Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a graphical user interface which arranges first, second and third windows on three of the four sides of an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped, arranges on each of the windows selection portions selectable to input commands, displays the first window nearly at the center of the display and displays at least portions of the second and third windows at the right and left, respectively, when the first window is selected. The graphical interface also displays the second window nearly at the center and displays at least portion of the first and third windows on the left and right, respectively, when the second window is selected. The graphical user interface further displays the third window nearly at the center and displays the first and second windows on the right and left, respectively, when the third window is selected.

Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a first menu image on a display for an operating system on a computer. The first menu image includes a taskbar image which carries button images selectable by the user to carry out a function. The GUI also displays a second menu image on the display for a navigator software which is running under the operating system. The navigator software provides a quasi-operating system environment. The GUI displays the taskbar image in the second menu image whereby the user can carry out functions of the operating system from within the quasi-operating system environment provided by the navigator software. Three visual walls are arranged on the GUI as if the user is standing inside a three-dimensional cube and open to the sky. Clicking once either on the side walls moves the contents of the side wall to the center, in effect rotating the cube. When a wall is centered, the user can activate any function in the wall by clicking on a button.

Abstract: A two way messaging terminal includes a transmitter and a receiver. A voice message is encoded using a CODEC after which the resulting data is compressed in non-real time prior to transmission. On receipt the compressed message is first decompressed in non-real time prior to decoding and playing back.

Abstract: A pattern searching method using neural networks and correlation. This method combines the quickness and adaptiveness of neural networks with the accuracy of the mathematical correlation approach. Images are divided into small sub-images which are presented to the trained neural network. Sub-images that may contain the pattern or partial pattern are selected by the neural network. The neural network also provides the approximate location of the pattern, therefore the selected sub-images can be adjusted to contain the complete pattern. Desired patterns can be located by measuring the new sub-images' correlation values against the reference models in a small area. Experiments show that this superior method is able to find the desired patterns. Moreover, this method is much faster than traditional pattern searching methods which use only correlation.

Abstract: The present invention uses a hologram superimposed on a traditional picture such as a photograph or printed picture. The hologram is more viewable at certain angle ranges than at others. This allows the hologram image, the picture or a combination of both to be seen at different angles, thus allowing different visual effects. In a preferred embodiment a pre-made multi-channel hologram is superimposed over a user's portrait photograph taken in a photo booth. The multi-channel hologram is aligned with the photograph so that by varying the viewing angle of the combined picture and hologram an interesting, entertaining or educational effect, such as transforming, or "morphing," the user's face into another face or image, is seen. For example, a portrait photograph of the user can morph into an animal's face, a skeleton, a scary beast, etc. The morphing, or transformation, effect is easily achieved by insuring that the hologram image is substantially aligned with the portrait photograph.

Abstract: A method for processing a time code including the steps of generating information, indicating whether or not a location is proper for editing when converting picture information of a predetermined system into picture information of another system, and writing the information to the time code data accompanied with the picture information of the second system.

Abstract: An online computer support system uses simultaneous and alternating transfer of different data types including voice, image, video, and other digital information. This allows a customer service representative and a user having a computer problem to communicate more effectively and solve the problem. The customer service representative can provide prepared tutorials or information to the customer in the form of text, diagrams, and video with synchronized sound. Software at the user computer side automatically interrogates the user computer to determine information about hardware and software components needed to solve problems the user is having. Information, such as the serial number, is programmed into non-volatile memory at the factory for reading during, or at the beginning of, an online support session. The customer service representative can control the user's computer remotely. Software agents are used to perform specific functions.

Abstract: A method for receiving and processing an incoming message in a wireless messaging terminal. The method includes providing a receiver which receives the message and a memory for storing the message. The method further includes matching the message with a pre-recorded voice prompt stored in the memory and retrieving the voice prompt from the memory. In addition, the method includes playing the voice prompt as an audible alert signal through an audio output device.

Abstract: An optical disc recording device is disclosed in which RF signals reproduced from a write-once optical disc are detected during track jump for detecting the boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area on the write-once optical disc. This defines a roughly defined boundary between the recorded and unrecorded areas which may be searched quickly. A more strictly defined boundary between the recorded and unrecorded areas, may be searched quickly by subsequently employing a binary search method to the roughly detected boundary.

Abstract: A power supply inrush current control circuit includes a current-limiting resistor connected in series with a first relay, a second relay connected in parallel with the current-limiting resistor and first relay, a power factor correction stage connected in series with the parallel combination of first relay and current-limiting resistor, and second relay, a holdup capacitor connected to an output of the power factor correction stage and a DC/DC converter connected to the output of the power factor correction stage. A first timer is connected to the second relay, a second timer is serially connected to the first timer and to the power factor correction stage, and a third timer is serially connected to the second timer and to the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes several liquid crystal display (LCD) retract units mountable in a passenger service unit of aircraft. Each of the LCD retract units includes an input connector and an output connector arranged such that signals provided to the input connector appear at the output connector. A system control unit (SCU) is also provided. The SCU is configurable to provide video, power and control signals independently to the input connector of each of the LCD retract units and is also configurable to provide video, power and control signals to the input connector of only a first of the LCD retract units. In the second configuration, the input and output connectors of successive LCD retract units are connected in a daisy chain fashion such that the same signals are provided to each of the LCD retract units. In another aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of LCD retract units includes status communications bus electronics such as RS-485.

Abstract: A person receiving a telephone call to identifies a caller in advance of answering the telephone call by means of a image associated with the caller's Caller ID. The image is displayed on a telephone display device, television set, personal computer or other display coupled to the telephone system. The calling party may define the image to be associated with their Caller ID. The calling party transmits a image over the telephone line prior to, or concurrently with, a telephone call intended to be answered by the receiving party. The image is stored in a storage device coupled to the receiving party's telephone system along with an indication of the Caller ID of the calling party. The next time that the calling party calls the receiving party the previously stored image is accessed and displayed.

Abstract: There is provided a portable packet switched wireless voice messaging device capable of transmitting and receiving a digital voice signal. The device includes a microphone for inputting a voice message, an encoder for encoding the voice message, a memory for storing the encoded message, a data compressor with variable compression ratio for compressing the encoded message in accordance with a data compression mode selected by the user and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the compressed data with information indicating the mode selected.

Abstract: A method for high speed playback of digital video data (e.g. D1 or D2 data) in which, at lower speeds, the frames of data to be played back are made of a mixture of consecutive frames of data. The frames of data are mixed by averaging the pixel values over consecutive frames to make up the output frames. For high speed shuttle operation, non-consecutive frames are averaged on a pixel by pixel basis to create shuttle frames. In order to improve the appearance of the output, consecutive shuttle frames contain a common original frame so that a component of the original data spans two output frames.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a chamber having a liquid coolant used for dissipating heat generated by a CRT. The apparatus includes a chassis for housing the CRT, wherein the chassis includes a tapered fill port having an inner wall. In particular, the fill pole is in fluid communication with the chamber and is used for introducing liquid coolant into the chamber. A sealing element is then positioned in the fill port. The sealing element is fabricated from a material having resilient properties and is sized larger than the fill port such that a press fit is formed wherein said sealing element is urged against said inner wall to form a seal.

Abstract: A technique and system for isolating segments of a serial data bus for remote configuration of equipment in in-flight entertainment systems. The system allows the automatic initialization, or configuration, of multiple terminal units, attached to a serial data bus, without requiring physical access to the multiple units.

Abstract: In a method for processing a time code such that time code data composed of a hour minute second frame accompanying picture information of a predetermined system is mapped onto picture information of another system, when converting the picture information of the predetermined system into that of another system, mapping the time code when converting the system of the picture information including the steps of converting time code data accompanying picture information of said predetermined system into a total frame number x, calculating a total frame number y of the converted time code data for said time code data from said total frame number x and generating the converted time code from the total frame number y.

Abstract: A video storage device capable of realizing a still image-holding mode. The storage device has a serial input-output configuration. A serial input register is connected with a memory array via a transfer gate circuit which selectively permits transfer of data from the serial input register to the memory array. An address counter is connected with the serial input register. In the still image-holding mode, the transfer gate circuit is disabled, and the memory array is accessed in response to counting operation of the address counter. The address counter acts also as a refreshing counter for refreshing the memory array.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying incoming pager messages on a receiver using infrared signals. The paging device includes a receiver for receiving paging signals including paged information. The output signal from the receiver is supplied to a baseband processor where it is converted into a digital signal, under the control of a processor. If the thus digitized signal is determined to be the selecting signal for the particular paging receiver, the digital signal is then preferably sent directly to a protocol translator, where it is converted into a signal having an infrared protocol. After processing in the protocol translator, the signal is then sent to a transmitter and transmitted as an infrared signal. The infrared signal is then received in a light-receiving element in a receiver where it is thereafter decoded by a protocol decoder in accordance with instructions contained in a memory connected thereto to retrieve the paging signal or paged message.