Abstract: A method and system for managing driving patterns by charging a variable incentive and/or disincentive based on individual driving behaviors. Distances detected between a vehicle and other vehicles are detected within a time period. N tailgating incidents are identified based on the detected distances being less than a threshold value for distance. A variable toll is determined by evaluating a function of a base amount and N. The driver of the vehicle is charged the variable toll. Charging the variable toll provides an incentive to the driver to encourage driving that does not include tailgating or a disincentive to the driver to deter tailgating.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle. The vehicle is monitored for greenhouse gas emission, which includes identifying a running total of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicle into an external environment that is external to the vehicle and activating a payment triggering condition when the emission exceeds the expected total. Satisfaction of a payment triggering condition that triggers collection of a required payment pertaining to the identified running total of greenhouse gas emitted is detected. Responsive to detecting the satisfaction of the payment triggering condition the required payment is computed as a function of the stored running total of greenhouse gas emitted.

Abstract: A computer method and apparatus for selecting and manipulating curvilinear shapes entered by a user is shown. The curvilinear shapes are represented within the computer using parameterized equations. The representation is reduced to maximal elements. The maximal elements are extended. Registration points of the extended maximal elements are then identified. Once the registration points and maximal elements are known, curvilinear shapes can be matched using those maximal elements and registration points. Therefore a user can create a sketch that looks like part of a drawing and the computer can find the corresponding section for the user and transform it.

Abstract: A computer method and apparatus for selecting and manipulating curvilinear shapes entered by a user is shown. The curvilinear shapes are represented within the computer using parameterized equations. The representation is reduced to maximal elements. The maximal elements are extended. Registration points of the extended maximal elements are then identified. Once the registration points and maximal elements are known, curvilinear shapes can be matched using those maximal elements and registration points. Therefore a user can create a sketch that looks like part of a drawing and the computer can find the corresponding section for the user and transform it.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of an auction. A user request is received for determining a route from point A to point B. Locations are selected that are capable of being included along routes from point A to point B. Selecting the locations is based on the request. An auction among vendors is initiated. The vendor winning the auction is determined. The route is determined so that a location of the selected locations is included along the route. The location is associated with the winning vendor. The determined route is presented to the user as a recommended route.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a travel route that includes a location as a result of fee-based preferential weighting. A user request is received for determining a route from point A to point B. A preferential weight is assigned to a location associated with a vendor. The location is selected as being capable of being included along the route. Selecting the location is based on the request and preferential weight. A fee to be charged to the vendor is determined. The fee is for presenting the route to the user as a recommended route and is based on the location being included along the recommended route. The route is determined so that the location is included along the route. The route is presented to the user as the recommended route.

Abstract: A method and system for managing driving patterns by charging a variable incentive and/or disincentive based on individual driving behaviors. Distances detected between a vehicle and other vehicles are detected within a time period. N tailgating incidents are identified based on the detected distances being less than a threshold value for distance. A variable toll is determined by evaluating a function of a base amount and N. The driver of the vehicle is charged the variable toll. Charging the variable toll provides an incentive to the driver to encourage driving that does not include tailgating or a disincentive to the driver to deter tailgating.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle. The vehicle is monitored for greenhouse gas emission, which includes identifying a running total of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicle into an external environment that is external to the vehicle. Satisfaction of a payment triggering condition that triggers collection of a required payment pertaining to the identified running total of greenhouse gas emitted is detected. Responsive to the detecting satisfaction of the payment triggering condition the required payment is computed as a function of the stored running total of greenhouse gas emitted. A processor of a computer system provides notice of the required payment to an operator of the vehicle; an owner of the vehicle, a collecting party authorized to collect the required payment, a responsible party responsible for submitting the required payment to the collecting party, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system for a meta-browser includes a receiver, an output device for displaying a virtual unified browsing space, and a selector input device for navigating the space and making selections therein. The receiver is provided with the capability to receive information from multiple sources of different media types, including broadcast programming, additional information through the broadcast, electronic program guide information, and the Internet. The meta-browser presents personalized collections of information from multiple sources of different media types as different media collections in the unified browsing space, which can be easily and intuitively browsed. A user's browsing experience is further enhanced by personalized recommendations, which are generated based on a profile of the user's interests captured across multiple media sources. Collaborative filtering, which uses multiple user profiles to compute co-relations between the user's profile and others, is also used to make recommendations.

Abstract: Electronic image displays, of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.

Abstract: Electronic image displays, of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.

Abstract: Electronic image displays. of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.

Abstract: A display mechanism for showing search results, which is well-suited to displaying programming events on an electronic program guide, selectively aggregates items in result lists according to features having identical or similar values. Each aggregated item is represented by a respective symbol. A user interface may be provided to permit the selective expansion of the symbols. The resulting list has much less repetition than a list according to the prior art in which each search result is shown explicitly.

Abstract: A user interface for controlling tasks relating to media or other searchable data objects simultaneously indicates a current search criteria set, results set, and task set. The task set indicates a subset of the results on which a currently selected task is to be performed. For example, a task could be recording music on a CD, recording video on a DVD, storing video on a tape, playing music, emailing a media file such as a video or musical recording, printing or erasing a file, etc. The search criteria, results, and task sets may be simultaneously displayed or a placeholder displayed that may be expanded upon activation of one of them. At all times, at least some indication of all three is shown.

Abstract: An interactive imaging system and method thereof are provided. The invention provides a real-time interactive video system. The input signals to the system are given through an array of cameras, sensors and microphones. The input signals are generated by human (or pet) presence and involvement. A set of software modules is invoked based on a “rule” framework created by the user, e.g., artist or designer, of the interactive system. The “rules” define which set of input signals are connected to certain portions, i.e., impressible regions, of an image on a display of the system or connected to certain portions on a mosaiced display. The inventive system allows the user to build a set of “rules” as to how the impressible regions of the displayed images can change based on motion, color, and/or texture of a “visitor” interacting with the system.

Abstract: Electronic image displays. of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.

Abstract: To facilitate the framing of an image in a camera's field of view, a mirror system is provided that has a field of reflection that corresponds substantially to the field of view of the camera. If a target person can see his or her reflection in the mirror, the target person is assured that a substantially similar image is being seen by the camera. This invention also includes an integration of the mirror-camera framing system with computer vision applications, such as a teleconferencing system, a recognition system, a broadcast system, and a messaging system with attached images for personalization and authentication. The use of a mirror for image feedback allows the invention to be embodied in a small low powered device, such as a watch, pendant, or portable telephone.

Abstract: In order to characterize video content, key frames are identified in that content. The key frames are collapsed into histograms. The histograms are grouped into families. The families are each represented by a family histogram. The family histograms characterize the video content. The family histograms can be used to determine program boundaries or index the video content.

Abstract: A user interface for querying and displaying records form a database employs a physical metaphor for the process of constructing queries and viewing results. In one embodiment, the search criteria are shown as strings of beads in a three-dimensional scene, each bead representing a criterion and each string representing a different category. For example the criteria, drama, action, suspense, and horror may be included in a category of genre. Criteria are selected to form a query by moving corresponding beads to a query string. User preference profiles can be constructed in the same way. Profiles can be saved and represented as bead strings that can be used in further interactions in the same manner as criteria beads. Results are displayed in a three-dimensional scene also. The accuracy of the match between retrieved records and the query correspond to the placement of results, also represented as beads, along the Z-axis of the scene.

Abstract: A remote control system in which a program-up or program-down activation on a control remote device effects the selection of the next or prior available channel that is likely to contain a program of a particular selected genre, or category. The system includes an identification of those programs that are likely to relate to each particular category. When the user selects a category, the user incrementally selects from the programs contained within the selected category. In the system, a list builder includes a number of capabilities for improving the selective quality of the program selection, having access, for example, to an information source that provides the time of each scheduled program on each channel, and an indication of each program's genre, rating, and other related items.