Abstract: A system and method and provided for setting up target user accounts based on the accounts or experiences of other users or archetypes. One example method first includes determining that a first user wants to set up or modify an account for the consumption of digital content items. Then an account profile is identified for a second user that has an affinity with the first user, with the account profile being based on an account of the second user. Underlying protected information in the source account/profile is then protected to ensure that the account profile is free of sensitive or otherwise protected information. The account profile is then made available and used to set up or modify an account for the target user.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the presentation of an entertainment consumption history via a timeline. For example, one embodiment comprises receiving entertainment consumption history comprising one or more entertainment content identifiers each identifying one or more entertainment content items sent to a selected user. The entertainment consumption history also comprises, for each entertainment content identifier, information related to a time at which the one or more entertainment content items identified by the entertainment content identifier were sent to the selected user. The embodiment further comprises sending to a display device a graphical depiction of the entertainment consumption history data as a timeline with each entertainment content identifier being illustrated along a direction of a time axis at a location representative of the time at which the one or more entertainment content items represented by the entertainment content identifier were sent to the selected user.

Abstract: A toy structure building apparatus includes a plurality of connector members attached to a plurality of structural members. Each connector member has a pin portion and a retention element located on an external surface of the pin portion. The apparatus further includes a plurality of connectors, each connector having an aperture for receiving the pin portion of a connector member and a detent member disposed within the aperture. The detent member is adapted to lockingly engage the retention element and includes a flexible elongated locking element extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the pin portion when the detent member is lockingly engaged to the retention element. The pin portion is selectively insertable into the aperture to couple and uncouple the structural members to each other to build a toy structure.

Abstract: A data viewer for displaying information selected from hierarchically organized data enables hierarchical searching by displaying hierarchical levels, or alternatively, by implementing an index search of selected data elements. If the index search is selected, an alphabetically ordered list of selected subjects, categories, and subcategories in the database is displayed for the hierarchically organized data. The selected subjects, categories, and subcategories are each associated with a database record and not with a lower hierarchical level that is a category or subcategory. Upon selecting an element from the index, the user is presented with a topical list. Any topic can be selected to display additional information. When an element is selected during an index search, the hierarchical relationship of the selected element to the hierarchical levels above it is also displayed, enabling the user to select a different hierarchical level that appears more relevant to the information desired.

Abstract: A device for recreational and educational use includes a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, and a second end. A cavity is disposed within the substantially cylindrical section to receive fluid when the device is immersed in a body of fluid. The substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end and present a low drag profile to impinging fluid flow. Control surfaces are included on the substantially cylindrical section. A stabilizer is coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the device in the body of fluid when the device is launched by a user. The device can be hand-launched by a user. Energy storage assisted launch mechanisms are also described that assist the user during submarine launch of the device.

Abstract: A data viewer for displaying information selected from hierarchically organized data enables hierarchical searching by displaying hierarchical levels, or alternatively, by implementing an index search of selected data elements. If the index search is selected, an alphabetically ordered list of selected subjects, categories, and subcategories in the database is displayed for the hierarchically organized data. The selected subjects, categories, and subcategories are each associated with a database record and not with a lower hierarchical level that is a category or subcategory. Upon selecting an element from the index, the user is presented with a topical list. Any topic can be selected to display additional information. When an element is selected during an index search, the hierarchical relationship of the selected element to the hierarchical levels above it is also displayed, enabling the user to select a different hierarchical level that appears more relevant to the information desired.

Abstract: A gliding or flying hydrodynamic disc designed for recreational use upon and across a surface of water is provided. The disc is circular with a peripheral circular trough on the top surface to provide a grip for a user. The bottom of the disc contains a circular flat section to provide minimum drag and maximum hydrodynamic performance. The outer rim of the disc is rounded and extends above the planar surface of the disc to provide increased aerodynamics to keep the disc on the surface of the water and improve gliding duration.

Abstract: A gliding or flying hydrodynamic disc designed for recreational use under water. The disc is circular and about 12 inches or 300 mm in diameter, and about ½ inch or 1.198 centimeters high. Circular grooves on the surface of the disc provide a grip surface so that the user can adequately maintain control of the disc under water. The weight of the disc is determined to allow the device to generally maintain equilibrium while under water. The shape and the materials are crafted to provide minimum drag. The top and bottom of the device are symmetrical to minimize drag-inducing lift effects. A soft outer edge surface provides a good grip on the device and for safety in pool and dive use. The disc can also be used as a dive plane or to change course by holding it out in front while the user is swimming.

Abstract: The present invention provides a personal information system unit detachable case. This case has a top cover assembly, a bottom cover assembly, both of which are pivotable around a longitudinal axis forming a hinge assembly. The top and bottom cover assemblies are similar in shape and function to allow a personal information management electronic system unit to be mounted within the case either facing to the right or to the left at the user's preference. Mounted on the hinge assembly is a mounting rail, which is pivotally mounted on the hinge assembly of the detachable case. This mounting rail extends most of the internal vertical dimension of the case. The mounting rail provides a means for removably attaching a personal management unit within the detachable case. Indents and other openings are provided in the top and/or bottom cover assemblies to accommodate a specific personal system unit or other type of electronic instrument whether it faces toward the top assembly or bottom assembly.

Abstract: A computer game controller is provided that can be attached to a desktop having a lip of greater thickness located near an outer portion of the desktop and an underside surface located on an inner portion of the desktop. The lip has a substantially greater thickness than the remainder of the desktop and this poses a substantial challenge to the proper gripping and mechanical advantage required by a clamp device. In one embodiment of the present device, the present computer controller includes a housing with a substantially flat, planar bottom surface that will act as one side of the clamp. The controller has a clamp arm coupled to the housing so that a distal contact surface of the arm is substantially opposed to the bottom surface of the housing to operably compress a portion of a desktop therebetween.

Abstract: A method that enables focus to be given to a displayed control item when a cursor is positioned within a predetermining activating area outside of the outer edges of the displayed control item. More particularly, the computer-implemented method for selecting a displayed control item on a display screen which includes the steps of: displaying a cursor on the display screen; displaying a control item on the display screen; providing an area extending around the control menu item; and providing focus to the control item when the cursor is positioned within the area extending around the control item. Preferably, the area extending around the control item is not visible on the display screen. With respect to the dimensions of the area extending around the control item, the dimensions preferably are (height H+constant C1) by (length L+constant C2), where H is the dimension defining the height of the control item and L is the dimension defining the length of the control item.

Abstract: In association with an interactive television system, a system for displaying a control object in which characters may be entered or edited via a character spin dial. Each character and empty space in which a character may be entered is displayed in a separate cell within the control object. Each cell accepts entry or editing of characters therein via a character spin dial. The character spin dial is displayed to the user as an up arrow and a down arrow displayed above and below the cell, respectively. By manipulating a directional control on a remote control associated with the interactive television network in the up or down position, the user scrolls the character spin dial through a list of selectable characters until the desired character is displayed in the cell.

Abstract: A computer method and system for providing a user with efficient selection of a television program to view or record. The method provides concurrent display of a television schedule with a graphic description and a textual description of the television program currently selected by the user from the displayed television schedule. The displayed television schedule comprises a schedule layout displayed to the user on a screen display. The schedule layout includes a number of program names arranged in an adaptively learned order based on the frequency of the user's previous selections. Each time a program name is selected by the user, the graphic description and the textual description of the television program represented by the selected program name are displayed concurrently with the adaptively ordered schedule layout. Thus, the user can select a television program perceptively and without delay.

Abstract: A viewer interface is disclosed for use in an interactive television network operative for providing an animated focus item in association with a control item to indicate that the control item is in a state responsive to commands from a user input device. An "animation" is any form of highlighting that is non-static, including but not limited to flashing, varying illumination, varying size, varying shape, varying position, varying color, varying display components, a moving and/or changing cartoon type image, a video image, a sound track, or a combination of these elements. Selection of the control item to receive focus and selection of options presented by control items having focus are accomplished by viewer interaction with the remote control unit, and such selections do not require a keyboard or mouse to indicate the viewer's desire to change the focus from one control item to another or to select an option.

Abstract: An object-oriented system for generating and displaying control items that allow users of an interactive network to recognize and select control functions via a graphical user interface. The manipulation of the control items on a display screen is linked to a set-top terminal associated with the interactive network. The control items, which can be visible or audible, are associated with control objects. Control objects are arranged in a hierarchy, and can contain one or more child control objects. Attributes of a child control object are inherited from an ancestor control object. A control item can be graphically manipulated independently by drawing the control item into its own sprite, or can be manipulated by drawing the control item into the sprite of a parent. The system provides building blocks of control elements that can be composed and customized to produce versatile interfaces for applications and content.

Abstract: A thumbpad input device that enables a user to generate direction and speed by manipulating a round elastic pad. The underside of the pad is lined with a set of uniformly spaced contacts positioned in a circular pattern. Each contact is paired with a corresponding switch that is coupled to a circuit board. When a user presses down on the pad, one or more contacts close their respective switches. The pad contacts and switches are designed so that the number of closed switches varies with the magnitude of the force applied to the pad. The thumbpad input device has a micro controller that monitors the switches. It determines the most clockwise closed switch and the most counter-clockwise closed switch. Presumptively, these two closed switches define the two endpoints of an arc of all closed switches. These endpoints are then forwarded to a host processor.

Abstract: A video control user interface is provided for use in an interactive television system. The video control user interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-purpose, multi-direction actuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in different modes, including a movie-on-demand mode. In this mode, the set-top box receives digitally transmitted video data streams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. During display of a video movie, the set-top box can cause, at the viewer's request, the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon. The symbols relate to shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie. This user interface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls about the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of the multi-direction pad on the remote control handset.