Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: Portable computing devices automatically interface with other computing devices to interact in a collaborative effort toward providing a single, seamless computing experience for a user. As a user walks into a room with a cellular telephone certain functionality and data can be automatically unloaded to a desktop computer or other device based on a user or device identification or state. For example, a conversation on a cellular telephone can be automatically migrated to a desktop telephone as a user sits down. As a user is about to leave a room for a meeting, the desktop computer can update the telephone with latest versions of certain files. Thus, devices can automatically aggregate and/or decouple to provide a user with a single computing experience. These portable devices can broadcast an extensible set of services to other devices as well as to a host computer or server.

Abstract: A light pointer is selectively activated to direct a light beam onto an interactive display surface, forming a pattern of light that is detected by a light sensor disposed within an interactive display table. The waveband of the light produced by the light pointer is selected to correspond to a waveband to which the light sensor responds, enabling the light sensor to detect the position of the pattern on the interactive display surface, as well as characteristics that enable the location and orientation of the light pointer to be determined. Specifically, the shape and size of the pattern, and the intensity of light forming the pattern are detected by the light sensor and are processed to determine the orientation of the light pointer and its distance from the interactive display surface. The pattern may comprise various shapes, such as circles, arrows, and crosshairs.

Abstract: One or more objects placed on a display surface of an interactive display system are identified by a camera that receives infrared light reflected back by the object(s) through the display surface. The interactive display system displays images on the display surface that are produced by software applications, as well as sensing objects placed proximate to the display surface. If object(s) that were placed on the display surface are identified and determined to be associated with a predefined software application, the application is automatically executed. Objects can be identified based upon shape, a pattern applied to the objects, a size of the object, or a location on the display surface where the object is placed. The object may be used in the software application after it is executed or may simply be bear a functional relationship to the software application.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: A system retrieves a first template associated with data identified in a data request. A second template is generated using the first template and a device description, which is associated with a device generating the data request. The first template is device independent and the second template is associated with the specific device generating the data request as well as the first template. The second template defines a data presentation format for displaying the requested data on the type of device that generated the data request. The second template is stored in a cache, which allows the second template to be used with multiple sets of data without regenerating the template. The requested data is retrieved from a data source and formatted based on the second template. The formatted data is then transmitted to the device generating the data request.

Abstract: A system retrieves a first template associated with data identified in a data request. A second template is generated using the first template and a device description, which is associated with a device generating the data request. The first template is device independent and the second template is associated with the specific device generating the data request as well as the first template. The second template defines a data presentation format for displaying the requested data on the type of device that generated the data request. The second template is stored in a cache, which allows the second template to be used with multiple sets of data without regenerating the template. The requested data is retrieved from a data source and formatted based on the second template. The formatted data is then transmitted to the device generating the data request.