Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems to provide an enhanced television experience via a receiver that can access both broadcast and Internet content and can combine elements from both into a single enhanced display. Broadcast-delivered and Internet-delivered content elements are aligned in context by extending the data in an electronic program guide to include an Internet Universal Resource Locator (“URL”) for each program. The URL is used by the receiver to access the supplemental content on the Internet corresponding to a specific broadcast program.

Abstract: A video stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the video stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media.

Abstract: A video stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the video stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media.

Abstract: A video stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the video stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media.

Abstract: High quality replay of a streaming multimedia video segment on demand is provided. The multimedia segment may be transmitted as a stream by a server system and received by a client system over a fixed bandwidth communications path. The client system receives a base layer of the stream, decodes the base layer and displays the decoded base layer at a first quality level. The client system stores at least a portion of the base layer in a cache. When a request for replay service for the multimedia segment is received from a user, for high quality replay, the client system may receive at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer. The client system may then read the stored portion of the base layer from the cache, decode the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and display the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level, higher than the first quality level.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus for joining a first panel and a second panel and having an arm that is rotated about an axis normal to the surface of the first panel to rotate the first panel, a shoe biased to follow an edge of the first panel as the first panel is fed to the sewing machine, a detector to monitor the shoe and provide a signal indicative of a longitudinal orientation of the edge of the first panel, and means for adjusting the longitudinal orientation of the first panel with respect to a true feed direction in response to the longitudinal orientation signal. An edge flattener including a generally cylindrical component is provided.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the assembly of pillow-top mattress covers. In the method of this invention, the gussets for a pillow-top mattress cover are prepared in a single step in which the gusset material is folded longitudinally, and the flange material is attached thereto and the gusset material is sewn together in one stitch. Thereafter, a gusset is attached to each of the top and bottom panels of the cover along its outer edge. Each gusset is secured to the underside of its associated top or bottom panel at the folded edge using a blind stitch which is not visible externally of the panel. No gluing is required. During the step of attaching the gusset to its associated mattress cover panel, precisely positioned mitered corners are formed on the gusset where the gusset is to be attached to the corner of its associated panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a partial mattress sack which prevents radial bunching of the mattresses. The method includes the steps of feeding first and second panels having different edge lengths at different rates through a sewing machine to form the partial mattress sack. The apparatus includes a variable speed upper walking foot having an automatic speed adjustment.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the assembly of pillow-top mattress covers. In the method of this invention, the gussets for a pillow-top mattress cover are prepared in a single step in which the gusset material is folded longitudinally, and the flange material is attached thereto and the gusset material is sewn together in one stitch. Thereafter, a gusset is attached to each of the top and bottom panels of the cover along its outer edge. Each gusset is secured to the underside of its associated top or bottom panel at the folded edge using a blind stitch which is not visible externally of the panel. No gluing is required. During the step of attaching the gusset to its associated mattress cover panel, precisely positioned mitered corners are formed on the gusset where the gusset is to be attached to the corner of its associated panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maniuplating and sewing first and second panels together is disclosed including a rotatable arm for rotating a first panel and control means for reducing the stitching speed in response to detection of a comer of the first panel.

Abstract: A method for forming a partial mattress sack which prevents radial bunching includes feeding first and second panels having different edge lengths at different rates through a sewing machine to form the partial mattress sack. An apparatus for sewing the partial mattress sack includes a mechanism for driving upper and lower walking feet at varying rates and a mechanism for driving the upper walking foot at the same speed as a second lower walking foot.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the assembly of pillow-top mattress covers. In the method of this invention, the gussets for a pillow-top mattress cover are prepared in a single step in which the gusset material is folded longitudinally, and the flange material is attached thereto and the gusset material is sewn together in one stitch. Thereafter, a gusset is attached to each of the top and bottom panels of the cover along its outer edge. Each gusset is secured to the underside of its associated top or bottom panel at the folded edge using a blind stitch which is not visible externally of the panel. No gluing is required. During the step of attaching the gusset to its associated mattress cover panel, precisely positioned mitered corners are formed on the gusset where the gusset is to be attached to the corner of its associated panel.

Abstract: The invention comprises improvements to sewing machines for increasing the throat clearance of the machine. The improvements relate to 1) modifications to mechanical components of the machine to increase the throw and upper travel limits of the presser foot, upper feeding foot, needle and spreader, 2) an adjustment for allowing the speed of the upper walking foot to be variable relative to the speed of the lower walking foot, and 3) an improved biasing spring for biasing the presser foot downward.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for use in a sewing machine. The improvements include preloading two pieces of material which are to be sewn together. The preloading is accomplished by positioning pieces of material to be sewn under a gripper spaced from the sewing head on a table while prior pieces of material are being sewn. The gripper engages the material and, when the prior sewing operation is completed, the gripper is moved across the table toward the sewing head to load the preloaded pieces of material. When the two pieces of material are preloaded, most of the material hangs over an edge of the table and the lengths of the pieces of material are determined by movable detectors.