Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a computer system that includes a media server, a media client, and a media-server interface. The media server application produces media data, where the media data has a plurality of segments. For example, in some embodiments, the media data is a movie with video and audio components. In this example, the segments of the movie can be specified in two groups, where one group includes the frames of video in the movie and the other group includes the seconds of audio in the movie. The media client application is typically an application that needs to process the media data of the media server application without the need to have any familiarity with the implementation of the media server application. The media-server interface directs the server application to successively generate individual segments of the media data and to store each generated segment in a location that is accessible by the media client.

Abstract: For a network that connects several computers, a method of determining the network bandwidth between two computers. The method measures a first time interval between when one of the computers (1) sends a first data set to the other computer and (2) receives a first response. It also measures a second time interval between when one of the computers (1) sends a second data set to the other computer and (2) receives a second response. The method then identifies the network bandwidth from the two measured time intervals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing media data transmitted in a data communication medium. A digital processing system is provided with a time related sequence of media data provided to the digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein the set of data indicates a method to transmit the time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, itself, is a time related sequence of data associated with the time related sequence of media data. The time related sequence of media data may be presented and/or stored by the digital processing system.

Abstract: A First Improvement is Described for Prediction of Motion Vectors to be Used in Prediction of video data for enhancement layer data. Arbitrary pixelblock partitioning between base layer data and enhancement layer data raises problems to identify base layer motion vectors to be used as prediction sources for enhancement layer motion vectors. The disclosed method develops enhancement layer motion vectors by scaling a base layer pixelblock partition map according to a size difference between the base layer video image and the enhancement layer video image, then identified scale base layer pixelblocks that are co-located with the enhancement layer pixelblocks for which motion vector prediction is to be performed. Motion vectors from the scaled co-located base layer pixelblocks are averaged, weighted according to a degree of overlap between the base layer pixelblocks and the enhancement layer pixelblock.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. The magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet is composed of ferromagnetic material. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for implementing a sleep proxy. The system starts by receiving a request at the sleep proxy for information pertaining to a service provided by a device. In response to this request, the system determines if the device is a member of a list of devices for which the sleep proxy takes action. If so, the system determines if the sleep proxy can answer the request. If so, the sleep proxy sends a response to the request on behalf of the device. In a variation on this embodiment, if the system cannot answer the request on behalf of the device, the system sends a wakeup packet to the device, wherein the wakeup packet causes the device to exit a power-saving mode so that the device can respond to the request directly.

Abstract: A lookup operation is carried out on a data table by logically dividing the data table into a number of smaller sets of data that can be indexed with a single byte of data. Each set of data consists of two vectors, which constitute the operands for a permute instruction. Only a limited number of bits are required to index into the table during the execution of this instruction. The remaining bits of each index are used as masks into a series of select instructions. The select instruction chooses between two vector components, based on the mask, and places the selected components into a new vector. The mask is generated by shifting one of the higher order bits of the index to the most significant position, and then propagating that bit throughout a byte, for example by means of an arithmetic shift. This procedure is carried out for all of the index bytes in the vector, to generate a select mask.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for moving objects within the graphical user interface (GUI) of an operating system in a manner that provides a transitional effect between window states, which is pleasing to the user. This transitional effect includes changing the shape of a window while scaling and moving the window between two different sizes and positions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transitional effect may be employed as a window is minimized into an icon, or restored from an icon. In another embodiment of the present invention, the transitional effect is employed as a window is minimized within its title bar, or restored therefrom. The rate of movement of objects is controlled in a non-linear manner, to further enhance the pleasing effect.

Abstract: A collaboration system synchronizes an application or applications running on one or more computer systems. Each of the applications has a local data copy and the applications commence operation by creating consistent local copies from a common third copy. The consistency is maintained by distributing address space independent selections and commands to each application as they are entered at a controlling system. The selections and commands are generated by directly manipulating a presentation of each local data copy. When a selection and command arrive at a destination, the selection is used to find and selection the data and the command is applied to the data located by the selection.

Abstract: Method and device relate to improved sensor configurations in a user device are disclosed. A device implements the improved sensor configurations includes a switch configured to detect a force applied by a user, one or more touch sensors configured to detect an angular position of the user input which are peripherally located relative to the switch, and a processor configured to generate a signal for performing a task selected from a plurality of predefined tasks in accordance with the force and the angular position of the user input.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer software for use in driving a high dynamic range display involve generating table entries of luminance levels for a high dynamic range display and ordering the table according to the luminance levels. If the table includes multiple entries with equal values for a particular luminance level, one of the multiple entries is designated as corresponding to the luminance level.

Abstract: An operating system level windowing system provides for the reliable display of multiple translucent windows. Incorporating stereo object processing within the windowing system itself (rather than at the application level), permits the windowing system to ensure that stereo content is reliably displayed (e.g., via use of blue-line technology) regardless of whether a window within which stereo content is displayed is occluded or overlapped by another window.

Abstract: Method and device relate to improved sensor configurations in a user device are disclosed. A device implements the improved sensor configurations includes a switch configured to detect a force applied by a user, one or more touch sensors configured to detect an angular position of the user input which are peripherally located relative to the switch, and a processor configured to generate a signal for performing a task selected from a plurality of predefined tasks in accordance with the force and the angular position of the user input.

Abstract: An installation manifest defines associations of one or more application installation files with operating system installation files. An installation manager determines an installation type for a software installation on a device and provides installation options related to the determined installation type.

Abstract: An input device that includes both a movement detector, such as mechanical switch, and positional indicator, such as touch pad touch screen, and/or touch sensing housing is disclosed. These two input devices can be used substantially simultaneously to provide a command to the device. In this manner, different commands can be associated with depressing a moveable member in different areas and a single moveable member can perform like several buttons.

Abstract: A head mounted display system is disclosed. The head mounted display system includes a remote laser light engine that generates laser light associated with a display signal. The head mounted display system additionally includes a head mounted display apparatus that is separated from the laser light engine and comprising a display unit that displays laser images. The head mounted display system further includes an imaging device coupled between the remote laser light engine and the head mounted display apparatus. The imaging device creates laser images from the laser light transmitted through an optical cable in accordance with the display signal. The laser images are delivered to the display unit in order to create display images that can be viewed by a user of the head mounted display apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing multiple push buttons in a user device are disclosed. The method includes detecting a location of a user input using one or more touch sensors, detecting a force of the user input using a switch, and generating a signal for representing one of the push buttons being pressed according to with the location and force of the user input.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for projecting a source image in a head-mounted display apparatus having a left and a right display for projecting a left and right images viewable by the left and right eyes, respectively, of a user. Source image data is received. The source image has right, left, top, and bottom edges. The source image data is processed to generate left image data for the left display and right image data for the right display. The left image data includes the left edge, but not the right edge, of the source image and the right image data includes the right edge, but not the left edge, of the source image. The right image data is presented on the right display and the left image data is presented on the left display.

Abstract: An input device that includes both a movement detector, such as mechanical switch, and positional indicator, such as touch pad touch screen, and/or touch sensing housing is disclosed. These two input devices can be used substantially simultaneously to provide a command to the device. In this manner, different commands can be associated with depressing a moveable member in different areas and a single moveable member can perform like several buttons.

Abstract: An automated RAW image processing method and system are disclosed. A RAW image and metadata related to the RAW image are obtained from a digital camera or other source. The RAW image and the related metadata are automatically processed using an Operating System service of a processing device to produce a resulting image in an absolute color space. When automatically processing, a predetermined tone reproduction curve is applied to the interpolate RAW image to produce the resulting image. The predetermined tone reproduction curve is derived from a plurality of reference images and is selected based on the metadata associated with the RAW image. The resulting image is then made available to an application program executing on the processing device through an application program interface with the Operating System service.