01st week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 40 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130003906 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR JITTER REDUCTION - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing jitter caused by frequency modulation of a clock signal including modulating the frequency of the clock signal based on a predetermined modulation signal m(t), and compensating an accumulated jitter J(t) caused by the frequency modulation of the clock signal such that an absolute value of the accumulated jitter J(t) never exceeds a predetermined jitter limit J | 2013-01-03 |
20130003907 | ENHANCED PHASE DISCRIMINATOR FOR FAST PHASE ALIGNMENT - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a phase alignment system including a plurality of samplers, a clock distributor, a phase detector and a phase alignment control. The samplers are configured to receive an incoming signal and a phase adjusted clock signal and to provide samples according to the incoming signal. The clock distributor receives a clock adjustment signal and generates the phase adjusted clock signal, which triggers sampling of the incoming signal. The clock adjustment signal indicates a direction of phase adjustment and can include an amount of phase adjustment. The phase detector receives the samples and provides extended phase alignment commands derived from the samples. The phase alignment control receives the extended phase alignment commands and provides the clock adjustment signal to the clock distributor. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003908 | BOILING WATER REACTOR CORE AND FUEL ASSEMBLIES THEREFOR - A ratio of the number of fuel assemblies loaded on a core to the number of control rod drive mechanisms is 3 or more. The fuel assembly itself contains mixed oxides of a low enrichment concentration uranium oxide containing 3 to 8 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of the fuel assembly, or mixed oxide containing not less than 2 wt %, but less than 6 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of fissile plutonium of. In the burner type BWR core on which the fuel assemblies are loaded, an average weight density of uranium, plutonium and minor actinides is 2.1 to 3.4 kg/L as a conversion at the value of unburned state. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003909 | FILTER FOR COOLING WATER OF A PRIMARY CIRCUIT OF A NUCLEAR POWER STATION, AND A METHOD FOR FILTERING COOLING WATER - A filter is provided for cooling water conducting primary circuit of a nuclear power station. The power station contains a reactor container with a discharge opening for the cooling water that opens into the interior of the reactor container and being accessed when the power station is brought to a stop for an inspection shutdown. The filter contains a base carrier with an entrance, at least one filter cartridge held on the base carrier and is fluidically coupled to the entrance, and a fixing device that can be fixed to the discharge end such that the entrance couples fluidically to the discharge opening. In a method for filtering cooling water during the inspection shutdown a filter is fixed, by its fixing device, with its entrance in fluid connection with the discharge opening, the cooling water is circulated through the discharge opening, and the filter is removed from the discharge opening. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003910 | HOLD-DOWN SPRING UNIT FOR TOP NOZZLE OF NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY, AND TOP NOZZLE FOR NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY EMPLOYING THE HOLD-DOWN SPRING UNIT - A hold-down spring unit for a top nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit is coupled to the upper end of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit includes a first spring which provides a hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions of a nuclear reactor, and a second spring which provides an additional hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions of the nuclear reactor. The hold-down margin under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions is reduced, thus enhancing the mechanical and structural stability of the nuclear fuel assembly. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003911 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IN-PIXEL FILTERING IN FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS - Digital focal plane arrays (DFPAs) with multiple counters per unit cell can be used to convert analog signals to digital data and to filter the digital data. Exemplary DFPAs include two-dimensional arrays of unit cells, where each unit cell is coupled to a corresponding photodetector in a photodetector array. Each unit cell converts photocurrent from its photodetector to a digital pulse train that is coupled to multiple counters in the unit cell. Each counter in each unit cell can be independently controlled to filter the pulse train by counting up or down and/or by transferring data as desired. For example, a unit cell may perform in-phase/quadrature filtering of homodyne- or heterodyne-detected photocurrent with two counters: a first counter toggled between increment and decrement modes with an in-phase signal and a second counter toggled between increment and decrement modes with a quadrature signal. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003912 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACQUIRING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY DATA USING A MULTI-ENERGY X-RAY SOURCE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to X-ray imaging systems, and more specifically, to multi-energy computed tomography (CT) X-ray imaging systems. In an embodiment, a multi-energy computed tomography (CT) imaging system includes an X-ray source that emits X-rays upon the application of a low stable bias, a high stable bias, and transitional biases between the low stable bias and the high stable bias. The imaging system also includes an X-ray detector configured to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the X-rays emitted by the X-ray source that reach the X-ray detector. The imaging system also includes data processing circuitry configured to acquire a first set of data corresponding to the electrical signal produced by the X-ray detector only when the low stable bias or the high stable bias is applied to the X-ray source. The imaging system also includes a processor configured to process the first set of acquired data and construct one or more multi-energy CT images. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003913 | TOMOSYNTHESIS SYSTEM - Disclosed is a tomosynthesis system in which the maintenance is easily performed. The tomosynthesis system of the present disclosure includes a vacuum chamber, a plurality of X-ray sources configured to be coupled to the vacuum chamber so as to protrude from the vacuum chamber to generate X-rays in a direction of a subject and an image sensor configured to detect an X-ray projection image that passes through the subject. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003914 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCED DOSE X-RAY IMAGING - Approaches for acquiring CT image data corresponding to a full scan, but at a reduced dose are disclosed. In one implementation, X-ray tube current modulation is employed to reduce the effective dose. In other implementations, acquisition of sparse views, z-collimation, and two-rotation acquisition protocols may be employed to achieve a reduced dose relative to a full-scan acquisition protocol. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003915 | Method for representing the radiation exposure of an examination area of an object caused by radiological imaging and corresponding imaging device - A method for representing an exposure to radiation of an examination area of an object caused by radiological imaging is proposed. A 3D image of the examination area of the object being examined is acquired. Absorption coefficients of the examination area are determined. The radiation exposure of the examination area caused by radiological imaging is determined and is represented in the 3D image. A termination criterion is queried. The radiation exposure of the examination area is iteratively determined till the termination criterion is fulfilled. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003916 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOMOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION IN THE 2D PARALLEL-BEAM GEOMETRY - An alternative analytical method for tomographic reconstruction in the 2D parallel-beam geometry is presented. This method may follow a filtering and backprojection scheme and may involve a global filtering in the projection domain and a local filtering in the image domain. For example, the method may include applying Hilbert filtering to the received projection data, computing an antiderivative of the filtered data, backprojecting the antiderivative into the image domain, and computing the 2D Laplacian of the backprojection image. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003917 | METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF DENSITY PROFILE IN CARBON/CARBON MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF STANDARD DENSITY TEST BLOCK USED THEREIN - Disclosed are a method for evaluating a local density profile in a carbon/carbon material and a method for producing a standard density test block capable of quantitatively evaluating the density profile in the carbon/carbon material, wherein the method for evaluating the density profile includes a first step of preparing a standard density test block to be inserted in the carbon/carbon material, wherein the standard density test block is produced by using the same type of material as the carbon/carbon material and thereafter inserted in the carbon/carbon material, a second step of radiating X-rays onto the carbon/carbon material having the standard density test block inserted so as to obtain and correct computed tomographic image, and a third step of measuring a physical density by use of a linear attenuation coefficient of the computed tomographic image, whereby the local density profile can accurately be evaluated by use of a nondestructive testing and additionally such method can be utilized as an excellent means for improving processes and ensuring quality. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003918 | RADIATION DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A radiation diagnostic apparatus includes a CT gantry apparatus, a PET gantry apparatus and a controller. The CT gantry apparatus includes an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector for reconstructing an X-ray CT image. The PET gantry apparatus includes a plurality of photodetectors for reconstructing nuclear medicine images and an FE circuit that is connected to the back of the photodetectors. The controller exerts control such that, when X-rays are radiated from the X-ray tube, the output from the photodetectors to the FE circuit is stopped or reduced. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003919 | CT Scan Device and Auxiliary Module Thereof - A CT scan device including a CT scanner and an auxiliary table is proposed. The CT scanner has a scanning area and a scanning table, with the scanning table able to shift straight and pass through the scanning area. The auxiliary table is arranged on a side of the CT scanner opposite to another side where the scanning table is disposed, with the auxiliary table having an extension portion and a body, wherein a connection end of the extension portion connects with the body, an abutting end of the extension portion abutting against the scanning table, the extension portion has an inclined surface raised from the connection end to the abutting end, and the scanning table is able to push the auxiliary table moving relatively to the scanning area. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003920 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray source including a plurality of X-ray focuses, an X-ray detector which detects X-rays emitted from the X-ray focuses and transmitted through an object, and a control unit which controls the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. The X-ray imaging apparatus selects a pair of X-ray focuses, of X-ray focuses of the plurality of X-ray focuses which project images on the X-ray detector through a region of interest which is an imaging region of the object, from which emitted X-rays define an intersecting angle coinciding with a predetermined angle in the region of interest, and decides an X-ray focus to be used for imaging from X-ray focuses between the selected pair of X-ray focuses. An X-ray image is captured by emitting X-rays from the decided X-ray focus and causing the X-ray detector to detect the X-rays. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003921 | RADIATION IMAGING DEVICE WITH IRREGULAR RECTANGULAR SHAPE AND EXTRAORAL DENTAL IMAGING SYSTEM THEREFROM - A radiation imaging device includes plural individual detectors defining an irregular rectangular active area responsive to x-rays and with different widths along a length of the active area. The individual detectors may be of different rectangular shapes and mounted on a motherboard. The motherboard may be formed of a first module mounting a first of two individual detectors and a second module detachable connected to the first module and mounting a second of two individual detectors. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003922 | FLUOROSCOPY APPARATUS AND FLUOROSCOPY METHOD - Provided is a fluoroscopy apparatus that includes an illumination section including a light source for radiating illumination light and excitation light onto a subject; a fluoroscopic image acquisition section acquiring a fluoroscopic image of fluorescence generated in the subject; a return-light image acquisition section acquiring a reference image of return light returning from the subject; a distance-information acquisition section acquiring information about a distance between the return-light image acquisition section and the subject; and an image correction section correcting the fluoroscopic image by using the reference image. The image correction section sets a correction coefficient based on the distance information, generates a correction reference image or a correction fluoroscopic image by performing a power calculation for light intensity information of the reference image and/or the fluoroscopic image by using the correction coefficient as an index, and divides the correction fluoroscopic image by the correction reference image. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003923 | X-ray analysis apparatus with radiation monitoring feature - An XRF analysis apparatus includes a housing with a source of penetrating radiation to be directed at a sample and a detector for detecting fluoresced radiation from the sample. A shield is attachable to the housing to protect the user from radiation and a safety interlock is configured to detect whether or not the shield is attached to the housing. A controller is responsive to the safety interlock, and configured to monitor usage of the source of radiation at or above a predetermined power level when the shield is not attached to the housing and provide an output signal when the monitored usage of the source of penetrating radiation at or above the predetermined power level without the shield attached to the housing exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003924 | DUAL ISOTOPE NOTCH OBSERVER FOR ISOTOPE IDENTIFICATION, ASSAY AND IMAGING WITH MONO-ENERGETIC GAMMA-RAY SOURCES - A dual isotope notch observer for isotope identification, assay and imaging with mono-energetic gamma-ray sources includes a detector arrangement consists of three detectors downstream from the object under observation. The latter detector, which operates as a beam monitor, is an integrating detector that monitors the total beam power arriving at its surface. The first detector and the middle detector each include an integrating detector surrounding a foil. The foils of these two detectors are made of the same atomic material, but each foil is a different isotope, e.g., the first foil may comprise U235 and second foil may comprise U238. The integrating detectors surrounding these pieces of foil measure the total power scattered from the foil and can be similar in composition to the final beam monitor. Non-resonant photons will, after calibration, scatter equally from both foils. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003925 | DETECTION OF AN ANOMALY IN A BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL - A method for detecting an anomaly in a biological material is disclosed, including the steps of: irradiating the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels; measuring the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material; and determining, for each energy level, a transmission value. Before or after irradiation of the biological material, a reference material of a predetermined thickness is irradiated and the amount of radiation transmitted is determined. For each energy level, a transmission calibration reference value is determined and a calibrated transmission value is determined for the biological material and the calibration reference. A material value based on a relationship between the calibrated transmission value and the presence of an anomaly in the biological material is determined by comparing the determined and expected material values for the biological material. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003926 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING DEVICE, RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING SYSTEM, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING DISCONNECTION DETECTION PROGRAM, AND DISCONNECTION DETECTION METHOD - The present invention provides a radiographic imaging device, a radiographic imaging system, a computer readable medium storing disconnection detection program and a disconnection detection method that may detect disconnected specific signal lines even when the charge amount output from a single pixel is small. Namely, a bias voltage is applied to pixels, and offset charges due to leak current of sensor portions (photodiodes) are accumulated. The gates of pixel TFT switches are switched ON in sequence, and electric signals are output corresponding to the accumulated offset charges. A control section detects a cumulative value of the offset charge amount based on the electric signals. The detected cumulative value is then compared to a predetermined disconnection detection threshold value and disconnected signal lines are detected when the cumulative value is less than the threshold value. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003927 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - An X-ray imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an X-ray sensor unit that detects X-rays, and a control unit that controls driving of an X-ray generator and the X-ray sensor unit. The control unit performs alignment imaging for imaging a still image of a subject. The still image is used as a reference for alignment of at least one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray sensor unit. After the alignment imaging, the control unit performs main imaging for imaging a moving image of the subject. The alignment imaging and the main imaging are performed under the same driving condition of the X-ray sensor unit. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003928 | MULTIFRAME X-RAY DETECTOR FOR IMAGING SYSTEM WITH DISTRIBUTED X-RAY SOURCES - Device and method for synchronously switching activating a first and second charge accumulation section ( | 2013-01-03 |
20130003929 | ADAPTIVE SCANNING IN AN IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003930 | COMBINED IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY - One or more techniques and/or systems described herein provide for examining an object (e.g., a tumor in a patient) and subsequently treating the object. The examination and treatment generally occur very close to one another in time, with the patient remaining on a support article (e.g., on a bed or in a chair) during both the examination and the treatment. In this way, a position of the tumor and/or orientation of the tumor relative to the patient is substantially fixed during both the examination and the treatment. In one embodiment, a support article is configured to rotate during the examination and/or treatment. In this way, the object can be examined (e.g., and volumetric data related to the object can be acquired) and/or treated without moving portions of the imaging and/or treatment apparatus, for example. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003931 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCALIZED X-RAY RADIATION TREATMENT - The present invention pertains to a system for electronic brachytherapy wherein a layer of target material can produce reflection and transmission X-rays when struck by electrons from a cathode. An alternative system can have a fixed-size containment structure around a miniature X-ray source, with X-ray attenuating coolant fluid between the source and containment structure. A balloon can be around the fixed-size containment structure and can be inflated with an X-ray inert gas. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003932 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE, BATTERY UNIT, ELECTRICITY SUPPLY UNIT, RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A radiographic image capture device is equipped with a radiographic detector and a retention portion. The radiographic detector acquires a radiographic image in accordance with incident radiation, and has a heat-generating body inside. The retention portion is provided so as to be in contact with the heat-generating body of the radiographic detector, detachably retains a power supply portion, and is thermally conductive. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003933 | DIGITAL RETROFIT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY - There is provided a method that includes (a) detecting, at a point on a cable that runs from a controller to an x-ray generator, a prepare signal that is being transmitted from the controller to the x-ray generator to prepare the x-ray generator to generate an x-ray, and (b) transmitting, in response to the detecting, an initialize signal that causes a reset of a digital receiver panel that prepares the digital receiver panel to capture the x-ray. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage device that controls a processor to execute the method. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003934 | METHOD FOR OBTAINING AN ITEM OF X-RAY-SPECTRUM INFORMATION ABOUT PIXELS IN A GRID PATTERN - An X-ray detector of conventional design having photodiodes and scintillator material arranged thereon is able, given a suitable read-out frequency matching a low dose to which the flat-panel X-ray detector is subjected, to obtain images during each read-out operation, from which images the energy of individual X-ray quanta can be derived. An item of X-ray-spectrum information about pixels in a grid pattern can be obtained thereby. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003935 | HIGH FLUX, NARROW BANDWIDTH COMPTON LIGHT SOURCES VIA EXTENDED LASER-ELECTRON INTERACTIONS - New configurations of lasers and electron beams efficiently and robustly produce high flux beams of bright, tunable, polarized quasi-monoenergetic x-rays and gamma-rays via laser-Compton scattering. Specifically, the use of long-duration, pulsed lasers and closely-spaced, low-charge and low emittance bunches of electron beams increase the spectral flux of the Compton-scattered x-rays and gamma rays, increase efficiency of the laser-electron interaction and significantly reduce the overall complexity of Compton based light sources. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003936 | Adjustable-Jaw Collimator - An adjustable collimator for shaping a beam of particles, such as for purposes of inspecting contents of a container. The adjustable collimator has an obscuring element substantially opaque to passage of the particles in a propagation direction that is radial with respect to the axis of rotation of a ring of apertures. A gap in the obscuring element may be characterized by a length taken along a long dimension and a jaw spacing taken along narrow dimension, and at least one of the length of the gap and the jaw spacing is subject to adjustment, either manual or automatic. The adjustable collimator may be disposed either inside or outside the ring of apertures, and, in some embodiments, the jaw spacing may be a function of distance along the long dimension relative to an edge of the gap. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003937 | ADJUSTABLE DYNAMIC FILTER - A grid employs dynamic and adjustable grid lines that communicates with a transmitting object and/or a receiving object. The grid lines may be but not limited to liner, crosshatched or pinwheel shaped. The grid may switch between opaque and translucent and the grid lines may target, calibrate to and track an object either transmitting or receiving. The grid may be employed as a filter or a privacy screen on a computer screen for instance. The grid lines are angled to match an angle of a user's position with respect to the grid. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003938 | X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM - In an X-ray imaging system a holding device holds an X-ray imaging unit that performs X-ray imaging of a subject, a bed supports a subject, and a driving unit moves the holding device and the bed. A position detector detects positions of the holding device and the bed either when X-ray imaging is performed and/or when the driving unit has not performed driving for a predetermined time or more. A memory stores positions of the holding device and the bed detected by the position detector in a time series. An operation unit selects positions of the holding device and the bed stored in time series in either a time-series sequence or a reverse time-series sequence. Based on instructions from the operation unit, the controller reads out detection results from the memory and drives the driving unit based on the detection results. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003939 | MOBILE BASE AND X-RAY MACHINE MOUNTED ON SUCH A MOBILE BASE - A mobile base designed to receive an X-ray machine is provided. An X-ray machine capable of being mounted on the mobile base is also provided. The X-ray machine of the invention is configured to move using a motor-driven system associated with a navigation system. The navigation system of the invention enables the X-ray machine to be moved automatically and with precision from one position to another within an examination, hybrid or operation room. The X-ray machine is also configured for the automatic positioning of the moving parts around the patient, while at the same time keeping the region to be subjected to radiography within an X-ray beam. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003940 | XDSL MULTISTANDARD DRIVER CIRCUIT - An electric circuit for amplifying an xDSL signal comprises an operational amplifier and a signal monitoring circuit. The operational amplifier is configured to amplify the xDSL signal, is powered by a variable voltage supply and has a gain which is adjustable by an operating mode control signal. The signal monitoring circuit is activated by the operating mode control signal and is configured, when activated by the operating mode control signal, to generate a control signal to adjust the voltage of the variable voltage supply in order to adjust the maximal signal swing of the output signal of said operational amplifier. The control signal is generated by comparing the amplitude of the xDSL signal applied to the electric circuit with an amplitude threshold value. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003941 | TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVELY COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA IN PROVIDING INFORMATION ASSISTANCE SERVICES - A system for evaluating performance of an information assistance service includes a mechanism for processing communication calls which involve a call activity; one or more devices for generating data in processing the communication calls, and a processor for deriving information from the data, the information being used to evaluate a performance of the call activity. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003942 | ATTACHING MULTIPLE PHONE LINES TO A SINGLE MOBILE OR LANDLINE PHONE - Agencies issue multiple devices to personnel for maintaining distinct identities over the course of assigned investigations. To provide flexible capabilities to agencies, a phone is converted for use with multiple attached telephone numbers. Accordingly, a single phone may be used to manage multiple identities over the course of one or more investigations. Using a multiple attached number, a given device can place and receive calls over the network to and from contacts. In addition to providing multiple attached numbers, calls using the multiple attached numbers may be monitored live and recorded to establish evidence. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003943 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MANAGING A PLURALITY OF SIMULATED REAL-TIME CONVERSATIONS - A method and system is disclosed for managing a plurality of simulated real-time conversations simultaneously with a plurality of callers. The disclosure includes personalizing a number of selectable audio responses associated with a call script in an agent-operator's own unique voice, interacting with a caller, and selecting an audio response for subsequent presentation to the caller, from the selectable audio responses when operating in the agent-operator assist mode. The call script includes a number of segments, including segments associated with the selectable audio responses. The interaction with the caller is selectable among an automated mode, an agent-operator assist mode, and an agent-operator mode. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003944 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Processing Audio In A Voice Response Environment - A computer-implemented system and method for processing audio in a voice response environment is provided. A database of host scripts each comprising signature files of audio phrases and actions to take when one of the audio phrases is recognized is maintained. The host scripts are loaded and a call to a voice mail server is initiated. Incoming audio buffers are received during the call from voice messages stored on the voice mail server. The incoming audio buffers are processed. A signature data structure is created for each audio buffer. The signature data structure is compared with signatures of expected phrases in the host scripts. The actions stored in the host scripts are executed when the signature data structure matches the signature of the expected phrase. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003945 | Method and Device for Providing Speech-to-Text Encoding and Telephony Service - A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003946 | System and Method for a Visual Voicemail Interface - A system and method for receiving information for voicemail. A call is received from a caller. A voicemail message from the caller is recorded. A caller identifier is received from the caller in response to recording the voicemail message. The caller identifier is associated with one or more profiles. The voicemail message is filed utilizing the associated profile in response to receiving the caller identifier. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003947 | Customized Caller ID Based Upon Called Party Number - A “customized” caller ID service platform is utilized within a telecommunications network (which may be the PSTN, an IP network, or any other network for supporting voice communication) to allow for the caller ID information transmitted to a called party to be tailored to the specific called party. A database within the platform is configured to store a listing of registered subscribers and a set of “pre-defined called numbers” associated with each subscriber. For each listed number, the subscriber provides the specific customized information (for example, an account number) that is to be transmitted to that specific called number as the caller ID information. A registered subscriber is able to gain access to the platform and modify the entries as need be. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003948 | PROVIDING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION WITH A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE - Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining contextual information with a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains additional contextual information that is not obtained automatically when a voicemail message is received. More specifically, the method includes automatically obtaining a first set of contextual information from a client associated with the caller when the caller is transferred to a voicemail system. Then a determination is made regarding whether the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained. If the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained, the requested information is obtained from a third-party service or by prompting the caller. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003949 | Method And System For Providing Enhanced Caller Identification Information Including Screening Invalid Calling Party Numbers - A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information is invalid or cannot be provided. In one disclosed embodiment, the Caller ID information must include a valid number of digits and a valid area code. If the Caller ID information is not valid, a calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003950 | SECURITY KEY CREATION - A device may obtain calling security parameters, may communicate the calling security parameters to a network device, and may receive, from the network device, a calling parameters identifier associated with the calling security parameters. The device may communicate the calling parameters identifier to a called device, may receive a called parameters identifier from the called device, and may communicate the called parameters identifier to the network device. The device may receive called security parameters from the network device, may create a security key based on the calling security parameters and the called security parameters, and may communicate with the called device using the security key. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003951 | ON-HOLD VISUAL MENU FROM A USER'S COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A user equipment communications device is configured to provide personal content to a party to a call with a user of the device, when the user places the party on hold. The device determines that the party has been placed on hold and that the user has enabled sharing of personal content with the party. The device then transmits a visual menu to a communications device of the party via a data network, to allow the party to select a type of personal content to receive from the device while the party is on hold. When the device receives a selection from the party's device indicating the type of personal content, it transmits a personal information asset to the party's device according to the type of personal content indicated by the selection. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003952 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF THIRD PARTY CALL CONTROL AND CONTENT INSERTION - Systems and methods for providing third party call services with the delivery of content to a calling party communication device are described herein. The systems may comprise a website server and telco gateway configured to enable a calling party to initiate a communication session between a calling party communication device and a called party communication device via a web page of a website hosted by the website server. During establishment of the communication session, the telco gateway determines what content to deliver to the calling party communication device and delivers such content to the calling party communication device while waiting to receive an answer of a call initiated to the called party communication device. The system may deliver different forms of content to a calling party communication device based on a variety of considerations. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003953 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM - A calling side communication apparatus includes a communication function executing means | 2013-01-03 |
20130003954 | TECHNIQUES FOR BYPASSING CALL SCREENING IN A CALL MESSAGING SYSTEM - A system, method, and computer-readable media for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system includes storing a call screening rule for a callee specifying one or more conditions under which the call screening rule applies to an incoming call to the callee and specifying one or more call screening actions to take when an incoming call to the callee is received under the one or more conditions. When an incoming call from the caller's device to the callee's device is received under the one or more conditions of the call screening rule, a determination is made whether a bypass condition exists, and if a bypass condition exists, the incoming call is connected to the callee's device without taking the one or more call screening actions. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003955 | DELIVERING SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO USERS OF PHONES - An aspect of the present invention enables users to avail specialized services using missed calls. In one embodiment, a missed call server on receiving an indication that a missed call has been placed by a user to a phone number, determines the specialized service corresponding to the phone number, and then sends a data to the service provider offering the determined service. The service provider then delivers the specialized service (sought to be availed) to the user. One of the specialized services is the delivery of content to the user. Thus, a user is enabled to access different contents by placing missed calls to the appropriate phone numbers. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003956 | SIP REFER EXTENSIONS - A system may include a call controller configured to receive a refer message configured to transfer a first endpoint of a call session, the call session being between at least the first endpoint at a first communications device and a second endpoint at a second communications device, the refer message indicating to transfer the first endpoint from the first communications device to a third communications device. The call control may be further configured to subscribe the first communications device to notification messages associated with the referral of the transferred call session, the subscription to the referral extending beyond the call transfer until termination of the call; and send, through the subscription to the first communications device, a notification message indicating termination of the transferred call. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003957 | GUIDING CALLS VIA GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - A user device may display, via a graphical user interface, questions associated with a voice menu that is used by an interactive voice response (IVR) system to forward calls. The user device may obtain, via the graphical user interface, user responses to the questions. In addition, the user device may send information corresponding to the user responses to the questions to a remote device. The remote device may query the IVR system to identify a call agent, in a call center, whose profile matches the information, obtain contact information of the call agent from the IVR system, and send the contact information to the user device. Furthermore, the user device may receive the contact information from the remote device and display the contact information via the graphical user interface. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003958 | FUNCTIONALITIES FOR LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes submitting a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN directly to a first telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from, triggering a port of the TN in accordance with the LNP order, and porting the TN from the first telecommunications carrier to the second telecommunications carrier, wherein the second telecommunications carrier is bypassed by the customer during the submitting and the triggering of the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003959 | RECEPTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF HANDLING TRANSACTIONS - A reception management system for handling transactions includes a plurality of ACMs (Automated Contract/Consulting Terminals) for receiving procedure requests for predetermined transactions from customers, a plurality of ROTs (Remote Operation Terminals) to be employed by an operator for handling the procedure requests, a server for storing information for managing the operators for each transaction skill, and information about queues formed for each transaction skill upon a procedure request accepted from an ACM, and a queue monitoring terminal for monitoring the queues by receiving information from the SACD server. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003960 | Full Duplex Speakerphone Design Using Acoustically Compensated Speaker Distortion - A telecommunication system including a fall duplex speakerphone, comprising a first microphone to generate a coupled signal including uplink information and non-linear distortion sensed by the first microphone in a speaker phone mode, a second microphone to generate a reference signal including downlink information and the non-linear distortion sensed by the second microphone in the speaker phone mode, and an acoustic echo canceller (AEC) to receive the coupled signal from the first microphone, to receive the reference signal from the second microphone, and to cancel out the non-linear distortion included in the coupled signal based on the non-linear distortion included in the reference signal. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003961 | FAR-END CROSSTALK CANCELING METHOD AND DEVICE - A method for remote crosstalk cancellation, includes: the combination transmitting signal is performed a pre-coding of crosstalk cancellation in the manner of self-adapting filtering, the self-adapting changes of the values of filtering parameters are guided correctly with the influence of the crosstalk component in the received signals which is reflected indirectly by relevant values of the noise statistic reported by the receiver. A corresponding device for remote crosstalk cancellation is provided. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003962 | METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING ACTIVE ECHO-CANCELLATION FOR SYSTEMS COMBINING VOICE COMMUNICATION AND SYNCHRONOUS AUDIO CONTENT - An apparatus for removing an echo(es) from audio content may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including receiving combined audio content including voice data associated with speech of users in a call and information including audio data provided to the users. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to remove a first echo of a first item of voice data associated with a user(s), from the combined audio content, based in part on a prior detection of the first item of voice data. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to remove a second echo of the audio data, from the combined audio content, based in part on a previous detection of the audio data or a previous detection of data corresponding to the audio data. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003963 | Thwarting Unauthorized Content Copying Using Media Tracking Code - Embodiments of techniques and systems for content protection and detection of protected media content are described. Visual tracking patterns may be displayed during rendering of protected media content that would be visible to a camcorder during recording. The visual tracking pattern may be placed in a background area or other less-active portion of the video in order to reduce perceptibility by a viewer. Audio tracking patterns may be inserted during rendering outside of the range of normal human hearing for reduced viewer perceptibility. The tracking patterns may encode media tracking codes that are included in to-be-rendered media during provision from a media server. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003964 | Simultaneous Scalar Multiplication Method - In computing point multiples in elliptic curve schemes (e.g. kP and sQ) separately using, for example, Montgomery's method for the purpose of combining kP+sQ, several operations are repeated in computing kP and sQ individually, that could be executed at the same time. A simultaneous scalar multiplication method is provided that reduces the overall number of doubling and addition operations thereby providing an efficient method for multiple scalar multiplication. The elements in the pairs for P and Q method are combined into a single pair, and the bits in k and s are evaluated at each step as bit pairs. When the bits in k and s are equal, only one doubling operation and one addition operation are needed to compute the current pair, and when the bits in k and s are not equal, only one doubling operation is needed and two addition operations. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003965 | SURROGATE KEY GENERATION - A method for surrogate key generation performed by a physical computing system includes creating a lookup record for a production key of an input record, a key of the lookup record including the production key and a value of the lookup record including both a record identifier for the input record and a unique identifier of the production key within the input record. The method further includes sending the lookup record to a first node of a distributed computing system, the first node determined by hashing the production key with a first hash function, and with the first node, determining a surrogate key for the production key. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003966 | Cryptographic hardware module and method for updating a cryptographic key - A cryptographic hardware module has an arithmetic unit, a memory storing at least one first key, a logic and a cryptographic device. The hardware module loads at least one second encrypted key into the hardware module and decrypts the at least one second encrypted key via the cryptographic device using the at least one first key. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003967 | Enhanced Key Management For SRNS Relocation - A method comprises maintaining, in a first node serving a mobile terminal over a connection protected by at least one first key, said first key and information about the key management capabilities of the mobile terminal. Upon relocation of the mobile terminal to a second node the method includes: if, and only if, said key management capabilities indicate an enhanced key management capability supported by the mobile terminal, modifying, by said first node, the first key, thereby creating a second key, sending, from the first node to the second node, the second key, and transmitting to the second node the information about the key management capabilities of the mobile terminal. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003968 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SESSION KEY AND CLUSTER KEY - Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for generating a session key and a cluster key using a network coding scheme. The apparatus includes a random number generation unit, a combination generation unit, a combination transmission unit, a coding result reception unit, and a restoration unit. The random number generation unit generates the random number of a node. The combination generation unit generates a combination based on a master key of the node and the random number. The combination transmission unit transfers the combination to a key distribution server. The coding result reception unit receives a result of a network coding, corresponding to an ID of the node, from the key distribution server. The restoration unit for generating a session key by restoring a random number, corresponding to a counterpart node of the node, using the result of the network coding and the random number. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003969 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KEY DISTRIBUTION WITH IMPLICIT OFFLINE AUTHORIZATION - In a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system, cryptographic keys for decrypting distributed assets (such as audio or video media) are distributed using an offline (e.g., non-Internet) method for distribution of the key generation process, with an implicit authorization to use the distributed key generation process. This is used to update an asset key for use by a client such as a media player when a key formula for generating the key for decrypting an asset has been compromised, such as by hackers. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003970 | System and Method for Controlling Features on a Device - Trust between entities participating in an upgrade or enablement/disablement process is established and, to facilitate this remotely and securely, a highly tamper resistant point of trust in the system that is being produced is used. This point of trust enables a more efficient distribution system to be used. Through either a provisioning process or at later stages, i.e. subsequent to installation, manufacture, assembly, sale, etc.; the point of trust embodied as a feature controller on the device or system being modified is given a feature set (or updated feature set) that, when validated, is used to enable or disable entire features or to activate portions of the feature. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003971 | Identifiers in a Communication System - An identifier containing at least one encrypted part is received at a first network entity. A second network entity may then be determined based on the identifier. A request for assistance in decryption of the identifier from the second network entity may be sent from the first entity to the second network entity. The second network entity may then assist the first networks entity in an appropriate manner. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003972 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND MAINTAINING MULTICAST DATA ENCRYPTION KEY IN MACHINE TO MACHINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A wireless communication system includes a system and method for encryption of multicast data between a subscriber station and a base station that communicate a multicast service in a Machine-To-Machine (M2M) communication system. An M2M service controller manages the multicast service manages information for encrypting the multicast data and provides the information to the subscriber station and the base station. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003973 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING A NOVEL ONE-WAY HASH FUNCTION ON HIGHLY CONSTRAINED DEVICES SUCH AS RFID TAGS - A method and apparatus for implementing a novel one-way hash function with provable security properties for authentication and non-authentication applications on highly constrained devices, with particular application to RFID tags. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003974 | DISPLAY OF SECURE MESSAGES ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A mobile device for the display of messages receives messages in segments or incrementally from a server, and includes a message viewer application for displaying portions of the message. On determination using the received portion of the message that the message is digitally signed or encrypted, the server is signalled to halt automatic transmission of further segments of the message. When a verify command is received by the mobile device, a command is transmitted to the server so that automatic reception of message segments can be resumed at the mobile device. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003975 | COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A communication apparatus that performs encrypted communication of data to an opposing apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising, a communication unit which uses an encryption key to perform encrypted communication of the data, a rekey unit which updates the encryption key; and a control unit which, after it is confirmed that communication using the encryption key after updating has been enabled, starts encrypted communication of the data using the encryption key after updating. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003976 | TECHNIQUES FOR ACCESSING FEATURES OF A HARDWARE ADAPTER - A technique for accessing features of a hardware adapter includes reading a first key from a hardware adapter and attempting to decrypt the first key with a second key. In response to the second key successfully decrypting the first key: encrypted code from the hardware adapter is read; the encrypted code is decrypted with the decrypted first key to generate unencrypted code; and a default code in an executable flash sector of the hardware adapter is over-written with the unencrypted code. In this case, the unencrypted code facilitates access to at least one feature of the hardware adapter that is customer specific. In response to the second key not successfully decrypting the first key, the default code in the executable flash sector of the hardware adapter is not over-written. In this case, the default code facilitates access to one or more features that are not customer specific. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003977 | DEVICE-INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT OF CRYPTOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Some embodiments provide an account-based DRM system for distributing content. The system includes several devices that are associated with an account and a set of DRM computers that receives a request to access a piece of content on the devices associated with the account. The DRM computer set then generates a several keys for the devices, where each particular key of each particular device allows the particular device to access the piece of content on the particular device. In some embodiments, the DRM computer set sends the content and keys to one device (e.g., a computer), which is used to distribute the content and the key(s) to the other devices associated with the account. In some embodiments, the DRM computer set individually encrypts each key in a format that is used during its transport to its associated device and during its use on this device. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003978 | Approach For Managing Access To Messages Using Encryption Key Management Policies - Controlling access to disseminated messages includes implementing one or more key management policies that specify how various encryption keys are maintained and in particular, when encryption keys are made inaccessible. Deleting a particular key renders inaccessible all copies of messages, known or unknown, associated with the particular key, regardless of the location of the associated messages. A message may be directly or indirectly associated with a deleted key. Any number of levels of indirection are possible and either situation makes the message unrecoverable. The approach is applicable to any type of data in any format and the invention is not limited to any type of data or any type of data format. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003979 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING MULTIPLE OUTPUT SEQUENCE - Provided are an apparatus and method for generating a multiple output sequence. The apparatus includes an update unit configured to update a first shift register having k stages by inputting a value to the first shift register at every clock, a transfer unit configured to simultaneously transfer, at every clock, output values output from the first shift register to k stages of a second shift register respectively and output values output from k stages of the second shift register to k stages of a third shift register having the k stages respectively, and a multiple output generator configured to generate a multiple output sequence by outputting values of the k stages of the third shift register at every clock. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003980 | AUDIO ENCODER, AUDIO ENCODING METHOD AND PROGRAM - There is provided an audio encoder comprising a determination part determining, based on frequency spectra of audio signals of a plurality of channels, a mixing ratio as a ratio, relative to a frequency spectrum after mixing for each channel of the plurality of channels, of the frequency spectrum for another channel, a mixing part mixing the frequency spectra of the plurality of channels for each channel based on the mixing ratio determined by the determination part, and an encoding part encoding the frequency spectra of the plurality of channels after mixing by the mixing part. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003981 | Calibration of Headphones to Improve Accuracy of Recorded Audio Content - User headphones are calibrated in real time to improve the reproduction accuracy of recorded audio content. Microphones of a type used to record the audio content (including their orientation and recording characteristics) are characterized to indicate a first audio coloration. Audio playback devices of a type used to process the audio content are characterized to indicate a second audio coloration. Headphones of a type corresponding to the user headphones are characterized to indicate a third audio coloration. An equalization signal is computed based on the audio colorations, and is applied to calibrate the user headphones during playback of the audio content. A database of the characterizations is maintained so that calibration of different models of headphones using different playback devices can be accomplished for audio content recorded using different models of microphones. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003982 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - The invention provides an electronic apparatus. In one embodiment, the electronic apparatus comprises a hard disk, a speaker, and a processor. The hard disk comprises a vibration protection mechanism which lowers the performance of the hard disk when the vibration protection mechanism is activated. The speaker broadcasts a sound. The processor determines whether a vibration level of the speaker is greater than a threshold level, determines whether data stored in the hard disk is being accessed when the vibration level of the speaker is greater than the threshold level, and lowers a volume of the speaker when the data stored in the hard disk is being accessed and the vibration level of the speaker is greater than the threshold level, thereby preventing the vibration protection mechanism from being activated to maintain the performance of the hard disk. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003983 | HEADPHONE - A headphone includes: a pair of earphone units each of which includes a speaker and a plurality of microphones which are arranged at a back side of the speaker in a given pattern and through which external sounds are picked up; a sound pickup signal generator configured to generate a plurality of sound pickup signals, each of which has a given directivity, by using a plurality of signals outputted from the plurality of microphones; an external source sound input section through which an external source sound signal from an external source is inputted; and a sound emission signal generator configured to generate sound emission signals, which are to be inputted to the speakers of the earphone units and each of which has a directivity, by using the external source sound signal and the plurality of sound pickup signals. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003984 | HEADPHONES WITH EXPANDABLE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES - A headphone set includes a head band and a pair of speaker assemblies supplied on opposite ends of the headband. Each of the speaker assemblies comprises an earphone speaker for reproducing sound to be directed toward one of the wearer's ears, a relatively larger and more powerful broadcast speaker for reproducing sound to be broadcast in the vicinity of the headphone set; and an expandable speaker enclosure for supporting the earphone speaker and the broadcast speaker. Each speaker enclosure defines a sound chamber having an enclosed air volume for improving the acoustical characteristics of the headphone set and each speaker enclosure is shiftable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. When the speaker enclosures are shifted to their expanded configurations, the sound chambers have a relatively larger enclosed air volume. When they are shifted to their collapsed configurations relatively smaller enclosed air volumes. This permits the sound chamber to be selectively increased in size when the larger broadcast speakers are operated and to be returned to their smaller size when only the earphone speakers are operated. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003985 | AUDIO OUTPUT CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD - An output controller and an method for outputting a signal flow to one or more earphone jacks according to a connection status of each earphone jack. The output controller includes an interface unit having more than one earphone jacks and an output control unit. The output control unit includes a signal input terminal for receiving a signal flow, a detector, and a determining module. The detector detects whether each earphone jack is connected with an earphone and outputs one or more detected signals representing the connection status of the earphone jacks. The determining module outputs the signal flow directly to the connected earphone jack if only one earphone jack is connected to the earphone or distributes the signal flow being amplified correspondingly into each connected earphone jack if more than one earphone jack is connected to the earphones. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003986 | System for Controlling Audio Reproduction - A system for controlling audio reproduction may include an interface operable to receive a data stream of an audio signal. The system may also include a processor. The processor may be operable to: analyze the data stream; divide the data stream into segments; associate audio classes with respective segments in accordance with audio classifications and the analysis of the data stream; and replace one or more of the segments associated with a specific audio class, with an audio file, based on information regarding the audio file and information regarding the specific audio class. Further, the system may include another interface operable to output a signal derived from the audio file, to drive a loudspeaker. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003987 | NOISE SUPPRESSION DEVICE - A band separating unit | 2013-01-03 |
20130003988 | POP noise suppressing circuit and its method - A POP noise suppressing circuit includes a blocking capacitor, an outputting element connected to the blocking capacitor, a current generating unit, a charging unit connected to the current generating unit, a discharging unit connected to the current generating unit, a switching unit connected to the charging unit and the discharging unit and a power amplifying unit connected between the switching unit and the blocking capacitor. The current generating unit provides two slowly increasing currents respectively to the charging unit and the discharging unit. The switching unit is for switching between the charging unit and the discharging unit. The charging unit forms a charging current. The discharging unit forms a discharging current. The voltage of the blocking capacitor increases smoothly in a process of powering on and decreases smoothly in a process of powering off. A POP noise suppressing method is also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003989 | PERCEPTION ENHANCEMENT FOR LOW-FREQUENCY SOUND COMPONENTS - This invention discloses a method and a plurality of compressive amplitude distortion units for enhancing the perceptibility of the low-frequency portion of a sound by introducing residue harmonics of low-frequency signal components into the sound, where the residue harmonics are generated by a nonlinear function emulating the middle-ear response of a human being. The low-frequency portion in the resultant sound is perceivable to a human listener even if this portion is removed from this sound. In one embodiment, a compressive amplitude distortion unit comprises: a low pass filter for extracting low-frequency components of the input sound signal; a compressive amplitude function processor for generating a harmonics-containing signal from the low-pass signal by a nonlinear function emulating the middle-ear response; a gain block for scaling the harmonics-containing signal such that the signal strength of the scaled harmonics-containing signal is in the same range as that of the initial low-pass signal; an adder for adding the input sound signal and the scaled harmonics-containing signal; and a high pass filter for removing the low-frequency signal components in the output sound signal while still including the residue harmonics. Based on the disclosed method, this invention also discloses two anti-piracy methods that utilize the absence of low-frequency signal components in a sound signal, one for convenient detection of an unauthorized copy of the processed sound signal, another one for discouraging people to make such an unauthorized copy. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003990 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND AUDIO OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An audio output port, an impedance value detecting unit, a DAC, an audio gain module, and a processing unit are included within an electronic device. The impedance value detecting unit detects the impedance value of an audio output apparatus. The storage unit stores an audio output mode table. The processing unit determines the range of impedance values that the detected impedance value falls within, and determines the corresponding audio output mode, the processing unit operates in the audio output mode which is required. The audio gain module magnifies the analog signals with a gain value corresponding to the audio output mode required, and transmits the magnified analog signals to the audio output port. An audio output control method is also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003991 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - Disclosed is a system and method of adjusting a volume level for an audio signal for a communication device to comply with a quality threshold. The method comprises: monitoring for an increase in the volume level; and upon determining that implementing the increase in the volume level would produce an output that would exceed the audio frequency pass mask, processing a digitized signal value of the audio signal to produce a first output signal value for the audio signal implementing the increase in the volume level utilizing a digital signal processing (DSP) device in the communication device, a processing filter defined in the digital signal processing device, a first set of adjustment parameters and the digitized signal value. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003992 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING AN AUDIO SIGNAL HAVING A TRANSIENT EVENT - A signal manipulator for manipulating an audio signal having a transient event may have a transient remover, a signal processor and a signal inserter for inserting a time portion in a processed audio signal at a signal location where the transient event was removed before processing by the transient remover, so that a manipulated audio signal has a transient event not influenced by the processing, whereby the vertical coherence of the transient event is maintained instead of any processing performed in the signal processor, which would destroy the vertical coherence of a transient. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003993 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING SELECTED CONTENT TRACKS FROM TWO OR MORE PROGRAM CHANNELS TO AUTOMATICALLY GENERATE A BLENDED MIX CHANNEL FOR PLAYBACK TO A USER UPON SELECTION OF A CORRESPONDING PRESET BUTTON ON A USER INTERFACE - A method and apparatus are provided for generating a personalized radio channel playlist by simultaneously buffering multiple received channels from one or more source streams, and then selecting songs or tracks to playback from the buffered channels. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or channels related in some other way. Navigation tools permit users to skip ahead and backward in the playback stream. A personalized radio channel playlist can be implemented as (1) content selected from buffered channels based on user preferences for artists, songs and the like, or (2) as a Mix Channel in which content from selected buffered channels is automatically mixed for playback in response to selection of a preset button assigned to the Mix Channel. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003994 | DIGITAL AMPLIFIER - The disclosed digital amplifier ( | 2013-01-03 |
20130003995 | LOW-NOISE MICROPHONE PRE-AMPLIFIER WITH ACTIVE LOAD ELEMENT - A low-noise pre-amplifier with an active load element is integrated into a microphone. The microphone has an acoustic sensor coupled to the intrinsic pre-amplifier. A controllable current source is coupled to the intrinsic pre-amplifier and supplies a pre-amplifier bias current. A current source controller is coupled to the current source and controls the amplitude of the pre-amplifier bias current to maintain the intrinsic pre-amplifier at a bias point at which the intrinsic pre-amplifier amplifies microphone signals produced by the acoustic sensor. The intrinsic pre-amplifier may be actively regulated at the pre-determined bias point using negative feedback. Alternatively, the intrinsic pre-amplifier may be set to the pre-determined bias point by sweeping the pre-amplifier bias current for the intrinsic pre-amplifier over a range of currents. Use of an active load element with the intrinsic pre-amplifier results in lower noise, lower supply current, increased power supply suppression ratio and reduced signal post-processing. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003996 | ACTUATOR SYSTEMS FOR ORAL-BASED APPLIANCES - Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003997 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTRA-ORAL BASED COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods are disclosed for capturing sound for communication by mounting one or more intra-oral microphones to capture sound; and mounting a mouth wearable communicator in the oral cavity to communicate sound with a remote unit. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003998 | Modifying Spatial Image of a Plurality of Audio Signals - A method comprising: modifying a sound stage produced by an input audio signal comprising two or more audio channels such that spatial room is relieved for one or more additional sound sources; and inserting said one or more additional sound sources in the relieved spatial room of the modified sound stage of the input audio signal without introducing spatial interference with the modified sound stage of the input audio signal. | 2013-01-03 |
20130003999 | METHOD FOR CREATING AN AUDIO ENVIRONMENT HAVING N SPEAKERS - Method for creating an audio environment having N speakers HP | 2013-01-03 |
20130004000 | Systems, Methods, and Article of Manufacture for Configuring a Hearing Prosthesis - The present application discloses systems and methods for determining one or more configuration settings for a first hearing prosthesis based on configuration data associated with a second hearing prosthesis. In some embodiments, determining the one or more configuration settings for the first hearing prosthesis may include determining an acoustic operating range associated with the first hearing prosthesis based on whether a configured gain at one or more frequencies for the second hearing prosthesis meets or exceeds a target gain at the one or more frequencies. Some embodiments may also include storing the determined configuration settings in a tangible computer readable memory associated with the first hearing prosthesis. | 2013-01-03 |
20130004001 | HEARING AID WITH MECHANICAL SOUND GENERATING MEANS FOR FUNCTION SELECTION - A hearing aid ( | 2013-01-03 |
20130004002 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICES - The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions. | 2013-01-03 |
20130004003 | HEARING AID - This hearing aid comprises a main body case ( | 2013-01-03 |
20130004004 | EAR MOULD AND HEARING AID WITH OPEN IN-EAR RECEIVING DEVICE - The present patent application discloses an ear mould, working by cooperation with a receiving device which put in ear canal. The ear mould includes a head of the ear mould and a sound transmission device which connected with the head. The sound transmission device is used for connection with the speaker of the hearing aid. The head of the ear mould is integrated with the sound transmission device. An end of sound transmission device which is connected with the hearing aid is elastic. The part of the sound transmission device which is connected with the head of the ear mould is flexible. | 2013-01-03 |
20130004005 | CONNECTOR FOR A HEARING INSTRUMENT AND HEARING INSTRUMENT - A connector for a hearing instrument, in particular a receiver-in-canal behind-the-ear hearing aid, is small and visually inconspicuous. The connector should be as invisible as possible on the hearing instrument as it is worn, and the connector allows a microphone arrangement favorable for directionality and sound pick-up. The connector is disposed on an earpiece tube, which defines a longitudinal direction at the connector. The connector is connected by insertion into a connector receptacle of a hearing instrument transversely to the longitudinal direction. The hearing instrument has a laterally arranged connector receptacle, into which a connector is inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction. Because of the transverse insertion, the connector can be arranged laterally on the housing and because of the lateral placement, the front end face of the housing is smaller and the housing is overall flatter. A microphone can be arranged on the end face instead of the connector so as to improve sound pick-up and directionality. | 2013-01-03 |