Abstract: A data packet router enables a mobile communication device to access a WAN such as the Internet via a PC connected to the WAN. The router comprises bearer plug-in modules which each enable connection between the mobile communication device and the computer over a different bearer. The PC is therefore used as an internet access point for mobile communication devices which can use any conventional bearer to connect to the PC (USB, RS232, Bluetooth wireless etc.). Hence, a mobile telephone could gain web access using conventional WAP or, with the present invention, it could also be connected to a PC using a convenient bearer and hence gain access to the internet via the PC. Because the router uses bearer plug-in modules, it is possible to write new bearer modules as and when new bearers are developed and to readily add them to upgrade existing implementations. This is valuable since new connectivity standards (and enhancements to old standards) are continually under development.

Abstract: Controlling access to a specific resource on a mobile telephone comprises the steps of (a) associating an identity with a permission state, in which an identity is a label applicable to one of several entities on whose behalf the resource could potentially be used and the permission state defines whether or not the resource can actually be used; and (b) allowing use of the resource solely to an entity or entities labelled with an identity associated with a permission state that does permit such use.

Abstract: A method of rapid software application development for a wireless mobile device, comprising the step of calling modular software elements, that each (i) encapsulate functionality required by the wireless mobile device and (ii) share a standard interface structure and (iii) execute on the device, under the control of a command line interface. Because the elements execute under the control of a command line interface (and hence are command line programs) it is far easier for a programmer to explore the functioning of the elements—in particular how an element responds to a given input.

Abstract: Some representative embodiments are directed to creating a “virtual world” by processing a series of two dimensional images to generate a representation of the physical world depicted in the series of images. The virtual world representation includes models of objects that specify the locations of the objects within the virtual world, the geometries of the objects, the dimensions of the objects, the surface representation of the objects, and/or other relevant information. By developing the virtual world representation, a number of image processing effects may be applied such as generation of stereoscopic images, object insertion, object removal, object translation, and/or other object manipulation operations.

Abstract: A method of developing a software program for resource constrained mobile computing devices comprises the step of using a library of three mandatory types of code which enable a system to be modelled, the three types of code being: (a) a first re-useable object which defines the transmission of raw binary data between a writer end and a reader end; (b) a second re-useable object which defines ordered name/value pairs and (c) an abstract API definition that defines how to write, create, call or use a task which handles the first and/or second objects. This very high level abstraction has been found, surprisingly, to apply to virtually all systems which have been analysed by the applicant. Hence, the present invention allows a small (deliberately restricted), core library of “primitives” to be built once and re-used very many times as building blocks by different applications.

Abstract: A data packet router enables a mobile communication device to access a WAN such as the Internet via a PC connected to the WAN. The router comprises bearer plug-in modules which each enable connection between the mobile communication device and the computer over a different bearer. The PC is therefore used as an internet access point for mobile communication devices which can use any conventional bearer to connect to the PC (USB, RS232, Bluetooth wireless etc.). Hence, a mobile telephone could gain web access using conventional WAP or, with the present invention, it could also be connected to a PC using a convenient bearer and hence gain access to the internet via the PC. Because the router uses bearer plug-in modules, it is possible to write new bearer modules as and when new bearers are developed and to readily add them to upgrade existing implementations. This is valuable since new connectivity standards (and enhancements to old standards) are continually under development.

Abstract: A mobile computing device comprising a web server; wherein the web server is capable of converting application specific data from a binary data format optimised for the device to a first agreed format which is a standard format not optimised for the device, in order to enable both (i) an application A, running on the mobile computing device and which can handle the standard format and also (ii) an application B, running on a further device remotely connected to the mobile computing device and which can also handle the standard I format, to read the application specific data stored on the mobile computing device. Converting application specific data stored on the mobile computing device in a native, proprietary binary format into an agreed standards based format, such as a mark-up language like HTML, makes that application specific data fully portable, a major advantage whilst mobile networks are expensive, and have reliability and latency issues.

Abstract: A system for controlling the thickness of strip in a tandem mill having at least three stands. At a first lower speed the thickness of the strip is corrected in only a first one of the stands of the mill, and at a second higher speed the thickness error is corrected only in a second one of the stands, the second stand being downstream from the first stand. At intermediate speed a thickness error correction takes place in both a first and a second stand.