Abstract: An armrest assembly comprising a base structure and an upper structure that has an upper surface providing an armrest. The upper structure is movable with respect to the base structure between an upper position and a lower position under the control of a lockable actuator that is operable to lock the upper structure with respect to the base structure in any one of a plurality of adoptable positions. A second locking device is operable to lock the upper structure with respect to the base structure in at least one of the adoptable positions, the locking device including locking elements that inter-engage mechanically when the second locking device locks the upper structure with respect to said base structure.

Abstract: Methods are provided for engineering non-naturally occurring proteins comprising artificial pH-sensitive conformational switches that respond to a change in pH by causing a global unfolding of the proteins. Non-naturally occurring proteins comprising artificial pH-sensitive conformational switches that respond to a change in pH by causing a global unfolding of the proteins are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating application runtime environments or application environments that can be downloaded and integrated into the computing environment of a computing device are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a computing device on which an operating system is installed that creates a computing environment, an Application Platform application, where the Application Platform application is at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment when executed by the computing device, and a cross-platform application, where the cross-platform application is configured to be executed within the application runtime environment and is not natively executable by the computing device. In addition, the Application Platform application is configured to integrate the cross-platform application into the computing environment of the computing device by providing at least one launch point for the cross-platform application within the computing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating application runtime environments or application environments that can be downloaded and integrated into the computing environment of a computing device are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a computing device on which an operating system is installed that creates a computing environment, an Application Platform application, where the Application Platform application is at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment when executed by the computing device, and a cross-platform application, where the cross-platform application is configured to be executed within the application runtime environment and is not natively executable by the computing device. In addition, the Application Platform application is configured to integrate the cross-platform application into the computing environment of the computing device by providing at least one launch point for the cross-platform application within the computing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating application runtime environments or application environments that can be downloaded and integrated into the computing environment of a computing device are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a computing device on which an operating system is installed that creates a computing environment, an Application Platform application, where the Application Platform application is at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment when executed by the computing device, and a cross-platform application, where the cross-platform application is configured to be executed within the application runtime environment and is not natively executable by the computing device. In addition, the Application Platform application is configured to integrate the cross-platform application into the computing environment of the computing device by providing at least one launch point for the cross-platform application within the computing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating application runtime environments or application environments that can be downloaded and integrated into the computing environment of a computing device are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a computing device on which an operating system is installed that creates a computing environment, an Application Platform application, where the Application Platform application is at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment when executed by the computing device, and a cross-platform application, where the cross-platform application is configured to be executed within the application runtime environment and is not natively executable by the computing device. In addition, the Application Platform application is configured to integrate the cross-platform application into the computing environment of the computing device by providing at least one launch point for the cross-platform application within the computing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating application runtime environments or application environments that can be downloaded and integrated into the computing environment of a computing device are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a computing device on which an operating system is installed that creates a computing environment, an Application Platform application, where the Application Platform application is at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment when executed by the computing device, and a cross-platform application, where the cross-platform application is configured to be executed within the application runtime environment and is not natively executable by the computing device. In addition, the Application Platform application is configured to integrate the cross-platform application into the computing environment of the computing device by providing at least one launch point for the cross-platform application within the computing environment.

Abstract: A computer device selected as a media server is connected to a consumer electronic (CE) device over multiple media transfer channels. The multiple media transfer channels together with an improved media transfer protocol allow for efficient, real-time transfer of different types of digital media, in various combinations, for playing on the CE device. Each type of media is transferred over its own dedicated channel according to its individual data rate. The improved media transfer protocol allows the data to be transmitted in either an asynchronous mode or a synchronous stream or timestamp mode depending on whether synchronization is desired. A dedicated control channel allows for the transfer of control information from the CE device to the media server as well as for resynchronizing media position of the server upon a change in play mode of the corresponding media.

Abstract: An upper reveal molding is provided for a motor vehicle door frame having a flange and a through-hole. The upper reveal molding includes a molding strip adapted to be coupled to the flange. The upper reveal molding also includes a reveal insert fixedly secured to the molding strip. The reveal insert includes a plurality of retention fingers selectively received within the through-hole and lockingly engageable with the motor vehicle door frame in order to locate the upper reveal molding therealong.

Abstract: An article of headwear (1) for covering the head and neck of a wearer has a hood section (17) and neck section (20). The neck section may contain a fluid reservoir (2) with an inlet (6) to provide hydration for a wearer as well as thermal relief and sun protection in hot or cold conditions. Handles (3) with removably attachable fastening means (10), (11) and (13), (14) allow the headwear (1) to be held by a wearer's hands or secured around the wearer's head. Preferably, the headwear has an inner layer (10) made of moisture-absorbent cloth to absorb moisture. Optionally, the neck section may contain a storage compartment (18) for folding down and storing the hood section as discussed.

Abstract: Multimedia distribution systems are disclosed in which servers communicate with clients via audio, video, overlay and/or control channels. In many instances, the audio, video and/or overlay information is transcoded prior to transmission. In many embodiments, the servers and/or clients can be updated. In several embodiments, the updates can be performed in a manner that preserves the ability of all devices connected to a network to communication. One embodiment of the invention includes a server connected to a client via a network and at least one storage device containing audio, video and/or overlay information formatted in accordance with a first format. In addition, the client includes a storage device that stores information indicative of the audio, video and/or overlay formats that the client is capable of decoding and the server is configured to transmit audio, video, overlay and control information via separate audio, video and overlay and control channels.

Abstract: A remote user interface provides a full motion, full-color, dynamic interface with complex visuals without imposing heavy hardware requirements on a consumer electronics device. Instead, the hardware requirements are placed on another computer device that is designated as a media server. The media server generates the complex UI, encodes the UI into one or more compressed video frames, and transmits the compressed video frames to the CE device. The CE device plays the UI video as it would any other video. User inputs for interacting with the UI are transmitted and interpreted by the media server. The media server updates the UI images based on the interaction.

Abstract: A computer device selected as a media server is connected to a consumer electronic (CE) device over multiple media transfer channels. The multiple media transfer channels together with an improved media transfer protocol allow for efficient, real-time transfer of different types of digital media, in various combinations, for playing on the CE device. Each type of media is transferred over its own dedicated channel according to its individual data rate. The improved media transfer protocol allows the data to be transmitted in either an asynchronous mode or a synchronous stream or timestamp mode depending on whether synchronization is desired. A dedicated control channel allows for the transfer of control information from the CE device to the media server as well as for resynchronizing media position of the server upon a change in play mode of the corresponding media.

Abstract: Multimedia distribution systems are disclosed in which servers communicate with clients via audio, video, overlay and/or control channels. Information sent between the clients and servers on the audio, video and/or overlay channels includes timestamps. The timestamps coordinate the queuing and processing of information received by the client. Once information has been processed by the client, the client can report information concerning the timestamps associated with the processed information to the server. In one embodiment, the invention includes a server connected to a client via a network.

Abstract: A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

Abstract: A method for transmitting environmental conditions information, which includes receiving at least some environmental conditions information, scaling the received information such that a scaled environmental conditions value is determined for a particular vehicle, receiving an environmental conditions threshold value, comparing the scaled value to the received threshold value, determining whether the scaled value is greater than the received threshold value, and transmitting, if the scaled value is greater than the received threshold value, at least some of the information.

Abstract: This invention combines meteorological, environmental, or dynamic vehicle data with data specific to a particular craft or vehicle, such as, for example, the weight, speed, acceleration, response characteristics, propulsion, mode of propulsion, and configuration, of a particular aircraft, and produces a simplified display map showing environmental conditions data as the environmental conditions data relates to that specific vehicle. The environmental conditions data is presented on the display map in the form of environmental condition annotations that have different coloring, shading, and/or iconization as determined by the type, severity, and area of the various environmental conditions relative to the vehicle. This invention separately provides travel route optimization for a particular craft or vehicle based on the combination of meteorological and other environmental data with data specific to the particular craft or vehicle.

Abstract: This invention combines meteorological and other environmental data with data specific to a particular craft or vehicle, such as, for example, the weight, speed, response characteristics, propulsion, mode of propulsion, and configuration, of a particular aircraft, and produces a simplified display map showing environmental conditions data as the environmental conditions data relates to that specific vehicle. The environmental conditions data is presented on the display map in the form of environmental condition annotations that have different coloring, shading, and/or iconization as determined by the type, severity, and area of the various environmental conditions relative to the vehicle. This invention separately provides travel route optimization for a particular craft or vehicle based on the combination of meteorological and other environmental data with data specific to the particular craft or vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating electronic transactions carried out over public networks such as the Internet is disclosed. A transaction record which identifies the electronic transaction to one party, typically a merchant or institution is created. The transaction record is encrypted by a computer controlled by the merchant or institution so as to allow later decryption by the merchant or institution and to prevent alteration by others. A digital receipt is formed by appending the encrypted transaction record to a plaintext message describing the transaction in plaintext. The digital receipt is then communicated to a computer controlled by the customer. The formation of the digital receipt may take place real-time, so that the second party's computer process may remain inactive until the digital receipt is received.