Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering image-based data are disclosed. A representative system includes a data interface that receives a remotely-generated data stream; a data manager coupled to the data interface, the data manager configured to translate the remotely-generated data stream into a plurality of word blocks, wherein the data manager determines for each word block of interest whether an active line can accommodate an entire word block of interest prior to registering the word block with the active line and wherein the data manager increments the active line in response to a determination that the word block of interest would not be accommodated on the active line; and a display device coupled to the data manager, the display device configured to render the plurality of word blocks.

Abstract: A memory card has an integral battery with an energy capacity sufficient to power an electronic device. The memory card battery provides power to the electronic device while the memory card is electrically connected to the electronic device. An electronic device utilizes a memory card having an integral battery and receives power from the integral battery. A system comprising the memory card and a battery-charging unit provides power to the electronic device and recharges the memory card battery. A method of powering an electronic device comprises using the memory card battery to power the electronic device while the card is electrically connected to the device.

Abstract: A method for allowing appliance-to-appliance communication transactions wherein an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances receives a connection request from a source appliance. A phonebook having a plurality of phonebook entries, and stored in the appliance communications manager, is then accessed. Each of the phonebook entries includes a destination appliance identifier and associated destination appliance communication information. A user of the source appliance is presented with a list having a plurality of the phonebook entries. The appliance communications manager receives the identity of a destination appliance selected from said list and, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link is established with the selected destination appliance. When a communication message is received from the source appliance, the communication message is sent to the selected destination appliance.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.

Abstract: A communications system for rendering image based data includes a data interface, a display device, and a data manager. The data interface receives image based data that is used by the display device to display an image. The data manager identifies word blocks defined by the received data. The data manager uses the word blocks to define a first row of the image. In this regard, the data manager determines whether images respectively defined by each of the word blocks would be visible if the word blocks are rendered to the first row of the display screen. In response to a determination that an image associated with one of the word blocks would not be visible if the one word block is rendered to the first row of the display screen, the data manager defines a second row and renders the one word block to the second row.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.

Abstract: A reusable camera is provided. The camera comprises an image processing unit configured to capture images and a memory coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering image-based data are disclosed. A representative system includes a data interface that receives a remotely-generated data stream; a data manager coupled to the data interface, the data manager configured to translate the remotely-generated data stream into a plurality of word blocks, wherein the data manager determines for each word block of interest whether an active line can accommodate an entire word block of interest prior to registering the word block with the active line and wherein the data manager increments the active line in response to a determination that the word block of interest would not be accommodated on the active line; and a display device coupled to the data manager, the display device configured to render the plurality of word blocks.

Abstract: A device for electronically capturing an image on a whiteboard, storing the image and then putting the captured image back onto the whiteboard using dry erase ink in an inkjet printhead array. The image capture portion of the device may include an image capture array that is a whiteboard-wide-array of image capture elements. The image replace portion of the device may include a whiteboard-wide-array of inkjet printhead elements. The data storage portion of the device may either be on the device or off of the device or both. The device may also be capable of interactive whiteboard image manipulation from a remote location via the Internet, telecommunications, facsimile, infrared, modem, or other known electronic data transmission means.

Abstract: A communications system for rendering image based data includes a data interface, a display device, and a data manager. The data interface receives image based data that is used by the display device to display an image. The data manager identifies word blocks defined by the received data. The data manager uses the word blocks to define a first row of the image. In this regard, the data manager determines whether images respectively defined by each of the word blocks would be visible if the word blocks are rendered to the first row of the display screen. In response to a determination that an image associated with one of the word blocks would not be visible if the one word block is rendered to the first row of the display screen, the data manager defines a second row and renders the one word block to the second row.

Abstract: An improved computer or PDA with a projected display onto a substantially flat, white surface to create a virtual computer screen display and a projected keyboard onto the substantially flat, white surface and a laser sensor projected over the keyboard and parallel to the substantially flat, white surface to create a virtual keyboard. The virtual display and virtual keyboard permit the computer or PDA to be substantially smaller than typical computers or PDA's, while also permitting a relatively normal size display and keyboard/user input area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of skew present in a document being scanned using only the primary vision transducer. The primary vision transducer is wider than the width of the media to be scanned and logically divided into a central image gathering portion and marginal skew detection and image gathering portions.

Abstract: The hand-held scanning device is adjustable between a compact transport configuration and a relatively larger use configuration. In its compact transport configuration, the hand-held scanning device can conveniently be carried, for example, in a shirt pocket. In its use configuration, however, the device is capable of scanning a relatively large object. The hand-held scanning device may be constructed of two housing portions that slide or pivot relatively to one another to provide for this adjustment.

Abstract: A digitizer propagates coarse and fine wavelength electric fields across a platen to perform phase delay measurements, the results of which correspond to a displacement of a cursor along a measurement axis. The time interval between propagating the longer wavelength coarse electric field at a high velocity and subsequently establishing and propagating a shorter wavelength fine electric field at a low velocity is minimized by pre-loading at high speed a propagation circuit with the pattern to be propagated as the shorter wavelength fine electric field.

Abstract: A digitizer shifts long and short wavelength square waves across x and y grids in a platen to perform upon a cursor signal time measurements that represent coarse and fine cursor position data. The periodic staircase cursor signal is filtered before use to permit time measurements that resolve cursor positions to locations between lines in the grids. The contribution of the filter to the coarse and fine time measurements is obtained in a special reference measurement, so that it may be removed. A processor combines these data into Cartesian coordinates, and implements procedures for error reduction. These include averaging of consecutive time measurements, dynamic adjustment of a timing reference to remove ambiguities inherent in measuring very small or very large cyclic quantities, and correction of coordinates for the effects of cursor motion during measurement and for any non-perpendicularity of the x and y grids.