Abstract: An electromechanical lock device includes a communication mechanism, wherein are received digital data include an instruction set of operational instructions; a controller that is operative to produce electric signals in association with the instruction set; an actuator that is responsive to the controller to perform a set of operations that correspond to the electronic signals; and a lock mechanism that is manipulated in response to the set of operations, such that the locking mechanism is operative to unlock according to a specific pre-defined set of operations. A token operationally interacts with the communication mechanism of the electromechanical lock device. Access to a location is controlled by blocking the access using such an electromechanical lock device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for detecting that a phone is being used by a person other than a regular user of the phone, the method including the steps of: (a) comparing a dialed phone number of an outgoing call of the phone to a plurality of reference phone numbers; (b) adjusting an alert level based on whether the dialed phone number is included in the plurality of reference phone numbers; and (c) designating the phone as being used by a person other than the regular user, contingent upon the alert level reaching a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the step of adjusting includes adjusting the alert level based on a plurality of dialed phone numbers, wherein each dialed phone number increases the alert level based on the absence of the dialed phone number from the plurality of reference phone numbers.

Abstract: An amusing desktop toy, and methods of its use. The toy, in the shape of a realistic or imaginary creature, is connected to a local computer via a communication port, and is actuated by a local or remote user to move so as to directly express gestures visually in three dimensions. The remote user sends gesture instructions to actuate the toy via a telecommunication mechanism from a remote computer. The remote user can program the gesture instructions via a graphical user interface. Optionally, the toy includes a speaker and/or a UFD.

Abstract: A portable data exchange device including a storage memory for storing data, a USB interface, and a device controller having a file-selection-and-transfer mechanism is disclosed. Upon coupling of the presently disclosed data exchange device with a USB flash drive (UFD), the file-selection-and-transfer mechanism is operative to automatically select for transfer a set of files residing in the data exchange device and/or the UFD, and to effect an inter-device file transfer between the data exchange device and the UFD of only the selected files. In exemplary embodiments, the data exchange device has at most a minimal user interface, no video display, and only one or two data ports. Optionally, the presently disclosed data exchange device automatically modifies names of files copied from the USB flash drive to the data exchange device in accordance with an identity of the source USB flash drive.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for a smart card including: a first card having a device; and a second card having an aperture that is configured to allow a device to be inserted into an aperture when the second card is properly aligned with the first card, thereby allowing a device to protrude into an aperture. Optionally, the first card includes an aperture, and the second card includes a device, so that an aperture of the first card accommodates a device of the second card when the first card is properly aligned with the second card. Optionally, the apertures and the devices are configured to allow a stack of a plurality of the first and second cards to be densely packed Optionally, a card includes a magnetic stripe, an electronic circuit, and/or an embedded electrically-conductive wire for operationally connecting a device to a connector.

Abstract: A digital photography system and a method of its use. The system includes a digital camera having a mechanism for selecting a graphical object, a mechanism for superimposing the graphical object within a field of view of a digital camera, a mechanism for manipulating the graphical object within the field of view before capturing the image according to manipulation parameters that are set by a user and a mechanism for defining a relationship between the manipulated graphical object and at least part of the image. The scope of the invention also includes a memory card bearing such graphical objects and a method of offering the system for sale at a price that depends on the graphical objects stored in the memory card(s).

Abstract: A portable data storage device (such as a USB flash drive) including a housing shaped to facilitate a reversible packaging of at least one such portable data storage device into an object having a shape of a ring, preferably having dimensions of a standard CD ROM, a non-volatile memory within the housing for storing digital information, and a connecting mechanism protruding from the housing for reversibly operationally connecting the non-volatile memory to a host. The housing includes a mechanism for reversibly packaging together the portable data storage device to other such portable data storage devices. The scope of the invention also includes a method of distributing such portable data storage devices.

Abstract: An image projecting device and method are presented. The device comprises a light source system operable to produce a light beam to impinge onto an active surface of a spatial light modulator (SLM) unit formed by an SLM pixel arrangement; and a magnification optics accommodated at the output side of the SLM unit. The light beam impinging onto the SLM pixel arrangement has a predetermined cross section corresponding to the size of said active surface.

Abstract: An alarm clock device includes a monitor for monitoring a transmission of a selected station, a detector for detecting, in the transmission of the selected station, at least one milestone. A controller operating in response to detection of the milestone is provided to store, in a memory, data of the transmission after the milestone was detected, and to initiate playing of the data at a selected wakeup time. According to the present invention, the data is recorded in response to detecting a transmission of a selected station selected from a plurality of stations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reversibly preventing the coupling of a non-volatile memory device to a host device such as a microcomputer are disclosed. Exemplary non-volatile memory devices include but are not limited to hard disk drives and flash memory devices. According to some embodiments, a locking mechanism reversibly prevents physical coupling. According to some embodiments, a mechanical locking mechanism is operative to prevent the coupling of the non-volatile memory to the host device when in a locked configuration, and upon engagement with a proper key the mechanical locking mechanism adopts an unlocked configuration to permit coupling of the non-volatile memory device to the host device. According to some embodiments, a locking mechanism prevents coupling of the non-volatile memory device to the host device without a presence of a proper electronic token.

Abstract: Devices, methods and computer-readable code for simultaneously monitoring the content of at least two streaming audio content channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, the monitored content is analyzed, and one or more features of the monitored content channels are computed, including but not limited to music classification features, content genre features, and spoken content features. These computed features may be used, for example, to compute a rating or score for each monitored audio channel, for example, a rating computed relative to user listening preferences, expressed, for example, in preference rules. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a channel selector for automatically tuning, for example, to a channel assigned a higher rating at a given time. Alternatively or additionally, content rating scores may be displayed to a user who manually selects and tunes to an audio content channel.

Abstract: A card device has a generally rectangular body formed from flexible material and including electronic circuitry electrically connected to a set of electrical contacts. At least part of the card device is flexed, bent or folded in such a manner that the inherent resilience of the card material provides a force for pressing the set of contacts against the electrical contacts of a USB receptacle.

Abstract: An image projecting device is presented. The device comprises an SLM pixel arrangement; and two lens arrays. The lens arrays are respectively located at opposite surfaces of the SLM pixel arrangement and are integral with the SLM pixel arrangement, forming together with the SLM pixel arrangement a common SLM unit. Each lens in one array and a respective opposite lens in the other array are associated with a corresponding one of the pixels. Each of the lens arrays is implemented in a polymer spacer and is either spaced from the corresponding surface of the opposite surfaces of the pixel arrangement a distance substantially not exceeding 50 ?m or is in physical contact with the respective surface. The device also comprises a light source system operable to produce an incident light beam of a predetermined cross section corresponding to the size of an active surface of the SLM pixel arrangement; and a magnification optics.

Abstract: Code of a software product is delivered by embodying, on a computer-readable storage medium, installation code for installing the software product code on a computer and DRM code for permitting the installation only if a predetermined condition is satisfied. If the condition is violated, the installation code is erased and that part of the storage medium then is available for general use.

Abstract: A system including a portable object and a portable object holder is disclosed. Preferably, the portable object is an electronic device such as a flash memory drive such as a USB flash drive. According to some embodiments, when the portable object and the portable object holder are attached to each other, the combination is convenient for a user to carry in her pocket. While detached from each other, the portable object holder is retained in a state where the portable object holder is inconvenient for a user to carry in her pocket. Thus, the user may be less likely to forget the electronic device after use, and may be more likely to remember to replace the electronic device in or on the device holder. According to some embodiments, the portable object holder has a first state and a second state. Detachment of the portable object from the portable object holder is operative to cause the device holder to adopt the second state, where at least one dimension of the device holder is increased.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for isolating digital data representative of portions of a field of view. The system, which may be provided in the form of a digital camera, includes an array of sensor cells adapted to provide digital representations corresponding to at least a portion of the field of view, and a selector adapted to isolate a non-uniformly distributed subset of the digital representations provided by the array. The isolation may be performed based upon a set of values programmed in a programmable lookup table. A buffer is provided for holding the isolated digital representations.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing and characterizing data displayed on a workstation screen, and user manipulation, to support auditing and data mining of user information access. Capture and characterization are independent of application and network connectivity, so data from different applications can be captured, characterized, and analyzed and correlated in a uniform manner. Screen data is captured as machine-readable text-string words associated with meta-data attributes detailing circumstances and characteristics of screen data presentation, and user control of software applications and windows. Characteristics include: workstation identifier; application; date and time of display; coordinates of screen data; window opening, closing, and scrolling; searching, copying, printing, and saving. The invention can be used to determine patterns of normal operation, to investigate information access misuse, and as a watchdog for alerts to potentially abusive information access practices.

Abstract: An image projecting device and method are presented. The device comprises a light source system operable to produce a light beam to impinge onto an active surface of a spatial light modulator (SLM) unit formed by an SLM pixel arrangement; and a magnification optics accommodated at the output side of the SLM unit. The light beam impinging onto the SLM pixel arrangement has a predetermined cross section corresponding to the size of said active surface.

Abstract: There is provided a computer system including a first operating process operating in a non-modified operating environment and having at least one user operating command which is normally employed only in a given mode in the first operating process, and at least one second operating process which does not include encryption, the improvement comprising: a trigger for enabling a user operating the first operating process to initiate the second operating process, the trigger comprising said at least one operating command used in a mode other than said given mode.

Abstract: A system and method for selectable encryption of documents employing a document generator and a user-controlled document encryptor operative to encrypt user-selector portions of a document generated on document generator.