Abstract: A method for enabling interoperability between a first device and a second device in a network, such as a HAVi-compatible network, provides advantages over conventional methods. According to an aspect of the invention, a user input requesting the second device to decode data is received via the first device. The first device causes an initial portion of the data to be transmitted from a data source to the first device. The first device detects a data format exhibited by the initial portion of the data. The first device also causes the initial portion of the data and a remaining portion of the data to be sequentially transmitted to the second device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the second device decodes the initial portion of the data, and then decodes the remaining portion of the data. The initial and remaining portions of the data may include video and/or audio data.

Abstract: A tool to be used with a search engine for a information management system includes methods for refining, filtering, and organizing search queries and search results. A query tuner in the tool allows a user to automatically reformulate a query in order to find a reasonable number of matching documents from the search engine by selectively modifying individual search terms to be weaker or stronger and concurrently requesting a plurality of searches, each with a respectively different modified query. The tool also uses a dynamic filter which employs a dynamic set of record tokens to restrict the results of an arbitrary search query to selectively include or exclude records which correspond to the set of record tokens. The tool also includes a results organizer which aids the user in understanding and visualizing a large number of matching documents returned in response to a search query by clustering like items returned from the search.

Abstract: Relationships among a plurality of web pages are indicated to a plurality of users. Icons are displayed, each of which corresponds to one of the web pages. Data associated with each of the pages is maintained for each of the users. This data may exist in the web page or be entered as a notation by each user. Data maintained locally for one user can be provided to another user. Web pages which have already been accessed are also indicated. A map is provided to guide the user so that the user may know which web pages have been accessed, which web pages are to be accessed next and what each web page means to the user Icons are added to the map for each material accessed. Links between icons may be established by the user or by the creator of the map. These links are displayed on the map as a user traverses among the accessible materials.

Abstract: Inventive two-dimensional barcodes, each having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. The bitmap may further include a plurality of block identifiers, spaced a predetermined number of encoded data bits apart, which are used to make corrections for missing or added data bits when the barcode is decoded. Upon decoding a barcode printed on the printed media, the digital information is scanned and the number of horizontal and vertical edges in each respective column and row of the barcode are determined. An edge is determined by selecting a pixel and determining if the two pixels adjacent to the selected pixel are of different colors. After all of the edges are counted, selected groups of columns and rows are analyzed to determine local minimas in the number of counted horizontal and vertical edges in each selected group which provide the column and row center line for each selected group.

Abstract: Inventive two-dimensional barcodes, each having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. The bitmap may further include a plurality of block identifiers, spaced a predetermined number of encoded data bits apart, which are used to make corrections for missing or added data bits when the barcode is decoded. Upon decoding a barcode printed on the printed media, the digital information is scanned and the number of horizontal and vertical edges in each respective column and row of the barcode are determined. An edge is determined by selecting a pixel and determining if the two pixels adjacent to the selected pixel are of different colors. After all of the edges are counted, selected groups of columns and rows are analyzed to determine local minimas in the number of counted horizontal and vertical edges in each selected group which provide the column and row center line for each selected group.

Abstract: An inventive page encoding, printing, retrieval and archiving system and method wherein document information designators are encoded for pages. The designator includes information regarding the location of the digital representation of the page and optionally includes page generation and reproduction information. An enhanced copier or facsimile machine scans the printed designator and retrieves the stored digital representation of the page and outputs a "subsequent original" of the page. In the alternative, when the copier cannot directly access the digital representation of the page, the enhanced copier can decode the page generation and reproduction information found in the designator and apply the information to production of a high quality photocopy.