Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a display for displaying an interactive program and a controller device. The position and motion of the controller device are determined based on perspective distortion of the display in captured images of the display taken at the controller. In an interactive region, various interactive zones are defined, each of which have an associated specified function for an action of the controller device. When the controller device is determined to be within one of the interactive zones, the functionality of the action of the controller device is set to the specified function associated with that interactive zone.

Abstract: A method and system for providing content data to a user that includes providing a sample that is previewed by the user. The content data includes e-books, albums, games, videos and other electronic data. The user can then decide whether to accept the content based on the sample. If the sample is rejected, the user profile is updated to reflect the rejection. If the sample is accepted, the entire content is provided to the user. The amount of the content viewed or listened to by the user is tracked to determine how much of the content was actually listened to or viewed.

Abstract: A headphone device includes a first and a second ear piece coupled to an assembly, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user's ears. A motion transducer is coupled to the first or second ear piece, whereby the motion transducer measures real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user's head. An electronic compass is also coupled to the first or second ear piece, and measures real-time yaw movement associated with the user's head. A processing device associated with each of the first and second ear piece processes an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user's head. The processed audio signal is then applied to the first and second ear piece, and generates a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function.

Abstract: A magnetic input apparatus and method for a computer device are disclosed. A grid pattern of magnetic sensors can include a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is selectively coupled to a Hall voltage sensor. A source of magnetic field can be placed in proximity to the grid pattern and one or more Hall voltage measurements for one or more of the regions can be collected with the Hall voltage sensor. The measurements can be analyzed to determine a position of the source of the magnetic field with respect to the grid pattern. Input can be provided to the computer program based on the determined position of the source of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Images of a least a portion of a structurally encoded pattern formed on a surface from a camera can be analyzed to determine a position of a camera. The structurally encoded pattern can include a plurality of elements. Each element can be encoded with information identifying a location and orientation of the element with respect to the surface. A computer program can identify at least a portion of one or more pattern elements in the image and determine the position of the camera relative to the surface from the information encoded in the one or more pattern elements in the image.

Abstract: A capacitive input apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mat and a probe. The mat has a dielectric layer sandwiched between a common conductive layer and a patterned conductive layer having a grid pattern containing plural conductive regions. Each conductive region is selectively coupled to a corresponding capacitance sensor that is responsive to a signal capacitively coupled to a corresponding one of the conductive regions. The probe can be worn on a user's feet and can change a capacitive coupling of the signal. A degree of the change of the signal varies with a degree of proximity of the probe to the corresponding one of the conductive regions. In the method, a capacitive coupling of the signal can be changed with the probe. Measurements collected from the capacitance sensor can provide input to a computer program based on values of one or more measurements.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for use in photography are disclosed. A first electronic image analysis is performed on a potential image to determine whether any suitable subjects are within a frame of the potential image. If any suitable subjects are found in the frame, a second electronic image analysis is performed to determine whether the suitable subjects are in a predetermined position. The potential image is recorded if the second image analysis determines that the suitable subjects are in the predetermined position.

Abstract: A method and system for providing content data to a user that includes providing a sample that is previewed by the user. The content data includes e-books, albums, games, videos and other electronic data. The user can then decide whether to accept the content based on the sample. If the sample is rejected, the user profile is updated to reflect the rejection. If the sample is accepted, the entire content is provided to the user. The amount of the content viewed or listened to by the user is tracked to determine how much of the content was actually listened to or viewed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a display for displaying an interactive program and a controller device. The position and motion of the controller device are determined based on perspective distortion of the display in captured images of the display taken at the controller. In an interactive region, various interactive zones are defined, each of which have an associated specified function for an action of the controller device. When the controller device is determined to be within one of the interactive zones, the functionality of the action of the controller device is set to the specified function associated with that interactive zone.

Abstract: A headphone device includes a first and a second ear piece coupled to an assembly, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user's ears. A motion transducer is coupled to the first or second ear piece, whereby the motion transducer measures real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user's head. An electronic compass is also coupled to the first or second ear piece, and measures real-time yaw movement associated with the user's head. A processing device associated with each of the first and second ear piece processes an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user's head. The processed audio signal is then applied to the first and second ear piece, and generates a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for use in photography are disclosed. A first electronic image analysis is performed on a potential image to determine whether any suitable subjects are within a frame of the potential image. If any suitable subjects are found in the frame, a second electronic image analysis is performed to determine whether the suitable subjects are in a predetermined position. The potential image is recorded if the second image analysis determines that the suitable subjects are in the predetermined position.

Abstract: An invention is provided for an alphanumeric keyboard input system using a controller, such as a game controller. A plurality of cells is provided, where each cell includes a plurality of characters. A user is allowed to select any character using only two commands. In particular, a first command is used to select a particular cell of the plurality of cells, and a second command is used to select a particular character of the plurality of characters within the selected cell.

Abstract: An invention is provided for an alphanumeric keyboard input system using a controller, such as a game controller. A plurality of cells is provided, where each cell includes a plurality of characters. A user is allowed to select any character using only two commands. In particular, a first command is used to select a particular cell of the plurality of cells, and a second command is used to select a particular character of the plurality of characters within the selected cell.

Abstract: A system and method for providing real-time, subject oriented communication between two or More users Specifically, the present invention enables two or more users sharing an interest in the same subject area to become aware of each other, and therefore to communicate with each other in real time as a result. Such communication is initiated when each user interacts with a client to provide a string of characters to a central server, which then compares these strings of characters according to a comparison process. If the strings of characters are comparable according to this process, then the central server notifies each client thereby enabling the two clients to communicate.