Seeding of a workspace to optimize codec operations
US Patent 8,804,814
August 12, 2014
Various embodiments are directed toward compressing and/or decompressing data communicated between one or more network devices (e.g., codec operations). In particular, embodiments are directed towards improving codec performance by seeding the computation workspace that may be used by various codec processors. The seeding data may be determined based on at least one characteristic of a particular codec and the characteristics of data that may be processed by the codec processor. Also, the codec processor may be employed to generate data for the codec workspace based on the determined seeding data. Workspace data may be generated by processing the seeding data with the same codec processor that is used for normal codec operations. The workspace generated from the seeding data may be stored for future use, such as, when a matched data stream arrives.
Systems and methods for remote electronics device testing
US Patent 8,805,635
August 12, 2014
Testing systems and methods are operable to perform diagnostic testing of a remote electronic device under test (DUT). An exemplary embodiment establishes a communication link between a diagnostic test device and the electronic DUT, receives a plurality of diagnostic commands from the electronic DUT, each of the plurality of diagnostic commands defined by at least one device diagnostic instruction (DDI) and a corresponding DDI description; generates a diagnostics script based upon selection of at least one of the diagnostic commands, wherein the generated diagnostics script includes at least one return device diagnostic instruction (RDDI) corresponding to the selected at least one diagnostic command; and transmits the at least one RDDI from the diagnostic test device to the DUT.
Insertion tool for paddle-style electrode
US Patent 8,805,544
August 12, 2014
A system for lead implantation includes a lead having a paddle-style electrode extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the paddle-style electrode, having a back surface; an active surface; a plurality of electrode contacts disposed on the active surface; and a longitudinal lumen extending into the paddle-style electrode and defining an opening at the proximal end of the paddle-style electrode. The lead also has at least one lead body extending from the paddle-style electrode. The at least one lead body includes conductors that are electrically coupled to the electrode contracts. The system also includes an insertion tool having a distal portion for insertion into the longitudinal lumen of the paddle-style electrode. At least the distal portion of the insertion tool or the longitudinal lumen (or both) includes a low friction material forming a surface with a coefficient of friction of 0.1 or less.
Securing shipment information accessed based on data encoded in machine-readable data blocks
US Patent 8,805,747
August 12, 2014
Example embodiments provide a Shipment Preparation System (“SPS”), which facilitates the preparation of shipments, such as by producing shipping labels. In one embodiment, the SPS is configured to receive shipment preparation information from a bar code or other machine-readable data block in a packing list. The shipment preparation information identifies a uniform resource identifier (“URI”) that identifies a code module that is remote from the SPS. The shipment preparation information and/or the URI further includes an access token. The SPS then uses the URI to communicate with the code module in order to access shipment information (e.g., to read a read a shipping address, to store an indication that a shipment is ready for pick up). The code module restricts access to the shipment information based on the access token, such as by only allowing a limited number or duration of access via the token.
Building structured material using cell geometry
US Patent 8,793,957
August 5, 2014
An improved cellular building block including a middle beam and two legs. The cellular building block having the first leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and a second leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and spaced apart from the first leg, the first leg and the second leg having an inside edge and an outside edge. Having at least one barb located on the inside edge of the first leg and on the inside edge of the second leg and further configured to lock into a recess. The cellular building blocks connect in a two dimensional or three dimensional pattern and a produce a structured material that holds itself together and exhibits beneficial characteristics.
Scrolling display of electronic program guide utilizing images of user lip movements
US Patent 8,798,311
August 5, 2014
Systems and methods of generating device commands based upon spoken user commands are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment captures a series of images of a user of a media device, generates image information corresponding to the series of captured images, determines lip movement of the user from the generated image information, determines at least one spoken user command based upon the determined lip movement of the user, and determines a device command based upon the determined spoken user command. Then, the device command is communicated to, for example, a media presentation device, wherein an operation of the media presentation device is controlled in accordance with the determined spoken user command.
Systems and methods for a common image data array file
US Patent 8,798,435
August 5, 2014
Image data file systems and methods are operable to generate image data files for a plurality of images having a common image data array, and are operable to generate images from the image data files. An exemplary embodiment stores a common image data array into a master image data file, wherein the stored common image data array corresponds to an image data array of a first image of the plurality of images; and generates a soft link image data file based upon a second image of the plurality of images, wherein an image data array of the second image is the same as the common image data array, and wherein a soft link in the soft link image data file identifies a location of the stored common image data array.
Systems and methods for combining images into a file using multiple color palettes
US Patent 8,791,954
July 29, 2014
Image data systems and methods combine a plurality of images into a single multiple-palette image data file, or generate a selected image from the multiple-palette image data file. An exemplary embodiment receives first pixel information for a first pixel of a first image, the first pixel having a first color; receives second pixel information for a like-located second pixel of a second image, the second pixel having a second color; and specifies a color palette location value that identifies a first color palette array element in a first color palette of the first image and identifies a second like-located color palette array element in a second color palette of the second image. First color information stored in the first color palette array element defines the first pixel color. Second color information stored in the second image data color palette array element defines the second pixel color.
System and method for matching service representatives with customers
US Patent 8,792,631
July 29, 2014
Systems and methods of providing customer support are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment compares a plurality of customer attributes associated with corresponding ones of a plurality of service representative attributes to identify a “best match” service representative.
Method for determining the extent of a foreground object in an image
US Patent 8,792,013
July 29, 2014
Embodiments are directed towards determining within a digital camera whether a pixel belongs to a foreground or background segment within a given image by evaluating a ratio of derivative and deviation metrics in an area around each pixel in the image, or ratios of derivative metrics across a plurality of images. For each pixel within the image, a block of pixels are examined to determine an aggregate relative derivative (ARD) in the block. The ARD is compared to a threshold value to determine whether the pixel is to be assigned in the foreground segment or the background segment. In one embodiment, a single image is used to determine the ARD and the pixel segmentation for that image. Multiple images may also be used to obtain ratios of a numerator of the ARD, useable to determine an extent of the foreground.
