Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for graphically displaying the noise level on each WLAN channel, along with the arrangement of other (neighboring) wireless host devices on each channel with their respective signal strengths as a distance indicator. As a result, collected information may be gathered and displayed intuitively to allow a user to quickly assess the environment and manually configure the wireless host device. In addition, methods and apparatuses are provided for suggesting to a user or automatically selecting a wireless host device configuration based on the noise level on each WLAN channel and the arrangement of other wireless host devices on each channel with consideration of their respective signal strengths. As a result, an optimal configuration for a deployed wireless host device may be determined and consistently suggested or automatically configured.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for graphically displaying the noise level on each WLAN channel, along with the arrangement of other (neighboring) wireless host devices on each channel with their respective signal strengths as a distance indicator. As a result, collected information may be gathered and displayed intuitively to allow a user to quickly assess the environment and manually configure the wireless host device. in addition, methods and apparatuses are provided for suggesting to a user or automatically selecting a wireless host device configuration based on the noise level on each WLAN channel and the arrangement of other wireless host devices on each channel with consideration of their respective signal strengths. As a result, an optimal configuration for a deployed wireless host device may be determined and consistently suggested or automatically configured.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing digital media playback at multiple digital media playback devices interconnected on a network is provided. A digital media playback device comprising a processor, a synchronization component, a timekeeper component and a digital media source performs synchronization processes to arrange for other players to begin playback at a predetermined position and time in the digital media signal. Synchronization is accomplished by processes which approximate the arrival time of a packet containing audio and/or video digital content across the network and instruct the playback devices as to when playback is to begin, and at what point in the streaming media content signal to begin playback. One method uses a time-stamp packet on the network to synchronize all players. Other methods utilize reiterative processes to narrow approximations of packet arrival time at each playback device.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing digital media playback at multiple digital media playback devices interconnected on a network is provided. A digital media playback device comprising a processor, a synchronization component, a timekeeper component and a digital media source performs synchronization processes to arrange for other players to begin playback at a predetermined position and time in the digital media signal. Synchronization is accomplished by processes which approximate the arrival time of a packet containing audio and/or video digital content across the network and instruct the playback devices as to when playback is to begin, and at what point in the streaming media content signal to begin playback. One method uses a time-stamp packet on the network to synchronize all players. Other methods utilize reiterative processes to narrow approximations of packet arrival time at each playback device.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing digital media playback at multiple digital media playback devices interconnected on a network is provided. A digital media playback device comprising a processor, a synchronization component, a timekeeper component and a digital media source performs synchronization processes to arrange for other players to begin playback at a predetermined position and time in the digital media signal. Synchronization is accomplished by processes which approximate the arrival time of a packet containing audio and/or video digital content across the network and instruct the playback devices as to when playback is to begin, and at what point in the streaming media content signal to begin playback. One method uses a time-stamp packet on the network to synchronize all players. Other methods utilize reiterative processes to narrow approximations of packet arrival time at each playback device.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for controlling a PC from an interactive TV display. The system includes a network which interconnects a TV set-top-box (STB) to a PC. The STB includes a network interface so as to communicate with the network, a remote control receiver, a display controller, and a CPU. A remote control transmits a user's commands to the remote control receiver in the STB, which forwards the commands to a client software application resident in the PC. The client software interprets the commands and causes the PC to perform various programmatic steps. Images of the PC screen display are sent across the network to the STB from the PC by the client software application, where the display controller displays these images on the TV. An interactive virtual mouse, controllable by commands transmitted from the remote control, is superimposed on the images being displayed on the TV.

Abstract: A system and method that selectively discards contents of a buffer memory containing audio-visual digital media content in response to a media switching event. The system includes at least one server in communication with a digital media source and connected to a network. At least one receiver is also connected to the network and includes a display device that presents audible and visual information to a user. The buffer memory can be located in either the receiver, server or both devices. Upon generation and detection of the media switching event, the contents of the buffer are discarded so as to minimize the time-delay of changing the display information.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing digital media playback at multiple digital media playback devices interconnected on a network is provided. A digital media playback device comprising a processor, a synchronization component, a timekeeper component and a digital media source performs synchronization processes to arrange for other players to begin playback at a predetermined position and time in the digital media signal. Synchronization is accomplished by processes which approximate the arrival time of a packet containing audio and/or video digital content across the network and instruct the playback devices as to when playback is to begin, and at what point in the streaming media content signal to begin playback. One method uses a time-stamp packet on the network to synchronize all players. Other methods utilize reiterative processes to narrow approximations of packet arrival time at each playback device.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of allocating clusters of a disk or other computer readable medium containing a plurality of clusters to minimize fragmentation. To accomplish this, at least one available block is identified in the computer readable medium. Each block includes one or more contiguous available clusters, where each cluster comprises one or more units of storage space. A request is received to allocate one or more clusters to a file. At least one of the available blocks is selected based on a location of the available block. At least some of the clusters are allocated, and the file is written to the allocated clusters.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the temperature parameters of an ISFET that uses hydrogenated amorphous silicon as a sensing film, which uses the measurements of the temperature parameters and the source/drain current and gate voltage in an unknown solution to sense the ion concentration and the pH value of the unknown solution.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the throughput of video input and output operations in a computer system is provided. In a memory mapped video environment the preferred embodiment increases the speed of video access by redirecting the video I/O to system RAM and updating the actual memory mapped video asynchronously. Thus full CPU speed is attained in assembling the images, while the screen image is copied to video memory in the background and while the CPU is idle.