Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for arbitrating client application access to at least one resource by determining two or more client applications of a plurality of client applications to grant simultaneous access to the at least one resource. By this, data and resources are exposed to multiple client applications and simultaneous multiple use of resources by separate multiple client applications can be achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to notify a visually impaired visual media consumer of the availability of audio description for items of visual media via one or more audible indications. Further, a catalog of items of visual media can be sorted or arranged such that items of visual media having audio description may be selected or inquired about in a quicker and more convenient manner.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and method for simultaneously displaying one or more social media content items together with the display of programming content, such as a television show. Specifically, the present invention provides a system and method by which contemporary and/or time-shifted social media commentary, pertaining to broadcast programming content, may be displayed concurrently with the displayed programming content.

Abstract: A control circuit operably couples to a plurality of home-automation edge-component interfaces. This control circuit is configured to compatibly interact with a plurality of home-automation edge components via a common application programming interface. By one approach at least some of the plurality of home-automation edge components are operationally incompatible with one another.

Abstract: A control circuit operably couples to a plurality of home-automation edge-component interfaces. This control circuit is configured to compatibly interact with a plurality of home-automation edge components where at least some of the plurality of home-automation edge components are operationally incompatible with one another.

Abstract: A control circuit operably couples to a plurality of home-automation edge-component interfaces. This control circuit is configured to compatibly interact with a plurality of home-automation edge components using characterizing abstracts as correspond to the home-automation edge components. By one approach at least some of the plurality of home-automation edge components belong to different classes that are operationally incompatible with one another.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide apparatuses for use in displaying a user interface, comprising: a frame, a lens mounted with the frame, a first camera, a detector, and a processor configured to: process images received from the first camera and detected data received from the detector; detect from at least the processing of the image a hand gesture relative to a three dimensional (3D) space in a field of view of the first camera and the detection zone of the detector; identify, from the processing of the image and the detected data, virtual X, Y and Z coordinates within the 3D space of at least a portion of the hand performing the gesture; identify a command corresponding to the detected gesture and the three dimensional location of the portion of the hand; and implement the command.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and method for identifying and authenticating a user using one or more types of pattern information. Specifically, the present invention provides a convenient user identification and authentication method using pattern information from one or more sources including (1) an audio-input device, (2) an optical-input device and/or (3) an orientation sensing device.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method, executable by a processor based device, that eliminates the need to manually look up a list of support parts to determine the stock availability of one or more replacement part alternatives, based at least in part on the stock availability of one or more support parts for the one or more replacement part alternatives.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for platform independent device communication by detecting a request at a processor-based device to perform a function, determining an external device corresponding to the request, retrieving a tag for the external device for performing a function corresponding to the request and generating a message implemented in XMPP, having embedded therein the tag, wherein the tag is essential at the external device for performing the function corresponding to the request. Receiving the message at a device, determining whether the message comprises a device message, retrieving a tag included in the message, wherein the tag corresponds to an executable command to perform a function and executing the tag to perform the function.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, processes and systems for use in determining navigation. Some embodiments provide methods that receive a communication at a mobile navigation system from an external device, determine whether the communication comprises navigation information, extract the navigation information when the communication comprises navigation information, identify a navigation location based on the navigation information, retrieve a current location, and generate navigation instructions between the current location and the navigation location.

Abstract: A swivel mechanism comprising a first swivel portion having a first coupling portion and a second swivel portion having a second coupling portion, the second swivel portion dimensioned for mechanically engaging with the first swivel portion to provide at least a first mechanical coupling position and at least a first data communication channel, wherein the first data communication channel is provided through a hollow cavity formed when the first swivel portion and the second swivel portion are in the first mechanical coupling position and wherein the first data communication channel is configured to convey 60 GHz data signals when the first swivel portion and the second swivel portion are in the first mechanical coupling position.

Abstract: A digital calendar device involving an electronic device having a graphic user interface. The electronic device is capable of receiving at least one note from a user, and retrieving and displaying the at least one note, as well as running on at least one operating system. The digital calendar device further includes features, such retrieval and displaying features, a touch screen interface, handwriting support feature, a speech recognition feature, a reminder feature, a frame feature, a mechanical support feature, and a fortune-teller software program.

Abstract: A swivel mechanism, comprising a base configured to be attached to a screen and further configured to rotate with the screen as the screen is rotated, a hub configured to fit into the base and remain stationary as the screen and the base are rotated and two springs configured to be set into the hub and configured to compress to provide a resistance torque as the screen is rotated.

Abstract: A music visualization system and methods involving a central processing unit capable of converting waveform data to geometry data, a graphics processing unit capable of recognizing and accepting the geometry data and rendering a plurality of graphical images, a custom shader software program being operable on the graphics processing unit, an embeddable platform being in electronic communication with the graphics processing unit, and an audiovisual display device in electronic communication with the graphics processing unit and the embeddable platform.

Abstract: A method for displaying content to a user including receiving a first content and a second content, applying a first depth to the first content, applying a second depth to the second content and compositing the first content and the second content to generate a 3-Dimensional (3-D) composite content, wherein the composite content is configured to be displayed on a 3-D display, wherein the composite content is configured to be played back such that the first content and the second content are displayed simultaneously, and wherein the composite content is further configured to be played back such that one of the first content and the second content is displayed appearing in focus and the second one of the first content and the second content is displayed appearing out of focus based on a selection of one of the first content and the second content.

Abstract: A display device is provided comprising a housing, a communication means within the housing configured to receive content from a local content source device external to the housing and to transmit messages to the local content source device, wherein the content comprises a static screen image, a storage means configured to store the content having been received from the content source device, wherein the storage means stores no more than a single static screen image and a display configured to display the content. A method for use with the display device is further provided.

Abstract: A computer implemented method including determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to a case-based dataset stored within memory accessible by at least one processor; generating, for each of a plurality of rule-based classifiers, rule-based classification data identifying class boundaries between the records upon determining that the predetermined condition has been satisfied; computing a structural risk of the rule-based classification data for each of the rule-based classifiers with respect to the records identified within the record data; selecting rule-based classifiers having generated rule-based classification data identifying class boundaries between the records with a structural risk below a predetermined threshold; identifying selected rule-based classifiers having rule-based classification data that is within a predetermined degree of similarity with the case-based classification data; and replacing the case-based dataset stored within the memory with rule-based classific

Abstract: A visual display interface involving an associated display icon. The display icon is dragged across the visual display interface in a movement so as to cause the mixing of media streams. The output is a new mix of the various media streams.

Abstract: A method of data analysis for an audio player, which involves analyzing at least a portion of audio data; selecting a sound profile based upon the analysis of the audio data; adjusting sound field settings according to the sound profile; and outputting at least a portion of the audio data according to the sound field settings, and an audio player device involving an audio analysis circuit adapted to determine a characteristic of audio data; a profile selection circuit adapted to select a sound profile corresponding to the characteristic of audio data; and a sound field circuit adapted to adjust sound field settings according to the sound profile.