Abstract: A method for modulating a video signal. Frames are selected from a plurality of frames for modulation. Intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames is altered according to at least one pattern or as designated by an adjustment.

Abstract: A method and system for auxiliary data detection. Data is received on a hand-held device from a display of a signal on a monitor. The signal is visually displayed on the monitor at a frequency. A modulated video signal is received on the hand-held device from a display device. The modulated video signal contains auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way. The modulated video signal is demodulated to obtain the auxiliary data. At least one of the data or the auxiliary data is processed to identify a promotional opportunity available through the hand-held device. The user of the hand-held device is notified of availability of the promotional opportunity through the hand-held device.

Abstract: A method for encoding a carrier signal in a video signal, the video signal having one or more frames, the frames each having a first field and a second field, the first field and the second field of each frame having a plurality of scan lines, each having a plurality of pixels with an intensity value indicating brightness, the method comprising selectively designating the plurality of scan lines of the first field of the one or more frames as up lines or down lines, calculating an optimum amount of adjustment to the pixels of the up lines and the down lines, and selectively increasing the intensity value of pixels of the up lines and decreasing the intensity value of pixels of the down lines by the optimum amount of adjustment thereby modulating the video signal with a carrier signal and creating a modulated video signal.

Abstract: A method and system for response authorization. In one embodiment, authorization data and response data may be received over a paging network on a user device. The authorization data may be compared against a device identifier of the user device. A response indicated by the response data may be triggered on the user device based on a comparison of the authorization data to the device identifier.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spatial data encoding and decoding are described. A tile may be designated within a source frame. The tile may be divided into at least one bit area. A particular message bit value of a message may be accessed. A statistical property calculation may be performed on a pixel variable value of available pixels within the tile. A pixel variable value of pixels in the particular bit area of a target frame may be shifted to encode a particular message bit. A particular pixel variable value of a particular pixel of the plurality of pixels may be shifted by a shift value. The shift value may be in accordance with the statistical property calculation, the particular message bit value, and a particular modulation pattern value of the plurality of modulation pattern values for the particular pixel within the particular bit area.

Abstract: A system for embedding positional data (20) in a video signal (18), the system having a mobile object (4), a positioning receiver (10) associated with the mobile object (4) for obtaining positional data (20) on the mobile object (4) from a plurality of positioning satellites (6), a video camera (16) associated with the mobile object (4) for creating the video signal (18), an encoder (12) for receiving the video signal (18) from the video camera (16) and the positional data (20) from the positioning receiver (10) and modulating the positional data (20) within the video signal (18) thereby creating a modulated video signal (22), and a video recorder (15) associated with the mobile object (4) for storing the modulated video signal (22) on a recording medium (14).

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for signal modulation. A plurality of pixels are selected in a pattern such that a first pixel group of the plurality of pixels is unpaired with a second pixel group of the plurality of pixels throughout the pattern in a portion of a video signal. The intensity of the plurality of the pixels is altered at a constant magnitude in the portion of the video signal pursuant to the pattern in a substantially invisible way.

Abstract: A system is described for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of composite video signals from a display device 10 by a hand-held device 12, such as a smart card, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), or mobile phone. Video signals are modulated with auxiliary data creating composite video signals. The users directs the hand-held device 12 toward display device 10 by placing leading edge 18 in the path of the video signal. The composite video signals are then transmitted to and received by a hand-held device 12. Aiming light 24 and/or audio transducer 34 alert the user of hand-held device 12 that auxiliary data is being received. The auxiliary data is then utilized by hand-held device 12. In other embodiments of hand-held device 12, the auxiliary data is received from a decoder box, which in turn transmits the information to device 12 by RF which may be received by the RF antenna 68 of the device.

Abstract: A method for encoding a carrier signal in a video signal, the video signal having one or more frames, the frames each having a first field and a second field, the first field and the second field of each frame having a plurality of scan lines, each having a plurality of pixels with an intensity value indicating brightness, the method comprising selectively designating the plurality of scan lines of the first field of the one or more frames as up lines or down lines, calculating an optimum amount of adjustment to the pixels of the up lines and the down lines, and selectively increasing the intensity value of pixels of the up lines and decreasing the intensity value of pixels of the down lines by the optimum amount of adjustment thereby modulating the video signal with a carrier signal and creating a modulated video signal.

Abstract: A method for modulating one or more fields of video signal (18) with auxiliary signal (20) by use of an encoding improvement, the one or more fields having one or more sub-fields, the one or more sub-fields having a plurality of odd and even scan lines, the plurality of odd and even scan lines having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having an intensity comprising obtaining on encoder (12) the video signal from signal source (10), selectively designating on encoder the plurality of odd and even scan lines as up lines or down lines for at least one of the one or more sub-fields for at least one of the one or more fields, calculating an amount of intensity adjustment for the pixels of the plurality of odd and even scan lines on encoder, and adding intensity to the up lines and subtracting intensity from the down lines according to the amount of intensity adjustment for the pixels of the scan lines of video signal on encoder.

Abstract: A method for encoding a carrier signal in a video signal, the video signal having one or more frames, the frames each having a first field and a second field, the first field and the second field of each frame having a plurality of scan lines, each having a plurality of pixels with an intensity value indicating brightness, the method comprising selectively designating the plurality of scan lines of the first field of the one or more frames as up lines or down lines, calculating an optimum amount of adjustment to the pixels of the up lines and the down lines, and selectively increasing the intensity value of pixels of the up lines and decreasing the intensity value of pixels of the down lines by the optimum amount of adjustment thereby modulating the video signal with a carrier signal and creating a modulated video signal.

Abstract: A system for transmitting a modulated video signal to be presented on a digital display device, the video signal having a first frame and a second frame, the first frame and the second frame each comprised of a plurality of pixels, the system comprising a signal source for generating a video signal, an encoder, the encoder comprising a means for receiving the video signal from the signal source, a means for selectively altering luminance of the pixels of the first frame and the second frame of the video signal to represent a signal presence or signal absence and thereby creating a modulated video signal, and a means for providing the modulated video signal to a broadcast source, and the broadcast source for providing the modulated video signal from the encoder to a digital display device.

Abstract: A system is described for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of auxiliary data by a hand-held device 12, such as a smart card, personal digital assistant (PDA), or mobile phone.

Abstract: An end-user interface system for a computer, telephone or other electronic apparatus used to access the Internet or operating in standalone mode for navigating, displaying, and manipulating folders and files, web page links, and Internet bookmarks, such that each displayed folder, file, web page link, or Internet bookmark is displayed in a cell on a grid. To activate or further explore a particular file, an end-user activates a key on a computer keyboard or numeric keypad of a telephone or other electronic apparatus that corresponds to a particular option located within a cell on the grid. Hierarchical information such as file or folder structure, web site organization, or Internet bookmarks are arranged into the grid configuration. Use of the interface allows the manipulation of hierarchical data structures using a simple keypad having keys which correspond to the physical organization of the displayed grid, thus alleviating the need to use cumbersome or confusing point and click devices.

Abstract: A system is described for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of composite video signals from a display device 10 by a hand-held device 12, such as a smart card, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), or mobile phone. Video signals are modulated with auxiliary data creating composite video signals. The users directs the hand-held device 12 toward display device 10 by placing leading edge 18 in the path of the video signal. The composite video signals are then transmitted to and received by a hand-held device 12. Aiming light 24 and/or audio transducer 34 alert the user of hand-held device 12 that auxiliary data is being received. The auxiliary data is then utilized by hand-held device 12.

Abstract: Improved heat transfer surface for nucleate boiling is produced by metallizing a reticulated organic foam layer placed in contact with a tube or other heat transfer surface so as to form a reticulated metal surface layer which is integrally bonded to the heat transfer surface. The metallized foam layer is then at least partially pyrolyzed to form hollow metal strand portions. The boiling surface so produced is then modified to enhance its long term boiling stability by deforming the hollow strand portions to reduce their minimum internal diameter. In one manufacturing process, suitable small solid particles, which may or may not be permitted to remain in the finished product, are worked into the porous surface of the reticulated metal layer after which the layer is compacted so as to cause the particles to deform the hollow metal strand portions and thereby reduce their ability to carry liquid flow which could "flood out" vapor bubbles trapped in the tips of the hollow strands during a boiling operation.

Abstract: Improved heat transfer surface for nucleate boiling is produced by metallizing a reticulated organic foam layer placed in contact with a tube or other heat transfer surface so as to form a reticulated metal surface layer which is integrally bonded to the heat transfer surface. The metallized foam layer is then at least partially pyrolyzed to form hollow metal strand portions. The boiling surface so produced is then modified to enhance its long term boiling stability by deforming the hollow strand portions to reduce their minimum internal diameter. In one manufacturing process, suitable small solid particles, which may or may not be permitted to remain in the finished product, are worked into the porous surface of the reticulated metal layer after which the layer is compacted so as to cause the particles to deform the hollow metal strand portions and thereby reduce their ability to carry liquid flow which could "flood out" vapor bubbles trapped in the tips of the hollow strands during a boiling operation.

Abstract: An improvement in heat transfer and a reduction in fouling by liquid flowing inside of heat exchanger tubes is achieved by the apparatus and method of the present invention wherein the heat exchanger includes internally ridged or corrugated metal tubes rather than conventional plain tubes. Despite the formation of a normal appearing fouling layer on the downstream portion of a ridge, the ridged tubes remain relatively clear on the upstream portion of the ridge. Periodically, as the downstream portions of the tubing ridge surfaces build up a fouling coating, the flow direction of the tube side fluid is reversed to remove at least a substantial portion of the previously deposited coating.

Abstract: An improvement in heat transfer and a reduction in fouling by liquid flowing inside of heat exchanger tubes is achieved by the apparatus and method of the present invention wherein the heat exchanger includes internally ridged or corrugated metal tubes rather than conventional plain tubes. Despite the formation of a normal appearing fouling layer on the downstream portion of a ridge, the ridged tubes remain relatively clear on the upstream portion of the ridge. Periodically, as the downstream portions of the tubing ridge surfaces build up a fouling coating, the flow direction of the tube side fluid is reversed to remove at least a substantial portion of the previously deposited coating.