Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a mobile communication device that automatically receives signals indicating predetermined events, and automatically takes actions in response to the events. The actions include executing one or more software applications on the device. The applications include native applications and downloaded applications that are individually configured.

Abstract: A system and method for automated management of the behavior of a wireless communication device is disclosed herein. Behavior preference settings are configured and provided to a wireless network and the wireless communication device. The wireless network provides current conditions or events to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device enforces the preference settings based on current conditions and counters for incoming and outgoing communications to a third party.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the security or accessibility of a wireless communication device is disclosed herein. Security preference settings are configured for the wireless communication device. Depending on the security preference settings, the user interface(s) of the wireless communication device may be appropriately changed to provide the set level of device security or accessibility.

Abstract: A communications apparatus establishes a communications session with a remote location and receives a request to place the communications session into monitored suspension. While in monitored suspension, the apparatus maintains the communications session, periodically communicates a prompt to the remote location, and monitors the session to detect an appropriate response from the remote location. When an appropriate response is received from the remote location, the apparatus signals the user and allows the communications session to proceed with normal processing.

Abstract: A blade sharpening method and apparatus is characterized by sharpening the blade in a single station grinding assembly. The grinding assembly includes two opposed abrading wheels which interlock to form a nip for sharpening the blade. The wheels each include a first coarse portion for roughing an edge of the blade, a second fine portion for finishing the hone facet, and a third coarse portion for forming other facets adjacent to the hone facet. The wheels are specially contoured and have parallel axes tilted relative to the direction of travel of the blade. The striations formed on the facets of the blade by the abrading wheels extend at the same angle in both facets.

Abstract: An answer wizard drop-down menu for providing users quick and efficient access to help utilities, including help files and wizards provided by a software application, is provided. An answer wizard drop-down edit control and interface is located in a conspicuous, but non-obstructive location on a software application graphical interface. An edit control allows a user to enter a question regarding some desired functionality of the application. In response to the user's question, the user is presented with a list of potential answers to the question in a drop-down menu. If the user finds an acceptable answer to her question in the list of potential answers, the user selects the acceptable answer, and an appropriate help file application is launched to provide the user assistance with the functionality about which the user has questions. Each question so asked by the user is saved in a list of most recently used items.

Abstract: A device for tuning the propagation of electromagnetic energy. The device includes a first and a second periodic dielectric structure. One of the periodic dielectric structures is movable with respect to the other periodic dielectric structure to modify a composite propagating wave characteristic of the device.

Abstract: A blade sharpening method and apparatus is characterized by sharpening the blade in a single station grinding assembly. The grinding assembly includes two opposed abrading wheels which interlock to form a nip for sharpening the blade. The wheels each include a first coarse portion for roughing an edge of the blade, a second fine portion for finishing the hone facet, and a third coarse portion for forming other facets adjacent to the hone facet. The wheels are specially contoured and have parallel axes tilted relative to the direction of travel of the blade. The striations formed on the facets of the blade by the abrading wheels extend at the same angle in both facets.

Abstract: An event notification system for propagating object-change information. The notification system supports change notification without queues in an object-based application or operating system and can be scaled to propagate large numbers of events among a large plurality of objects. The event notification system interconnects a plurality of event source and event receiver objects. Any object, such as a command object, may operate as either an event receiver object, an event source object or both. A notification object is created by a source object to transport, from a source to a receiver, descriptive information about a change, which includes a particular receiver object method and a pointer to the source object that sent the notification. A receiver object must register with a connection object its “interest” in receiving notification of changes; specifying both the event type and the particular source object of interest.

Abstract: A device for tuning the propagation of electromagnetic energy. The device includes a first and a second periodic dielectric structure. One of the periodic dielectric structures is movable with respect to the other periodic dielectric structure to modify a composite propagating wave characteristic of the device.

Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.

Abstract: A blade sharpening method and apparatus is characterized by sharpening the blade in a single station grinding assembly. The grinding assembly includes two opposed abrading wheels which interlock to form a nip for sharpening the blade. The wheels each include a first coarse portion for roughing an edge of the blade, a second fine portion for finishing the hone facet, and a third coarse portion for forming other facets adjacent to the hone facet. The wheels are specially contoured and have parallel axes tilted relative to the direction of travel of the blade. The striations formed on the facets of the blade by the abrading wheels extend at the same angle in both facets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a menu based system containing size and location information is disclosed. Each menu contains a list of menu items containing a command and variables that reflect the command's current appearance. This includes status information determinative of the menu item's state (enabled/disabled), its name, its associated graphic, and whether its appearance is currently valid. Each of these were initialized when the menu item was created. The invention creates a menu item from a command, where a menu item is another object data structure containing a command sequence. The menu item is added to a list of menu items, and initialized as an invalid appearance. Later when the menu item is selected from a pull down menu, the appearance state is recomputed based on the system state.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for allowing users to attach functionality to one or more panels in a panel sequence. The panel sequence may be presented to the user, for example, as a sequence of HTML pages that walk the user through the choices associated with a particular task. The functionality attached to the panel by the user may allow users to set on the panel, or access from the panel, user-specific information that indicates how the user should respond to the panel. Techniques are described for attaching the functionality in a conditional manner, so that the functionality is only attached o the panel when the panel is displayed in a certain context. Context information is passed from each panel in the panel sequence to the next to facilitate the determination as to whether the user-specified functionality should be displayed.

Abstract: Mechanisms for network device information collection and change detection are disclosed. A data Collection Engine is coupled to a database and a network having comprising devices such as switches and routers. The Collection Engine receives a network device name and queries the network to locate the named device. Based upon a device type identifier, the Collection Engine identifies the class of the device and a group of information sets that describe information needed from the device. The Collection Engine requests information described by the information sets and stores it in the database. A change detection mechanism compares the received information to a prior version in the database, and develops metadata describing changes in the versions. Accordingly, only a subset of all the information that a device can deliver is received and stored, based on the needs of an application using the mechanisms.

Abstract: A highly manoeuvrable toboggan (50) comprises a pair of ski members (60) connected only by a flexible and resilient plastic seat (70). The seat (70) is sufficiently flexible to enable the ski members (60) to be moved independently, relative to one another. In use, a rider sits on the seat (70) and is able to manoeuvre the toboggan (50) by application of force to the ski members (60) using his legs and hands and/or by shifting his weight on the seat (70). Manoeuvres similar to those executed in downhill skiing may be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a dialog processing system is disclosed. Dialogs include variables that reflect the system's current state. This includes status information determinative of a command's state (enabled/disabled), its name, its associated graphic, and whether its appearance is currently valid. The invention creates a dialog including an object's data structure containing a command sequence. The command is added to a list of commands, and a dialog box is presented to the user. Later when the dialog is processed, the appearance state is recomputed based on the system state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating an application to conform to unique requirements of a specific locale. The update involves language translation, graphic substitution, and interface element reorientation. For example, the text used in labels, titles, and messages depends upon the selected language. Its direction and orientation may affect the placement and orientation of a menu, menubar, title, scrollbar, or toolbar. Similarly, the selection of icons and other graphical symbols may be culturally dependent. Once localized, user interface elements are stored in a disk dictionary. A disk dictionary is an object that, when given a key, returns a value after reading it in from disk. This disk dictionary is managed by an object called an archive. An archive is responsible for putting together the individual user interface elements that make up a particular presentation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an innovative object oriented system. The sequence of events corresponding to a user pressing, moving, and releasing the mouse is called the input syntax. Certain sequences of events are used to indicate particular actions, called semantic operations. This invention discloses the method and apparatus for translating input syntax into semantic operations for an object that supports Select, Peek, Move, AutoScroll, and Drag/Drop (Copy).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a command system is disclosed. Commands include variables that reflect the command's current appearance. This includes status information determinative of the command's state (enabled/disabled), its name, its associated graphic, and whether its appearance is currently valid. Each of these were initialized when the command was created. The invention creates a command including an object's data structure containing a command sequence. The command is added to a list of commands, and initialized as an invalid appearance. Later when the command is selected, the appearance state is recomputed based on the system state.