Abstract: A scalable messaging system for data transmission between the network devices, such as set top boxes, and a central system server, such as a server which maintains a database of event logs for the network. Individual routers at the data center broadcast an announcement packet indicating that they are available to accept messages from the network devices. The announcement message contains at least an identification of the router and the manner in which messages may be sent to it, e.g., one or more connection socket numbers and/or network addresses. The frequency at which availability messages are sent by the routers is preferably dependent upon the relatively loading of the individual router. Thus, the more heavily loaded a particular router becomes, the less often it will broadcast an availability message; the more lightly loaded it becomes, the more often such messages are broadcast.

Abstract: A scalable messaging system for data transmission between the network devices, such as set top boxes, and a central system server, such as a server which maintains a database of event logs for the network. Individual routers at the data center broadcast an announcement packet indicating that they are available to accept messages from the network devices. The announcement message contains at least an identification of the router and the manner in which messages may be sent to it, e.g., one or more connection socket numbers and/or network addresses. The frequency at which availability messages are sent by the routers is preferably dependent upon the relatively loading of the individual router. Thus, the more heavily loaded a particular router becomes, the less often it will broadcast an availability message; the more lightly loaded it becomes, the more often such messages are broadcast.

Abstract: This is a system and method for managing data transmission to the set top boxes from a central system server, such as a promotion server which distributes promotion content. A precasting technique is used for transmitting promotion content files prior to promotion activation which takes into account the device attributes of the destination end node devices. More specifically, promotion content files are associated with an expected display or activation start time at the end node devices, such as a cable set top box. A package transmission lead time is calculated which depends upon the memory capacity of a specific group of end node devices, called a “transmission group,” to which the promotion file is to be sent. The package transmission lead time is then taken into account to determine exactly when to send the promotion content. The promotion content is then sent at the designated time via broadcast or multicast transmissions.

Abstract: A system for targeting promotions to one or more network device, such as set top boxes. The system includes a program manager server or scheduler which generates a promotion schedule for the display of promotions on individual network devices. The scheduler creates the schedule by matching a viewership profile of the network device with membership criteria describing a particular demographic, viewership history, or geographic location, for example. The system also includes a promotion agent which receives the schedule from the scheduler, and then processes the schedule information. The promotion agent may transmit the processed schedule information to a bulk manager agent which may receive the promotions from a bulk manager server. The bulk manager server may actually store the promotions prior to downloading them to the bulk manager agent, or may retrieve the promotions from a database.

Abstract: A system for reporting counted impressions in a network device. The system includes a data warehouse which collects event data pertaining to viewership history on the network device. Through a user interface, such as a web browser, a user can retrieve information about the counted impressions of the network device which displayed specific promotions. The event data may pertain, for example, to channel change events, channel surfing behavior of the viewer, time events, connections to peripherals, network locations of the network device, viewing behavior of the viewer, and subsequent event data after a promotion was displayed. A trigger may be embedded in the promotion such that when the promotion is displayed an impression is counted.

Abstract: A multimedia network involves sending an initial schedule message prior to broadcast or multicast of a content file. The content file could be a promotion or other file that must be efficiently sent to a large number of end node devices, such as television set top boxes. The schedule message contains at least a bulk transfer end time for the content file so that the end node devices are aware of when the later bulk data transmission of the content file should be completed. The schedule message may contain other parameters such as promotion identification, message start time, duration, frequency, multicast address and port number. The bulk message containing the promotion is then sent using an efficient bulk transfer messaging technique, such as a multicast Universal Data Protocol (UDP) message which does not require acknowledgment of individual packets or individual addresses of the end node devices to be maintained.

Abstract: Idle Video-On-Demand (VOD) channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the VOD channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment.

Abstract: An omni-directional wireless infrared transceiver and system for communicating electronic data. Each transceiver comprises a receiving lens capable of detecting infrared signals of low power and low incident angle, an LED transmitting element or array, signal peak detection circuitry with dynamic threshold adjustment, signal processing circuitry, and means for electronically connecting the transceiver with a device. The transceivers can communicate without requiring a line-of-sight or obstacle-free communication path. The system is ideally suited for infrared connections in a local environment between portable computers and peripherals such as modems, printers, and keyboards. The transceivers may be embodied with removable connectors or may be integrated permanently within a device. Further, an operator may configure the system for directional data communication in situations where omni-directional communication is undesirable.

Abstract: A multi-modally grippable housing construction of improved ergonomic efficiency is disclosed, the construction including a head and a generally elongated handle assembly having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of the head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index fingers of an operator, the head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from the front end and being sized and shaped for facilitation of the cupping and holding of the head by an operator. Gripping of the housing about the neck, according to one preferred manner of gripping the housing, or cupping of the head according to another mode of grasping the housing construction, permits the operator, in the case of a symbology reader or imager, to address with ergonomic efficiency symbologies positioned, respectively, in vertical or horizontal orientation with respect to the operator.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for at least partially freezing a food product which is at least partly liquid in a batch mode is disclosed including a double screw extruder (12) including first and second, substantially intermeshing, self-wiping screws (14, 16) rotatably received in a figure 8-shaped barrel (30) with minimal clearance. In the preferred form, the freezing block (20) includes multiple refrigerant channels (36) spaced closely and in the most preferred form spaced approximately 0.32 centimeters from the barrel (30) and from each other. Thus, the refrigeration system can change the barrel surface temperature rapidly and specifically in approximately one second when the food product is introduced into the barrel (30). A ratio between the radius of the flight (40) at the crest (42) to the radius at the root (38) of the screws (14, 16) is in the order of 1.04 to reduce the total amount of product in the barrel (30) at any given time and decreasing the product residence time in the extruder (12).

Abstract: A robot arm end effector in the form of a multi-fingered hand having a conformable grasp. Each articulating finger includes multiple phalanges sequentially interconnected by pivot points such that each finger articulates in one plane. One filament pair, which controls finger articulation within the plane, is routed through a respective finger by a system of pulleys and is controlled by a DC motor. Driving the associated motor in a first direction causes a respective finger to articulate in a first direction within the plane. Reversing the motor direction causes the respective finger to articulate in a second direction within the plane. Individual phalanges articulate independently of the motion of adjacent phalanges. A second filament pair may be employed to pivot a respective finger about a base axis resulting in out of plane motion of the finger.