Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is used for control of a cursor or other GUI interface.

Abstract: A server computer provides to a client computer a web page permitting an internet user to enter an internet identity to be secured. The server receives an input indicating that an internet user has entered an identity and requested that the identity be secured on a plurality of web sites. The internet identity is registered on the plurality of web sites and the registration is verified to said internet user.

Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the screen of the TV or other display to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is transmitted to the entertainment system for control of a cursor or other GUI interface.

Abstract: A bookmark system is provided that accommodates a plurality of bookmarks that are able to be selectively added and removed from a centralized head. Each bookmark is capable of sliding independently along a pin and is designed to fit between two pages of a book. The bookmark includes a member for secure integration to the book to ensure that it and its associated bookmarks remain in place during use of the book.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and linking keywords to objects in videos, and then providing an internet searchable web page is disclosed. The objects also may be associated with hyperlinks to further information, further objects, or further videos or web pages. First, objects within a video are selected. Then software for tracking the objects throughout a video is used to determine in which frames the object appears. Data corresponding all frames in which the object first appears and last appears is determined. Second, an object descriptor term or phrase is associated with the object. The object descriptor is then used to generate a set of keywords, which along with the object descriptor, are stored in memory in association with the object and video, preferably an XML file or other format. Then, the keywords or keyword phrases are converted to a search engine searchable computer language, e.g., HTML, CSS, and posted to a web page.

Abstract: An interactive voice and data response system that directs input to a voice, text, and web-capable software-based router, which is able to intelligently respond to the input by drawing on a combination of human agents, advanced speech recognition and expert systems, connected to the router via a TCP/IP network. The digitized input is broken down into components so that the customer interaction is managed as a series of small tasks performed by a pool of human agents, rather than one ongoing conversation between the customer and a single agent. The router manages the interactions and keeps pace with a real-time conversation. The system utilizes both speech recognition and human intelligence for purposes of interpreting customer utterances or customer text, where the role of the human agent(s) is to input the intent of caller utterances, and where the computer system—not the human agent—determines which response to provide given the customer's stated intent (as interpreted/captured by the human agents).

Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is used for control of a cursor or other GUI interface with automatic control of cursor speed based on detected controller distance from the screen and characteristic hand movement.

Abstract: A repository, distribution, and discovery system for collecting users' online identifiers and relationships, and allowing them to be retrieved and/or updated through a central access point by the users, third parties, and other users. An identity graph in the form of links to the user's public profiles can be ported to any web page or web service. Links back to the user's public profile on the repository are ported to the user's profile pages. The system includes analytics and statistics relating to users' behaviors throughout the web and normalization of actions and data across the social web space. The links inherent in the repository system enhances the level of the user's profiles in search engine listings.

Abstract: The present invention allows users to quickly develop web pages, or offers, to meet their advertisers' individual needs; mange the offers and inventory; and prioritize the order in which the offers are displayed. Functions included in the invention allow the user to internally monitor performance of marketing campaigns. The invention also has the ability to automatically prioritize which offers are to be displayed to users and in what order they will appear based upon the number of orders outstanding from an advertiser, the revenue generated from each conversion, the conversion rate of each offer, and a manual factor inserted based upon the business priority. The current invention allows the user to effectively and efficiently run a business where the user is required to set up offers for individual advertisers and maintain an effective balance of priority based upon business concerns, revenue, inventory of offer and conversion rates.

Abstract: A search based TV interface system and method is disclosed. Search results are dynamically filtered based on automatic Boolean combinations of search parameters based on search field types.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes use of an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data.

Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is used for control of a cursor or other GUI interface with automatic control of cursor speed based on detected controller distance from the screen and characteristic hand movement.

Abstract: The collect cellular call identifies the cellular telephone carrier and called party cell phone. After determining whether the carrier and phone accept message service charges (SMS), a voice response module seeks positive authorization from the called party with the telephone. If positive, the system facilitates a connection between the calling party and the called party and initiates a predetermined billing charge assigned to the cellular telephone number. If the carrier or the cell phone is not enabled or if no authorization is obtained from the called party, the system facilitates a denial of completion signal. A timer monitors the length a the collect cellular call. Databases are accessed to locate the carrier and called cell phone number approved list of numbers and deny-service list of numbers.

Abstract: System and method for expanding the capabilities of a PC-based software are disclosed. The system provides a technique for synchronizing a database associated with a PC-based software with a WAN server database. Additionally, a WAN server, associated with the WAN server database, is configured to provide substantially the same functionality as that of the PC-based software. This effectively facilitates web-access of the PC-based software and database by way of the WAN server and database. The WAN server may be configured to provide additional functions in order to expand the functionality of the PC-based software. The WAN server may also be configured to integrate distinct databases by either relaying information between the distinct databases or integrating the information from the distinct databases into a single database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes providing audience members with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data.

Abstract: Incentivized offers may be provided to users of a virtual environment. More specifically, a virtual environment may be provided to users such that the users participate in the virtual environment by performing one or more actions within the virtual environment. Information may be determined that relates to the physical locations in the real world of individual users of the virtual environment. Offers of goods and/or services may be determined that should be presented to individual users. The offers may be determined based on one or more of the physical locations in the real world of the individual users, virtual environment criteria representing one or more aspects of the users involvement in the virtual environment, and/or other factors. The determined offers may be transmitted to the users.

Abstract: Content in a virtual environment may be unlocked based on an aggregated trust level. More specifically, trust levels of a user with individual ones of non-user characters in the virtual environment may be tracked. The trust levels may be based on interactions between the user and individual ones of non-user characters in the virtual environment. A group trust level of the user with a group of the non-user characters may be determined. The group trust level may be based on an aggregation of the trust levels of the individual ones of the non-user characters. Content that was previously locked for the user may be unlocked for the user responsive to the group trust level breaching a group trust threshold.

Abstract: A bookmark system is provided that accommodates a plurality of bookmarks that are able to be selectively added and removed from a centralized head. Each bookmark is capable of sliding independently along a pin and is designed to fit between two pages of a book. The bookmark includes a member for secure integration to the book to ensure that it and its associated bookmarks remain in place during use of the book.

Abstract: A remote control method and system employ remote controller (10) which is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display (222) as well as providing functions such as Internet access or other functions requiring a keyboard and/or a mouse. The remote controller includes a folding housing and may be operated in a closed or opened configuration. A first set of control inputs (12) are provided on the outer surface of the housing. The housing may be opened, thereby doubling the surface area of the remote controller, to expose a keyboard (56). One or more wireless transmitters are operable with the housing in either of two configurations oriented at 90 degrees to each other and controlled by the first set of control inputs and the keyboard. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on the lap of the user or a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.

Abstract: A digital system that may be used by children two years old and older. The digital system is contained in a child-proof case and has an upward-facing display with a touch-sensitive screen that is within easy reach of a child. Other I/O devices include proximity and motion sensors and a microphone, and there is also a loudspeaker. When a proximity sensor senses someone in the neighborhood of the system, it displays images on the display. A child may manipulate the images by touching them on the touch screen. Manipulations include selecting an image by touching it, “dragging” the selected image by moving the finger touching the image across the screen and “dropping” the image by lifting a finger from it, moving a selected image by touching another location on the screen and thereby causing the selected image to move to the touched location, removing an image from the screen by “throwing” it, i.e.