Abstract: A microprocessor 11 receives an ambiguous input from a key 2-9 and disambiguates the ambiguous input using a dictionary. The dictionary is stored in an efficient manner by being partitioned according to the first three letters of a word. A sequence of three letters in the dictionary is stored as eight bits of data, the first three letters of a word being stored using three pairs of bits, such that each pair of bits represents one of no more than four alternative letters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a graphical user interface keyboard (10) and a text buffer (12) on an electronic device. A character that is active upon pointer-up is accepted as a text character, even though the character that is active upon pointer-up is different from a character that was active and inserted in the text buffer (12) upon pointer-down.

Abstract: A computer-readable instruction stream is verified to determine that it does not violate the run-time security constraints of the execution environment (150). The computer-readable instruction stream after verification is stored in a storage device (140). The execution environment (150) retrieves the computer-readable instruction stream from the storage device (14) and verifies that the computer-readable instruction stream has not been modified. Upon verification, the computer-readable instruction stream is executed, while bypassing verification of the run-time security constraints of the execution environment (150).

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing undesired signals in a communication environment. At least two distinct composite signals (X.sub.1 and X.sub.2) are transmitted from a first communication environment (260). A noise coefficient of the first communication environment (260) based on the at least two distinct composite signals (X.sub.1 and X.sub.2) is calculated. At least two noise canceling signals based on the noise coefficient are calculated. The at least two noise canceling signals are added to an incoming signal (Y.sub.3) from a second communication environment (280) to produce at least two combined signals. The at least two combined signal are transmitted into the first communication environment (260).

Abstract: A video access apparatus (110, 150, 750, 850) provides for audio and video teleconferencing and telephony via a first communication channel (103) coupled to a primary station (105) having communication with a network (140), such as the public switched telephone network or an ISDN network. The video access apparatus (110) includes a video network interface (210); a radio frequency modulator/demodulator (205); a user interface (215); and a processor arrangement (190). A videophone apparatus (700, 800) is coupleable to a video access apparatus via a second communication channel for video reception and transmission, and via a third communication channel for audio reception and transmission. The videophone apparatus includes a video monitor (715), a camera interface (235), a video camera (720), and a telephony module (710).

Abstract: Coordinates from a digitizing tablet are processed in two modes. In a first mode (denoted the Cursor Mode for convenience) the digitizing tablet operates similar to the well know computer "mouse" allowing the user to move the cursor around the display screen to select buttons and controls by mapping the coordinates to the display area of the monitor. In a second mode (denoted as the Input Mode for convenience), the digitizing tablet coordinates (especially generated by the motion of a pen) are mapped to an input area within a graphical interface of a computer program designed to accept handwritten input. Selection between the first mode and the second mode is made manually by switch input or automatically via analysis of the coordinates or by differentiating field sensing digitization from touch sensitive digitization.

Abstract: A circuit board (110) has a layer window (100) through which images (120-170) on transparent layers can be seen. An inspector of the board can determine if the layers have been placed properly if the images (120-170) are in a unidirectional step formation away from the outer layer. The visual inspection is further enhanced by forming the images with overlapping curvatures (180) at their ends.

Abstract: In a main embodiment, prestage filtering is applied via user-definable filter parameters (e.g., reject, pass, or granularity filters) on data being transferred between a communication unit (201) and communication server (220). For downloading, e.g., email from a host post office (240), a communication server controller (229) preferably either forwards the filter parameters in a query object or message to the post office to apply and return qualified mail (406-414), or the communication server receives all unprocessed mail and applies the filters locally (418-420), only acknowledging as processed that mail which passes the filters. For uploading, e.g., email from a client, a client controller applies an upload prestage filter (432) so as to retain all filter-rejected email, while transmitting email passing the filters (434). Thus, only desired data transfers (i.e., those meeting user defined filters) are communicated over the expense-bearing networks between the remote unit and communication server.

Abstract: A first mixer (306) shifts a first end (208) of a desired signal frequency bandwidth (206) of a desired signal (202) to an edge (508) of a first filter frequency bandwidth (502) of a first filter (312), wherein the first filter frequency bandwidth (502) is greater than the desired signal frequency bandwidth (206). Signals within a first undesired frequency spectrum (504) are attenuated by the first filter (314). A second mixer (316) shifts a second end (210) of the desired signal frequency bandwidth (206) to an edge (608) of a second filter frequency bandwidth (602) of a second filter (320) to receive the desired signal (202).

Abstract: Multiple selectable dictionaries are used by a handwriting recognition system to provide accurate and prompt recognition processing. Sets of the multiple dictionaries are selectable by the user or automatically by the recognition program in response to the user handwriting in predetermined fields on a user interface.

Abstract: A communications controller (132) transfers communication links from a first receiver (144) to a second receiver (146) when a system quality parameter exceeds a threshold. The first receiver (144) is used to perform idle carrier scanning by tuning to each idle carrier and executing a quality metric measuring procedure for the carrier or a channel on the carrier. The quality metrics are stored in memory (160) and the idle carriers are ranked according to their corresponding quality metrics. The communication controller (132) adds or replaces carriers based on their ranking. In this manner, communication channels may be more efficiently managed.

Abstract: An apparatus (105), system (100) and method is provided for a unified circuit switched and packet-based communications system architecture having network interworking functionality.