Abstract: Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.

Abstract: A method for providing an electronic program guide is disclosed. The method comprises receiving subscription data indicating channels for which a subscription exists; and displaying a list of available channels wherein currently unsubscribed channels and currently subscribed channels are distinguished from each other.

Abstract: Approaches for assessing information used in reverting to a prior BIOS version. A BIOS analyzes a file to determine whether the file may be used to revert the BIOS to a prior version of the BIOS. The file may contain a map of CMOS information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.

Abstract: A system to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.

Abstract: A software system for enabling remote data access to and task execution on a data processing system through a proxy server has an instance of the software residing on the data processing system for receiving and analyzing requests and performing according to request directive, and an instance of the software residing on the proxy server for identifying and authenticating a user and for redirecting requests to the data processing system. The system is characterized in that a user connects to a network accessible to the data processing system and initiates a request for services, wherein the request is after authentication of the user, redirected from the proxy server to the data processing system for task execution and possible return of results according to the contents of the request.

Abstract: A content listing may provide a listing of content items a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. Viewers and/or programmers may be allowed to select between varying display environment. In addition, non-content listing objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the display environment and with the content listing information.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for receiving electronic programming guide (EPG) selections entered via a separate wireless remote, storing the EPG selections on a storage device, and transmitting the EPG selections to be displayed when requested. In one embodiment, the EPG selections are transmitted to one or more separate wireless remotes to be displayed on the wireless remotes when requested. In addition, in one embodiment, one or more programs are also transmitted to be separately displayed concurrently with displaying the EPG selections.

Abstract: An advertisement is selected based on a demographic profile that is determined based on a second set of categories of broadcasted programs. The second set is a set to which a category from a first set of categories of broadcasted programs has been added in response to either a selecting of the category from the first set, or a broadcasted program viewing device being tuned, for a period of time at least equal to a first predetermined threshold, to at least one broadcasted program predetermined to be in the category from the first set. The advertisement may be displayed with an interactive programming guide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a first video display coupled with a receiving system to display a video broadcast, and a computing device having a second display displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) corresponding to the video broadcast, wherein the EPG and the video broadcast are displayed concurrently.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling users to perform self-service operations in interactive TV environments. In one embodiment, the method enables users to select and activate programming channels via a content receiving device, thereby eliminating the need for the users to have to call a call center or content provider to activate previously unavailable or inaccessible content. Using a set of interactive screens, the user is enabled to view programming channel information, including comparative information. In one embodiment, the method assists users who are moving to activate/reactive programming and content services. For example, options are provided to enable the user to schedule service work, disconnect and activate services, and other activities connected with the move. In another embodiment, the method enables a user to select a programming channel based on channels that are recommended by the system.

Abstract: An Electronic Document Answering Machine is adapted to connect to remote information sources and to download digital documents including e-mail and WEB pages, and to store the documents for later review by a user. The Answering machine has an alert device for alerting a user that new documents are available for review, and an initializing device for a user to cause documents to be communicated for review one-at-a-time. In a preferred embodiment documents are communicated over a speaker via voice synthesis. In an alternative preferred embodiment a small display is provided wherein documents may be displayed in alphanumeric characters. The answering machine can be implemented as a stand-alone device or can be connected via a serial port to a host PC for transferring documents to the PC for processing and review. In other embodiments the Answering Machine is implemented as a system in a PC, with alert and selective input added as an interface.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of a uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.

Abstract: An image-oriented electronic programming guide system is provided in which programming choices are represented as reduced video images of real-time programming displayed in individual image areas comprising one or more independent or geometric surfaces. The reduced video images may be snapshots captured from a standard video channel and updated at regular intervals or after detecting a scene change in the real-time programming. The most presentable snapshot may be further filtered to represent the real-time programming in the best manner. The reduced video images may also be thumbnail video streams selected from an enhanced preview channel.

Abstract: A system projects a user-viewable, computer-generated or -fed image, wherein a head-mounted projector is used to project an image onto a retro-reflective surface, so only the viewer can see the image. The projector is connected to a computer that contains software to create virtual 2-D and or 3-D images for viewing by the user! Further, on projector each is mounted on either side of the user's head, and, by choosing for example a retro angle of less than about 10 degrees, each eye can only see the image of one of the projectors at a give distance up to 3 meters, in this example, from the retro-reflective screen. The retro angle used may be reduced with larger viewing distance desired. These projectors use lasers to avoid the need for focusing, and in some cases there projectors use instead of lasers highly collimated LEO light sources to avoid the need for focusing.

Abstract: Approaches for a pre-boot operating environment. A BIOS, executing on a machine, is configured to execute a program prior to booting an operating system executing on the machine. Prior to loading an operating system on the machine, the program executes to establish a pre-boot operating environment. The pre-boot operating environment may support the execution of one or more application therein. The pre-boot operating environment may be a Linux-style or Unix-style operating environment.

Abstract: A system for wireless communication comprises an architecture of routers connected to a network and having connected transceivers for wireless transmission and reception of data, and a plurality of hand-held commuoicators adapted for users to communicate with the network through the routers. The system is adapted to provide wireless Data Network Telephony (DNT), and the hand-held communicators execute Quality of Service (QoS) code adapted to prioritize DNT packet code over all non-DNT traffic, thereby preserving the real-time nature of the DNT code.