Abstract: A dynamic ‘vehicle grid’ system provides the ability for drivers to be automatically warned to the conditions of other vehicles in the vicinity. In this grid system, a motor vehicle would be equipped with a transmitter, receiver, computer and a selection of sensors. Other adjacent vehicles are also contain the same of equipment for transmitting and receiving signals. When the sensors in a vehicle detect a change such as hard braking (rapid deceleration) or very slow speed (blockages), it automatically sends this information via the transmitter over a wireless communication channel to any other receivers in the vicinity.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which average vehicle speeds of tolled and non-tolled road segments between two locations are monitored and saved for reference in providing dynamic adjustment of the toll amount to be charged for use of the tolled segment in order to insure an efficient use of the tolled segment and a determination of an appropriate toll amount to be charged drivers in the tolled segment in view of real time traffic conditions of the tolled and the non-tolled segment. The toll adjustments are determined based upon the difference between actual average speeds of the tolled segment and actual average speeds of the non-tolled segment such that the toll adjustments are dynamic and depend upon real time traffic conditions in both the tolled and non-tolled segments of the travel route.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for translating presentation slides from one language to at least one additional language. In this method, text information from one slide can be extracted from a presentation slide. Addressing information contained on the slide is also extracted from the slide. This addressing information describes the location of the text on the slide. After the text information is extract from the original presentation slide, the text is inserted into an auxiliary file for the translation procedure. This auxiliary file has a format that can be readily translated using current translation techniques. However, the addressing information is transparent and write protected to the translation program and therefore will only pass through without being translated. Following the translation procedure, the addressing information is used to insert the translated text information into a presentation slide containing any objects that existed in the original slide.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which selected information is embedded within computer program structures without requiring separate bit strings. In an exemplary embodiment, the embedded selected information includes an identification of a licensed user together with a serial number of the associated licensed program. That information is converted into a binary representation, and a transfer function is used to embed the binary representation into the structure of the licensed program. In the example, when a licensed program is compiled, linked and downloaded over an interconnection network, the order or sequence of the modules of the licensed program is arranged in a manner to correspond to the embedded selected information. The embedded information can then be extracted from the program by analysis of the organization of the modules comprising the program.

Abstract: The present invention is method and system for delivering road sign content information to a mobile computing device for display to the driver of a vehicle. The system consists of a wireless communication network in communication with a mobile computing device operationally coupled to a dashboard display device or a vehicle head's up display device. The wireless communication network further comprises a plurality of meshed network sign transmitting devices placed along predetermined intervals along the highway. Each sign-transmitting device is capable of transmitting road sign content information to the mobile computing device for display to the driver.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs. An input device allows the user to add and/or delete songs from this preferred playlist. In an exemplary embodiment, songs playing on several radio stations are monitored and when a song from the user's favorites list begins to play on a station other than the station to which the user is currently tuned, an audio and/or visual signal is provided to alert the user, and the user may change stations manually or tune to the new station automatically.

Abstract: The present invention allows the user (author or creator) of a document to specify that certain portions of a document be selected for encryption while other portions of the document remain displayed as created. The user could employ a standard word processing editor technique to highlight (or swipe) portions of a document that the user desires to be encrypted. The highlighted portion would then be ‘tagged’ with a surrounding attribute indicating to the word processor that this highlighted portion of the document is to be encrypted. This process is similar to the existing word processor capability to highlight areas on a document and then assign rich text attributes, such as BOLD, ITALICS, etc., to those areas. With proper authorization, any encrypted portion of a document would be displayed as part of the document. Without proper authorization, the display of the document would only contain the unencrypted portions of the document.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which a unique primary key is generated to identify an original message which is received for processing. The record for the original message is stored at the primary key. As the message is propagated to the services that are to be performed on the original message, the primary key is also passed to the service. Derivative messages which are produced as a result of the services applied to the original message are identified with the primary key code along with additional derivative key codes related to services applied to the original message. The resulting derivative message storing and tracking process provides a means by which derivative messages are readily identified and associated with an original message as well as the services performed upon the original message in generating the derivative message.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a display screen of an electronic device such as a laptop computer is double-hinged to a base or keyboard unit in such a manner as to allow the display screen to be opened while the bottom portion of the display screen is free to rotate toward a user to enable the user to view the display screen when little or no space is available at the rear of the display screen. A double-hinged arrangement including an extendable coupling is provided at the sides of the laptop such that there is access to the keyboard when the display screen is rotated upwardly and the bottom of the display screen is moved toward the user.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which average vehicle speeds of tolled and non-tolled road segments between two locations are monitored and saved for reference in providing dynamic adjustment of the toll amount to be charged for use of the tolled segment in order to insure an efficient use of the tolled segment and a determination of an appropriate toll amount to be charged drivers in the tolled segment in view of real time traffic conditions of the tolled and the non-tolled segment. The toll adjustments are determined based upon the difference between actual average speeds of the tolled segment and actual average speeds of the non-tolled segment such that the toll adjustments are dynamic and depend upon real time traffic conditions in both the tolled and non-tolled segments of the travel route.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided for enabling management of restricted parking spaces for vehicles. In an example, a sensing system senses the presence of vehicles in predetermined parking spaces and stores that information for subsequent processing. Particular parking restrictions, or limited parking indicia, for given parking spaces are displayed and viewable to vehicle operators. The posted parking restriction indicia are selectively changeable to accommodate various parking demand situations. The displayed limited parking indicia may be changed from one type of limited parking to other types of limited (or unlimited) parking from a remote server location, either selectively by an administrator or in accordance with a stored parking authorization plan or schedule. Vehicles are scanned for proper authorization for predetermined types of parking spaces.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided for enabling a user, through the use of a specialized viewing device, to view information on a display device which is not viewable by others who are not equipped with the device. In an exemplary embodiment, selected sensitive information on a display screen is obscured from normal view. A view-enabling device is provided to authorized individuals who are able to use the device to view the sensitive information on the display device. The user looks through the view-enabling device and is able to see the otherwise obscured sensitive information. Obscuring fields are overlaid upon the sensitive information during an obscuring phase at a known overlay frequency and the view-enabling device is synchronized to effectively block-out the user's view of the display during the obscuring phase resulting in an un-obscured view of the sensitive information on the display device to the user.

Abstract: A method and implementing instant messaging processing system are provided which include means by which a user is enabled to input certain selective details concerning the user's off-line status. Such user selections are stored by an IM server and subsequently made available to other IM users when such other IM users log-on to the IM application. User selections include a listing of common reasons why a user is not available and means are provided for the user to select specific applicable details concerning the user's off-line status. A user is also enabled to input custom text messages to selectively provide even more specific detail to other users of the IM application concerning the user's off-line status. Means are further provided to enable a user to input more than one custom off-line message and also to indicate the timing of each message and when each message shall be made available to other IM users.

Abstract: A method and implementing instant messaging processing system are provided which include means by which a user is enabled to input certain selective details concerning the user's off-line status. Such user selections are stored by an IM server and subsequently made available to other IM users when such other IM users log-on to the IM application. User selections include a listing of common reasons why a user is not available and means are provided for the user to select specific applicable details concerning the user's off-line status. A user is also enabled to input custom text messages to selectively provide even more specific detail to other users of the IM application concerning the user's off-line status. Means are further provided to enable a user to input more than one custom off-line message and also to indicate the timing of each message and when each message shall be made available to other IM users.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which items are offered for auction sale at a network site to bidders who access the auction site. A seller is enabled to designate a reserve price as well as a number of automatic auction extensions to an initial auction period. If the designated reserve price for an item is not met during the initial auction period, and the seller has authorized a designated number of auction extensions, the auction is continued beyond the initial auction period and is automatically extended for the designated number of extensions until either a bid for the reserve price is received or the number of authorized extensions has transpired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer system and to a method for encoding of information into a representation comprising a plurality of segments, the order of the segments in the representation being irrelevant for a rendering of the representation, the method comprising the steps of: identification of the segments, permutation of the segments to encode the information.

Abstract: A method and system creates a graphical display repository at a computer network location. The method also provides for the conversion and transfer of displays stored in a local database to the network repository. The storage method will enable graphical displays to be stored in the repository such that a user can easily navigate through the repository and maintain a knowledge of their location within the repository at all times. This method and system will also produce navigation tools, in the form of buttons that will be included on each graphical display that is shown to the user. The user will be able to select displays from a particular presentation set by selecting one of the buttons that will correspond to a set and/or a particular display.

Abstract: To ensure the polling of a server 11 will reach clients 12 from which an ACK/NACK has not been received despite the change of IP addresses of clients 12 in a network system where an ACK/NACK is to be sent back from each client 12 to the server 11 after file data is transmitted from the server 11 to multiple clients 12 by means of broadcast. Clients 12 in a group are granted identification IDs that are mutually identifiable and permanent. Server 11 send the polling by means of multicast that contains information about permanent IDs of the clients 12 from which it has not received an ACK/NACK. Each of the clients 12 replies with an ACK/NACK if its own permanent ID is contained in the polling, otherwise makes no reply.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system that enables reference processes that have access to a long running object to maintain the current access to this object while this object performs a re-initialization operation in order to refresh data contained in the object. The system of the invention comprises a long running object manager that controls the re-initialization process of an object registered with the object manager. In operation, a reference program establishes a connection to the long running for purposes of accessing information in the object. This connection to the object is noted in the object manager. At this point, during the connection of the reference to the long running object, there is an event to trigger a re-initialization of the long running object. The object manager notifies the object of the trigger and holds the references that are connected to this object. The object receives the re-initialization signal, performs the re-initialization and sends a reply to the object manager.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which merchants are enabled to designate re-seller return locations to customers for returned items. In an exemplary embodiment, a merchant is notified that a customer wishes to return an item purchased. The merchant then sends the customer a return label for the returned item containing the address of the re-seller for the merchant. The re-seller then notifies the merchant when the item has been received and the merchant then credits the account of the customer for the returned item. In a second exemplary embodiment, upon receipt of notice from the customer of the return, the merchant then makes the item available for an auction purchase to a number of bidders. When a winning bid is known to the merchant, the return address of the winning bidder is then sent to the customer for use in returning the purchased item.