including by determining relative locations of the gate and at least one of the drain junction breakdown and maximum impact ionization points to reduce drain breakdown voltage walk-in, and methods for manufacturing integrated circuits including any embodiment of the PMOS device of the invention. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254873 | CIRCUIT BOARD ANALYZER AND ANALYSIS METHOD - A circuit board analyzer includes a storage unit for storing mesh position information on an analyzed mesh-division model and extracted circuit constants in relation to each other; a division-model configuration unit for dividing the layout of a circuit board into meshes to configure a new mesh-division model; an identical-mesh determination unit for making a comparison between mesh position information on the new mesh-division model and mesh position information on the analyzed mesh-division model to determine identical meshes that have identical mesh position information; and a circuit-constant extraction unit for performing analytical processing based on the new mesh-division model to extract new circuit constants and reusing, as a new circuit constant associated with the identical meshes, an extracted circuit constant that is related to the mesh position information on the identical meshes. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254874 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PLACEMENT AND ROUTING - Techniques for placement of integrated circuit elements include global placement, detailed placement, timing closure, and routing. The integrated circuit is described by a netlist specifying interconnections of morphable devices. The detailed placement uses, for example, Simultaneous Dynamical Integration, wherein the morphable-devices correspond to nodes influenced by forces, including timing forces. The timing forces are derived, for example, from a timing graph; path delay; slack; and drive resistance of the elements. The timing closure uses timing-driven buffering and timing-driven resizing to reduce maximum delay and/or transition time, and/or to fix hold time. Nets having high capacitance and/or fanout, and timing critical nets are preferentially processed. Timing-driven buffering applies buffering solutions to segments of route trees, combines solutions of adjoining segments, and prunes sets of solutions. Timing-driven resizing morphably replaces selected elements with upsized versions thereof. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254875 | PROACTIVE ROUTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - There is provided a proactive routing system and method. In some embodiments, the method includes determining slack for a net in a netlist, applying a routing condition to the net, calculating an extra delay related to the routing condition, determining a criticality of the net considering the extra delay and the determined slack, and setting a soft constraint based at least partially on the criticality. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254876 | CONCEPT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING, EXTRACTING, ORGANIZING, INFERRING AND QUERYING SOFTWARE SYSTEM FACTS - Software system facts comprising concepts, concept instances and relationships within the software system are identified and stored in a repository. The software system facts are extracted from artifacts comprising the software system or are provided through explicit definition. Architectures of the software system are recovered from the stored software system facts. Layered views of the recovered architectures are generated. The stored software system facts are checked against architectural rules to ensure architectural compliance of the software system. The impact of proposed changes to the software system is assessed by querying the identified software system facts. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254877 | CONCEPT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING, EXTRACTING, ORGANIZING, INFERRING AND QUERYING SOFTWARE SYSTEM FACTS - Software system facts comprising concepts, concept instances and relationships within the software system are identified and stored in a repository. The software system facts are extracted from artifacts comprising the software system or are provided through explicit definition. Architectures of the software system are recovered from the stored software system facts. Layered views of the recovered architectures are generated. The stored software system facts are checked against architectural rules to ensure architectural compliance of the software system. The impact of proposed changes to the software system is assessed by querying the identified software system facts. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254878 | EXECUTABLE CODE GENERATED FROM COMMON SOURCE CODE - A computer system generates first executable code in a first programming language based on common source code, where the first executable code is configured to execute at a server in the client-server environment. Then, the computer system executes the first executable to produce relational objects that constitute a tree hierarchy, where a given relational object defines a relationship between nodes and end points in the common source code. Next, the computer system generates second executable code in a second programming language based on the tree hierarchy, where the second executable code is configured to execute at a client in the client-server environment, and where the second executable code implements a subset of the common source code associated with the relational objects which is based on a user context. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254879 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSURING DATA INTEGRITY IN DATA-DRIVEN SOFTWARE - Described herein is a system and method for developing data-driven software, which references coded values. Coded values may include resource identifiers such as icons, bitmaps, localized strings, menus, screens, and sounds. According to certain aspects of the present invention, a build process is presented that creates a robust way for data to refer to coded values using XML together with document type entity definitions (DTD entity values). According to certain aspects of the present invention, systems and methods are presented for assuring data integrity in the data-driven software. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254880 | TECHNIQUES FOR OFFERING AND APPLYING CODE MODIFICATIONS - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for offering and applying source code modifications based upon a context of a user in a development environment. For example, code snippets can be offered to the user and customized programmatically. A code editor accepts user input comprising source code. Code snippets of sample source code are stored in a data store. A code completion tool monitors user actions and detects a triggering action in the monitored user actions. A code snippet associated with the triggering action is identified. An option is offered representing the code snippet. In response to user selection of the option, the associated code snippet is inserted into the code editor and is automatically customized based upon the user context. As another example, aspect-oriented source code transformations are offered based upon the user context. As yet another example, solutions to commonly problematic tasks are offered based upon the user context. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254881 | CODE GENERATION TECHNIQUES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS - Techniques for using a declarative programming language to automatically generate imperative language computer programs (such as the get, set, enable, and disable commands of the Windows® PowerShell scripting language) that perform administrative tasks of computing environments. A code generator | 2009-10-08 |
20090254882 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ITERATIVE BINARY CODING AND DECODING OF XML TYPE DOCUMENTS - The invention concerns iterative binary coding/decoding for a document comprising values to code or to decode. For the coding, after having created ( | 2009-10-08 |
20090254883 | METADATA-INTEGRATED DEBUGGER - A method, system and computer program product for software debugging using annotation metadata. A set of metadata comprising source code annotation information for a software program is maintained, together with data/metadata relationships between individual units of the metadata and individual units of the source code. A software debugging point is set that is associated with debugging point metadata comprising one or more units the metadata. A debugging action is performed when execution of the software program reaches said debugging point. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254884 | IDENTIFICATION OF TOPICS IN SOURCE CODE - Topics in source code can be identified using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) by receiving source code, identifying domain specific keywords from the source code, generating a keyword matrix, processing the keyword matrix and the source code using LDA, and outputting a list of topics. The list of topics is output as collections of domain specific keywords. Probabilities of domain specific keywords belonging to their respective topics can also be output. The keyword matrix comprises weighted sums of occurrences of domain specific keywords in the source code. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254885 | SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MANAGING CONFIGURATIONS OF AUTOMATIC TESTS - The present invention is a new and innovative system and method for managing and organizing the set of configurations of tests independently of the definition and execution of scenario suit of the tests. The proposed system and method enable managing the setups and teardown configurations for any type of test of any type of tested item. Additionally, embodiments of the proposed configuration management system and method may include recovery protocol for defining the needed configurations when tests fail. According to embodiments of the present invention the setup and teardown configurations are organized in a tree hierarchy, each branch of the hierarchic configuration tree is designated for a group of tests. The system further verifies that the different configurations do not contradict each other | 2009-10-08 |
20090254886 | Virtual debug port in single-chip computer system - The invention is a method and apparatus for debugging of software on an array-type single chip computer system | 2009-10-08 |
20090254887 | Testing Software Applications with Progress Tracking - Method, computer program products and systems for testing a software application by providing one or more test units. Each test unit is adapted to verity a feature of the software application. A weight is assigned to each test unit. A theoretical sequence of execution of the test units is determined for the assigned weights and the test units are executed for the theoretical sequence. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254888 | DEBUG TOURS FOR SOFTWARE DEBUGGING - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to source code debugging and provide a method, system and computer program product for debug tours for debugging source code. In an embodiment of the invention, a debugger data processing system can be provided. The system can include a debugger executing in a host computing platform, and a debug tour manager coupled to the debugger. The debug tour manager can include program code enabled to load a debug tour of an ordered set of breakpoints established during a prior debugging session of source code, to apply the breakpoints in the debug tour to separately loaded source code, and to execute the source code and to invoke the applied breakpoints in an order prescribed by the ordered set within the debugger. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254889 | JUST-IN-TIME DYNAMIC INSTRUMENTATION - Just-in-time dynamic instrumentation of a running software system may be achieved by registering one or more instrumentation probe handlers in an inactive state wherein the probe handlers reside in a memory space associated with the software system but are not instrumented into the software system. The probe handlers may each have one or more probe handler tags representing categories to which the probe handlers have been assigned. Tag query requests are periodically received and processed in order to provide information to a caller about registered probe handlers associated with a probe handler tag specified in the tag query request. A probe handler activation request can be made by specifying a probe handler or a probe handler tag. The request can be processed by placing the specified probe handler, or probe handlers associated with the tag, in an active state. The software system thus becomes dynamically instrumented to execute the probe handler(s) as part of the software system's execution flow. The activated probe handler(s) may be returned to the inactive state in response to a probe handler deactivation request specifying a probe handler or a probe handler tag. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254890 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING INSTALL-LESS SOFTWARE FROM INSTALLATION PACKAGE OF SOFTWARE - Disclosed is a system and method for completely converting software into a form that can be used without an installation process by using an operating system and a converted software generating module which are disposed at a remote place. The software converting system for generating a converted software executable without being installed from an installation package of the target software includes: a clean operating system without software installation information for the target software; an installation module for installing the target software in the clean operating system by executing the installation package; a converted software generating module for generating the converted software for the target software by comparing the clean operating system before and after the installation of the target software; and a system communication module for receiving the installation package and transmitting the generated converted software to the user terminal. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254891 | AUTOMATIC REVERSE ENGINEERING OF INPUT FORMATS - Systems and methods for automatically reverse engineering an input data format using dynamic data flow analysis. Combining input data with a simulated execution of the binary program using the input data and analyzing the use of the data by the program to generate a BNL-like grammar representing the input data format. The input data can be application level protocols, network protocols or formatted files. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254892 | Compiling method and compiler - A compiling method for compiling software which is adapted to output an intermediate result at a given timing, the compiling method includes extracting, by a computer, a process block related to parallel processing and conditional branch from a processing sequence included in a source code of a software which is processed time-sequentially, and generating, by the computer, an execution code by restructuring the process block that is extracted. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254893 | COMPILER OPTIMIZED FUNCTION VARIANTS FOR USE WHEN RETURN CODES ARE IGNORED - A mechanism and functionality are provided for generating and using compiler optimized function variants. These variants may be used, for example, in situations where return values of functions called by code are not thereafter used by the code calling the functions. In particular, for a function called by computer code, at least two variants for the function may be generated. A function call, for calling the function, within original computer code may be analyzed to determine which variant of the at least two variants to use for the function call. The function call may be modified in the original computer code, to generate modified computer code, based on results of the analysis identifying which variant of the at least two variants to use for the function call. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254894 | Method and Apparatus for Workflow Based High Availability Analysis - Techniques are disclosed for workflow based high availability analysis in computing systems. For example, a computer-implemented method for analyzing an information network infrastructure to identify one or more availability weak points includes the following steps. A workflow specification is provided based on one or more user-visible processes and an application topology. Service workflows associated with the specification are mapped from the application topology to the infrastructure to generate a workflow data structure. An availability weak point analysis is performed in accordance with the workflow data structure to determine one or more optimal high availability parameters for one or more deployed components of the infrastructure. The one or more optimal high availability parameters are applied in the infrastructure so as to substantially eliminate the one or more availability weak points. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254895 | Prefetching Irregular Data References for Software Controlled Caches - Prefetching irregular memory references into a software controlled cache is provided. A compiler analyzes source code to identify at least one of a plurality of loops that contain an irregular memory reference. The compiler determines if the irregular memory reference within the at least one loop is a candidate for optimization. Responsive to an indication that the irregular memory reference may be optimized, the compiler determines if the irregular memory reference is valid for prefetching. Responsive to an indication that the irregular memory reference is valid for prefetching, a store statement for an address of the irregular memory reference is inserted into the at least one loop. A runtime library call is inserted into a prefetch runtime library for the irregular memory reference. Data associated with the irregular memory reference is prefetched into the software controlled cache when the runtime library call is invoked. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254896 | Simplifying Bundling Of Fixes Used To Resolve Errors In Pre-Installed Software - Simplifying the bundling of fixes used to resolve errors in pre-installed software. A user is first enabled to specify a list of fixes that are to be included in the bundle as a group. The availability of each of the list of fixes is then determined, with the fixes that are determined to be available being included in the bundle. An indication is provided to the user for the fixes that are determined to be not available. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254897 | UPDATING FIRMWARE ON MOBILE ELECTRONICE DEVICES - A system for updating firmware on electronic devices, including an electronic device, including a processor, a storage coupled with the processor for storing a current image of firmware that includes programmed instructions for the processor and a baseline image of firmware, an update utility coupled with the processor for instructing the processor to update the firmware stored in the storage, and a connector coupled with the processor for connecting the electronic device to a jacket, thereby enabling communication between the electronic device and the jacket, and a jacket, including a storage for storing a firmware difference image for updating the firmware in the electronic device to a newer version, and a port for connecting the electronic device connector thereto, wherein the update utility instructs said electronic device processor (i) to apply the firmware difference image to the baseline the of the firmware to generate a newer version image of the firmware, and (ii) to replace the current image of the firmware in the electronic device storage with the thus generated newer version image of the firmware, in response to connecting the electronic device connector to said jacket port. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254898 | CONVERTING A DEVICE FROM ONE SYSTEM TO ANOTHER - Re-purposing a computer from one operating system to another is both simplified and made less susceptible to error by moving original system firmware to a backup location and then installing both new firmware and the new operating system in one process. Because the original firmware is maintained and accessible, should the new firmware, for example, a BIOS, fail, the original firmware can be restored and the process restarted. To assist in the seamless change from one operating system to another, an inventory of computer assets may be used to built an installation program and removable memory for use in the upgrade. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254899 | METHOD FOR VIRTUALIZING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS - A method for virtualizing of software applications. The method comprises initializing a virtual environment created by a virtual engine executed over a computer; creating a new data file; launching an installation process of a software application to be virtualized, wherein the installation process runs in the virtual environment; during the installation process, capturing data writes to a file system of the computer's operating system; and saving the data writes to the new data file. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254900 | NETWORK SYSTEM, COMPUTERS, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING AND EXECUTING APPLICATIONS IN NETWORK SYSTEM - To provide a network system or the like that makes it possible for a client terminal to use an application without being influenced by the quality of circuits or the like and having a simple configuration, and that also makes it possible for a user to easily search a desired application. In a network system | 2009-10-08 |
20090254901 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) VIRTUALISATION FOR MINIMIZING POWER CONSUMPTION IN MOBILE PHONES - A mobile phone that uses OS virtualization for minimizing power consumption in mobile phones is provided. A mobile phone according to the invention may include a plurality of application stacks and a plurality of processor cores. Each of the application stacks preferably corresponds to one of the plurality of processor cores. The mobile phone also includes a hypervisor. In a first state, the hypervisor allocates tasks from each of the application stacks to the processor core that corresponds to the respective application stack. In a second state, the hypervisor allocates selected tasks from the plurality of application stacks to a single processor core. The second state may be an idle state and the tasks that are allocated to the single processor core may be periodic tasks. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254902 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING ACCESS EFFICIENCY OF SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE STORAGE DEVICE - A method for improving an access efficiency of a small computer system interface (SCSI) storage device is used to process a plurality of access requests for a physical storage device from a request end. The task processing method includes setting a task queue in each virtual disk, for receiving a plurality of disk access tasks sent from a server; writing the disk access tasks to storage addresses in the virtual disk; executing a storage address recording, for recording the disk access tasks having the same storage address, and sending the rest disk access tasks in sequence to the physical storage device; saving the disk access tasks into a request queue of the physical storage device; executing a program sequence optimization on the disk access tasks in the request queue; and sending back the disk access tasks after the program optimization process to the virtual disk. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254903 | Open framework to interface business applications and content management in media production and distribution environment - An open framework to interface at least one business applications and content management in a media production and distribution environment utilizes a standard messaging protocol and a reliable communication bus. The business application creates a work package in a workflow by sending appropriate messages to a workflow engine. The workflow engine generates a work package template corresponding to the intake work orders at the business application. Devices connected to the communication bus are managed and their respective services are exposed to the workflow engine through the illustrative embodiment of the present principles of managed device interfaces. The work package enables the triggering of a complex sequence of actions via the standard messaging protocol. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254904 | Intent-Based Ontology for Grid Computing Using Autonomous Mobile Agents - A Grid application framework uses semantic languages to describe the tasks and resources used to complete them. A Grid application execution framework comprises a plurality of mobile agents operable to execute one or more tasks described in an intent based task specification language; VO circuitry operable to receive input that describes a task in the task specification language; an analysis engine for generating a solution to the described task; and an intent knowledge base operable to store information contained within tasks of the plurality of mobile agents | 2009-10-08 |
20090254905 | FACILITATING TRANSACTIONAL EXECUTION IN A PROCESSOR THAT SUPPORTS SIMULTANEOUS SPECULATIVE THREADING - Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that executes a transaction on a simultaneous speculative threading (SST) processor. In these embodiments, the processor includes a primary strand and a subordinate strand. Upon encountering a transaction with the primary strand while executing instructions non-transactionally, the processor checkpoints the primary strand and executes the transaction with the primary strand while continuing to non-transactionally execute deferred instructions with the subordinate strand. When the subordinate strand non-transactionally accesses a cache line during the transaction, the processor updates a record for the cache line to indicate the first strand ID. When the primary strand transactionally accesses a cache line during the transaction, the processor updates a record for the cache line to indicate a second strand ID. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254906 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING ENTERPRISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH SERVICE ORIENTED RESOURCE AND USING A PROCESS PROFILING FRAMEWORD - A service-oriented architecture for enterprise project management integrates business processes, human resources and project management within an enterprise or across the value chain network. A representation having direction and attributes is provided to show the dependencies between a business value layer and a project-portfolio layer, and between the project-portfolio layer and resources. The representation is mapped to a Web Services representation in UDDI, Web Services interfaces, and Web Services based business processes through rope hyper-linking. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254907 | METHOD FOR MULTITHREADING AN APPLICATION USING PARTITIONING TO ALLOCATE WORK TO THREADS - A method for assigning work to a plurality of threads using a primitive data element to partition a work load into a plurality of partitions. A first partition is assigned to a first thread and a second partition is assigned to a second thread of the plurality of threads. A method for improving the concurrency of a multithreaded program by replacing a queue structure storing a plurality of tasks to be performed by a plurality of threads with a partition function. A computer system including a processor unit configured to run a plurality of threads and a system memory coupled to the processor unit that stores a multithreaded program. The multithreaded program workload is partitioned into a plurality of partitions using a primitive data element and a first partition of the plurality of partitions is assigned to a first thread of the plurality of threads for execution. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254908 | CUSTOM SCHEDULING AND CONTROL OF A MULTIFUNCTION PRINTER - A method and system for implementing custom scheduling policies including making alterations to internal task scheduling policies or firmware operating within the MFP throughout the lifetime of the MFP. Internal task scheduling policy alterations can be made either remotely or on-site at a customer location. Custom scheduling policies can be implemented for different periods of time. The MFP includes a task run-time controller to receive and process the internal task scheduling policy alterations. The task run-time controller includes a task tuner, which may implement the internal task scheduling policy alterations responsive to usage characteristics of the MFP. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254909 | Methods and Apparatus for Power-aware Workload Allocation in Performance-managed Computing Environments - An exemplary method of allocating a workload among a set of computing devices includes obtaining at least one efficiency model for each device. The method also includes, for each of a set of allocations of the workload among the devices, determining, for each device, the power consumption for the device to perform the workload allocated to the device by the allocation, the power consumption being determined based on the at least one efficiency model for each device; and determining a total power consumption of the devices. The method also includes selecting an allocation of the workload among the devices based at least in part on the total power consumption of the devices for each allocation. The method also includes implementing the selected allocation of the workload among the devices. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254910 | PRINTING SYSTEM SCHEDULER METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Provided are printing system scheduler methods and systems. Specifically, a shadow scheduler is disclosed which provides alternative modular printing system configurations, relative to a base modular printing system configuration. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254911 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information processing apparatus having a storage that stores identification information for identifying an event occurring in a forefront module and completion information for identifying a module having completed the corresponding process, an identifier that identifies an event that any module has not completed the process based on the completion information, an instructor that provides the identification information related to the event identified by the identifier to the forefront module, and instructs the forefront module to execute the process related to the identified event. Each of the modules operates as a determiner that reads the completion information corresponding to the received identification information, and determines whether to skip the process of its own module, and a deliverer that delivers, the identification information to the immediately succeeding module in a case where the determiner determines to skip the process of its own module. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254912 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS CUSTOMIZED APPLICATIONS FOR MOBILE DEVICES - A system and method for building applications, such as applications that cause a mobile device to perform a task, is described. In some examples, the system provides one or more plugins, a framework for the plugins, and configures the plugins to build a customized application for a mobile device. The plugins may include code configured to perform a task, display one or more pages associated with performance of the task, perform a transaction during performance of the task, and so on. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254913 | Information Processing System - An information processing system is provided to alleviate excessive load on a master node, thereby allowing the master node to efficiently perform the process of assigning jobs to nodes. A client | 2009-10-08 |
20090254914 | OPTIMIZED USAGE OF COLLECTOR RESOURCES FOR PERFORMANCE DATA COLLECTION THROUGH EVEN TASK ASSIGNMENT - A method of balancing computer resources on a network of computers is provided employing a two-tier network architecture of at least one High Level Collector as a scheduler/load balancing server, and a plurality Low level Collectors which gather task data and execute instructions. Tasks are assigned priority and weight scores and sorted prior to assignment to Low Level Collectors. Also provided is a computer readable medium including instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by at least one computing device balances computer resources on a network of computers. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254915 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FAULT RESILIENT PROCESSING IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device is provided. A processor and memory store are provided in an implantable medical device. Separate times on the processor are scheduled to a plurality of processes. Separate memory spaces in the memory store are managed by exclusively associating one such separate memory space with each of the processes. Data is selectively validated prior to exchange from one of the processes to another of the processes during execution in the separate processor times. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254916 | ALLOCATING RESOURCES FOR PARALLEL EXECUTION OF QUERY PLANS - Computing resources can be assigned to sub-plans within a query plan to effect parallel execution of the query plan. For example, computing resources in a grid can be represented by nodes, and a shortest path technique can be applied to allocate machines to the sub-plans. Computing resources can be provisionally allocated as the query plan is divided into query plan segments containing one or more sub-plans. Based on provisional allocations to the segments, the computing resources can then be allocated to the sub-plans within respective segments. Multiprocessor computing resources can be supported. The techniques can account for data locality. Both pipelined and partitioned parallelism can be addressed. Described techniques can be particularly suited for efficient execution of bushy query plans in a grid environment. Parallel processing will reduce the overall response time of the query. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED I/O NODE CONTROL IN COMPUTER SYSTEM - A computer system is provided with a file system storing data; a plurality of I/O nodes which are adapted to access the file system; a compute node adapted to execute a job and to issue an I/O request when requiring an I/O operation; and a job server for job scheduling which dynamically allocates an I/O resource of the I/O nodes to a job without stopping execution of the job. The job server includes an I/O node scheduler adapted to, when being not able to fully secure an desired amount of the I/O resource of the I/O nodes required by the job in starting the job, secure a part of the required amount of the I/O resource of the I/O nodes, and to allocate the secured part of the I/O resource to the job. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254918 | Mechanism for Performance Optimization of Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) Page Processing Via Processor Pinning - A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing “Hypertext Preprocessor” (PHP) processes by identifying the PHP pages which are active on a server and forwarding requests for specific pages to a processor which has recently processed that page. A request processing optimization (RPO) utility assigns an initial request received at the server for a PHP page based on a number of factors which may include a relative usage level of a processor within a pool of available processors on a server. The RPO utility assigns a request to additional processors based on: (1) a threshold frequency of page requests; and (2) a resource intensive factor of a page request measured by average response time of the page request. The assignment of PHP pages to a particular processor(s) enhances cache performance since the requisite code for a specific PHP page is loaded into the processor's cache. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254919 | Sharing Operating System Sub-Processes Across Tasks - An operating system permits sharing of a sub-process (or process unit) across multiple processes (or tasks). Each shared sub-process has its own context. The sharing is enabled by tracking when a process invokes a sub-process. When a process invokes a sub-process, the process is designated as a parent process of the child sub-process. The invoked sub-process may require use of process level variable data. To enable storage of the process level variable data for each calling process, the variable data is stored in memory using a base address and a fixed offset. Although the based address may vary from process to process, the fixed offset remains the same across processes. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254920 | Extended dynamic optimization of connection establishment and message progress processing in a multi-fabric message passing interface implementation - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system that can optimize message passing by, at least in part, automatically determining a minimum number of fabrics and virtual channels to be activated to handle pending connection requests and data transfer requests, and preventing processing of new connection requests and data transfer requests outside of a predetermined communication pattern. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254921 | SYNCHRONIZING BUSINESS TRANSACTION RECORDS FROM ASYNCHRONOUS MESSAGES RECEIVED OUT OF SEQUENCE - A method for processing business transaction orders received asynchronously. The method includes receiving a first message for a business object, the business object comprising an order between a first party and a second party, and storing the business object including a first entity within a data store. The method further includes receiving a second message for the business object including a second entity, and storing the second entity with the business object. Respective chronological indicators for the first entity and the second entity are examined. Based on the chronological indicators, object attribute metadata describing a current status of the business object is updated, and the business object is processed in accordance with the updated object attribute metadata. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254922 | METHOD FOR EFFICIENT LOCATION OF CORBA OBJECTS BASED ON UNMARSHALED OBJECT KEY IN A REQUEST - Disclosed are methods and threads for responding to a request to perform an operation on a server object as may be provided in software form within an object request broker (ORB) server library or an ORB server. The specified object is identified by a marshaled object key in a conventional manner. The method improves upon prior art techniques by directly locating the object using the marshaled object key free of any unmarshaling step. The specified operation can then be invoked on the located object. The method applies to both in-process and out-of-process requests. In a preferred implementation, the marshaled object key is utilized as a hash key to directly access a pointer to the object. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254923 | Mechanism that Provides More Efficient Event Handler Processing - Disclosed is an apparatus, method, service product, and program product which each provide an enhanced, registration-based event handler mechanism. Listener programs are located and compiled before notification is needed. When notification is ultimately required, the pre-located listeners can be called directly without incurring the performance expense associated with first locating and then calling each listener. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254924 | OPERATING SYSTEM INTERFACES FOR VIRTUAL WIFI AND SOFTAP CAPABLE DRIVERS - Some embodiments of the invention provide an interface between programmed instructions (e.g., an operating system) and a miniport driver configured to communicate with radio hardware on a computer. The interface may include components operable to invoke various wireless connectivity-related functionality implemented by the radio hardware and/or miniport driver. The functionality may, for example, include a capability whereby the computer may maintain simultaneous connections on a plurality of wireless networks using a single radio, and/or a capability whereby the computer may function as an access point for a wireless network. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254925 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING DRIVERS - Driver systems and methods are provided, such as those that include identifying a process corner of a driver; and configuring the driver based on the identified process corner. Further embodiments provide a method that includes detecting a process corner of a driver, setting a reference voltage of a calibration circuit based on the process corner detected, and configuring the driver based on the reference voltage. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254926 | REGISTERING NETWORK APPLICATIONS WITH AN API FRAMEWORK - A method for registering a network application with an application programming interface (API) framework. In operation, a registrar may send a registration message that associates a namespace with the network application to the API framework. In one implementation, the namespace associated with the network application may be a uniform resource identifier. In another implementation, the registration message may specify a format of the standardized clients, a security policy, and the application resources associated with the network application. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254927 | Techniques For Deploying Virtual Software Applications On Desktop Computers - A method for bridging between virtual applications and an operating system of a host computer. The method comprises retrieving virtual applications and settings of the virtual applications assigned to a user logged onto the host computer; downloading shadow files of the virtual applications assigned to the user; integrating each of the virtual applications with an operating system shell of the host computer; and causing a virtual application to be executed over the host computer when the virtual application is launched by the user. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254928 | OPTICAL DISC DEVICE - An optical disc device is capable of achieving a size reduction by ensuring a rigidity of a tray and also executing a stable disc transferring/ejecting operation by preventing such a situation that a projection on the recording face side of the disc is stuck. In an optical disc device, a cam portion configured to include a holder that is supported on the outside of a cam member to turn and move vertically is provided in a position that is in vicinity of a tray being supported by elevator cam gears. In disc loading/ejecting operations, the cam portion is turned and a projecting portion pushes down a tray projecting portion of the tray, so that a space S if formed between the tray and the disc. Since the tray is shaped into a closed circular tray, a rigidity of the tray can be ensured and also the space used to avoid a contact between a projecting portion on a lower face of the disc and a surface of the tray can be provided by bending the tray. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254929 | DISK CARRYING DEVICE - A disk carrying device including a transporting roller for carrying a disk, a turntable and a clamper for holding the disk, a trigger plate moved by carrying of the disk to a chucking position for changing a transmission route of driving force from the transporting roller to a cam plate, a first biasing means for urging the trigger plate to a position before moving, a guide base for pressing the disk on the transporting roller, an arm roller disposed on an opposite side of the guide base with respect to the transporting roller so as to move the guide base apart from the transporting roller, and a second biasing means disposed between the guide base and the arm roller. The second biasing means is extended when the disk is present between the guide base and the transporting roller and generates urging force pulling the guide base to the transporting roller. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254930 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND REDEEMING CREDITS ON A BROADCAST SYSTEM - Methods and systems enable receiving on mobile devices credits, tokens or coupons from mobile TV broadcast service providers. Credits may be delivered via direct unicast messages such as SMS or e-mail, or via broadcast provisioning messages. Subscription response messages may be used to deliver credits to mobile devises which transmit a request for service. Broadcast service providers may push credits to mobile devices by transmitting a solicited pull message or a credit grant push message. Credits may be sent to mobile devices within a credit response message or a long term decryption key message. Credits may be used a purchase transaction, with the broadcast service provider controlling redemption of credits by sending an a long term decryption key message via a unicast network or a short term decryption key message via the broadcast network to cause mobile devices to decrement their stored credits. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254931 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF INTERACTIVE PRODUCTION MARKETING - A viewer of broadcast media requests or receives programming content including advertising over the Internet. The production system manipulates the programming content including the advertising with one or more computer processors to create a video broadcast based on input received over the Internet. The programming content promotes products or services by inserting advertisements or promotional material into the video broadcast based on one or more user interests. In addition, the production system transmits to the user the customized production with the inserted advertisements and promotional material embedded therein. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254932 | INSERTING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A TELEVISION PROGRAM - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for broadcasting television programs, in particular to a method and apparatus for inserting an advertisement into a broadcast television program. An object of the invention is to provide a method for inserting an advertisement segment into a television program of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel, the method comprises the steps of: receiving a request from a user that asks for viewing the television program; monitoring the viewing behavior of the user toward the IPTV channel according to an advertisement policy of the IPTV channel, the advertisement policy comprising providing an advertisement segment based on the user's viewing behavior on the IPTV channel; determining whether the monitored viewing behavior matches the advertisement policy; if the monitored viewing behavior matches the advertisement policy, inserting the advertisement segment into the television program. According to the invention, during the process of viewing a program, a user will have to view a certain amount of advertisements according to a predefined advertisement policy even though the user relocates the television program. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254933 | Media detection using acoustic recognition - A method and system for detecting certain types of content, such as advertisements, using acoustical means from a media stream. The method uses two matching processes to detect and identify repeated content, the starting and end boundaries of which are then found. This content is used as the basis to find non-repeated content (such as less-frequently repeated advertisements) that are typically located in proximity to repeated content and can be evaluated using Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). The system that implements this method can be used for advertisement detection and monitoring for traditional media, such as television and radio, as well as for Internet-based media, such as streaming video, streaming audio and podcasts. The system can also be used to detect and identify copyrighted material in Internet traffic. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254934 | Listener Contributed Content and Real-Time Data Collection with Ranking Service - A computing device includes a processor and memory. The memory encodes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to create: a first module programmed to allow consumers to push content into a distribution channel and share feedback of broadcasted media by voting and sharing feedback; a second module programmed to automatically suggest adjustment of programming of a media center based on the feedback from the consumers; a third module programmed to identify current demographic information of the consumers that are listening to media and giving feedback, and to automatically suggest adjustment of the programming of the media center based on the demographic information; a fourth module programmed to monitor the consumers' action information, including actions of turning the media on or off, or changing to another media, and automatically suggest adjustment of programming of a media center based on the action information. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254935 | Method and apparatus for collecting and providing viewer feedback to a broadcast - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254936 | Set Top Box With Firewall - A set top box with a firewall is disclosed. The set top box uses two separate ports to communicate with two respective communications networks. The first port communicates with the first network to receive programming information and the second port communicates with the second network to receive information. A firewall, in communication with one of the ports, is capable of receiving and analyzing information from the port. The firewall helps to prevent harmful or unauthorized information from reaching other components of the set top box. The firewall can receive information before other components associated with the set top box and the firewall can include various different forms of filtering. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254937 | Conditional access system and smartcard for use in conditional access system - Embodiments of the invention include a conditional access system comprising a terminal and a smartcard, wherein the terminal comprises a user interface for interaction with an end-user, comprising an output for displaying first user interaction data and an input for generating second user interaction data in response to the first user interaction data; and a descrambler configured for descrambling scrambled content, and wherein the smartcard is configured for generating the first user interaction data and allowing, in dependence of the second user interaction data received from the user interface, the descrambler to descramble the scrambled content. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254938 | DIRECT MARKETING ON TELEVISION OVER INTERNET - Systems and methods for effectively and non-intrusively directly marketing a manufacturer's consumer electronic products on the screen of a television over a TCP/IP or other communication link. In a television that preferably includes a screen, an OSD controller, a video display system coupled to the screen and OSD controller, a CPU coupled to the OSD controller, and a modem or other means coupled to the CPU and used to communicate with a manufacturer's server over the internet or other network. The CPU preferably includes non-volatile memory and software stored in the memory. The software includes a menu system that includes a direct marketing menu item; selection of which by the user enables the download of marketing content over the internet and display on the television. The software further includes a set of instructions for accessing upon system power on or after a predetermined period of time of television operation a manufacturer's server to check for updated marketing content and display of an icon indicating the availability of marketing content. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254939 | CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM, REPEATER, TERMINAL DEVICE, CONTENT DELIVERY METHOD, PROGRAM AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A content delivery system according to the present invention includes a repeater for relaying content and a user terminal for transferring the relayed content to a TV receiver. The repeater includes: a data obtaining unit that mounts a first port for obtaining video data from a video server via an IP network and a second port for obtaining emergency data from an emergency server directly connected to the repeater; and a data preferential transfer unit that transfers the emergency data obtained from the second port to the user terminal in preference to the video data obtained from the first port. The user terminal includes a data creation unit for performing format conversion of the video data and the emergency data received from the repeater to create display video data to be displayed on the TV receiver. | 2009-10-08 |
20090254940 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIRECTING CUSTOMERS TOWARD HELPFUL INFORMATION - Systems and methods direct a customer using an appliance coupled to a display toward received information. An input is received from the customer at the appliance, and a period of relative non-use is identified. In response to the period of relative non-use, the appliance is tuned to an informational channel to thereby present the received information to the customer on the display. | 2009-10-08 |