Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: Set-top box circuitry and methods of operating the same are described that support the delivery of media content between one or more media content sources and a screen assembly of a display system. The set-top box circuitry is configured to process media content having display requirements that exceed constraints associated with a viewing environment that includes the screen assembly to produce processed media content having display requirements that do not exceed the constraints. The set-top box circuitry may also be configured to obtain substitute media content that replaces requested media content when the requested media content has display requirements exceeding constraints associated with a media content source, a communication path from the media content source, and/or the viewing environment.

Abstract: Operating on video frames includes determining a frame set backdrop of a set of video frames that is a characterization of the relative difference in content of the set of video frames. Decreasing video quality of the set of video frames when the frame set backdrop is relatively higher indicating relatively greater content difference among video frames of the set of video frames and increasing/leaving quality of the set of video frames when the frame set backdrop is relatively lower indicating relatively lesser content difference among video frames of the set of video frames. Alteration of video quality of the set of video frames includes altering a frame rate, altering a pixel resolution, and/or altering color resolution of the set of video frames and/or altering a ratio of independent frames to predictive frames of the set of frames.

Abstract: A system for processing information received from a plurality of source devices. Various aspects of the present invention provide a first video generating device that produces a first video output that comprises compressed video information representative of a sequence of video frames, the compressed video information comprising inter-frame comparison information. A second video generating device is also provided, which produces a second video output. A processing module is communicatively coupled to the first and second video generating devices and independent of such devices. The processing module may decompress the first video output from the first video generating device. A video presentation device is provided, which may generate a display corresponding to the first video output via the processing module and a display corresponding to the second video output via the processing module. Generally analogous components for processing audio information are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravaginal monitoring devices, supporting networks, web services, billing services, modes of operation of the devices and networks, and processing of data harvested by an intravaginal device and communication to the network. Methods, systems and networks for advertising are provided herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intravaginal monitoring device, method of intravaginal monitoring, and system and network for intravaginal monitoring. The intravaginal monitoring device and or network includes multiple modes of operation that enable non-pregnancy monitoring, pregnancy testing, pregnancy monitoring, STD detection, precancerous condition monitoring, cancerous condition monitoring, pre-birth monitoring and prediction, neo-natal monitoring, ovulation monitoring, an automated rhythm method, among various applications of the device, method and network of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and wireless communication device are provided for creating a personal area network with a personal area network (PAN) device, communicating with a wireless network and forwarding text messages between the PAN device and the wireless network.

Abstract: A media player is utilized to determine presence of defects in storage devices, and to retrieve replacement data from media management servers. The retrieval of the replacement data is performed during playback and/or use of the storage devices. The replacement data is only utilized during real time playback of the storage devices. The replacement data can also be stored within the data storage player, into the storage devices, and/or into external storage devices accessible during playback operations. Addressing information is created and/or modified to enable use of stored replacement data. A new copy of the data can be created in the same or in new storage device. The media management server performs access authentication operations during replacement data retrieval. The media management server is accessed via user-based webpage-like interfaces and/or dedicated APIs.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure supports searching of web links to select search results by processing browser activity information along with one or more of favorite lists, and related metadata, user profiles, and trends based on browser activity behavior and favorite behavior. A plurality of web browsers located on client device are incorporated with a browser activity-monitoring module that tracks user's Internet usage, processes this information, and sends this information periodically or upon user request to the server to aid in improving search operation results. The search engine server communicatively couples to the plurality of web browsers and supports delivery of search results/web links to the client device based upon a search string, browser activity information, and possibly the favorite lists and related metadata. The gathered browser activity information, favorite lists, and related metadata are stored in one or more server databases that are associated with the search engine server.

Abstract: A soft drink container includes a plurality of the additive storage containers, a plurality of additive contents contained in the additive storage containers, an additive storage selector, a base storage container containing at least one base liquid, and a mechanism operable to release the additive contents into the base liquid storage. The plurality of additive contents may include at least one of salts, spices, flavoring, color agents, odors, fragrances, vitamins, thickeners, enhancers, fruit distillers, preservatives and vitamins. The additive storage selector is operable to separately align each of the plurality of additive storage containers with an opening of the base storage container and is operable to release a selected additive content into the base liquid container. The additive storage selector may further include a piercer operable to pierce the base storage container.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure contains a search server that delivers search result pages of web sites to client devices based upon a search string. Maxima categories are provided that sort search results or web pages based upon popularity and/or context similarity. A web browser contained within a client device is coupled to display various search result pages of web sites delivered by the search server. A maxima determination module within the search server responds to the delivery of the initial search string by first categorizing search results applicability to the search string on the basis of maxima or by generating maxima categories with search results contained therein that correlated to the search string. These search results within each applicable maximum are then sorting on the basis of popularity within each of the maxima categories to effectuate popularity ranks for each search result or web page.

Abstract: Systems and methods that adapt media content are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a first communications device and a second communications device. The first communications device may be disposed in a first location and may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may be disposed in a second location and may be operatively coupled to the network. The second communications device may receive a device profile relating to the first communications device, adapt media content based upon the device profile of the first communications device, and send the adapted media content to the first communications device.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure supports a timed window and version-based historical search service comprising a search server that receives a search string from a client device and a historical data repository from where the historical Internet data is retrieved when searching. A client device has a network browser that accesses a historical data support module that facilitates searching of historical data and displaying the historical Internet data to user. The network browser provides options for inputting a search string, accepting user search preferences, viewing timeline-based historical information, or viewing version-based historical search results. The network browser supports refinement of timeline searches with different historical version access, and vice versa.

Abstract: From a laptop and a client server interface, a subscriber securely initiates tracking and/or disabling of a communication device by a server. The subscriber receives location and/or usage reports for the communication device. The subscriber is provided with the capability to modify a profile, device status and/or transfer ownership of the device via a client server interface. Based on the profile, detection of a particular event triggers tracking and/or disabling of the device by the server. The communication device registers with the server utilizing its unique device ID and/or the subscriber identity information when accessing the internet. The server is enabled to communicate a status and/or a request for tracking information, to the communication device. The server is also enabled to receive tracking and/or location information and communicates it to the subscriber's laptop.

Abstract: Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related to currently playing media. Based on certain characteristics associated with the media, additional information related thereto is identified and output along with the media itself. This provides an enhanced experience for a user, in that, this supplemental information augments the presentation of the media to the user. Such supplemental content can be any one or combination of a wide variety of types including textual information, image content, audio content, video content, etc. This supplemental content may be output automatically in conjunction with the media (e.g., when such media is being output). Alternatively, the supplemental content may be output upon the authorization of a user. The supplemental content may be output in a predetermined location (e.g., location within a video display). Alternatively, such supplemental content may be output within an unused (or infrequently used) area of such a video display.

Abstract: In most of the Internet search operations, unwanted search results can be eliminated to reduce the high volume of the Internet traffic, and make the search operation highly efficient, according to the present invention. The present invention proposes a two step approach. The first step is to achieve the high relevance of the search results by search region restricted search operation. The second step, further adds high degree of relevance to the search results by the contact address correlation with a reliable reference address or the legitimate contact address eliminating the crap and squatter sites from the search result list. The region restricted search does searching in a selected geographical region. Thus the region restricted search operation minimizes the search time and huge volume of Internet traffic, which is likely to impair the overall Internet performance.

Abstract: A phone that interacts with a television system. At least one module may be adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection. At least one module may also be adapted to display video information corresponding to the video selection. At least one module may further be adapted to transmit a control signal adapted to cause the display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the television system. The phone may, for example, be adapted to receive television system setting information and provide for user control of various television system settings. Also for example, the phone may be adapted to receive media guide information, present such information to a user, provide for user selection of a media element, and transmit a control signal adapted to cause delivery of the selected media element from a multimedia source to the television system.

Abstract: A system supporting the remote management of options related to media consumption in a media exchange network. A system may comprise a set top box communicatively coupled to a television display and storage. The set top box may be used for the consumption of media via a communication network. In such a system, server software may enable the remote modification, via a communication network, of options related to the consumption of media by a user of the set top box. The media consumed may be one or more of digital audio, a digital still image, digital video, and digital data. Other aspects may be seen in a personal computer monitor and personal computer circuitry, communicatively coupled to a storage and a communication network. A system may also enable the modification of TV viewing options via a telephone voice response system.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a group of wireless devices having shared media stored thereupon associates each group member device of the group of wireless devices, communicates with at least some of the group member devices of the group of wireless devices to identify shared media and upon receiving a request transmitted by a group member device of the group of wireless devices, supports access to shared media. The shared media may be stored on a different group member device, upon a managing server computer, or a media server. Upon a successful validation, the group member device that made the request is notified to facilitate the access to the shared media. The notification includes access information.

Abstract: Spatial mapping of wireless access point service area. A means is presented by which a WACN's (Wireless Access Control Node's) service area is spatially mapped providing information corresponding to coverage region(s) within the WACN's service area. This spatial mapping may be generated and stored within either communication device at either end of a communication link (e.g., in a WACN or in a communication device operable to connect to the WACN). From the WACN's perspective, the spatial map can include its one or more coverage regions within its service area. From a communication device's perspective (e.g., a communication device that is capable to connect to a WACN), the spatial map can include multiple service areas provided by multiple WACNs and the various coverage regions therein. The partitioning of a WACN's service area into coverage areas can be performed along various lines (e.g., signal strength, history of connectivity, operational parameters employed, etc.).