On Tuesdays the USPTO issues new patents. Both of today's Spotlight Patents concern aspects of digital fingerprinting. Assigned to NetApp, the first patent addresses techniques for eliminating duplicate data by generating data fingerprints using adaptive fixed-length window. Assigned to Intel, the second patent addresses cluster-based fingerprinting algorithms.
8,180,740, "System and method for eliminating duplicate data by generating data fingerprints using adaptive fixed-length windows," assigned to NetApp, Inc.
Abstract
A method and system for generating data fingerprints is used to de-duplicate a data set having a high level of redundancy. A fingerprint generator generates a data fingerprint based on a data window. Each byte of the data set is added to the fingerprint generator and used to detect an anchor within the received data. If no anchor is detected, the system continues receiving bytes until a predefined window size is reached. When the window size is reached, the system records a data fingerprint based on the data window and resets the window size. If an anchor is detected, the system extends the window size such that the window ends a specified length after the location of the anchor. If the extended window is greater than a maximum size, the system ignores the anchor. The generated fingerprints are compared to a fingerprint database. The data set is then de-duplicated by replacing matching data segments with references to corresponding stored data segments.
8,180,367, "Cluster-based fingerprinting algorithms," assigned to Intel.
Abstract
Methods and apparatus to provide cluster-based fingerprinting algorithms are described. In one embodiment, m closest fingerprints from k fingerprints are determined. The k fingerprints may be determined as closest fingerprints to a scan s in a signal strength domain, where the scan s is of an environment surrounding a wireless device. The center of mass of the m fingerprints may be used to determine a location estimation for the wireless device. Other embodiments are also described.
