Abstract: An electromechanical Smart Lock is unlocked by the Smart Lock timely receiving a time sensitive access-code that solves a cryptographic hash algorithm (e.g., SHA-3 or the like) running on that Smart Lock. To enable this functionality, the Smart Lock knows at least three items of information: status of a countdown timer, its cryptographic hash algorithm, and its unique identifier. Further, the Smart Lock may have various means for receiving the time sensitive access-code, such as, but not limited to, a QR code camera, a barcode scanner, a camera, a microphone, a keypad, and/or optionally, an antenna(s)/radio(s) for RFID/NFC inputs to the Smart Lock. Server(s) may also know the same three items of information for each given Smart Lock; and the Server(s) may provide time sensitive access-codes to (authorized) user(s) and/or to their devices. Users may request, receive, and/or send the time sensitive access-codes via text messaging (or other means).

Abstract: A computer system, including a processor, an input device and an output device and that executes an operating system to support the execution, is used to execute first and second sets of application programs. The operating system includes a graphical user interface coupleable through an output driver to the output device and an input interface including an input queue coupleable through an input driver to the input device. 1An environment manager program is also executed by the processor. This program includes a third list of a second set of application programs and a fourth list of application program windows corresponding to the second list of application programs. Execution of the environment manager program provides for the inclusion of the environment manager program in the first and second sets and for selectively swapping with the operating system the first and third lists and the second and fourth lists to switch between the execution of the first and second sets of application programs.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product which allows both mixing (e.g., PC-based) and non-mixing (e.g., phone-based) clients to participate in a single audio conference. The system includes a hybrid multi-point control unit (i.e., conferencing server) that performs mixing for phone-based clients and multiplexing for PC-based clients. The method and computer program product determines which clients have the capability to mix multiple audio streams and which do not. For those clients capable of mixing, the server multiplexes the packets of audio data received from each client on the active speakers list into a multiplexed stream. For those clients that are not capable of mixing, the server mixes the packets of audio data received from each client on the active speakers list into one combined packet.

Abstract: A computer system, including a processor, an input device and an output device and that executes an operating system to support the execution, is used to execute first and second sets of application programs. The operating system includes a graphical user interface coupleable through an output driver to the output device and an input interface including an input queue coupleable through an input driver to the input device. 1An environment manager program is also executed by the processor. This program includes a third list of a second set of application programs and a fourth list of application program windows corresponding to the second list of application programs. Execution of the environment manager program provides for the inclusion of the environment manager program in the first and second sets and for selectively swapping with the operating system the first and third lists and the second and fourth lists to switch between the execution of the first and second sets of application programs.

Abstract: A computer system, including a processor, an input device and an output device and that executes an operating system to support the execution, is used to execute first and second sets of application programs. The operating system includes a graphical user interface coupleable through an output driver to the output device and an input interface including an input queue coupleable through an input driver to the input device. 1An environment manager program is also executed by the processor. This program includes a third list of a second set of application programs and a fourth list of application program windows corresponding to the second list of application programs. Execution of the environment manager program provides for the inclusion of the environment manager program in the first and second sets and for selectively swapping with the operating system the first and third lists and the second and fourth lists to switch between the execution of the first and second sets of application programs.

Abstract: A portable display tablet is operated in conjunction with a base computer system including a host processor for executing an application program with a predetermined operational function that generates predetermined graphics data and operates in response to predetermined input data. The computer system includes a wireless data transceiver coupled to the processor that is capable of communicating the predetermined graphics and input data between the computer and portable display tablet.

Abstract: A portable display tablet is operated in conjunction with a base computer system including a host processor for executing an application program with an operational function that generates graphics data and operates in response to input data. The computer system includes a wireless data transceiver coupled to the processor that is capable of communicating the graphics and input data between the computer and portable display tablet. The portable display tablet includes a graphics display panel for displaying the graphical data, a low power wireless data transceiver providing short range data communication of the graphics and input data between the base computer system and portable display tablet, and a controller, embedded within the portable display tablet and coupled to the low power wireless data transceiver, that executes a control program to process the graphics data to provide the graphical display data to the graphics display panel.

Abstract: A portable display tablet is operated in conjunction with a base computer system including a host processor for executing an application program with a predetermined operational function that generates predetermined graphics data and operates in response to predetermined input data. The computer system includes a wireless data transceiver coupled to the processor that is capable of communicating the predetermined graphics and input data between the computer and portable display tablet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing video data for compression/decompression in real-time. The apparatus comprises a plurality of compute modules, in a preferred embodiment, for a total of four compute modules coupled in parallel. Each of the compute modules has a processor, dual port memory, scratch-pad memory, and an arbitration mechanism. A first bus couples the compute modules and a host processor. Lastly, the device comprises a shared memory which is coupled to the host processor and to the compute modules with a second bus. The method handles assigning portions of the image for each of the processors to operate upon.

Abstract: A method of removing frame redundancy in a computer system for a sequence of moving images. The method comprises detecting a first scene change in the sequence of moving images and generating a first keyframe containing complete scene information for a first image. The first keyframe is known, in a preferred embodiment, as a "forward-facing" keyframe or intra frame, and it is normally present in CCITT compressed video data. The process then comprises generating at least one intermediate compressed frame, the at least one intermediate compressed frame containing difference information from the first image for at least one image following the first image in time in the sequence of moving images. In a preferred embodiment, this at least one frame is known as an inter frame. Finally, detecting a second scene change in the sequence of moving images and generating a second keyframe containing complete scene information for an image displayed at the time just prior to the second scene change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a variable length codeword (VLC) by reading a VLC, the VLC having a maximum length of X bits. The VLC is used as an index into a first table, wherein the first table contains decoded values for all possible VLC's with Y bits not equal to any value in a first set of values. Y is typically less than X and comprises, in the preferred embodiment, the most significant bits of the VLC. If the first Y bits of the VLC are not equal to any value in a first set of values then a second value is returned from the first table. If the first Y bits of the VLC are equal to any value in a first set of values, then a pointer to a second table is returned from the first table. The VLC is used as an index into the second table, and a third value is returned from the second table.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing video data for compression/decompression in real-time. The apparatus comprises a plurality of compute modules, in a preferred embodiment, for a total of four compute modules coupled in parallel. Each of the compute modules has a processor, dual port memory, scratch-pad memory, and an arbitration mechanism. A first bus couples the compute modules and a host processor. Lastly, the device comprises a shared memory which is coupled to the host processor and to the compute modules with a second bus. The method handles assigning portions of the image for each of the processors to operate upon.

Abstract: Apparatus for acquiring digital data corresponding to a 3D object, incorporates a frame located in proximity to the 3D object in no fixed positional relationship therewith, a shutter for scanning the object with a shadow line, and apparatus for deriving signals corresponding to the position of the shadow line following on the 3D object.