Abstract: A system and method for ultraviolet light-mediated hand sanitization and hands-free selection of content presented by a hand sanitizer station. The method includes detecting, using a sensor, an initiation event; responsive to the detection of the initiation event, activating an ultraviolet light source and sanitizing a surface of an object within a compartment adjacent to the ultraviolet light source; and visually presenting a graphic element associated with content on a display for presentation to a user, the display communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet light source.

Abstract: A system and method for ultraviolet light-mediated hand sanitization and hands-free selection of content presented by a hand sanitizer station. The method includes detecting, using a sensor, an initiation event; responsive to the detection of the initiation event, activating an ultraviolet light source and sanitizing a surface of an object within a compartment adjacent to the ultraviolet light source; and visually presenting a graphic element associated with content on a display for presentation to a user, the display communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet light source.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting, using a sensor, an initiation event; capturing, using a camera, an image of a user's face responsive to the initiation event; activating, responsive to facial recognition and a determination based on one of exposure data associated with the user and the absence thereof that the user has not exceed a safe use standard for ultraviolet light, an ultraviolet source; the ultraviolet source and an activation duration sufficient to sanitize a surface located within a compartment. In one embodiment, visually presenting, by a display, a plurality of graphic elements associated with a plurality of potential content for presentation to the user; and presenting user selected content to the user when the ultraviolet source is activated and responsive to determining a user's selection, wherein the user's selection is made touch-lessly.

Abstract: Information about desired songs is collected on a portable memory device in communication with a radio tuner. The radio tuner may receive signals from a terrestrial or satellite digital radio transmission, or from an analog radio transmission. These transmissions may include text data about the current song being played. Upon activation by a user, song data is stored on the memory device. The memory device is then connected to a computer system, which uses software to extract the song data and uniquely identify the song. The identified songs are stored on the computer system, and can be used to allow the user easy access to the identified song through prior art techniques. If no textual data is stored about a song, the song is identified by identifying the radio station that played the song and the time at which the user activated the mechanism.

Abstract: A media player is presented that scans the media files stored on an external memory card in order to update the internal database of the player. Media manager software on a personal computer sets a dirty bit in the internal memory of the media player whenever the media files on the external memory card are altered. The media player checks the dirty bit on start up or when the memory card is inserted. If the dirty bit is set, the media player scans the media files on the memory card, updates its database, then clears the dirty bit. If the dirty bit is not set, the media player does not scan the memory card. The dirty bit is associated in the internal memory with an identifier for the memory card, allowing the use of multiple memory cards.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting, using a sensor, an initiation event; capturing, using a camera, an image of a user's face responsive to the initiation event; activating, responsive to facial recognition and a determination based on one of exposure data associated with the user and the absence thereof that the user has not exceed a safe use standard for ultraviolet light, an ultraviolet source; the ultraviolet source and an activation duration sufficient to sanitize a surface located within a compartment. In one embodiment, visually presenting, by a display, a plurality of graphic elements associated with a plurality of potential content for presentation to the user; and presenting user selected content to the user when the ultraviolet source is activated and responsive to determining a user's selection, wherein the user's selection is made touch-lessly.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for verifying the ability to use stored authentication information when accessing a remote media service. A media device, such as a television, is described that stores authentication information for a remote media service. Such authentication information may include a user name and a password. Because media devices may be re-sold, returned for re-sale, or refurbished, it is necessary to automatically disable the authentication information to prevent a second owner from accessing the services and accounts belonging to a first owner. The ability to use authentication information is disabled upon a long delay in accessing the service, a complete power down cycle, a change in IP address, or a change in network interfaces used to access the network.

Abstract: The present invention is a router with extended capabilities allowing it to make digital media content on a home local area network accessible over a wide area network such as the Internet, and a method for using such a media content router. The router can provide automated services for the local files such as photolab processing of digital images, or file backups. A pair of the routers can collaborate to play home media content at an away location when feasible, or transfer such files for away storage.

Abstract: A remote control vehicle is presented that has a telemetry sensor, which detects wheel rotation, and a track sensor that reads track indicators found on a track over which the vehicle is driven. The vehicle receives commands from a mobile device to control its operation. Wheel rotation data and track sensor data are transmitted from the vehicle back to the mobile device for storage along with the commands that were transmitted to the vehicle. The commands, rotation data, and track sensor data are transmitted to a server computer over a wide area network, and thereafter shared with another user as run data. When downloaded by the other user, the run data can be used to compare the other user's ability to control their vehicle with the run data. The run data can further be used to control the other user's vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for verifying the ability to use stored authentication information when accessing a remote media service. A media device, such as a television, is described that stores authentication information for a remote media service. Such authentication information may include a user name and a password. Because media devices may be re-sold, returned for re-sale, or refurbished, it is necessary to automatically disable the authentication information to prevent a second owner from accessing the services and accounts belonging to a first owner. The ability to use authentication information is disabled upon a long delay in accessing the service, a complete power down cycle, a change in IP address, or a change in network interfaces used to access the network.

Abstract: A dedicated ratings input is presented for a portable media player. The input may take the form of a physical switch or pre-identified movements recorded by an accelerometer. Movement of the switch into one of the two positions sets a rating for the currently playing media file. The physical ratings switch is not used during the playing of media files for any purpose other than the rating of media files. This allows the user to alter the rating by moving the switch without requiring any visual interaction with the portable media player. Audio feedback is provided when the switch is used to change the ratings of the media files.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for verifying the ability to use stored authentication information when accessing a remote media service. A media device, such as a television, is described that stores authentication information for a remote media service. Such authentication information may include a user name and a password. Because media devices may be re-sold, returned for re-sale, or refurbished, it is necessary to automatically disable the authentication information to prevent a second owner from accessing the services and accounts belonging to a first owner. The ability to use authentication information is disabled upon a long delay in accessing the service, a complete power down cycle, a change in IP address, or a change in network interfaces used to access the network.

Abstract: A remote control is described that with at least two faces that have at least one touch-based input. The remote control also includes an orientation sensor that determines the orientation of the remote control. A processor on the remote ignores signals from inputs on certain faces of the remote based upon the orientation of the remote control.

Abstract: A remote control is described that with at least two faces that have at least one touch-based input. The remote control also includes an orientation sensor that determines the orientation of the remote control. A processor on the remote ignores signals from inputs on certain faces of the remote based upon the orientation of the remote control.

Abstract: Information about desired songs is collected on a portable memory device in communication with a radio tuner. The radio tuner may receive signals from a terrestrial or satellite digital radio transmission, or from an analog radio transmission. These transmissions may include text data about the current song being played. Upon activation by a user, song data is stored on the memory device. The memory device is then connected to a computer system, which uses software to extract the song data and uniquely identify the song. The identified songs are stored on the computer system, and can be used to allow the user easy access to the identified song through prior art techniques. If no textual data is stored about a song, the song is identified by identifying the radio station that played the song and the time at which the user activated the mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is a television that executes a process for transitioning between multiple power modes. Both the transition events and the power states may be factory-defined, or they may be user-configurable. The TV may have two sleep modes. In a quick-start mode, the screen is powered down but the operating system is spun-up, and possibly other major functional subsystems are user-enabled. In an energy-saving mode, fewer subsystems than quick-start mode, and possibly only components required to recognize a tactile control requesting a return to a power-on mode, may be enabled. Quick-start is less efficient than energy-saving mode, but results in much faster return to power-in mode. In some embodiments, power modes and transition events between them power modes may be automated, and either user defined or factory defined.

Abstract: Information about desired songs is collected on a portable memory device in communication with a radio tuner. The radio tuner may receive signals from a terrestrial or satellite digital radio transmission, or from an analog radio transmission. These transmissions may include text data about the current song being played. Upon activation by a user, song data is stored on the memory device. The memory device is then connected to a computer system, which uses software to extract the song data and uniquely identify the song. The identified songs are stored on the computer system, and can be used to allow the user easy access to the identified song through prior art techniques. If no textual data is stored about a song, the song is identified by identifying the radio station that played the song and the time at which the user activated the mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multitrack recording of audio information using handheld digital electronic devices are described. Recording of video tracks complementing the audio is also contemplated. One device serves as master; others, slaves. Transmission of start and stop recording signals by the master may facilitate synchronization of the tracks. Slaves may begin preliminary sampling of audio information prior to the start signal, preparing to promptly begin actual track recording. Upon receiving the command to start recording, each slave chooses as first frame that sample closest to the signal to record. The task of stopping recording is typically handled similarly. A recording device may store an indicator for determining the offset of its first frame, facilitating time interpolation of samples in its track. In this way, all audio tracks, for example, might be transformed to a common set of times. The master might also record a track.

Abstract: The present invention is a television that executes a process for transitioning between multiple power modes. Both the transition events and the power states may be factory-defined, or they may be user-configurable. The TV may have two sleep modes. In a quick-start mode, the screen is powered down but the operating system is spun-up, and possibly other major functional subsystems are user-enabled. In an energy-saving mode, fewer subsystems than quick-start mode, and possibly only components required to recognize a tactile control requesting a return to a power-on mode, may be enabled. Quick-start is less efficient than energy-saving mode, but results in much faster return to power-in mode. In some embodiments, power modes and transition events between them power modes may be automated, and either user defined or factory defined.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for multitrack recording of audio information using handheld digital electronic devices such as suitably equipped portable digital music players. Recording of video tracks by digital electronic devices to complement the audio is also contemplated. One device serves as a master; the remainder are slaves. A key aspect of the invention is the transmission of start and stop recording signals by the master, which facilitates synchronization of the various tracks. In certain embodiments of the invention, some slaves may begin preliminary sampling of audio information prior to the start recording signal. This prepares these slaves to begin the actual track recording without delay. Upon receiving the command to start recording, each slave chooses as the first frame of its, say, audio track that sample closest to the time the signal to record was received. The task of stopping recording is typically handled similarly.