Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for repairing an image using an image defect matte that indicates portions of an image that have been repaired in previous iterations or are proposed modifications for a current iteration. A user interface incorporates graphical tools that allow the user to modify or manipulate the defect matte and thereby initiate commands that control the selection, detection or repair of one or more defects in an image. For example, the user interface may include commands that allow a user to further repair or cancel a previous repair of a selected region of an image. Each image defect matte may be stored, for example, as an array of elements that assume integer values corresponding to different degrees or steps of repair, such as “original”, “repaired” or “new defect.” Each matte integer value can be encoded with a different color. Each element of the defect matte corresponds to one or more image pixels.

Abstract: The private and public keys of users, as encrypted with a symmetric algorithm by using individual user identifying keys are stored at a network server, indexed or addressable by user ID, and are sent to the user equipment only when needed. The user identifying keys are determined by hashing the users' respective passphrases or biometric information. After use, the private key and user identifying key are not retained at the user equipment. The encrypted private key is transmitted via the network to the user equipment along with a document to be approved by the user (in the case where the private key is used for digital signature) and, at the user equipment, the received encrypted private key is decrypted using a key determined at the user equipment by hashing either the user's passphrase, which is entered by the user, or the user's biometric information which is obtained by measurement or scanning the user.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying digital recordings that have a plurality of tracks. The system includes an encoder that: divides the digital recording into a plurality of sections and associates a random number with each section; calculates an identifier as a function of the associated random numbers; and watermarks sections within a block of sections with the associated random number and a portion of the identifier. A verification system is provided that extracts the random numbers and identifier portions; calculates a first identifier as a function of the extracted random numbers; calculates a second identifier based on the identifier portions; and compares the first identifier and the second identifier.

Abstract: Coding (1) of an audio signal is provided including estimating (110) a position of a transient signal component in the audio signal, matching (111,112) a shape function on the transient signal component in case the transient signal component is gradually declining after an initial increase, which shape function has a substantially exponential initial behavior and a substantially logarithmic declining behavior; and including (15) the position and shape parameters describing the shape function in an audio stream (AS).

Abstract: The invention proposes a mechanism for retransmitting packets which comprises a step for checking at the transmitter whether the retransmitted packet will be received by the receiver in time to be processed. To this end, the receiver sends in its retransmission request the processing time indication of the packet being processed at the receiver when the request is transmitted. At the transmitter end, this processing time indication is compared with the processing time indication of the packet to be retransmitted so as to authorize or block its retransmission.

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a number of user stations, coupled via a data network to a number of service provider host systems. The user stations are registered as client stations at the host system of a service provider, with the host system maintaining a database of registered client station identification data. The host system additionally maintains a directory of the client stations that are on-line at a given time, determined from periodic messages sent to the host by each client station. Callers wishing to contact a client station (10) user first contact the service provider which, from the directory, determines whether the user is currently on-line. If so, a paging message is generated by the service provider from data supplied by the caller and sent via the network to the client station, the address of which is held in the service provider database.

Abstract: A capacitively back-coupled wireless terminal (10) comprises a PCB (22) having a ground conductor (24) on one surface. A back coupling capacitor (C) is carried by the ground conductor. An elongate slot (30) is provided in the ground conductor to widen the bandwidth. An electromagnetic shield (32) is provided on the side of the PCB (22) which in use is facing a lossy dielectric in order to reduce the SAR. The shield is disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the slot (30) in the ground conductor and the back coupling capacitor. For narrowband operation the slot may be omitted and/or the spacing between the PCB (22) and the shield (32) may be reduced.

Abstract: A method of and a system for upgrading a universal remote control with a command code of an electronic appliance are provided. The command code is downloaded from an internet server into a personal computer or set-top box, which is coupled to an infrared transmitter. The universal remote control is placed in front of the infrared transmitter and the command code is transferred to the universal remote control, for example in response to the user indicating a key, shown in a displayed picture of a control panel of the electronic appliance and associated with said command code.

Abstract: A video compression process speeds the optimal choice of quantizers for compressing a data stream by setting up the optimization problem as a path-optimization problem in configuration space and finding the lowest cost path through the configuration space. The process begins with a starting node (or “state”) and propagates least-cost waves through the space until a path is completed to the end. The process may continue using uncompleted paths while their costs are less than the end state, beginning with the lowest cost incomplete path, until an improved path is found. The process may further continue, for a time constrained process, until time runs out or all useful possibilities are exhausted.

Abstract: A network protocol allows small wireless devices to be used for the control of remote systems. Several features promote fast and efficient modification of system parameters despite the small form factor of most wireless devices. First, each card is preferably designed such that the status of a control variable, and a control to permit the variable to be changed, are located on the same card. Second, the menu is structured such that rather than forcing the user through a series of data entry cards for every possible parameter, the user may select only the parameter which requires changing. Third, the interface is structured such that, each time a control variable is set, the user is taken back automatically to the previous card up one level in the menu structure. Fourth, the interface is structured to go back a level when the user opts out of a change.

Abstract: A queue monitoring system is disclosed. A detection system (10) provides at least one coverage zone (15) covering at least a part of a queuing area (30). A handset (12) is issued to a user, the detection system (10) being arranged to detect the handset (12) when it is within the coverage zone (15) and to record the user of the handset as being in the queue. Queue load is subsequently used to provide recommended itineraries to visitors via the handsets (12).

Abstract: This invention facilitates the relocation of a hypertext document and objects referenced by hypertext items. The Universal Resource Locators (URLs) in a hypertext document are identified and assessed. A modifiable URL is a URL that is associated with an object that has been relocated, or with an object that will be relocated when the hypertext document is relocated. Each modifiable URL in the document is modified to reflect the relocation of each object, and each object that has not yet been relocated is relocated. If any relocated object is another hypertext document, this other document is similarly processed to identify and update each modifiable URL, each object requiring relocation is relocated, and each relocated hypertext document is subsequently similarly processed.

Abstract: A method and device for improved character input are described, wherein the method employs a keypad 100 comprising keys 102 able to display secondary characters 106 in addition to primary characters 104. The keypad has a default display state. A first key selection causes the keypad 100 to display secondary characters 106 associated with the first key on other keys 102, whereupon a second key selection causes the displayed character to be input, following which the keypad reverts to displaying the default state. Further secondary characters 200 may also be displayed after a first key selection. The method is particularly useful for handheld devices such as mobile radio telephones or handheld computers adapted to implement the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method and system for TIMEOUT message management in a serial bus bridged network includes (a) implementing a register table by a portal that contains a plurality of entries for storing respective remote timeout values from a portal's local bus to a particular destination bus in a same net, (b) intercepting a TIMEOUT response message addressed to the portal's local bus, (c) storing the remote timeout values for asynchronous transactions contained in the TIMEOUT response message intercepted in step (b), (d) forwarding the TIMEOUT response message intercepted in step (b) to the originally addressed node; (e) intercepting a TIMEOUT request message by the portal, (f) synthesizing timeout values by one of: retrieving or calculating, (g) sending the timeout values the sender of the TIMEOUT request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for tuning the content of information presented to an audience, for example, on a large display screen or an information kiosk. A disclosed content selection and driving system (i) extracts relevant characteristics about the audience, (ii) analyzes the characteristics, (iii) modifies the presented content based on the analysis, and (iv) records relevant statistics for reporting. An audio/visual analyzer derives audience characteristics and other information on the public reaction to the presented advertising or information by analyzing audio or video information, or both. The derived characteristics are utilized to tune the content of the presented advertising or information to the characteristics of the current audience. A reporting module receives real-time audience statistics and an indication of the selected content.

Abstract: An improved method and arrangement for detecting a watermark in an information (e.g. image or video) signal are disclosed. The detection is more reliable and less vulnerable to image processing by partitioning the image into a sequence of blocks having a predetermined size, accumulating the blocks, computing a value indicative of the correlation of the accumulated blocks and the watermark having the predetermined size, and detecting whether the correlation value is larger than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A sufficient number of data items are selected for inclusion in a data set so as to discourage a transmission of the entire set over a limited bandwidth communications path, such as the Internet. Each data item comprises one or more sections, which taken together constitute the complete data set. Each section of the data set is linked to another section of the data set, and each section's link is bound to the section via the use of one or more watermarks. Upon presentation of material for rendering, the presence of the entirety of the data set is verified by ascertaining the presence of linked-to sections. For further security, the links between sections is formed by a random selection of each linked-to section. To verify that each linked-to section corresponds to the original section that was linked-to, each link contains an identifier of the linked-to section that can be used to determine that a retrieval of a linked-to section corresponds to the originally assigned linked-to section.

Abstract: A camera system and method for operating that system. The camera system comprises a stationary camera having a wide angle view, a remotely controllable camera having a relatively smaller angle view for providing images in substantially full resolution, and a processor. The processor monitors the wide angle view of the stationary camera, receives information concerning a selected desired subject within the wide angle view, generates an electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the selected desired subject based on the wide angle view of the stationary camera, controls the remotely controllable camera for providing a view that overlaps the electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the desired subject, and processes the electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the desired subject in accordance with the resolution of the remotely controllable camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for displaying available television programs with an indication of the strength of the contribution of one or more program attributes or features to the overall recommendation score assigned by a program recommender. The program and corresponding indication of the strength of the contribution of one or more program attributes can be presented to the user, for example, using grids listing the available television programs by time and date, channel and title. The overall recommendation scores or component scores associated with each program are also displayed to the user. The overall recommendation scores or component scores can be displayed with each program directly or can be mapped onto a color spectrum or another visual cue, such as a variable size-of-text, rate of blinking or bar height. The visual cues are then applied to each program in the program grid in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: A video processing system tracks a moving person or other object of interest using a combined audio-video tracking system. The audio-video tracking system comprises an audio locator, a video locator, and a set of rules for determining the manner in which settings of a camera are adjusted based on outputs of the audio locator and video locator. The set of rules may be configured such that only the audio locator output is used to adjust the camera settings if the audio locator and video locator outputs are not sufficiently close and a confidence indicator generated by the audio locator is above a specified threshold. For example, in such a situation, the audio locator output alone may be used to direct the camera to a new speaker in a video conference. If the audio locator and video locator outputs are sufficiently close, the system determines if a confidence indicator generated by the video locator is above a specified level, and if so, the video locator output may be used to adjust the camera settings.