Abstract: A method configured to continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an engine, a drive shaft, a first electric motor, and a fly wheel assembly. The engine may be positioned in a vehicle. The drive shaft may be configured to rotate an axle. The first electric motor may be configured to rotated the drive shaft. The fly wheel assembly may be coupled to the engine and may be configured to drive the first electric motor based on data stored within the fly wheel assembly.

Abstract: A method for implementing a flexible sampling-rate encoder, comprising the steps of (A) sampling an input signal at a regular time-interval to produce sampled data, (B) generating a pseudo-random bit sequence having a plurality of bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a different sampling time, (C) encoding a first set of the sampled data to generate an encoded stream when any bit in the pseudo-random bit sequence is equal to a first value, wherein each bit in the encoded stream corresponds to one of the sampling times defined in step (B), and (D) determining the different sampling time for each sample in the encoded stream.

Abstract: Delivery of health information to a patient suffering from a chronic condition is personalized by displaying the health information directly on a customized image of a body. The patient's medical record, standards of care for the condition, prescribed treatments, and patient input are applied to a generalized health model of a disease to generate a personalized health model of the patient. The personalized health model comprises an HTML file encoding an image map of a body. The body image illustrates the health condition of the individual patient. Preferably, data is collected from health provider sources and stored in a database on a server at a service provider site. The data is processed at the server, and is displayed in the patient's home using a TV connected to a multimedia processor. The multimedia processor connects the television set to a communications network such as the Internet. Applications include preventive care of chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.

Abstract: A method for controlling a stepper motor in an optical disc system, comprising the steps of (A) measuring a static offset of a center error signal, (B) measuring a maximum value, minimum value and an average value of the center error signal in response to rotating the optical disc, (C) computing one or more upper threshold values and one or more lower threshold values of the center error signal, (D) sampling the center error signal, (E) comparing the center error signal to the one or more upper threshold values and to the one or more lower threshold values and (F) computing a control output to control the stepper motor in response to comparing the center error signal to the one or more upper and lower threshold values.

Abstract: A method for detecting progressive material in a video sequence is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of block statistics for each of a plurality of blocks in a current field of the video sequence, (B) calculating a plurality of field statistics by summing the block statistics over all of the blocks in the current field, (C) calculating a noise level for the current field based on a subset of the block statistics from each of the blocks and (D) generating a mode flag for the current field based on both (i) the field statistics and (ii) the noise level, wherein the mode flag identifies if the current field is part of a 2:2 pull-down pattern.

Abstract: A power tool system and method of using the same is provided. The system can include a programmable microprocessor device including at least one input mechanism, and a memory having instructions and/or other information. The system can also include a display; at least one power tool having at least one sensor operable for monitoring a parameter associated with operation of the power tool. The system can further include a communications device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor device and the at least one sensor and program instructions. The method can include the steps of (i) using stored program instructions to generate power tool related information on at least one display and (ii) collecting power tool related data using a programmable microprocessor.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a data unit, a memory and a control unit. The data unit may be configured to generate an output signal comprising a series of frames each having a header and a payload in response to an input signal comprising a series of words. The memory may be configured to hold the output signal and to interface with a device. The control unit may be configured to present one or more control signals configured to control the data unit and the memory.

Abstract: A method for glitch-free updates of a standard cell-based programmable delay including the steps of (A) generating an output signal in response to an input signal and a plurality of first control signals and (B) generating the plurality of first control signals in response to the output signal and a plurality of second control signals. The output signal may include a delayed version of the input signal. An amount of delay between the input signal and the output signal may be determined based upon the plurality of first control signals.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a circuit design in preparation for a simulation. The method generally includes the steps of (A) marking each of a plurality of modules between a target module of the modules and a top module of the modules in a hierarchy of the circuit design as a first type by traversing upward through the hierarchy starting from the target module, (B) marking each of the modules as a second type where a parent module of the modules is marked as the first type by traversing downward through the hierarchy starting from the top module and (C) marking each of the modules as a third type where the parent module is not marked as the keep type by traversing downward through the hierarchy starting from the top module.

Abstract: A method of feed-forward DC restoration in a perpendicular magnetic read channel is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a feed-forward signal by performing a first detection on an input signal, wherein a DC component of the input signal was previously filtered out in the perpendicular magnetic read channel, (B) generating a restored signal by summing the input signal and the feed-forward signal, the summing restoring the DC component previously filtered out and (C) generating an output signal by performing a second detection on the restored signal, wherein the first detection is independent of the second detection.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a control signal in response to a measurement of inter-picture motion between a current picture and a first reference picture. The second circuit may be configured to select the first reference picture or a second reference picture as a better reference picture for motion estimation in response to the control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising one or more delay circuits, a shimmer detector circuit, an averaging circuit, and a multiplexer. The delay circuits may be configured to have a delay of one or more frame periods based on the format of the input video signal. The shimmer detector circuit may be configured to (i) determine which pixel locations in the input video signal exhibit the YC-interference noise oscillation pattern based on the input signal and the output of the delay circuits and (ii) generate a control signal in response to the output of the delays circuits and the input signal. The averaging circuit may be configured to calculate an average of the input signal and the output of the first delay circuit. The multiplexer may be configured to present (i) the input signal when the control signal is in a first state and (ii) the average signal when the control signal is in a second state.

Abstract: A circuit for combining/splitting first and second RF signals having different wavelengths of x and y, respectively, the circuit comprising: (a) first and second transmission portions coupled at an intersection, the first transmission portion comprising at least two intersecting transmission lines, each having a length which is an odd multiple of about ¼ y, the second transmission portion comprising at least two intersecting transmission lines, each having a length which is an odd multiple of about ¼ x; and (b) first, second and third ports, the first port located at the first transmission portion, the second port located at the intersection of the first and second transmission portions, and the third port being located at the second transmission portion, the first and second ports being electrically coupled, and the second and third ports being electrically coupled.

Abstract: A method for generating syndromes for a data block is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of row syndromes and a plurality of column syndromes for the data block arranged as a Reed-Solomon product code, (B) storing only the row syndromes and the column syndromes in a local memory, (C) in an alternating sequence (i)(a) decoding the column syndromes to generate column correction results and (b) updating the row syndromes in response to the column correction results and (ii)(a) decoding the row syndromes to generate row correction results and (b) updating the column syndromes in response to the row correction results.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a watermark detection circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a bitstream, wherein the bitstream comprises a watermark message which represents hidden information. The second circuit may be configured to (i) simulate film grain in response to one or more predetermined values on the watermark message and (ii) generate a video output. The watermark detection circuit may be configured to extract hidden information from the decoded video output.

Abstract: A system for reducing storage requirements for content-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) is provided. The system includes a transcode engine performing CABAC on a video data stream. The transcode engine receives save data, stops CABAC, and converts the video data stream into sub-network abstraction layer (NAL) unit state data. An entropy state data storage system receiving the sub-NAL unit state data and stores the sub-NAL unit state data. The transcode engine subsequently receives restore data, extracts the sub-NAL unit state data from the entropy state data storage system, and re-starts CABAC on the video stream data.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, a first charge pump, a second charge pump, a switch circuit and a comparator circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a first frequency in response to a control signal. The charge pump circuit may be configured to generate a first component of the control signal in response to a first adjustment signal and a second adjustment signal. The second charge pump may be configured to generate a second component of the control signal in response to a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The switch circuit may be configured to generate the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal in response to the first adjustment signal and the second adjustment signal. The comparator circuit may be configured to generate the first and second adjustment signals in response to a comparison between (i) an input signal having a second frequency and (ii) the output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an edge detector circuit, an edge strength detector and an edge strength threshold circuit. The edge detector circuit may be configured to determine a plurality of default directions of a macroblock in response to a plurality of input signals comprising information about a plurality of samples in the macroblock. The edge strength detector circuit may be configured to generate a maximum strength signal and a next maximum strength signal in response to the default directions. The edge strength threshold circuit may be configured to generate an edge direction signal and an edge strength signal in response to the maximum strength signal and the next maximum strength signal. The edge direction signal may comprise (i) any one of the default directions when in a first state and (ii) any one of a plurality of intermediate directions when in a second state.

Abstract: A communications network, system, and method includes a server; a primary device in communication with the server through a communications channel, wherein the primary device comprises a component that detects data transmissions from the server, converts the detected data transmissions into audio transmissions, and audibly transmits the audio transmissions; and a secondary device connected to the primary device and adapted to be operated by an individual in response to the audio transmissions. The component comprises an audio processor that receives a first set of electrical signals corresponding to any of queries, instructions, and messages from the server; converts the first set of electrical signals to a second set of electrical signals capable of being audibly synthesized; and audibly synthesizes the second set of electrical signals. The housing unit comprises a household appliance.