Abstract: A remote control uses IR (infrared) commands to control various consumer appliances made by various manufactures. The remote control is low-cost, consumer-friendly, programmable, has its own graphical display so it does not interfere with a TV or other viewing screen, and is capable of interacting with the internet or other data source to provide a rich set of functionality.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using physical buttons on a device in association with a display to display, access, and execute functions available through associated hardware and software. The physical buttons are programmable, and the function of each button is displayed on an associated display when the button is activated using a first type of motion, and the function of the button is performed when the button is activated using a second type of motion. This allows the display to be free of unnecessary icons, tool-tips, menus, text, etc., and to be devoted to actual content unless and until a user decides to perform a function associated with the device containing the display. Increasing the available display space is especially important in the advancing art of electronics, where devices are becoming smaller and smaller, yet consumers are demanding more and more functionality.

Abstract: A method of interacting with Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data in a two-dimensional grid format, where one dimension (typically horizontal) represents time and the other dimension (typically vertical) represents program source or channel. User input comprises navigation commands to move the selection of an active program either up, down, left or right. Such commands may cause the new active program to be another program corresponding to a grid cell that is already displayed, or they may cause the new active program to be another program corresponding to a cell not currently displayed in the EPG grid, which in turn causes the times or channels displayed in the grid to change. The invention provides a novel visual indication of an active point in time which forms the basis of a method and system for selecting different active programs during grid navigation.

Abstract: A wireless system includes one or more transmitters and one or more remote receivers that are respectively coupled through one or more users and room ground. The transmitters each produce low-frequency, low power signals that, through capacitive coupling, pass as displacement currents into and from the body of the user, which acts as a conductive node. A receiver that couples capacitively to the user responds to the displacement currents and reproduces the signals. The transmitter includes a signal generator and a pair of electrodes. The signal generator produces modulated signals that vary the voltage between the electrodes, a first one of which is closely coupled capacitively to the user's body such that the "quasi-electrostatic" field resulting from the electrode potential causes a displacement current to pass to the user's body.

Abstract: A diagnostic system (10) for diagnosing the cause of failures of functional tests made on a system under test wherein the system under test comprises a plurality of interacting components and wherein the diagnostic system (10) comprises means (20) for interpreting test results based on the set of operations which are involved in carrying out the tests and which components are exercised by operations.