Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device that includes a flexible horizontal display surface is presented. A set of actuators located under the flexible horizontal display surface that, when activated, cause a tactile sensation on the display surface. A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. A set of preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store. Each of the preparation steps are displayed to the user on the flexible horizontal surface display. A current preparation step that is being performed by the user is identified. The user is directed to an area of the interactive cooking preparation device using a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile feedback mechanism causes a physical sensation on the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. The physical sensation is felt by the user when the user is touching the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device.

Abstract: A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. Each of the retrieved preparation steps is displayed sequentially to the user on a horizontal surface display that is included in an interactive cooking preparation device. During at least one preparation step, a selected kitchen appliance is identified, such as a configurable burner surface. The identified preparation step also includes one or more appliance parameters that correspond to the selected kitchen appliance. The selected kitchen appliance is controlled by sending one or more signals from the interactive cooking preparation device to the selected kitchen appliance. At least one of the signals sent to the appliance includes one of the appliance parameters.

Abstract: An interactive cooking device is provided. A user selects a recipe from a list of available recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store along with a set of ingredients. The retrieved preparation steps are sequentially displaying to the user on a display that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user's preparation actions are monitored, using one or more sensors. Gestures that correspond to the current preparation step are retrieved from the data store along with thresholds that correspond to each of the gestures. The user's actions are compared to the retrieved gestures using the retrieved thresholds. If the user's actions vary from the gestures by more than the thresholds, an alert is generated. The user is then provided with a suggested course of correction.

Abstract: The invention described herein uses a multi-touch manager for authorizing multi-touch devices by first providing a multi-touch test to a multi-touch device. In turn, the multi-touch manager receives a multi-touch response from the multi-touch device. The multi-touch manager then compares the multi-touch response with a multi-touch answer and authorizes the device based upon the comparison.

Abstract: When an appropriate context-sensitive ad is created for readers of a content page, it can also serve as a summary of page. In this context, the content indicates anything triggering a user's experience that may be used to decide what ad to show. This could be a particular web site, an application on user's computer, a virtual world, or even a physical location. An embodiment of this invention provides a method to serve the ads previously given on a page or other content to a user, at a time other than when the user is actually consuming that content. This Ads-as-a-summary concept can take various forms. It can also be leveraged at various times, such as a preview.

Abstract: In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a user may elect to modify a primary view by electronically “removing” obstructing objects from the primary view. The user begins by identifying the objects to be electronically removed from the simulated view, either by designating the boundaries of the objects or by identifying classes of objects to be removed. Pel locations associated with obstructing objects are identified in the primary data set. Video data provided by cameras other than a primary video camera is analyzed to identify common features in the primary and secondary views and to identify pels that correspond with object-associated pels in the primary view. A merged data set, consisting of pel data from the primary data set and from at least one of the secondary data sets, provides the video data presented in the simulated view.

Abstract: In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, the participant's ability to select a particular video feed for display can be eased through the use of guided scanning. A guided scanning strategy is built based on operator inputs and used to select a particular set of video feeds that are initially shown as a video “slideshow” on the display used by the participant. Each video feed appears only for a limited period of time to enable easy participant review. Once the participant sees a particular video feed of interest, that video feed to can be selected for persisted presentation on the display.

Abstract: In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, a participant can select a particular video feed for display. The participant has the option of selecting or locking onto a particular camera so that the display continues to show scenes captured by that camera without regard to what appears in those scenes. As an alternative, the participant may select or lock onto a particular scene. If a scene is selected, the current video feed is analyzed to identify key features. The video feed is monitored. If the key features disappear from the video feed, video feeds available from other cameras are analyzed for the presence of the key features. A new video feed (i.e., camera) is selected from the set of video feeds currently generating images including the key features.

Abstract: In vehicle-to-vehicle networks, the “owner” of the given ad hoc vehicle-to-vehicle network may not be interested in a considerable amount of the data provided by other network participants. The owner may define a subset or swarm of data sources that are to be actively considered by entering subset-defining properties. As data is received from other network participants, environmental properties included in the received data are compared to the subset-defining properties. A network participant is included in the defined subset only if a match is found.

Abstract: In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a network participant ordinarily has the option of selecting a particular video data stream (either generated by local cameras or received from other network participants. To facilitate the process of selecting a video data stream for presentation, the user's vehicle (in a V2V network) receives video data streams generated by other network participants along with identifiers indicating the video data stream actually being presented to the sender. The receiving system identifies the received video data stream by the greatest number of network participants and displays the identified video data stream on the user's in-vehicle video display.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for enlivening conference calls. Noise detectors are placed on the telephone lines for the participants to a conference call. These noise detectors are used to monitor for noise on the telephone lines. A pre-selected stored sound (e.g., an interjection such as a laugh) may be generated if there is a period of silence on one of the telephone lines that exceeds a threshold, if noise is detected on a telephone line associated with a pre-selected individual, or if noise is detected on a pre-selected telephone line. Further, a request may be received from one of the participants of the conference call to play a provided interjection. The received interjection is later generated during the conference call. By including interjections during the conference call at appropriate times, the conference call may be enlivened and more interesting to the participants.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for alerting a participant when a topic of interest is being discussed and/or a speaker of interest is speaking during a conference call. A participant to a conference call identifies the topics and/or speakers of interest which is stored for future use along with the participant's contact information. When a participant's identified topic of interest is being discussed and/or a participant's identified speaker of interest is speaking during a conference call, the participant will be alerted to that fact, such as via the means specified in the participant's contact information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for determining route alternatives from a starting point to an ending destination for a vehicle, based at least in part on radio signal strength and availability. An input defining a starting point and an ending destination is received. A user input of a radio station preference is received. One or more route alternatives between the starting point and the ending destination are determined based on global positioning system data, the received radio station preference, and information on radio signal strength and availability.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for identifying which participant joined or exited a conference call. A participant to a conference call is able to select a personalized tone from a list of predetermined tones or to upload a personalized tone to a designated site, where the personalized tone is to be played upon the participant joining and/or exiting the conferencing call. In this manner, the other participants of the conference call would know which participant joined or exited the conference call.

Abstract: Online activity between a client computer and an online store is electronically monitored to determine that an item referenced in the online activity is a publication, such as a book or periodical. In response, an electronic library database is automatically queried to determine whether a physical or electronic copy of the publication is available from the library. The availability of the publication is communicated to a user of the client computer and the user is given an option to borrow the publication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing document-specific widgets in an application program. An application program is launched in a digital device. A document is opened in the application program. Configuration data pertaining to document-specific widgets to be included in the application program user interface is loaded. The document-specific widgets are specific to the opened document. Each document-specific widget defining a document-specific operation to be performed with respect to the document upon activation by a user The document-specific widgets are displayed in the application program user interface and the opened document is displayed to a user of the digital device in accordance with the configuration data.

Abstract: The distribution of audio signals to either a headset or to a base unit (such as a cell phone) is determined by whether the headset is ready for use when a call is made or received. The headset is considered ready for use if it is powered on, has been initialized to exchange signals with the base unit using a standard communications protocol (such as Bluetooth), and is in place on the user's head. The headset includes a proximity sensor that provides a signal indicating that the headset is in place. If the headset is ready for use, audio signals are automatically distributed to the headset. Otherwise, the audio signals were distributed to a cell phone audio system. The invention may also be used by a personal computer user having an audio headset.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for protecting sensitive content. In response to receiving a selection of content, the process determines whether the content is of a sensitive content type based on a policy. The process then designates the content as the sensitive content in response to the content being of a sensitive content type. Thereafter, the process generates a sensitive content reference for publication and stores the sensitive content in a data structure, wherein the data structure associates the sensitive content with the sensitive content reference. Subsequently, in response to receiving a request from a requester for the sensitive content reference, the process obfuscates the sensitive content using a selected obfuscation algorithm to form obfuscated content, and returns the obfuscated content to the requester.

Abstract: A method for managing observable information in a front of a vehicle and providing a representation of the information to a rear of the vehicle in the form of a local optical signal is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for facilitating in-transit meetings between users. Transit information is received for several users. The transit information for at least some users is compared. If an opportunity for an in-transit meeting between at least two users is detected when comparing the transit information, the at least two users are notified about the opportunity for the in-transit meeting.