Abstract: A collaborative information system in which a first display device provides a recommendation of programming content to a viewer of a second display device, where the recommendation is based on content characteristics of the recommended content, and where the recommendation is based on assigning those content characteristics respectively different weights.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A remote support site having a detector internally collecting information on a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic of a media-playing set or television and a server enabling specification of a preferred setting for such characteristic from this information. A method including maintaining a remote site, therefrom internally collecting information from the set about a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic, and therefrom specifying a preferred setting for such characteristic. A similar method but information detected upon user request about user-adjustable component for selecting on-screen characteristic and final step is remotely adjusting component. A similar method but information is about broadcast characteristic potentially selectable initially by user instead remotely specified initially. A similar method but information is about plural broadcast characteristics and final step is remotely providing settings for each.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A system for influencing a state of a user including a light source for emitting light influencing the state of the user and a light controller selectively controlling the emission of the light. The emission may include at least one of, the spectrum of said light; the duration of said light; the distribution of said light; the intensity of said light; and the timing of said light. The analysis engine provides a signal to the light controller indicating a desired emission of the light.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A remote support site having a detector internally collecting information on a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic of a media-playing set or television and a server enabling specification of a preferred setting for such characteristic from this information. A method including maintaining a remote site, therefrom internally collecting information from the set about a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic, and therefrom specifying a preferred setting for such characteristic. A similar method but information detected upon user request about user-adjustable component for selecting on-screen characteristic and final step is remotely adjusting component. A similar method but information is about broadcast characteristic potentially selectable initially by user instead remotely specified initially. A similar method but information is about plural broadcast characteristics and final step is remotely providing settings for each.

Abstract: A remote support site having a detector internally collecting information on a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic of a media-playing set or television and a server enabling specification of a preferred setting for such characteristic from this information. A method including maintaining a remote site, therefrom internally collecting information from the set about a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic, and therefrom specifying a preferred setting for such characteristic. A similar method but information detected upon user request about user-adjustable component for selecting on-screen characteristic and final step is remotely adjusting component. A similar method but information is about broadcast characteristic potentially selectable initially by user instead remotely specified initially. A similar method but information is about plural broadcast characteristics and final step is remotely providing settings for each.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: A collaborative information system.

Abstract: An intelligent, interactively maneuverable interface display of current electronic programming guide (EPG) textual information presentable on a user's television screen. The display, which is organized as a context display, includes keyword-sensitized text, and a virtual, user-employable navigation tool, such as a scrollbar tool, which, via a hand-held remote control device, enables a user quickly, intuitively, and with appropriate user-specific focus to locate programming material of special interest. Display information which is thus accessed by user manipulation of this tool is arranged in a sensible hierarchical manner so as to define different levels of focus-resolution which relate to different “positions” of a handle in the scrollbar tool.

Abstract: A presence-based collaboration system includes a storage containing concurrent-content-consumption information for at least one user of a community of users, and a processor that generates filtered concurrent-content-consumption information for at least one user of the community of users that is based on the concurrent-content-consumption information contained in the storage and on user permission information for at least one user of the community of users. The permission information of each user of the system includes information relating to the concurrent-content-consumption information for the user that is presented to at least one other user of the community of users. In one exemplary embodiment, the presence-based collaboration system also includes a plurality of content terminals that communicate on a client/server basis with the presence-based collaboration system.

Abstract: An intelligent, interactively maneuverable interface display of current electronic programming guide (EPG) textual information presentable on a user's television screen. The display, which is organized as a context display, includes keyword-sensitized text, and a virtual, user-employable navigation tool, such as a scrollbar tool, which, via a hand-held remote control device, enables a user quickly, intuitively, and with appropriate user-specific focus to locate programming material of special interest. Display information which is thus accessed by user manipulation of this tool is arranged in a sensible hierarchical manner so as to define different levels of focus-resolution which relate to different “positions” of a handle in the scrollbar tool.

Abstract: A system, a methodology and a related, on-screen, interactive user interface which displays electronic programming guide (EPG) text, with highlighted and user-selectable keywords that enable focused, precision informational navigation through the available EPG database. The display also presents different categories of virtual tools that can be employed by a user for navigating purposes, accessible via a suitable remote, hand-held control device.

Abstract: A method for processing saturated video intervals in a video sequence. The method either removes or retains the saturated interval. If the interval is removed, the sequence is altered to accommodate the removal. The accommodation is either complete elimination, substitution of a derived interval, or substitution by repeating adjacent intervals. If the interval is retained, information is extracted while limiting the effects of the saturation. The interval can either be encoded with lower data rates, with increased data rates being applied to subsequent intervals, the temporal prediction encoding can be forced to a B interval, an I interval can be inserted, or the sequence restarted, or a coupled encoder decoder system can be set up that uses the same transform and clipping steps to limit the effects of saturation.

Abstract: To attract potential customers to a web site, the site offers inexpensive conversion and storage of legacy data.