Abstract: A technique that allows a DTV receiver to perform a channel scan in a manner that is faster and more efficient than conventional channel scanning techniques. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the technique allows a DTV receiver to perform a scan of only those channels that are known to be available within a local terrestrial broadcast region. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the technique allows a DTV receiver that operates in conjunction with an antenna, such as a smart antenna designed to comply with EIA/CEA 909, to use the same antenna configuration parameters for different terrestrial broadcast signals in an instance where such signals are known to originate from the same antenna location.

Abstract: A system and method for performing audio source localization that uses minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beams or other super-directive beams that are more suitable for reducing noise, interference and/or acoustic coupling than the delay-and-sum beams conventionally used in performing audio source localization based on a Steered Response Power (SRP) approach. Since super-directive beams such as MVDR beams do not provide good properties for performing conventional SRP-based audio source localization, an embodiment of the present invention utilizes a different metric than maximum response power in order to determine which of a plurality of beams provides the best response for audio source localization. This metric involves identifying which beam provides the smallest measure of distortion with respect to a reference power or reference response.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided that automatically selects certain user segments for and excludes certain user segments from receiving online advertisements (“ads”) via various publisher Web sites included within an online ad network. By automatically determining which user segments should be targeted for the delivery of online ads on each publisher Web site, an embodiment of the present invention can advantageously increase the performance of the online ad network while reducing the amount of cost, time and potential errors involved in managing the network.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is described that permits a user to configure or select the manner in which an audio signal transmitted or received over a telephony system, such as a wideband telephony system, is shaped or equalized. An implementation of the present invention allows a user to configure or select equalization control parameters on a call-by-call basis. Furthermore, an implementation of the present invention allows a user to associate equalization control parameters with a party initiating a call and/or a party receiving the call, thereby facilitating automated equalizer adjustment at call connection based on an identification of the calling party and/or the called party.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the endorsement of products through Internet advertisements accepts a bid for an endorsement, enables communication, associated with the bid, between an advertiser and a potential endorser, and serves an endorsement associated with the bid. In one implementation, the endorsement is displayed together with a symbol verifying the endorser.

Abstract: A technique is described herein for reducing audible artifacts in an audio output signal generated by decoding a received frame in a series of frames representing an encoded audio signal in a predictive coding system. In accordance with the technique, it is determined if the received frame is one of a predefined number of received frames that follow a lost frame in the series of the frames. Responsive to determining that the received frame is one of the predefined number of received frames, at least one parameter or signal associated with the decoding of the received frame is altered from a state associated with normal decoding. The received frame is then decoded in accordance with the at least one parameter or signal to generate a decoded audio signal. The audio output signal is then generated based on the decoded audio signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for alternate power delivery are provided. A metering assembly includes a power meter module. The power meter module includes a power control module and a power monitor. The power control module is coupled to a transfer switch that receives both primary power and alternate power. The transfer switch has an output coupled to an electrical circuit load. The power control module is configured to receive a request from the transfer switch for the alternate power to be supplied through the transfer switch to the electrical circuit load. The power control module is configured to enable the transfer switch to supply the alternate power to the electrical circuit load in response to the request. The power monitor is configured to determine an amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly is provided that includes a PCB, an integrated circuit package, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield ring, and a heat sink lid. A first surface of the package is mounted to a first surface of the PCB. The EMI shield ring is mounted to the first surface of the PCB in a ring around the package. A first surface of the heat sink lid includes a recessed region and first and second supporting portions separated by the recessed region. The heat sink lid is mated with the EMI shield ring such that the package is positioned in an enclosure formed by the EMI shield ring and the recessed region of the heat sink lid. A second surface of the package may interface with a surface of the recessed region.

Abstract: Magnetic field distribution and mutual capacitance control for transmission lines are provided. A first circuit board is fabricated by attaching a reference plane layer to a dielectric material layer, and attaching a first trace to the second surface of the dielectric material. A surface profile of the reference plane layer is modified to decrease a resistance of a return current signal path through the reference plane layer, to reduce a magnetic field coupling between the first trace and a second trace. A second circuit board is fabricated by attaching a reference plane layer to a dielectric material layer, attaching a trace to the dielectric material, and forming a solder mask layer on the dielectric material layer over the trace. An effective dielectric constant of the solder mask layer is modified to reduce or increase a mutual capacitance between the first trace and a second trace on the dielectric material.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a first heat sink and a second heat sink. The printed circuit board is disposed internal to the housing and supports at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip. The first heat sink is also disposed internal to the housing and is thermally connected to the at least one IC chip. The second heat sink is connected to the housing such that at least a portion thereof is externally disposed to the housing. The second heat sink is thermally connected to the first heat sink via an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein in which an audio source wirelessly transmits audio content to a first audio sink over one wireless link and to a second audio sink over another wireless link. The two audio sinks also exchange forward error correction (FEC) streams over a link between the two audio sinks, wherein the FEC streams are generated by FEC encoding the audio content received from the audio source. The audio sinks advantageously use the exchanged FEC information to synchronize the playback of the audio content as well as to improve the robustness of the wireless links with the audio source in a manner that does not consume additional bandwidth on those links.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: A technique is described for use in a decoder configured to decode a series of frames representing an encoded audio signal. The technique is for transitioning between a lost frame and one or more received frames following the lost frame in the series of frames. In accordance with the technique, an output audio signal associated with the lost frame is synthesized. An extrapolated signal is generated based on the synthesized output audio signal. A time lag is calculated between the extrapolated signal and a decoded audio signal associated with the received frame(s), wherein the time lag represents a phase difference between the extrapolated signal and the decoded audio signal. The decoded audio signal is time-warped based on the time lag, wherein time-warping the decoded audio signal comprises stretching or shrinking the decoded audio signal in the time domain.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an augmented version of a Low-Complexity Sub-band Coder (LC-SBC) is described herein. In accordance with the method, a series of input audio samples representative of the frame are received. A series of sub-band samples is generated for each of a plurality of frequency sub-bands based on the input audio samples. A determination is made as to whether the frame is a voice frame or a noise frame. Responsive to a determination that the frame is a noise frame, an index representative of a previously-processed series of sub-band samples stored in a history buffer for at least one of the frequency sub-bands is encoded instead of encoding the series of sub-band samples generated for the frequency sub-band.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) capture device and method that capture audio and video in a spatially synchronized manner. In one implementation, the device and method automatically adjust the shape of a spatial directivity pattern of a microphone array used for acquiring audio so that the pattern is spatially synchronized with an amount of video zoom being applied by a video acquisition section to acquire video. For example, a wider spatial directivity pattern may automatically be used during wide-angle shots and a narrower spatial directivity pattern may automatically be used during close-ups. This beneficially allows for the consistent attenuation of audio signals received from audio sources that lie outside the field of view of the video acquisition section while passing or even enhancing audio signals received from audio sources that lie within the field of view even though the width of the field of view has changed.

Abstract: Advertisements displayed in a web page are enabled to be changed as a context of the web page changes without reloading the web page. A first set of one or more advertisements may be displayed on a web page. One or more of the displayed advertisements may be replaced with one or more alternative advertisements. Selection of the alternative advertisements is triggered based on the occurrence of one or more events that cause a change in a context of the web page. The display of the alternative advertisements is performed dynamically, without the web page needing to be reloaded. In this manner, the advertisements displayed on a web page may be changed based on the change in web page context, to provide advertisements to users that correspond to the changing context.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for producing computer desktop applications, such as widgets, are described. A desktop application factory includes an interface and a desktop application generator. The interface enables an application developer to select a desktop application template, and to provide configuration information for the selected desktop application template. The desktop application generator is configured to generate a desktop application by configuring the selected desktop application template according to the provided configuration information.

Abstract: A system and method is described that allows a system operator to remotely detect and diagnose a voice-enabled cable modem that has entered a chattering line state so that appropriate steps may be taken to avoid or rectify any of the problems that may result from this condition. Logic within the voice-enabled cable modem monitors for pulse dialing activity and/or excessive hook state and/or flash events that may be attributed to a faulty telephone and/or telephone line connected to the voice-enabled cable modem. Responsive to detecting such conditions, the logic within the voice-enabled cable modem reports a fault condition to an external management system via a cable data network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit package substrates, integrated circuit packages, and processes for assembling the same, are provided. A substrate for a flip chip integrated circuit package includes a substrate body having opposing first and second surfaces. A solder mask layer covers at least a portion of the first surface of the substrate body. First and second electrically conductive features are formed on the substrate body. The first electrically conductive feature is a portion of a first electrical signal net, and the second electrically conductive feature is a portion of a second electrical signal net. The first and second electrically conductive features are configured to be selectively electrically coupled together by application of an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material may be a conductive epoxy, a jumper, a solder paste, a solder ball, or a solder bump that couples a flip chip die to the substrate.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for synchronizing one or more output/sink devices are described. In each sink device, a communication packet is received from a source device. The communication packet includes data and a source clock timestamp. A local clock signal is generated that is synchronized with a source clock signal of the source device. The data is decoded using a codec. At least one delay and the source clock timestamp are subtracted from a current value of the local clock signal to generate a local latency value. A difference between a desired latency value and the local latency value is determined. A rate of a clock signal of the codec is adjusted according to the determined difference. Because each sink device adjusts its latency to a common desired latency value, the sink devices are thereby synchronized.