Abstract: Controlling access to a file includes selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, a file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node. The first network node sends index information associated with the selected file to the second network node. The second network node subsequently performs a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and requests a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for feature-based image correction. In an embodiment, an automatic feature detection unit detects a feature from an input image according to a correction specification and generates a feature description for the detected feature. A feature-based correction unit corrects the input image based on the feature description and the correction specification and generates a corrected image.

Abstract: A method for managing a frame of data includes capturing the frame of data from an image at a location. It is determined whether the image is a new image. The frame of data is displayed if the image is the new image.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a dedication from a first user via a network and applying the dedication to a play list of a second user.

Abstract: A method and system for a handheld recommendation assistant are presented. Product information of a product is read from a product tag by a handheld device. Consumer information is retrieved through a connection to a consumer information storage device. The consumer information is associated with the product and is retrieved based on the product information. Personal information of the user that is relevant to at least one aspect of the product is also acquired. Accordingly, a product recommendation is generated based on the personal information and the consumer information.

Abstract: A method for managing a frame of data includes capturing the frame of data from an image at a location. It is determined whether the image is a new image. The frame of data is displayed if the image is the new image.

Abstract: A method of electronic message exchange comprises reading other identifications of other personal data areas on other servers, reading from the other personal data areas other message identifications identifying other messages stored on the other personal data areas, and merging the other message identifications into a list of messages.

Abstract: A composite image may be produced from a plurality of images. Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a process for producing a composite image includes the following steps. A current image is selected from the plurality of images. The current image has an offset. A portion is extracted from the current image. The portion of the current image is then transferred onto a storage medium that stores the composite image, to a position corresponding to the offset.

Abstract: Providing input signals to a computer system having a display, the computer system being coupled to a video camera or other video source, is accomplished by capturing video data signals generated by the video camera, the video data signals representing a scene, rendering the scene on the display such that the scene is reflected and transparently visible on the display, analyzing the video data signals to detect an object in the scene, and generating an input signal for the computer system in response to the detected object.

Abstract: Displaying data private to a first user and data private to a second, collocated user on a single computer display is achieved by providing two pairs of stereoscopic glasses, one for each user, and modifying the glasses by swapping one of the lens from the first pair with one of the lens of the second pair so that the modified first pair of glasses allows viewing of the display in a first state and the modified second pair of glasses allows viewing of the display in a second state. The data private to the first user is displayed when the display is in the first state and the data private to the second user is displayed when the display is in the second state. The display is alternately switched between the first and second states many times per second, thereby providing private displays for each user. In one embodiment, the stereoscopic glasses are polarized glasses and the display includes a polarizing filter. In another embodiment, the stereoscopic glasses are shutter glasses.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed. The GUI includes a chronological display that displays graphical messages generated by a plurality of clients connected on a data distribution system.

Abstract: In a receiving node coupled to a number of transmitting nodes, a method of managing audio data received from the transmitting nodes is provided. In the method, a plurality of transmissions are received by the receiving node, with each transmission representing an utterance of audio information. Each transmission is transmitted from a different one of the transmitting nodes and includes a number of audio data packets. One of the utterances is designated as a ready-to-play utterance based on an order in which the utterances were received. The data packets of any utterance designated as the ready-to-play utterance are provided to a ready-to-play queue in real time. Data packets of the other utterances are held in separate queues and are not provided to the ready-to-play queue until after the packets of the ready-to-play utterance have been provided to the ready-to-play queue.

Abstract: A method of communicating among participants at participant stations 1-N, the participant stations 1-N connected to a data communications network. A number of audio packet queues 1-N are assigned to each participant station 1-N. A composite audio packet is sent over the data communications network to each of the stations. The composite audio packet is comprised of an audio packet and a sending station identification (ID), the sending station ID corresponding to the station at which the composite packet originates. When the talking is done, a composite end-of-utterance marker packet is sent over the data communications network to each station. The composite end-of-utterance marker packet is comprised of an end-of-utterance marker and the sending station ID. At a receiving station, the audio packet corresponding to the sending station at which the composite packet originates is placed in an audio packet queue allocated to that sending station.

Abstract: A system and method for deleting entries of a file system directory located on write-once or erase-slowly media utilizes a technique to collapse linked lists of nodes containing file system information to remove nodes of files that have been deleted or replaced. By collapsing the linked lists, access time to the file system does not increase by eliminating the need of traversing long lists of deleted or replaced nodes.

Abstract: A response metric which indicates the response of an audience member(s) is first generated and transferred to the system which is broadcasting the presentation. The broadcast system uses the response metric to generate a combined response metric. The broadcast system then generates an audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer(s) based on this combined response metric. In one embodiment, the broadcast system generates the combined response metric by combining response metrics received from multiple audience systems. In an alternate embodiment, each audience system generates the audio feedback locally. In one embodiment, the audience response being synthesized is applause.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information in a computer system. The computer system includes a processor coupled to a memory. The computer system includes a display coupled to the processor. The memory stores a plurality of stories. The method comprises the following steps. One step involves displaying a plurality of first levels of information corresponding to the plurality of stories in a first area of the display. Another step includes displaying a first level of information of a first story of the plurality of stories in a first subarea of the first area. Another step includes detecting a selector within the first subarea and displaying a second level of information of the first story within the first subarea responsive to the detecting the selector within the first subarea. Another step is a step of detecting a selection within the first subarea and displaying a third level of information of the first story within said first area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an interface within a pen based computer is disclosed. The user's handwriting style is entered into the computer and the scroll bars and cursor are configured to render command and data entry into the computer more convenient. For the left-hand user, a horizontal scroll bar is placed on the bottom of the display window, a vertical scroll bar is placed on the left side of the display window, and a cursor points up and to the right. For a right-handed user, a vertical scroll bar is placed on the right of the display, a horizontal scroll bar is placed at the bottom of the display window, and a cursor points up and to the left. For a left-hooked user, a horizontal scroll bar is placed at the top of the display window, a vertical scroll bar is placed on the left side of the display window, and a cursor points down and to the right.

Abstract: A digital data generation system including a programmable dominance RS flip-flop has a random access memory that stores a user selected sequence of test data. A pattern formatting logic circuit receives the test data and produces, for each data period, a coarsely timed candidate pulse for identifying the leading edge of an output data pulse and a coarsely timed candidate pulse for identifying the trailing edge of the output data pulse. A precision delay circuit finely tunes the timing of the candidate pulses. The finely tuned pulses are applied to an RS flip-flop circuit which can be programmed for set or reset dominance, thereby preventing an indeterminate state when a logic "1" is applied to both the set and the reset input. In the system, the flip-flop is programmed so that the most recent of the lead pulse or the trail pulse prevails.