Abstract: Described is a method and apparatus for obtaining accurate, timely information for event detection and prediction based on autonomous opportunism. The objective is to make the best possible use of all available resources at the time of acquisition, including historical data, multiple sensors, and multiresolution acquisition capabilities, under a given set of processing and communication bandwidth constraints. This method (and the corresponding apparatus) fuses multiple adaptively acquired data sources to prepare information for use by decision support models. The onboard data acquisition schedule is constructed to maximize the prediction accuracy of the decision models, which are designed to operate progressively, utilizing data representations consisting of multiple abstraction levels and multiple resolutions.

Abstract: A speech-enabled device management and access platform includes a communication module which provides a remote control device and a controlled device with data/speech paths; a connection management module which maintains the communication network and provides security administration and device access control; a device management module which discovers a controlled device and gathers respective controlled device data; a speech processing module which converts a speech command into a data command corresponding to the controlled device or converts a data response from the controlled device into a speech response and provides it to the communication module; and a command/event management module which generates instructions based on the data command and sends the instructions to corresponding modules or the controlled device. The inventive device management and access platform preferably is adapted to use the well-known BLUETOOTH™ wireless technology.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a substantially transparent substrate layer between a grating layer and a pixel electrode that comprises a solid conductor and an electrically conductive mesh. The device also includes a liquid crystal layer between said pixel electrode and a substantially transparent counter electrode that is arranged at a transparent cover plate. It further includes an active circuit element layer with a field effect transistor for controlling the pixel electrode. A method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device is further disclosed wherein the pixel electrode is formed by printing a patterned substance onto the substrate layer and selectively plating a conductor onto said substance. The device may also comprise a conductor mesh comprising rows of conductor lines crossing with columns of conductor lines, wherein at least part of the conductor lines are randomly spaced from each other.

Abstract: An image display system includes a host system for executing an application program, a display connected to this host system, and an interface for connecting the host system to the display and used to display an image on the display. This interface enables packetized data including ID information to be transferred from the host system to the display. The interface is composed of a first interface for transferring packetized data together with packet order information and a second interface for enabling less data than the capacity of the first interface to be transferred from the display to the host system together with information of a packet transfer error recognized according to the order information.

Abstract: A storage device and a method for determining the entry with the highest priority in a buffer memory. The method is characterized by the steps of operating a plurality of priority subfilter circuits each of them covering a disjunct subgroup of the total of entries and each selecting the entry with the highest subgroup priority, and selecting the entry associated with the highest priority subgroup. The storage device is able to be allocated and deallocated repeatedly during processing program instructions in a computer system. The storage device is further characterized by an operator for operating a plurality of priority subfilter circuits. Each of priority subfilter circuits covers a disjunct subgroup of the total of entries and each selecting the entry with the highest subgroup priority. The storage device is still further characterized by a selector for selecting the entry associated with the highest priority subgroup.

Abstract: A system for accessing a memory organized in memorization subsystems or memory blocks, e.g. standard Dual In-line Memory Modules, wherein the words to be stored are split into unitary elements so that several memorization subsystems are used to store one word and its associated Block Error Code (BEC) bits, is disclosed. The system includes a detector to detect a failure within a memorization subsystem. Insulator that are associated to each memorization subsystem insulate the failed memory block, and a new memorization subsystem is accessed in lieu of the failed one thanks to identification device which determine an available unfailed memory block. The user may replace the failed memory block without shutting down the memory device.

Abstract: An optical amplitude demodulator for demodulating signals received from a fiber optic link. The demodulator comprises a plurality of optical sensors for detecting optical output from the fiber optic link, whereby each of the optical sensors has a different detection threshold. Generally, the plurality of optical sensors produce a plurality of digital outputs corresponding to the optical output level detected. A priority encoder encodes the digital outputs into a multi-bit digital signal. Additionally, each of the plurality of optical sensors has an associated optical filter, whereby each of the filters has a different level of opaqueness. Each filter filters received optical output prior to detection by the associated optical sensor.

Abstract: A photoelectric receiver circuit for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal, includes first and second transimpedance amplifiers, a photodiode having a first end connected to an inverting input of the first transimpedance amplifier and a second end connected to an inverting input of the second transimpedance amplifier, and a differential amplifier having inputs AC coupled to outputs of the first and second transimpedance amplifiers. Such that when higher and lower voltages are respectively applied to the non-inverting inputs of the first and second transimpedance amplifiers, a substantially constant bias voltage is maintained on the photodiode.

Abstract: A printer including a printing head for performing printing while moving over a printing medium, a gap roller capable of rolling along a direction of moving of the printing head, and a platen bar placed so as to face the printing head and the gap roller. The printer further includes a controller for controlling a pressing force of the platen bar applied to the gap roller according to a printing end position of the printing head on the printing medium.

Abstract: The monitor system comprises the display device which has a screen having a display area virtually divided into a plurality of sub-screens. Provided are graphics adapters, each of which has two frame buffers, so as to correspond to the sub-screens of the display device.

Abstract: A method is provided for remotely controlling power to electronic devices. Each device includes two or more ports for receiving signals over the serial link. The method includes issuing a shutdown command from the host data processing system to selected one of the devices over the link and responsive to the receipt of a power-off command at a device, causing the device to enter a low power standby mode on cessation of signal activity at one of the device ports. On entering standby mode at a device, standby power is supplied in the device to allow the device to monitor the one or more device ports for incoming signals. In addition, transmission of signals via the one or more ports is ceased. On receipt of a signal at any of the one or more ports that was previously inactive, power is restored to the device.

Abstract: In a system for finding output information such as an output link identification, by a longest-matching prefix search in response to a search key, only a search data structure comprising search tables is provided which is derived from a basic data structure comprising detailed prefix tables. The full basic data structure need not be maintained, but auxiliary information is provided in the search tables of the search data structure to enable reconstruction of relevant portions of the basic data structure when updates have to be made. In an updating procedure, first the relevant search tables are found and then reconverted to the associated prefix tables from which they were derived. Updating is performed on the reconstructed prefix tables which are then reconverted into search tables to be inserted into the search data structure, for replacing or supplementing search tables that required updating.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for dynamically adjusting transcoding parameters so as to increase the benefits of transcoding. Methods of adaptation are designed to cope with the variability of network characteristics and of the size of transcoded images. The invention also provides a method and apparatus to enable the transcoding proxy to adjust a quality-size tradeoff on a per-image and/or a per-client basis. The adaptive transcoder chooses different parameters for each object, and provides performance improvements. The invention further provides a general framework for making policy decisions taking into account available bandwidth, content and type of image, and user preferences. The invention also includes methods for generating feedback about the choice of optimal transcoding parameters to the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to data integrity in applications employing smartcards, in particular smartcards in connection with remote stations like personal or desktop card readers or similar inexpensive terminals. Since smartcards today are extensively used particularly in the financial and banking field, the data integrity issue is of particular importance. In such applications, any interrupted data transfer between the smartcard and a terminal can result in making the smartcard unusable and/or corrupt the data, any of which in turn often greatly affects the user. The solution according to the invention is, in brief, to apply an “adapted atomicity approach” to the smartcard environment, i.e. to adapt and use an atomic approach for smartcard transactions.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for handing-off data receivers in a broadcast-based data dissemination environment. Data receiver hand-off is carried out between data sources in different data cells broadcasting information of the same category. Furthermore, data cell ranges are based on geographic regions rather than signal strength coverage. Generally, the hand-off process involves acquiring the current receiver location of the data receiver and comparing the receiver location with a current data cell range. If the current receiver location is outside the current data cell range, a hand-off controller searches for a new data source encompassing the current receiver location coordinates and having an associated data topic matching the current topic. Once a new data source is found, the hand-off controller subscribes the data receiver to the new data source.