Abstract: An immersive audio-visual system (and a method) for creating an enhanced interactive and immersive audio-visual environment is disclosed. The immersive audio-visual environment enables participants to enjoy true interactive, immersive audio-visual reality experience in a variety of applications. The immersive audio-visual system comprises an immersive video system, an immersive audio system and an immersive audio-visual production system. The video system creates immersive stereoscopic videos that mix live videos, computer generated graphic images and human interactions with the system. The immersive audio system creates immersive sounds with each sound resource positioned correct with respect to the position of an associated participant in a video scene. The immersive audio-video production system produces an enhanced immersive audio and videos based on the generated immersive stereoscopic videos and immersive sounds.

Abstract: An immersive audio-visual system (and a method) for creating an enhanced interactive and immersive audio-visual environment is disclosed. The immersive audio-visual environment enables participants to enjoy true interactive, immersive audio-visual reality experience in a variety of applications. The immersive audio-visual system comprises an immersive video system, an immersive audio system and an immersive audio-visual production system. The video system creates immersive stereoscopic videos that mix live videos, computer generated graphic images and human interactions with the system. The immersive audio system creates immersive sounds with each sound resource positioned correct with respect to the position of an associated participant in a video scene. The immersive audio-video production system produces an enhanced immersive audio and videos based on the generated immersive stereoscopic videos and immersive sounds.

Abstract: An EPG displays programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. A presentation engine allows viewers and/or programmers to select between varying programming worlds. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information.

Abstract: A system is provided wherein relatively low-end computers, such as portable, battery-powered computers ordinarily incapable of sophisticated Internet browsing functions may be used to browse the Internet. The enhanced computing ability for such portables is provided by a unique Internet server adapted for transposing data files to alternative, low-information-density form, preferably comprising simplified or single files suitable for rapid processing and display by connected portable and other low-end computers In embodiments wherein batter-powered field units are used, battery life is exhibited far beyond what would be expected for a battery-powered computer with computing power for browsing the Internet directly. In some embodiments of the invention adapted files are saved and identified for future use in communicating with specific devices over Internet connections.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to reduce safety risks associated with photovoltaic systems by providing a safety switch on a photovoltaic panel. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic panel includes: at least one photovoltaic cell; a connector to output energy from the photovoltaic panel; and a switch coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the connector. The switch is configured to disconnect the at least one photovoltaic cell from the connector during installation of the photovoltaic panel, and to connect the at least one photovoltaic cell with the connector after installation of the photovoltaic panel.

Abstract: A method and system include a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of voltage controllers. Each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a dedicated one of the plurality of voltage controllers to form unique pairs of solar cells and voltage controllers. Each of a plurality of panels contain a plurality of unique pairs.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to reduce safety risks associated with photovoltaic systems by providing a safety switch on a photovoltaic panel. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic panel includes: at least one photovoltaic cell; a connector to output energy from the photovoltaic panel; and a switch coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the connector. The switch is configured to disconnect the at least one photovoltaic cell from the connector during installation of the photovoltaic panel, and to connect the at least one photovoltaic cell with the connector after installation of the photovoltaic panel.

Abstract: A system for enabling Data Network Telephony (DNT) communication through a WEB page includes a Web server hosting an interactive WEB page and having an Internet port, a link in the WEB page adapted for launching a DNT-capable telephone module, and a DNT-capable telephone module associated with the link. In this system, upon selection of the link by a person accessing the WEB page over the Internet using a computer platform, an instance of the IP telephone module is downloaded to computer platform, and an IP call is launched to an IP address pre-stored and associated with the link. The DNT network may be the Internet. In a preferred embodiment the system first investigates the computer platform for hardware and software characteristics, and attaches the determined characteristics to the instance of the IP telephone module to be downloaded. The downloaded module then self-launches and configures, and then launches the associated call.

Abstract: An EPG displays programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. A presentation engine allows viewers and/or programmers to select between varying programming worlds. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of a uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: An apparatus including surface that includes a set of contact points, the surface to provide a medium to transmit data between a first device in contact with one or more contact points of the surface, and a second device in contact with one or more contact points of the surface. In one embodiment, the surface is to provide a medium to non-aerial wirelessly transmit data between the first and second device. In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second devices are exclusive of aerial wireless data transmission capabilities. In one embodiment, the surface is to provide a medium to transmit data between the device and a third device separated from the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is constructed of a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The virtual mesh is displayed perpendicularly, so that the hardware requirements of the set top box (STB) may be reduced. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can designate the types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently. In addition, the mesh is constructed of at least two planes. The first plane is flat, while all other planes are hyperbolic to correct for a viewer's line of sight.

Abstract: An information dissemination system comprises an Internet-connected server adapted for gathering information from plural sources, and sorting the information according to subscriber preferences. The sorted information is transmitted via the Internet to a subscriber's Internet Appliance (IA) as electronic documents, where the documents are downloaded to a connected playback device. The playback device may be disconnected from the PC, and the information electronic documents rendered as speech to a speaker in the playback device by a text-to-speech system. In a preferred embodiment annotation is added at the Internet-connected server to control speech characteristics, such as inflection, upon playback. In some embodiments updates may be made by radio with the playback device disconnected from the IA.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of an uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling users visiting a friend or family member to subscribe to a TV programming package that the friend or family member currently subscribes to. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a user-interface (UI) via the friend's set-top box to enable entry of visitor user identification information. This information, along with programming identification information is then sent to the service provider for the programming package. The service provider retrieves or generates information by which a UI may be generated to easily enable the visitor to setup and activate the programming package and sends it to the visitor's home set-top box. In another embodiment, programming package identification information is stored on a portable storage medium and carried to the visitor's home set-top box, where it is read to retrieve the identification information. The information is then sent to the service provider, which sends back appropriate data to generate the UI.

Abstract: A micro-testing lab for performing tests on biochemical and synthetic materials is provided. The testing lab includes a substrate forming the base material of the test lab; a poly silicon layer formed over the substrate; and a silicon dioxide layer deposited over the poly silicon layer, the poly silicon layer supporting a series of grooves, flow obstacles, and sensors for facilitating material flow, material separation, and material analysis. In a preferred embodiment, material is prepared in a preparation basin and introduced into a groove and propelled there through to at least one flow obstacle separating different molecules of the material to be tested and wherein upon separation, at least one sensor is utilized for performing analysis of the material. Also in preferred embodiments, the lab is field programmable and controllable through a control interface.

Abstract: A first set of channels is provided. The first set of channels is selected based on a predetermined criteria related to a viewing preference of a viewer. A first channel not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer is inserted into the first set of channels. In one embodiment, a system operator inserts the first channel into the first set of channels. In one embodiment, insertion is disallowed if a number of channels not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer that have been inserted into the first set of channels is greater than a predetermined number.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows a user to maintain the display of a video frame containing one or more interactive links while also maintaining access to the links. Thus allowing the user to select and examine any desired links at his own pace. For one embodiment, the display of a video frame is maintained by interrupting the refreshing of the frame buffer and the interactive link stream. Interrupting both the frame buffer refresh and the interactive link stream refresh results in the frame being “frozen” along with its associated links. For one embodiment, pressing a button on a control device effects the interruption of the frame buffer refresh and the interactive link refresh. The button may toggle to resume the video display. Alternatively, or additionally, the video display may resume if no action is taken in regard to the interactive links within a specified time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling users visiting a friend or family member to subscribe to a TV programming package that the friend or family member currently subscribes to. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a user-interface (UI) via the friend's set-top box to enable entry of visitor user identification information. This information, along with programming identification information is then sent to the service provider for the programming package. The service provider retrieves or generates information by which a UI may be generated to easily enable the visitor to setup and activate the programming package and sends it to the visitor's home set-top box. In another embodiment, programming package identification information is stored on a portable storage medium and carried to the visitor's home set-top box, where it is read to retrieve the identification information. The information is then sent to the service provider, which sends back appropriate data to generate the UI.