Abstract: An article includes a laminate material with an aerogel layer and a polysiloxane layer distinct from the aerogel layer and in contact with the aerogel layer either directly or through an adhesive that is in direct contact with both the aerogel layer and the polysiloxane layer; where the polysiloxane layer comprises a polysiloxane and greater than 5 weight-percent and 95 weight-percent or less based on polysiloxane layer weight of fire retarding additives selected from a group consisting of metal hydroxides, mixed metal hydroxides, hydrated metal salts, and any combinations thereof dispersed throughout the polysiloxane layer.

Abstract: A wall panel is provided including a panel body having a front face and a rear face. A cavity is provided in the rear face of the panel body. A first mounting member is received fully within that cavity so as to not project beyond the rear face of the panel body. The wall panel system also includes a second mounting member that is secured to the wall. The first and second mounting members are connected together to attach the wall panel to the wall.

Abstract: A method of providing customized information to a customer. In an embodiment, the method of providing customized information to a customer such as a car rental customer includes receiving at least one customer preference. Next, data is accessed in accordance with the at least one customer preference. Such data in accordance with the at least one customer preference is written to a storage device which is delivered to the customer. This information may also be provided wirelessly via the Internet so that this information may be up-dated in real time.

Abstract: The present invention introduces the notion of a route provider that efficiently and automatically helps and rewards drivers for traversing optimal driving routes. In particular, described is a technique for receiving one or more conditions and criteria associated with map directions over a computer network from a service bureau. The route provider or a third party may reward drivers for traversing preferred routes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for communicating using synthesized speech including the steps of: capturing subvocal speech signals from a first party; applying subvocal speech recognition to the signals to generate speech text; and, transmitting the generated speech text to a second party.

Abstract: A method is presented for managing user chat status in a chat application. The chat application automatically detects user activity and/or user inactivity external to the chat application and then automatically sets a user chat status value within the chat application based on the detected user activity and/or the detected user inactivity. The chat application may automatically set the user's current chat status at a given time, for example: based on retrieved schedule information that reflects the user's activity at that given time; based on application usage information that reflects the user's activity at that given time with other applications; based on telephone usage information that reflects the user's telephone activity at that given time; based on information about the ambient environment that reflects the user's activity or inactivity in the ambient environment at that given time; or some other automatically gathered information.

Abstract: Rendering GUI widgets with generic look and feel by receiving in a display device a master definition of a graphics display, the master definition including at least one graphics definition element, the graphics definition element including a reference to a protowidget and one or more instance parameter values characterizing an instance of the protowidget, the protowidget includes a definition of a generic GUI object, including generic display values affecting overall look and feel of the graphics display, and rendering at least one instance of the protowidget to a graphics display in dependence upon the generic display values and the instance parameter values.

Abstract: A control system and method for a battery charger. The system includes a processor that receives inputs from a battery current sensor and temperature sensors within the batteries. The processor terminates and resumes charging in response to measured battery temperatures compared to stored reference values in order to prevent high temperatures associated with damage to the batteries.

Abstract: An alarm system and method by which a user can be alerted to a detected condition regarding their vehicle, can view what is happening in and around the vehicle, and can remotely turn off or reset the alarm if it is determined that an alarm is false. This is provided using one or more cameras and a cellular telephone to which the pictures can be sent.

Abstract: A control system and method for a battery charger. The system includes a processor that receives inputs from a battery current sensor and temperature sensors within the batteries. The processor terminates and resumes charging in response to measured battery temperatures compared to stored reference values in order to prevent high temperatures associated with damage to the batteries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for indicating an end of a session. An identification of a session is received from a data structure containing a schedule. In response to receiving the identification of the session, an audio file is created on a storage medium. In the illustrative examples, the storage medium is an optical disc. A track is created for the optical disc on which the file is located. The audio file has a length equal to a length of the session. The audio file includes a silent segment followed by an audio segment. The audio segment provides an indication of the end of the session when encountered during playing of the audio file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for conducting an inventory of a data processing system. When a basic input output system (BIOS) is launched during a boot process for the data processing system, the basic input output system creates a hardware report of the data processing system. This report is sent to a remote data processing system on the network.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and a method for teaching relationships between numbers and how to perform certain types of mathematical operations. The system includes a television channel selection device, such as a remote control device with a visual display. The user selects a channel to view, and is presented with a mathematical problem involving the channel number. When the problem is correctly solved, the television switches to the selected channel. If an incorrect solution is entered, the user is given further opportunities to solve the problem before being prompted to a solution. The degree of difficulty of the problems can be adaptively adjusted, depending upon the accuracy of the user's answers.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and a method for teaching relationships between numbers and how to perform certain types of mathematical operations. The system includes a television channel selection device, such as a remote control device with a visual display. The user selects a channel to view, and is presented with a mathematical problem involving the channel number. When the problem is correctly solved, the television switches to the selected channel. If an incorrect solution is entered, the user is given further opportunities to solve the problem before being prompted to a solution. The degree of difficulty of the problems can be adaptively adjusted, depending upon the accuracy of the user's answers.

Abstract: A system is provided for displaying an animated character. The system identifies a character for display and identifies at least one skill associated with the identified character. The system also determines at least one behavior associated with the identified character. The identified character is then animated based on the skill and the behavior associated with the identified character. Animation of the character can also be based on an environment in which the identified character is displayed. The skill associated with the identified character can be used to generate animation in multiple environments. The behavior associated with the animated character is environment-independent and is used to determine the manner in which the identified character responds to an event. A hierarchical finite state machine can be used to represent the behavior associated with the identified character.

Abstract: A computer, e.g. a server or computer operated by a network provider sends one or more requesting computers (clients) a most likely predicted-to-be selected (predicted) page of information by determining a preference factor for this page based on one or more pages that are requested by the client. This page is added to a local cache of predicted-to-be-selected pages in the client. Once the predicted-to-be selected page is in the cache, the client can update the appearance of the link (i.e. by changing the color or otherwise changing the appearance of the link indicator) to indicate to the user that the page represented by that link is available in the local cache.