Abstract: Tasking systems and methods are provided that support user interfaces for displaying objects, the displayed objects enabling user access to resources that provide for effecting tasks among the system and devices of the systems' environment. More particularly, tasking systems and methods are provided that support the foregoing features, wherein the systems and methods support clustering operations respecting such task-associated objects so as to enhance the effecting of the associated tasks, such clustering operations responding to context. The clustering operations preferably are both adaptive and dynamic. Tasking systems and methods preferably support the tracking of selected states, including, as examples, one or more of environment states, device states, and system states. Tracked states typically also include states respecting other relevant criteria, such as temporal criteria.

Abstract: A remote control, operating an on-screen set-top box (STB) menu, has a force sensitive resistor (FSR) for coarse or free navigation and a keypad, placed around the FSR, for fine navigation. A user gets feedback by a highlighted item or an on-screen cursor when operating the FSR and by the highlighted item for close-by navigation. Pushing down on the FSR, which also doubles as an OK- or select-key, results in the selection of highlighted option.

Abstract: A universal programmable remote control device has programmability functions that enable the end-user to customize the device through editing or programming the device's control functionalities. The programming can be achieved via a PC. The control configuration created via an editor on the PC can be downloaded into the device. The PC has emulator software to test the configuration before downloading. The emulator software and the remote's control software are made identical as a consequence of a software layer that abstracts from the remote's hardware. The emulator for the end-user is thus obtained as an almost free byproduct of the software development phase at the manufacturer.

Abstract: Tasking systems and methods are provided that support user interfaces for displaying objects, the displayed objects enabling user access to resources that provide for effecting tasks among the system and devices of the systems' environment. More particularly, tasking systems and methods are provided that support the foregoing features, wherein the systems and methods support clustering operations respecting such task-associated objects so as to enhance the effecting of the associated tasks, such clustering operations responding to context. The clustering operations preferably are both adaptive and dynamic. Tasking systems and methods preferably support the tracking of selected states, including, as examples, one or more of environment states, device states, and system states. Tracked states typically also include states respecting other relevant criteria, such as temporal criteria.

Abstract: A method for displaying information content enabling user-friendly navigation through content. When the user accesses information content, a cursor is initially positioned such as to indicate an element of information content that was determined from a user's profile. An Internet browser positions the cursor, upon access of a web page, for indicating the hyperlink most frequently requested by the user in given past period.

Abstract: Tasking systems and methods are provided that support user interfaces for displaying objects, the displayed objects enabling user access to resources that provide for effecting tasks among the system and devices of the systems' environment. More particularly, tasking systems and methods are provided that support the foregoing features, wherein the systems and methods support clustering operations respecting such task-associated objects so as to enhance the effecting of the associated tasks, such clustering operations responding to context. The clustering operations preferably are both adaptive and dynamic. Tasking systems and methods preferably support the tracking of selected states, including, as examples, one or more of environment states, device states, and system states. Tracked states typically also include states respecting other relevant criteria, such as temporal criteria.

Abstract: A universal programmable remote is programmed for being used with a specific apparatus. A sequence of test codes is sent to the apparatus until the apparatus responds. The test codes comprise tags that are sent along. The tags fall all within a same narrow frequency band. An STB that is eavesdropping on the transmission is receptive to that band. The STB identifies the last tag and enables a server to identify the complete set of codes for the apparatus based on the tag. Thereupon the set is downloaded and programmed in the remote.

Abstract: In a graphical user interface, preferably for use with a television and set top box, menu navigation is achieved through use of a directional input. From the directional input and a current position, a fitness measure is derived for each menu option. From the fitness measure, a processing device guesses a target menu location. The directional input typically will come from a remote with buttons indicating directions, including diagonal directions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a baby monitor system that incorporates into a receiver of the baby monitor circuitry that can remotely control an electric or electronic device when the output sound level of the receiver reaches a reference level. The control can be by infrared, radio frequency or hardwire transmission of a volume control command to the electric or electronic device. By incorporating this control system into the baby monitor, a parent is ensured to hear sounds of a baby.

Abstract: A digital recording system comprising a digital processor and a memory. The digital processor selects related data packages from a datastream, wherein said related data packages are interleaved with other data packages in the datastream in a repeating cycle. The digital processor stores the selected related data packages in a file in a memory. The same or another processor may creates a playback datastream of the recorded related data packages by retrieving the initially recorded data packages for the recorded related data packages for output in the playback datastream. The processor retrieves and substitutes subsequently recorded related data packages in the playback datastream at the appropriate point to create the playback datastream.

Abstract: A remote control, operating an on screen STB menu, has a FSR for coarse or free navigation and a key-pad, placed around the FSR, for fine navigation. A user gets feedback by means of a highlighted item or an on screen cursor when operating the FSR and by means of the highlighted item for close by navigation. Pushing the FSR that doubles as an OK- or select-key, can result in the highlighted option selection.

Abstract: A mobile phone has a display with a touch screen. The device has a browser and is capable of retrieving a Web page from the Internet. The page is first displayed in its entirety. The user can recognize the page's general lay-out and presence of hyperlinks. When the user touches a particular location on the touch screen that corresponds to a portion of the page's image, the portion gets displayed so as to fill the display's area. Thus, the user can browse the Web with a display of limited size.

Abstract: A baby monitor system incorporated into a receiver of the baby monitor circuitry that can remotely control an electric or electronic device when the output sound level of the receiver reaches a reference level. The control can be by infrared, radio frequency or hardwire transmission of a volume control command to the electric or electronic device. By incorporating this control system into the baby monitor, a parent is ensured to hear sounds of a baby.

Abstract: A universal programmable remote is programmed for being used with a specific apparatus. A sequence of test codes is sent to the apparatus until the apparatus responds. The test codes comprise tags that are sent along. The tags fall all within a same narrow frequency band. An STB that is eavesdropping on the transmission is receptive to that band. The STB identifies the last tag and enables a server to identify the complete set of codes for the apparatus based on the tag. Thereupon the set is downloaded and programmed in the remote.

Abstract: The configuring of CE equipment by the consumer is facilitated by means of delegating the configuring to an application server on the Internet. The consumer enters his/her preferences in a specific interactive Web page through a suitable user-interface of an Internet-enabled device, such as a PC or set-top box or digital cellphone. The application server generates the control data based on the preferences entered and downloads the control data to the CE equipment itself or to the Internet-enabled device.

Abstract: A mobile phone has a display with a touch screen. The device has a browser and is capable of retrieving a Web page from the Internet. The page is first displayed in its entirety. The user can recognize the page's general lay-out and presence of hyperlinks. When the user touches a particular location on the touch screen that corresponds to a portion of the page's image, the portion gets displayed so as to fill the display's area. Thus, the user can browse the Web with a display of limited size.

Abstract: A remote control device for remote control of home theater equipment has a display with a touch screen representing a GUI. User-activation of the GUI causes its appearance to change. The change is effected through animation. Animation is the simulation of movement created by displaying a series of bitmaps. The animation lets the user perceive the change as a smooth transition. Thus the impression is avoided of an abrupt confrontation with a new lay-out.

Abstract: A graphical user interface “touch screen” having an entire collection of icons displayed at a scale in which the individual function of each icon is recognizable, but too small to easily access features of the function, and wherein upon touching the screen area accommodating an area of the icon, the screen provides a zoomed in version of that area so that the user can select a desired feature.

Abstract: A remote control device for a home theater has a macro creation/editing mode with authoring tools on the remote's GUI. One of the editing tools lets the user move a selected macro step visibly up or down the list of steps on the GUI.