Abstract: An example portable device disclosed herein includes means for halting execution of media metering software in response to determining the portable device is being used for a native purpose, the media metering software having been downloaded to the portable device. The example portable device also includes means, responsive to determining that the portable device is not being used for a native purpose, for executing the media metering software to monitor a media signal output by a media presentation device. The example portable device further includes means for determining whether an amount of available power is sufficient to continue execution of the media metering software, and means, responsive to determining that the amount of available power is insufficient, for causing execution of the media metering software to sleep for a first interval of time.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a user receiving device includes a first user device that receives first user settings and stores the first user settings therein. The first user device communicates first user settings to a second user receiving device. The second user receiving device operates with the first user settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a set of custom keywords based on a media asset. The systems and methods may receive a media asset viewed by a user, receive a set of base keywords, and determine a character in the media asset. Further, the systems and methods may determine a set of custom keywords based on dialog in the media asset corresponding to the character and determine for a custom keyword, from the set of custom keywords, an equivalent base keyword from the set of base keywords. The systems and methods may determine a response to a received user request, wherein the response includes the base keyword from the set of base keywords, and generate a modified response to the user request based on the response to the user request, wherein the modified response replaces the base keyword with the custom keyword.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transceiving media content through the Internet. A media transmitting method according to one embodiment of the present invention transmits media content through the Internet, and comprises the steps of: configuring the media content with a plurality of representations; dividing each of the plurality of representations into a plurality of segments; dividing each of the plurality of segments into a plurality of sub-segments; generating a plurality of time reference values corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-segments; and transmitting any one of the representations, wherein the representation being transmitted comprises the plurality of time reference values. According to the one embodiment of the present invention, media content can be seamlessly played back due to switching a bit stream when the state of a network changes.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for streaming video from a server to a client are described. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: receiving at the server a request for video content from the client; in response to the request, determining the hardware/software configuration of the client; generating and/or selecting a temporary decoder based on the hardware/software configuration of the client; transmitting the temporary decoder to the client, the client installing the temporary decoder; encoding and streaming the requested video content from the server to the client, the video content being encoded based on the capabilities of the temporary decoder, the video content being decoded by the temporary decoder and rendered on the client; detecting that the client has ended the session with the server; and in response to detecting that the client has ended the session, temporarily disabling and/or removing the temporary decoder from the client.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a recording request from a user. The method also includes determining a recording conflict based on the recording request, wherein the recording conflict includes a plurality of programs. The method additionally includes generating a plurality of options that resolve the recording conflict, wherein the plurality of options are based on determining available re-broadcasts of the plurality of programs. The method further includes presenting the plurality of options to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading a bar code on an object includes a light diffusing cavity and a deflector. The deflector deflects and diffuses light from a light source which may be part of a bar code reader. Preferably the deflector deflects substantially all of the light from the reader, so that none of the light from the light source directly illuminates the bar code. Inner side wall surfaces of the light diffusing cavity redirect the deflected light to indirectly illuminate the bar code. Despite deflecting light from the light source, the deflector allows unhindered passage of light emanating from the bar code to a light detection system which may be part of the bar code reader.

Abstract: An enhanced scanner is equipped with a novel interfacing mechanism for communicating directly with a data communications network. This eliminates the requirement of using intelligent network interface devices to access data generated by any of a plurality of bar code scanners coupled to a communications network. This novel interfacing mechanism may include a program stored on a memory device within the scanner and executed by a scanner processing mechanism. The scanner processing mechanism is adapted to perform two functions—bar code scanning and network communications—thereby reducing the cost and complexity of a communications network that includes one or more bar code scanners coupled to a host device through the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contacting device for a chip card, wherein the term chip card also includes so-called IC cards or a SIM (subscriber identity module). In any case, the chip card comprises a chip (a contact image) with corresponding contact surfaces which, with the card being inserted, are contacted in the contacting device by corresponding contacts of the contacting device.

Abstract: An improved optical system for scanning optical codes is disclosed. A laser beam produced thereby is a diverging, nearly diffraction free beam and may be used to produce an elongated scanning spot. An aperture may be employed such that variation in size of the aperture in one orthogonal dimension varies the size of the scanning spot in another orthogonal dimension.

Abstract: Information pertaining to characteristics of metal welding electrode wire and which characteristics are useful in connection with adjusting welding parameters in an arc welding process and/or selecting between operating modes in a welding system are encoded on welding wire and/or on other memory components such as bar code labels and tags, RFID cards and tags, IC cards, and Touch Memory buttons, and the memory device is scanned prior to and/or at the point of use of the welding wire for enabling tracking of product distribution, manual and/or automatic selection of an operating mode for the welding system, manual and/or automatic adjustment of welding parameters in a given operating mode, consumables inventory, and the like.

Abstract: A card reader connector includes a main body (10) and an extension bracket (50) removably attached to the main body. The main body includes an insulative housing (12) and metal contacts (22). A memory card (90) is inserted into slide grooves (24) of the housing, connected to the metal contacts, and supported by the housing. When the extension bracket is attached to the main body, it guides the card into the slide grooves and facilitates support of the inserted card. In one use, the main body without the extension bracket is mounted to a circuit board(72)of an electronic device (70). Part of an inserted card remains exposed outside of the device. In an alternative use, the main body 10 with the extension bracket attached thereto is mounted to a circuit board (82) of an electronic device (80). An inserted card is thus hidden within the device.

Abstract: Information pertaining to characteristics of metal welding electrode wire and which characteristics are useful in connection with adjusting welding parameters in an arc welding process and/or selecting between operating modes in a welding system are encoded on welding wire and/or on other memory components such as bar code labels and tags, RFID cards and tags, IC cards, and Touch Memory buttons, and the memory device is scanned prior to and/or at the point of use of the welding wire for enabling tracking of product distribution, manual and/or automatic selection of an operating mode for the welding system, manual and/or automatic adjustment of welding parameters in a given operating mode, consumables inventory, and the like.

Abstract: A recognition system for identification-card singularity comprises an identification card, a detail communication device attached to a detail computer, and a master communication device attached to a master computer. If the identification card is set in the detail communication device, a pulse is generated at the detail communication device at regular intervals. When the pulse is applied to the identification card, an individual SAW is excited therein. The individual SAW is converted into an individual double-coded digital-signal at the detail communication device and delivered into a digital network. When the individual double-coded digital-signal is received by the master communication device, the signal decoding is achieved, so that the identification-card singularity is recognized by the master communication device.

Abstract: A method of developing a configuration for encoding a data glyph block such that the data capacity of the data glyph block is maximized or made optimal. The method of forming an encoded configuration for a data glyph block containing one or more occlusions includes performing one or more of cut off of one or more occlusions, enlargement of one or more occlusions and merger of two or more occlusions, and encoding the cut off, enlarged or merged occlusions with synchronization lines, and encoding any remaining occlusions by error correction, thereby forming the encoded configuration. A method of embedding a data glyph block containing occlusions into an image by halftone rendering of glyph marks, again preferably with the data glyph block having maximal or optimal data capacity, is also set forth.

Abstract: A smart card reader (100) has a housing (2) with contact elements (3) fixed in the housing, which are resiliently biased into a space into which the smart card is slid. When released, the contacts (3) move into the space to make electrical contact with areas on the smart card now inserted. The contacts are held out of the space by a pivot member (4) which is actuated by a cover (5) which is slidably mounted in the housing. The cover, pushed inward by the inserted card, moves the pivot member. Thus there is no contact until the card is in position.

Abstract: A multifunctional scanner having a first processor, an image scanner, a laser scanner, and a host interface port is provided. The image scanner scans documents to detect the presence of images imprinted thereon, generates image data based on the detected images, generates mark-sense row/column data based on downloaded data masks, and forwards the image data to the first processor. The laser scanner scans documents to detect the presence of bar-code symbols imprinted thereon, decodes the bar code symbols, generates bar code information based on the decoded bar code symbols, and forwards the bar code information to the first processor. The host interface port electrically couples the first processor to an external host processor. The first processor receives the image data from the image scanner, converts the image data into a host datastream, and forwards the host datastream to the external host processor via the host interface port.

Abstract: A system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a “smart card”, product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacent to an product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product station then writes an electronic coupon onto the card. The customer thus shops throughout the store collecting electronic coupons for products of interest. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC data matches data stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon. Periodically, the electronic coupon data is transferred to a remote clearing house.