Abstract: A method and apparatus for evolving a shared to-do list into a business process is disclosed. A business process includes one or more business steps and zero or more action rules related to the business steps. Members of a workgroup participate in the business process and are able to view, modify, add and delete business steps and action rules as needed. An action rule is comprised of one or more business actions and one or more events that trigger the actions to be executed. A computer program keeps track of the business steps, interprets the set of rules, and updates states of the business process, notifies the members and validates and accepts modifications by the members to the action rules of a business steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evolving a shared to-do list into a business process is disclosed. A business process includes one or more business steps and zero or more action rules related to the business steps. Members of a workgroup participate in the business process and are able to view, modify, add and delete business steps and action rules as needed. An action rule is comprised of one or more business actions and one or more events that trigger the actions to be executed. A computer program keeps track of the business steps, interprets the set of rules, and updates states of the business process, notifies the members and validates and accepts modifications by the members to the action rules of a business steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evolving a shared to-do list into a business process is disclosed. A business process includes one or more business steps and zeroor more action rules related to the business steps. Members of a workgroup participate in the business process and are able to view, modify, add and delete business steps and action rules as needed. An action rule is comprised of one or more business actions and one or more events that trigger the actions to be executed. A computer program keeps track of the business steps, interprets the set of rules, and updates states of the business process, notifies the members and validates and accepts modifications by the members to the action rules of a business steps.

Abstract: Smart cards systems that are utilized in biometric authentication are slow in processing and have the cards themselves have the added disadvantage of being misplaced or lost. Moreover, storing biometric data (on a database) over a network poses security issues that in extreme instances can be compromised. Significant security can be achieved if the biometric templates are stored locally in a portable device. A user can use the portable device to either transmit wirelessly the stored biometric for authentication purposes, or a user can locally measure a biometric using the portable device and match it against a biometric which is also stored locally (in the portable device).

Abstract: A digital pen that has a writing tip includes an ultrasonic (US) transducer on a pen body that generates frames of US pulses toward a receiver base in response to an infrared (IR) synchronizing signal from the base. The first pulse of a frame is adjusted by a modulo of the US period &tgr; when the time of arrival (TOA) of the first pulse varies from an expected TOA by more than one-half &tgr;. The TOAs of successive ith pulses in the frame, which are one wavelength apart from each other, are adjusted forward in time by subtracting from each pulse TOA (i−1)&tgr;, and then several of the adjusted pulse TOAs in a single frame are averaged together to determine a frame TOA. The frame TOAs from plural receivers on the base are then triangulated to determine a pen position for that frame, with the pen positions being input to a handwriting recognition module.

Abstract: A computer input device including a keyboard with built in pointing device, and left- and right-pointer control buttons operable by the thumbs includes additional left- and right-pointer control buttons located to each side for easy operation by the outer edge of the hands.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer for 6 degrees-of-freedom input and output includes a control member coupled to a reference member by pairs of linear transducers. One end of each pair is connected to 3 spaced apart points of the control member, while the other end of each transducer is coupled to 3 spaced apart points of the reference member in a permutation of the first set of connections. The transducer coupling permutation causes each transducer output signal to include components of displacement and rotation such that 6 linear transducers provide a complete definition of the control member orientation in 3-D space. In a specific embodiment each linear transducer includes a linear actuator for inserting force along each connection between the two members. The insertion of force permits the introduction of tactile feel.

Abstract: A digital pen that has an ink writing tip includes a laser on a pen body that directs light toward paper across which the writing tip is stroked. A diffraction grating reflects a reference beam and passes a scattered beam from the substrate toward translation detectors, which consequently receive interference patterns of light. A processor receives the signals from the detectors, generates position signals, and stores the signals. Also, a bar code detector receives a bar code beam from the substrate, and a three dimensional force sensor outputs a signal representative of multidimensional forces applied to the pen. Subsequently, the signals are uploaded to a host processor which combines them to produce rotation-corrected relative positions (if no bar coded paper is used) or rotation-corrected absolute positions (if bar coded paper is used) that can be used to render alpha-numeric characters or graphical representations.

Abstract: A structure is provided for a user-manipulable input device, such as an in-keyboard, joystick-type device, for allowing a user to provide input to a computer graphical user interface (GUI). The structure includes a user-manipulable, articulating member, and a plurality of stationary, electrically conductive sensors. The articulating member also has an electrically conductive member. The physical disposition of the articulating member and the sensors provides narrow gaps, across which are measurable capacitances. As the user manipulates the articulating member, the capacitances change in value. Circuitry produces signals related to the capacitances, and the signals are processed, according to a transfer function, to generate GUI input signals. The sensors are preferably sensing electrodes, incorporated into a circuit board. The articulating member is preferably a cone-shaped member, having a conductive surface which faces the sensors.

Abstract: A structure is provided for a user-manipulable input device, such as an in-keyboard, joystick-type device, for allowing a user to provide input to a computer graphical user interface (GUI). The structure includes a user-manipulable, articulating member, and a plurality of stationary, electrically conductive sensors. The articulating member also has an electrically conductive member. The physical disposition of the articulating member and the sensors provides narrow gaps, across which are measurable capacitances. As the user manipulates the articulating member, the capacitances change in value. Circuitry produces signals related to the capacitances, and the signals are processed, according to a transfer function, to generate GUI input signals. The sensors are preferably sensing electrodes, incorporated into a circuit board. The articulating member is preferably a cone-shaped member, having a conductive surface which faces the sensors.

Abstract: A computer pointing device on a single, small printed wiring board includes all electronics necessary for providing a standard mouse-type output signal. The pointing device uses a balanced bridge strain gauge isometric sensor having a manipulation lever for user input. The computer pointing device includes a receiving space for accepting one of a large-size strain gauge sensor and a small-size strain gauge sensor, depending upon the specific application. The computer pointing device includes internal power regulation and has input for up to two momentary switches and two of the pointing devices can be daisy chained with a single, composite output signal. The small-size strain gauge sensor permits use of the pointing device in ultra thin keyboard applications.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system includes a keyboard, a pointing device embedded in the keyboard, operational buttons, including a button for selecting an operating mode for the pointing device. The mode selection button is located adjacent left- and right-buttons. In one embodiment, an alternative pointing device operating mode is available when the mode button is held depressed. In another embodiment, a depress-release sequence permits the user to sequence through a menu of predetermined pointing device operating modes. The placement of the mode button with respect to the left- and right-buttons facilitates improved performance of certain eye-hand coordination tasks.

Abstract: A structure is provided for a user-manipulable input device, such as an in-keyboard, joystick-type device, for allowing a user to provide input to a computer graphical user interface (GUI). The structure includes a user-manipulable, articulating member, and a plurality of stationary, electrically conductive sensors. The articulating member also has an electrically conductive member. The physical disposition of the articulating member and the sensors provides narrow gaps, across which are measurable capacitances. As the user manipulates the articulating member, the capacitances change in value. Circuitry produces signals related to the capacitances, and the signals are processed, according to a transfer function, to generate GU I input signals. The sensors are preferably sensing electrodes, incorporated into a circuit board. The articulating member is preferably a cone-shaped member, having a conductive surface which faces the sensors.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter utilizing pulse width modulation and ramp and count techniques. A microcontroller generates the pulse width modulated digital signal which is converted into a floating triangle. When the floating triangle signal is equal to the analog, input signal, a comparator generates and output which is sensed by the microcontroller. During an initialization process, the microcontroller uses information with respect to the timing of the comparator output to adjust the duty cycle so that the triangle wave remains within maximum and minimum levels above and below the analog, output signal. Calculation of the voltage, of the input signal is made as a function of the timing of the comparator outputs on successive upward ramps of the floating triangle signal, and of the slope of the upward ramp signal. As a result, the analog-to-digital converter utilizes the same process for low and high resolution measurements, thereby significantly decreasing its cost and increasing its speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ambient light electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells containing a suspension of charged pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell comprises a light-transmissive front window, a nonobstructing collecting electrode and counter electrode disposed in the cell, and a panel having a reflective or absorbing surface.

Abstract: A user-manipulable in-keyboard pointing device is provided, for use in portable electronic apparatus such as laptop computers, for allowing the user to move a symbol, such as a cursor, around a GUI display. For small laptops whose displays close over their keyboards, such as in clamshell fashion, the device protects the display surface from smearing or abrasion from physical contact with the user-manipulable device. The device includes a post, rigidly coupled to motion sensors for producing motion signals, responsive to user manipulation, the post having a head-and-shoulder contour. The device further includes a resilient fingertip grip cap that fits over the head of the post. The grip cap has a shape which provides two cooperative arrangements for fitting onto the post. The first configuration, which is for normal use, has the cap projecting above the post by a first height.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ambient light electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells containing a suspension of charged pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell comprises a light-transmissive front window, a nonobstructing collecting electrode and counter electrode disposed in the cell, and a panel having a reflective or absorbing surface.