Abstract: A system for assisting a user with navigating a set of stairs includes a pulley system positioned adjacent to the stairs, the pulley system including a first pulley, a second pulley, and an elongated member coupled to and looped around the first pulley and the second pulley. The system further includes a motor coupled to the first pulley, a sensing assembly operatively coupled to the pulley system, the sensing assembly being structured and configured to sense that a force is being applied to or that is about to be applied to the elongated member by the user, and a controller coupled to the motor and the sensing assembly. The controller is structured and configured to, responsive to the sensing assembly sensing the force, turn the motor on to drive the first pulley.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a signature characterizing an interval of a video signal representing a picture for use in broadcast segment recognition. The signature is produced based on portions of the video signal representing corresponding regions of the picture. The invention also serves to produce a corresponding mast word including a plurality of bit values each representing a reliability of a corresponding value of the signature. The first signature is formed having a plurality of values each of which is based on a respective one of the portions of the video signal. A second signature is formed also having a plurality of values each based on respective ones of a plurality of shifted portions of the video signal.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a signature which characterizes an audio broadcast signal for use in broadcast signal recognition, wherein the signature is based on a comparison of time-displaced frequency band values each representing a respective frequency band of the audio broadcast signal. Each of a first group of the frequency band values is compared with a respective value from the second group representing portions of the audio broadcast signal within the same predetermined frequency band. At least a part of the signal portions represented by the second group were broadcast prior to the signal portions represented by the first group, and a signature is formed based on the comparison of the first and second groups.

Abstract: Signatures are produced for characterizing an interval of a video signal representing a picture for use in broadcast segment recognition. The signature is produced based on portions of the video signal representing corresponding regions of the picture each spaced by a certain amount from a nominal edge of the picture. A shift in the video signal corresponding with a shift in the edge of the picture from a nominal edge of the picture is detected. The portions of the video signal are adjusted to compensate for the shift in the edge of the picture and a signature is produced based on the adjusted portions of the video signal.

Abstract: The broadcast audio signal and/or the broadcast video signal of a monitored broadcast are temporarily stored and predetermined signal events are detected which indicate possible new broadcast segments of interest of the monitored broadcast. Intervals of the monitored broadcast are selected as possible new broadcast segments of interest based on the predetermined signal events. A first capture level is assigned to a first selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of the interval which indicate that it is likely to be a new segment of interest. A second capture level is assigned to a second selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of that interval which indicate that it is relatively less likely than the first selected interval to be a new segment of interest.

Abstract: Broadcast segment recognition systems and methods are provided in which a signature representing a monitored broadcast segment is compared with broadcast segment signatures in a data base representing known broadcast segments to determine whether a match exists. Criteria for determining the validity of such a match are provided. In addition, signatures characterizing respective intervals of a broadcast signal exhibiting correlation are produced by generating a difference vector for each respective interval and carrying out vector transformations of the different vectors to reduce such correlation. Also, a broadcast segment recognition data base is updated by monitoring a broadcast signal to detect signal events indicating possible broadcast segments of interest in which at least two alternative segments of interest are detected by assigning priority to one of the two segments based upon predetermined criteria.