Abstract: A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a load bearing plate structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, each of said plurality of open axial ball tracks comprised of at least two concentric ball tracks. The ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said load bearing plate structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.

Abstract: Metadata generated at the outset of an audio visual program, such as a television undergoes transmission to a field device associated with a capture device operated by production personnel, such as a news reporter and/or a videographer to capture one of audio and/or video information. The production personnel will typically edit the metadata for incorporation into the file structure of audio and/or visual information captured by the capture device. A server receives and updates the original metadata using the metadata in the file structure of the capture audio and/or video information, thus effectively harvesting the original metadata.

Abstract: An architecture for automatically optimizing audio and video modes available from interconnected multimedia devices. When one multimedia device is connected with another multimedia device, the devices communicate with each other to determine the modes available from both devices. The devices then compare the different combinations of available audio and video modes and determine which mode combination yields the optimal operating efficiency for outputting a media service.

Abstract: A system and method for processing user programming request are described. A request entered by a user is detected. An entry for a time period based user spending limit is provided, in respond to the entered user request. The time period based user spending limit entry is received by the system and system tracks the user spending during the time period. In another embodiment, more than one spending limit, corresponding to different time periods, may be entered.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver is capable of canceling non-linear distortion, such as second harmonic distortion in a picture carrier, when performing digital signal processing. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a digital signal source for providing a digital signal and a digital signal processor for digitally processing the digital signal to generate a digitally processed signal.

Abstract: A hinge for mounting a projection display screen (10) to a cabinet (20) from the front of the screen is disclosed. A cabinet hinge part (40) is attached to the cabinet (20), and a screen hinge part (50) is attached to a screen frame (12) having the screen (10) mounted on it. Both the cabinet hinge part (40) and the screen hinge part (50) are elongate, stiff members, with one of the cabinet hinge part (40) and the screen hinge part (50) having an arcuate slot (42) extending along its elongate dimension and the other of the cabinet hinge part (40) and the screen hinge part (50) having an arcuate projection extending along its elongate dimension, where the arcuate projection (52) is pivotally interlockable with the arcuate slot (42).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for setting a frequency reference in an integrated receiver decoder (IRD). More specifically, the present invention discloses an electrical circuit arrangement in which the voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) is set to oscillate at the desired frequency prior to the initial use thereof and that frequency is stored in a non-volatile memory unit. Upon initial use, the IRD receives a data signal corresponding to a frequency reference. The IRD uses a threshold value to compare the frequency reference of the incoming data signal with the frequency stored in the non-volatile memory. If the frequencies differ by a predetermined value, the frequency from the incoming data signal is stored in the non-volatile memory and is used to set the VCXO.

Abstract: In an electronic device having an acoustic echo canceller and being capable of implementing audio applications and at least one of a conferencing application and a telephony application, there is provided a background training method for the acoustic echo canceller.

Abstract: A first-order crossover network having low-pass and high-pass filters to respectively drive first and second loudspeakers in a loudspeaker system is designed such that the phase difference at a crossover frequency between output signals of the first and second loudspeakers is no greater than 60 degrees, so that the output signals are at least partially in phase. Preferably, the phase difference should be about 40 degrees to create a near in-phase effect. The polarity in which the first loudspeaker is coupled to the first-order crossover network is an inverse of the polarity in which the second loudspeaker is coupled to the crossover network. Optionally, the input signals can be equalized to flatten the magnitude responses of the crossover network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixed-telephony terminal comprising a telephone directory and means for transmitting and receiving SMS messages. The terminal comprises: means for converting telephone directory data into SMS messages in order to transmit them to a server, and/or means for receiving SMS messages from the server, representing directory data, and means for converting these received SMS messages into directory entries. In one embodiment, the terminal comprises means for requesting automatic synchronization or manually-controlled synchronization of the directory.

Abstract: A video apparatus comprises an input switching matrix, to which a video input is coupled, the video input comprising a terminal for a component video signal and a CVBS terminal and/or a S-VHS terminal, a synchronization signal detector and a color decoder coupled to the input switching matrix, an output switching matrix coupled to the input switching matrix and to the color decoder, and a microcontroller coupled to the input switching matrix and to the synchronization signal detector for controlling the input switching matrix. The detection of the component video signal is made automatic by means of the microcontroller, the synchronization signal detector and the color decoder.

Abstract: A television set includes a processor, memory, a number of video inputs and corresponding cable detectors for detecting the presence of a device coupled to a video input. The processor executes a set-up program stored in the memory. In particular, when the processor detects the presence of a device coupled to a particular video input, via one of the cable detectors, the processor, in response thereto, prompts a user to select one of a number of device labels to associate with the detected device.

Abstract: A method for performing a selectable channel search with an apparatus such as a television signal receiver provides users with flexible search options so that they may select only those search options they desire, and thereby save considerable time when performing a channel search. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for enabling a channel search using a television signal receiver includes steps of enabling display of an on-screen menu, and enabling a user to select a plurality of options for the channel search responsive to the on-screen menu. The plurality of options includes a first option to search at least one of a plurality of inputs to the television signal receiver and a second option to search at least one of a plurality of types of channels.

Abstract: A system and method for generating forensically marking image data from source material. A generated forensic mark will vary from copy to copy by using a selected forensic marking technique and forensic marking parameters that change from copy to copy of the source image data.

Abstract: The invention concerns cathode ray tubes with substantially planar front surface, whereof the colour selecting mask is produced by swaging. The mask comprises an active surface enclosed by a solid peripheral edge terminated by a skirt substantially perpendicular to the active surface. In order to rigidify the active surface in a direction parallel to the main axis, the mean radius of curvature of said active surface is greater than the mean radius of curvature of the peripheral edge.

Abstract: A system for correcting a color characteristic of an image displayed in response to a video signal involves processing the video signal for predicting a variation in a physical characteristic of a display device displaying the image, processing the video signal for determining a change in the color characteristic occurring in response to the variation in the physical characteristic, and modifying the video signal for compensating for the change in the color characteristic.

Abstract: A system for computer-based testing for producing and delivering a test to an examinee includes a test driver, a storage device that stores the test definition language as a plurality of segments, and a validation expansion module that validates the plurality of segments of the test definition language and writes the at least one of the plurality of segments directly to the storage device. A method of computer-based testing includes instantiating a validation expansion module during a test production cycle and validating the plurality of segments from the source file. The method also includes instantiating the validation expansion module and loading the plurality of segments of the test definition language into the validation expansion module during a test delivery cycle.

Abstract: A Video-on-Demand Server architecture transmits a plurality of pre-coded programs having different bit rates across a fixed bandwidth channel. For each program, a generator generates a plurality of different bit rate representations for each program. Each generator also provides control information at each of a plurality of successive time windows T for each bit rate representation. The control information provides a bit rate and a quality measure during each time window T. The control information enables a statistical multiplexer to select a bit rate representation for each program during each time window T to maximize the quality of the selected representations while not exceeding the total available channel capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of appliances in a home network, in which each appliance in the network has an associated descriptor comprising information for controlling the appliance. A control device for controlling the plurality of appliances includes a microprocessor for loading and processing descriptors associated with the appliances and a graphics generator for generating a display of markup language pages or page parts based on the descriptor information. The control device uses descriptors of a plurality of appliances to aggregate appliance control functions of the same type for a plurality of appliances in order to display aggregated functions on a single page.

Abstract: The power voltage supply for a power amplifier is switched between an operational full power mode and a reduced power mode by the switching of a dual state impedance device connected in series between the power amplifier and the power supply. A control circuit detects the level of a signal to be amplified by that amplifier and switches the impedance states thus reducing the power output capability of the power amplifier and placing the power amplifier into a reduced power mode. In one embodiment, the signal is produced by spectrally filtering with a low pass filter, with the cross-over frequency being adjustable. Additionally, the gain of the amplifier can be reduced for high level signals.