Abstract: An interactive entertainment network system has a video-on-demand (VOD) application which allows viewers to create their own customized lists of preferred video content programs, such as movies, games, TV shows, and so forth. Viewers are permitted to select criteria for grouping various video content programs into manageable sets. Lists of programs are provided in one or more scrollable lists, the scrolling rates of which are programmable. Once grouped, previews for the set of programs are displayed. The VOD application allows the viewers to browse the previews at their own rate, skipping forward to the next preview or backward to the previous preview. During this automated browsing, the VOD application enables the viewer to add any of the programs of interest to a customized list. The viewer can retrieve the customized list at any time. If the viewer orders a program from the customized list, the program remains available to the viewer for a rental period (which is adjustable).

Abstract: User interface for displaying and interacting with images corresponding to applications shared over a computer network in a data conference is described. The described interface provides a user with greater control over the use of a desktop by providing controls for moving and sizing images, including fake windows, corresponding to shared applications by displaying such windows in a frame. The frame is the entity that is manipulated by a user with familiar graphical symbols, or even custom designs, thus avoiding potential complexity in managing control over the images of the shared applications. This user interface facilitates frames that may optionally be semi-transparent or transparent in order to allow a user to keep track of icons and windows covered by the frame. Frames are also useful in reducing network traffic by providing a method for detecting the level of interest of a user in a shared application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding video frames is provided. The video frames are divided into blocks for encoding. Encoding of the video blocks utilizes motion detection, motion estimation and adaptive compression, to obtain the desired compression for a particular bit rate. Adaptive compression includes intra compression (without regard to other frames) and inter compression (with regard to other frames). Intra compression, inter compression with motion detection, and inter compression with motion estimation are performed on a block by block basis, as needed. Segmentation is provided to compare encoding of a block with encoding of its sub-blocks, and to select the best block size for encoding.

Abstract: A video playback system for assisting on-location film production. One embodiment of the invention includes a computer system capable of generating computer generated imagery (CGI) and receiving live video feed from a camera. The computer system is also coupled to a first display screen for displaying computer generated images and a second display screen for displaying the live video feed overlaid with computer generated images. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the first display screen containing computer generated images can be selected for overlaying on the live video feed. The video playback system of the present invention is also capable of storing the live video feed and the images resulted from overlaying the computer generated images and the live video feed. The present invention provides the advantages of allowing live/CGI composites to be played and viewed on the director's monitor for review while on-location.

Abstract: A general purpose system and method for associating annotations, modifications, or other information with a web-viewable document is disclosed. An embodiment of the system and method includes the use of a “redirector.” A user attempting to access a document at a particular web address, sends a request to view the document to that address. The request is intercepted by the redirector which, in turn, requests the document on behalf of the user. The redirector modifies the document and returns the modified document for viewing by the user. The modifications may include, for example, various comments or annotations to the original web-viewable document. According to the invention, such customized documents may be presented to the user without modification of commercially available browser and/or server software.

Abstract: A method and system of performing confidence measure in a speech recognition system includes receiving an utterance of input speech and creating a near-miss pattern or a near-miss list of possible word entries for the utterance. Each word entry includes an associated value of probability that the utterance corresponds to the word entry. The near-miss list of possible word entries is compared with corresponding stored near-miss confidence templates. Each word in the vocabulary (or keyword list) of near-miss confidence template, which includes a list of word entries and each word entry in each list includes an associated value. Confidence measure for a particular hypothesis word is performed based on the comparison of the values in the near-miss list of possible word entries with the values of the corresponding near-miss confidence template.

Abstract: A system for generating a schedule by generating assignments for the tasks of a project and sequentially scheduling the individual assignments to available resources. First, input information is received which includes a resource calendar and a task list. A resource calendar identifies the resources available to work on a project and any constraints that are associated with the resources. A task list identifies the tasks that must be performed and any constraints that are associated with the tasks. At a minimum, the constraints associated with the tasks must identify each of the resources assigned to the task, and the work-amount that each resource must perform. Next, assignments are generated for each of the tasks. Each of the assignments identifies a specific resource and the work-amount required by the specific resource. Finally, each of the assignments are scheduled in accordance with the provided resource constraints identified in the resource calendar.

Abstract: A large-scale sorting process utilizes a batched replacement selection method to form runs of sorted data records. The batched replacement selection method involves reading multiple records from a persistent data storage into main memory and sorting the multiple records to form a mini-run of multiple sorted data records. After formation, the mini-run is added to a selection tree by inserting a pointer to a first record in the mini-run into the array of pointers. The first record is linked to remaining records in the mini-run. As records are selected for output from the selection tree, the methodology replaces the selected record with a next record in the associated mini-run (if not empty) or alternatively deletes the node if the mini-run is empty. The selected records are collected into an output buffer. When the number of records reaches a pre-determined number, the selected records are written in batch back to the persistent data storage.

Abstract: A method and system allows a device driver to obtain the status of a device that may exhibit one of two distinct behaviors in responding to status requests that designate a plurality of event types associated with a device. Devices exhibiting the first behavior respond to the status requests by providing the status for the highest priority event type designated in the status request. Device exhibiting the second behavior respond to the status requests by providing the status for the highest priority event type that has undergone a status change. In one implementation, the device driver transmits a series of distinct status requests such that the status of all event types can be determined. In a related aspect of the invention, the device driver also analyzes the response message to determine if the device exhibits the second behavior type. When the second behavior type is detected, only a single type of status request is sent to obtain the status of all event types.

Abstract: A server-based application includes at least one page file that identifies one or more server objects. The page file describes the particular layout and interaction of the server objects, such as controls, in such a way that a page of information may be transmitted to a target device. When designing the page file a developer may use declarative statement, so that certain properties of the specified controls may be altered based on the particular type of target device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing transparent mobility support employs a mobile service in an API layer of an operating system to leverage the capability of a session establishment service that implements the Session Initiation Protocol or the like for locating a remote node for session setup and detecting address change of the remote node. When an application on a correspondent host (CH) wants to communicate with a second application on a mobile host (MH), the mobility service of the CH uses the session establishment service to locate the mobile host and set up a session with it, and then sets up a transport data channel for the session. When the MH changes its network address, the session establishment service of the CH finds out the new address through the operation of the session establishment protocol and reestablishes the session with the MH.

Abstract: A method for enabling data generated in a parent application to be translated into another format, such as hypertext markup language (HTML), so that formatting functionality unique to the parent application is retained, and so that the data reintroduced into the parent application from an HTML document has all its original formatting and functionality restored. As the data are translated into the other format, formatting information specific to the parent application is included with the data, but in such a manner that the formatting information is ignored by applications such as web browsers that are compatible with the other format. While translating the data into the other format, any formatting commands in the data that are not fully supported in the other format are identified, and if found, are translated so as to emulate the form of the data in the parent application. Included in the translated data is a marker identifying changes in the formatting commands.

Abstract: This invention concerns an integrated circuit (IC) device, such as smart cards, electronic wallets, PC cards, and the like, and various methods for authenticating identities and authorizing transactions based on the authenticated identities. The IC device has a memory and a processor. The IC device maintains an identity authentication table in the memory to hold an arbitrary number of identities. The identity authentication table correlates identities with authentication protocols, so that different protocols can be used to authenticate associated identities. The identity authentication table also correlates counts with the identities. Individual counts specify a number of uses of the IC device for a corresponding identity without requiring the IC device to authenticate the identity for each use. The IC device also maintains an authentication vector in memory. The authentication vector tracks identities in the identity authentication table that are currently authenticated by the IC device.

Abstract: A generalization of frequent item sets to error-tolerant frequent item sets (ETF) is disclosed, together with its application in data clustering using error-tolerant frequent item sets to either build clusters or as an initialization technique for standard clustering algorithms. Efficient feasible computational algorithms for computing ETF's from very large databases is presented. In one embodiment, a method determines a plurality of weak ETF's, which are strongly tolerant of errors, and determines a plurality of strong ETF's therefrom, which are less tolerant of errors. The resulting clusters can be used as an initial model for a standard clustering approach, or may themselves be used as the end clusters. In one embodiment, the data covered by the strong clusters is removed from the data, and the process is repeated, until no more weak clusters can be found.

Abstract: Methods and arrangement are provided for compressing and transporting image-based rendering (IBR) data using alignment and three-dimensional (3D) wavelet transform techniques, and selectively decompressing portions of the resulting compressed data to render various two-dimensional (2D) views of a 3D scene. A compression engine compresses the IBR data using a 3D wavelet transform and outputs a compressed bitstream comprising encoded frequency coefficients associated with the IBR data. This compressed bitstream can then be provided to a separate decompression engine that selectively decodes portions of the compressed bitstream based on an access request for image data associated with a desired view from a rendering engine. Through a mixed cache, the progressive inverse wavelet synthesis (PIWS) engine decompresses the decoded portions with minimum calculation, and provides the decompressed IBR data to the rendering engine.

Abstract: Providing custom content that supplements static content displayed in an alert message. In response to detecting a predetermined condition, such as an error condition, the alert message is displayed to the user of a software program module. The alert message typically presents the static content and a control object, such as a button or a hyperlink. In response to the user's selection of the control object, an external information source, typically a remote server hosting a Web page, is accessed. The external information source maintains the custom content, which can include supplemental information that is related to the detected predetermined condition.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided that represent complex point and area illumination in computer graphics shading and animation. An irradiance vector field table representative of an irradiance field for a scene to be rendered is generated and stored in a texture memory. During rendering, the scene is lit based on irradiance vectors in the irradiance vector field table. For each point being lit, a corresponding irradiance vector is generated from the irradiance vector field table. A vector operation is performed between the irradiance vector and a surface normal for the point to compute an irradiance energy component. In one example hardware embodiment, a look-up unit looks up and interpolates irradiance vectors for selected points in the irradiance vector field table to compute an interpolated irradiance vector.

Abstract: A system and method of saving a Web page from a Web site on an Internet to a computer-readable medium is disclosed. A Web page is downloaded from the Internet to the computer-readable medium. The Internet address for the Web page is stored on the computer-readable medium. When the Web page is opened from the computer-readable medium, the Internet address is used to identify a security context for the Web page. By using the Internet address to identify the security context for the Web page, the system and method of the present invention allows users to securely view and execute Web pages downloaded from the Internet.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing user interfaces that include content selected based on when the user interface is being provided are disclosed. A temporal engine residing on a host computer system provides a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided. The computer system includes a data store having one or more predefined time periods, each of which is defined, at least in part, by a span of time or by a set of conditions being satisfied, and is associated with a predefined set of user interface elements. The temporal engine determines, for each predefined time period, whether the set of conditions that defines the time period is satisfied. If so, the temporal engine causes a user interface to be provided that is based on the set of user interface elements associated with the time period.