Abstract: A method and system for recommending future events or appointments are disclosed. The inventive system stores a repeat rate provided by users in the system, then recommends future events or appointments based on what the user has rated and the past frequency of those events or appointments which the user has attended. This invention is based on the fact that people have a tendency to attend or observe similar events as in the past and will show such tendency in the future.

Abstract: A system and method for directing an incoming telephone call. The system comprises a control unit that receives images associated with two or more regions of a local environment. The two or more regions are each serviced by a respective telephone extension. The control unit processes the images to identify, from a group of known persons associated with the local environment, any one or more known persons located in the respective regions. For each known person so identified, an indicium is generated that associates the known person with the respective region in which the known person is located.

Abstract: An electronic assistant, incorporates electronic functions in a personal object that the user finds indispensable. Examples of personal objects include a cane, a walking stick, a walker, a wheelchair, a personal transportation vehicle, a purse, a key holder, a watch, a pendant, a hearing aid, an eyeglass frame, or a crutch. Electronics may include a PDA, a cell phone, a navigation module, a biosensor module, and an emergency alert module. The navigation module might include a GPS, an altimeter, an electronic compass, and/or a stored map. Biosensors may be directly incorporated into the personal device or communicate with a receiver therein if the biosensor is required to be attached directly to the user's body or surgically implanted. The emergency alert module may include an emergency button, and an emergency notification sequence stored in the electronic assistant capable of calling for assistance through the cell phone.

Abstract: Briefly, an alarm system monitors conditions of an independent person, yet one requiring some supervision, such as an elderly person living alone at home. The system monitors a variety of independent signals and combines them to recognize subtle cues that may indicate there will be a need for intervention by a supervisor.

Abstract: A videoconferencing application suitable for large conferences with many terminals where displayed speakers are changed dynamically based on some schema employs animation effects to indicate the change. When a new speaker replaces an old, the new speaker's image is gradually transitioned into the place of the old speaker's by an animation that provides a clear cue and a visual metaphor for the event. A preferred embodiment translates the new image in and the old one out as if the new one were pushing the old image out of its place. Various other animations are also described which provide a similar result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a video conferencing system using an array of two microphones and a stationary camera to automatically locate a speaker and electronically manipulate the video image to produce the effect of a movable pan tilt zoom (“PTZ”) camera. Computer vision algorithms are used to detect, locate, and track people in the field of view of a wide-angle, stationary camera. The estimated acoustic delay obtained from a microphone array, consisting of only two horizontally spaced microphones, is used to select the person speaking. This system can also detect any possible ambiguities, in which case, it cam respond in a fail-safe way, for example, it can zoom out to include all the speakers located at the same horizontal position.

Abstract: The present invention is a telephone memory aid that is focused on how to capture information during a telephone call and allow entry of information by the user or other party into a database that may be used in future calls. In future calls, the telephone memory aid would allow the user to call or be called by a desired second party and see all of the stored personal information related to the second party. This might include name, date of last call, topics that were discussed in the last telephone call, names of family members, vacation plans, hobbies, and similar such information. The purpose is to improve the conversation flow and communications between the parties of the telephone call.

Abstract: A combined calendar/diary application leverages several input mechanisms to enrich the historical record kept by a user. First, the application classifies events sensed by sensors and software monitors to capture and classify data indicative of events of significance to the user. It then requests additional information from the user to create a diary entry. Second, on the basis of the same event data, it may add the classification data to the diary as indicia of financial, emotional, or other states of the user or environment. Third, the system augments appointment using other data, including user input. Fourth, data is extracted from other sources for direct inclusion in the diary database. For example, contemporaneous news data from an Internet news feed may be added. Fifth, the application may periodically prompt the user for diary entries. Sixth the application may support deliberate diary-entry procedure as is done with current diary applications.

Abstract: A method by which video compression parameters of different video streams are changed to optimize overall bandwidth utilization according to rules related to the varying interactions among group members. Different video streams are allocated different portions of the overall bandwidth based on a priority scheme. The priority scheme is based upon group dynamics. A controller (central or distributed) receives a group dynamics monitoring signal which monitors the various activities of group members. The controller (central or distributed) uses the network congestion control feedback signal and the priorities assigned to the different video streams to send feedback signals to the different video transmitters requesting the transmitters to adhere to, increase, or decrease their video data rates by changing parameters controlling the video encoding process.

Abstract: A system comprising a user interface which can access downloaded electronic programs (e.g. pay per view movies) and information records related to said programs, which can be continually updated and provided over cable or satellite transmission paths or other "fast data" paths, and which can automatically correlate the program information with the preferences of the user, to create and display at least one personalized information database based upon the results of the correlation.

Abstract: A system comprising a user interface which can access downloaded electronic shopping information, which can be continually updated and provided either "over the air", over cable or satellite transmission paths or other "fast data" paths, and automatically correlate this information with the preferences of the user, to create and display at least one personalized shopping information database based upon the results of the correlation.

Abstract: A television receiver comprising an improved interface circuit which automatically activates a PIP display of an auxiliary input (for example a videocassette or videodisc) when such an input is detected.

Abstract: A user interface which can access downloaded TV program information, which can be continually updated and provided either "over the air", over cable or satellite transmission paths or other "fast data" paths, and automatically correlate this information with the preferences of the user, to create and display at least one program information database based upon the results of the correlation.

Abstract: A system for integrating the operation and control of a television receiver and a video cassette recorder (vcr), the television receiver being capable of receiving and displaying various television channels as well as other video signals, and the vcr being capable of recording programs at least from the broadcast channels and reproducing programs previously recorded on tapes and outputting the programs as video signals, the system having a device for enabling a user to control the system and thereby operate the television receiver and/or the vcr, and to enter information concerning the user's favorite broadcast programs and various particular broadcast programs into the system, the information including the program name, broadcast channel, starting time, length, repeat pattern in the case of favorite broadcast programs, and whether the user wants the program recorded; a first store for storing the favorite broadcast program information and the various particular broadcast program informantion; a second store

Abstract: A television system with picture-in-picture capability in which a common control element can be used to control both the main picture and the picture-in-picture on the screen together with an indicating means displayable on the screens indicate which picture the common control element is capable of controlling at any time.