Abstract: A method for concealing errors in texture partition of a video packet is described. The method includes determining a particular macroblock within the texture partition where error is detected, concealing the error starting at the particular macroblock, and evaluating image smoothness of concealed macroblocks. The concealing and evaluating are repeated with one more macroblock added prior to the previous particular macroblock. The concealing and evaluating are repeated until all macroblocks in the texture partition have been concealed. A set of macroblocks, including a combination of decoded and concealed macroblocks, that produces best image smoothness is then selected to replace the corrupted texture partition.

Abstract: A media storage device ensures that downloaded digital data is only accessible for a predetermined period of time. An expiration time and the requested digital data are encrypted and downloaded from a content provider and stored as encrypted data on the media storage device. The expiration time indicates a specific time at which the digital data will be made invalid. At the onset of a predetermined time interval, the media storage device obtains a current global time from a secure clock, decrypts the expiration time, and compares the current global time to the expiration time. If the expiration time is earlier than the current global time, then the digital data stored in the media storage device remains valid. While valid, the media storage device is able to retrieve and transmit the digital data for viewing. This process is repeated for each subsequent time interval. Once the expiration time elapses, the media storage device invalidates the digital data.

Abstract: A copy protection apparatus is disclosed for processing a video signal to produce normal quality video for display on a display device and so as to inhibit the making of high quality reproductions therefrom while allowing lower quality reproductions to be made. The apparatus includes a first signal modification element that alters a normal quality video signal to produce a first modified signal such that, if reproduced, an unusable video copy is produced, and wherein the first modified video signal, when output to a display device is viewable as normal quality video on the display device. The apparatus further includes a second signal modification element that degrades the video signal to produce a second video signal of reduced quality. This reduced quality signal can be output to a reproduction device for copying.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently performing data transfer operations in an electronic system preferably includes a plurality of buffers that may store data and commands during execution of data transfer operations. Initially, at least a portion of a plurality of commands defining data transfer operations between a memory and peripheral devices may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with a processor interface. The processor interface may then issue commands directly to a memory interface, peripheral devices, and peripheral interfaces within the electronic system. Commands received by the memory interface may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with the memory interface. When a memory associated with the memory interface is ready, the memory interface may access the memory, and transfer data to or from one or more buffers associated with a peripheral device.

Abstract: An improved shaft is described with which a sponge saturated with carbon coating can be pushed through the narrow neck of a cathode ray tube funnel to fully coat the interior of the neck with the carbon coating. The improved shaft is made of a plastic composite material. The preferred material for the improved shaft is garolite. This improved shaft is much less expensive that previous stainless steel shafts and has enough flexibility that it is not easily bent when plunged into a funnel that is not properly aligned and centered under the shaft.

Abstract: A method of achieving a variable resolution on a field emission display including the step of addressing a cathode half-pixel region of an emitter line of the field emission display, wherein the emitter line is segmented into a fixed number of cathode sub-pixel regions, each cathode sub-pixel region being defined as a portion of the emitter line between two adjacent gate wires of a plurality of gate wires of a gate frame that pass above the emitter line, wherein the cathode half-pixel region is defined as a portion of the emitter line occupying portions of two adjacent cathode sub-pixel regions, wherein providing the appearance of more than the fixed number of cathode sub-pixel regions.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing a dither matrix for an electronic printer device may preferably create an improved dither matrix with optimal threshold values for use in a corresponding dither tile. During a matrix populating procedure for assigning tile threshold values for the dither matrix, the dither tile may preferably be embedded within a larger frame area of additional adjacent frame cells. A design entity may then preferably compute various cost functions when the additional boundary cells of the frame area are in place. The embedded dither matrix of the dither tile is thus preferably populated within the foregoing frame area so that various boundary effects may be taken into account when an overall cost function of both the dither tile plus the frame area is calculated.

Abstract: A system and method for performing speech recognition in cyclostationary noise environments includes a characterization module that may access original cyclostationary noise from an intended operating environment of a speech recognition device. The characterization module may then convert the original cyclostationary noise into target stationary noise which retains characteristics of the original cyclostationary noise. A conversion module may then generate a modified training database by utilizing the target stationary noise to modify an original training database that was prepared for training a recognizer in the speech recognition device. A training module may then train the recognizer with the modified training database to thereby optimize speech recognition procedures in cyclostationary noise environments.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a CRT panel (12) to facilitate inspecting a seal edge (13) thereof includes a support structure (30) rotatably connected to a base frame (21) for rotation about a horizontal axis (31). The CRT panel (12) is placed into the support structure (30) with the seal edge (13) positioned in a holding groove (77) formed on a bottom door assembly (40). A top door assembly (58) is slidable to a closed position to enclose and support the CRT panel (12) while the support structure (30) is rotated 180 degrees. The bottom door assembly (40) is movable to an open position to inspect the seal edge (13). The door assemblies (40, 58) are both arranged to engage the base frame (21) and prevent rotation of the support structure (30) relative to the base frame (21) when the door assemblies are moved to their respective open positions.

Abstract: A cathode plate of field emission display comprising a cathode substrate of the field emission display having a thickness and one or more in-laid linear isolation barriers formed within the thickness of a top surface of the cathode substrate. The one or more in-laid linear isolation barriers are adapted to contain electron emitter lines, wherein the one or more in-laid linear isolation barriers provide field isolation between respective ones of the electron emitter lines. In one embodiment, the in-laid isolation barriers comprise trenches. In some embodiments, portions of the top surface in between in-laid isolation barriers are adapted to contact gate wires of a gate frame positioned over the cathode substrate in order to dampen driving frequency vibrations in the gate wires.

Abstract: A method of facilitating data updates between a base processing unit and one or more portable processing units includes receiving an update request signal at the portable processing unit from the base processing unit over a wireless communication channel, the update request signal indicating that a data update between the base processing unit and the portable processing unit is advisable; and issuing an alarm at the portable processing unit that is perceivable by a user of the portable processing unit in response to the update request signal indicating that a data update routine between the base processing unit and the portable processing unit should be initiated by the user.

Abstract: A method of alignment of components of a field emission display comprising the steps of: attaching a first alignment barrier to a cathode substrate including electron emitters; positioning a gate frame against the first alignment barrier such that the gate frame is aligned with the cathode substrate; and sealing the gate frame in position against the first alignment barrier to the cathode substrate. The gate frame is a discrete component manufactured separately from the cathode substrate. A second alignment barrier is attached to the gate frame and an anode plate is positioned and sealed against the second alignment barrier such that the anode plate is aligned with the gate frame.

Abstract: A method and system of associating product codes with product characteristics, and using those product codes to send and recieve information about those characteristics to destinations on a network.

Abstract: A method and system of associating product codes with product characteristics, and using those product codes to send and receive information about those characteristics to destinations on a network when the values of those characteristics change.

Abstract: A non-adhesive, conductive strip is used to provide an electrical ground path between a solder electrode on the anti-reflective film of a cathode ray tube and the reinforcement or heat shrinkage band on the tube. The conductive strip is preferably held in place on the cathode ray tube using a magnet or magnets. Consequently, because the conductive strip is held in place by magnets and is non-adhesive, it can be removed and replaced repeatedly during the testing of the solder electrodes and anti-reflective film without potentially damaging the solder electrode or degrading the performance of the conductive tape that is typically used as the ground path in a completed cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A hand tool can be used for measuring the thickness of a carbon layer applied in a cathode ray tube funnel during manufacture of the tube. The hand tool includes a scribe with a cutting blade or point that extends under the control of the user relative to the rest of the tool. The extension of the scribe relative to the base of the tool, which may be a roller, rollers or a skid plate, indicates the thickness of the carbon layer. The tool can also be applied to measure the thickness of other material layers deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: A system providing a user interface to allow a user to easily modify parameters of media presentations such as images and audio. The user selects first and second reference instances, such as images. The images are described by parameters and parameter values. Differences between the images' parameter/value characteristics are identified. The first and second reference images are placed at different points on a display screen. By moving a pointer relative to the positions of the first and second reference images, a current image is generated that is a combination, or function, of the identified parameter/value characteristics. Thus, the user is able to quickly, and intuitively, achieve many desired modifications to the media. A feature of the invention allows image content to be modified in a similar manner. First and second computer model positions, animations, bitmap images, etc., can be used and the same technique employed to create many derivations from the selected reference images.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method personalize an on-line interface by identifying and tracking a computing environment of a user so that on-line content is tailored to the subjective preferences of the user. In addition, the computing environment advantageously includes objectively distinguishable factors such as one or more of preference settings, cookies (i.e., previously viewed web sites), time/date, location, navigation click stream, autonomic reaction to viewed on-line content and type of computer platform. Thus, one or more usage profile records for each user may be maintained, each tailored for the computing environment and user's subjective preferences when in that computing environment.

Abstract: The system provides different ways for users to select an object and an action to be applied to the object in computer applications such as image processing or digital post-production. The user can select an object first and then an action, or vice versa. The user can also use gestural input to designate both an object and action virtually simultaneously. Multiple view, or windows, of an image can be independently sized, zoomed, panned, etc. Any effects performed on the image appear in all of the windows since each window shows (potentially) different portions of the same image content. A navigation window helps a user move within a large image or diagram that does not fit entirely on a single display screen. The navigation window includes an inner box that shows, in miniature, the principal objects in the screen display. A region outside of the screen display is shown in the navigation box, relative to the inner box. Active areas for multiple operations mark in/out points.

Abstract: An insulating member is used on or with a high-voltage probe that applies a voltage to the anode of a cathode ray tube during manufacture of the tube. If there are flaws in the frit seal of the tube, the probe produces arcing through the flaw into a grounded, conductive band disposed around the exterior of the frit seal. The insulating member is placed between the high-voltage probe tip and the grounded band around the frit seal. Consequently, the insulating member prevents electrical arcing external to the cathode ray tube between the high-voltage probe and the grounded band. Such arcing would otherwise interfere with the testing of the frit seal and could possibly damage the test equipment.