Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for control of a catheter (including an ablation catheter), bronchoscope/endoscope and beveled needle. Control of a bronchoscope (100) is calculated for a 3D environment based on capabilities of the bronchoscope and the patient morphology. This can be used to plan and simulate an optimal motion, train or compare surgical techniques or automate the procedure. A particular bronchoscope may be recommended based on its form and flexibility as well as based on the personal morphology of the patient rather than relying on statistical norms. For all tools, a 6 dimensional configuration space problem is solved using 3 storage dimensions and a ‘6D neighborhood’ for path planning. The present invention finds the kinematically feasible path from a ‘start’ to a goal, while avoiding obstacles and dangerous regions.

Abstract: An ingestible electrical capsule system (1400) for acquiring samples along the alimentary tract of a patient is provided. The capsule system (1400) includes a housing (102) having at least one aperture (970); at least one impervious collection chamber (1402) disposed within the housing (102) and having at least one aperture in fluid communication with a respective aperture of the housing (102); and at least one closure member (966). Individual closure members (966) are associated with a respective aperture of the at least one collection chamber (1402), wherein the individual closure members (966) are actuatable between an open state for permitting flow of the fluid through the respective closure member into the associated collection chamber (1402) for acquiring a sample of ambient fluid, and a closed state for substantially blocking flow of fluid into and out of the associated collection chamber (1402) for storing the acquired sample.

Abstract: A method and system (2100) are provided for dispensing radiation to a patient from a location internal to the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recommending a schedule of events to a user is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment of the system and method, each channel schedule is broken down into time slices. A novel fuzzy-now recommendation-time value is calculated for each time slice. This fuzzy-now recommendation-time value is a two dimensional value measured in units of recommendation-time, or “enjoyment minutes”. By means of the calculated fuzzy-now recommendation-time values, recommended schedules may be generated using a wide variety of selection methods.

Abstract: A recommendation system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, the personal schedule of the user is used to modify the recommendation functions of media events. The personal schedule may be entered by the user or determined through monitoring over time. An exemplary recommendation function modification is if a media event ends after the user's bedtime, as indicated by the personal schedule. In this example, the recommendation function of that event will be reduced in value because the user will likely go to bed before the event is over.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing visual information with audio playback includes the steps of selecting a desired audio file from a list stored in memory associated with a display device, sending a signal from the display device to a separate playback device to cause the separate playback device to start playing the desired audio file; and displaying visual information associated with the desired audio file on the display device in accordance with timestamp data such that the visual information is displayed synchronously with the playing of the desired audio file, wherein the commencement of playing the desired audio file and the commencement of the displaying step are a function of the signal from the display device.

Abstract: Real-time events are electronically recommended using a fuzzy-now function of time. Real-time experiencing apparatus can be automatically tuned to a particular real-time event using a surf ring related to recommendations or automatically without a user request. Recommendations can be presented on a remote control device.

Abstract: A video compression process speeds the optimal choice of quantizers for compressing a data stream by setting up the optimization problem as a path-optimization problem in configuration space and finding the lowest cost path through the configuration space. The process begins with a starting node (or “state”) and propagates least-cost waves through the space until a path is completed to the end. The process may continue using uncompleted paths while their costs are less than the end state, beginning with the lowest cost incomplete path, until an improved path is found. The process may further continue, for a time constrained process, until time runs out or all useful possibilities are exhausted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recommending a schedule of events to a user is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment of the system and method, each channel schedule is broken down into time slices. A novel fuzzy-now recommendation-time value is calculated for each time slice. This fuzzy-now recommendation-time value is a two dimensional value measured in units of recommendation-time, or “enjoyment minutes”. By means of the calculated fuzzy-now recommendation-time values, recommended schedules may be generated using a wide variety of selection methods.

Abstract: When a person requests access to a chat session, the time of the request is used to determine which chat room the person is placed. Other parameters are used to determine the surrounding factors, or context, within which the person initiated the request, such as the particular television program that the person was watching at the time of the request. By forming chat rooms based on the time of entry and the context in which the request is made, the chat rooms are likely to contain people with a common topic to discuss, such as the television news story being broadcast at that time. These time-of-entry chat rooms can also be structured to be of limited duration, obviating the overhead burden of deleting topic-specific chat rooms when the topic ceases to be of interest.

Abstract: A method for providing programming information to a viewer. The method includes steps of capturing an image of a broadcast video signal that includes EPG data; extracting programming information from the captured image; storing the extracted programming information; retrieving the stored programming information, including at least a program title that identifies a current program being carried on a channel selected by the viewer; and, displaying both the current program carried on the selected channel and the retrieved programming information on a video display. The capturing, extracting, and storing steps are performed periodically in order to regularly update the stored programming information. Preferably, the displaying step is performed by displaying the retrieved programming information in overlaying relationship to the current program, and is discontinued upon the lapse of a prescribed time period.

Abstract: A computer-based assisted parking system and method for parking a vehicle into a parking space includes at least one sensor arranged to sense a position of the vehicle to be parked in a predetermined area adjacent the vehicle; a sensing system for at least two-dimensional reconstruction of feedback received from the one sensor; a path planning system for determining whether positions of other vehicles adjacent the parking space provide sufficient clearance for the vehicle to be parked and providing a planned path indicating how the vehicle to be parked will be maneuvered; a control system for controlling maneuvering of the vehicle to be parked based on the planned path determined by the path planning system, and the control system controls vehicle steering, direction, speed, and application of brakes, so that the vehicle to be parked is maneuvered into the parking space. Alternatively, directions may be given as the vehicle is parked under the control of the driver.

Abstract: A computer-based assisted parking system and method for parking a vehicle into a parking space includes at least one sensor arranged to sense a position of the vehicle to be parked in a predetermined area adjacent the vehicle; a sensing system for at least two-dimensional reconstruction of feedback received from the one sensor; a path planning system for determining whether positions of other vehicles adjacent the parking space provide sufficient clearance for the vehicle to be parked and providing a planned path indicating how the vehicle to be parked will be maneuvered; a control system for controlling maneuvering of the vehicle to be parked based on the planned path determined by the path planning system, and the control system controls vehicle steering, direction, speed, and application of brakes, so that the vehicle to be parked is maneuvered into the parking space. Alternatively, directions may be given as the vehicle is parked under the control of the driver.

Abstract: Automatic personal advisories relating to traffic conditions are provided at pre-specified times via avenues of communication specified by the users. Use is made of a map database to generate routes and various types of advisories. Traffic conditions may be evaluated by comparing current speed data against nominal speed data.

Abstract: The IP address for requesting data within a data set is changed during the transfer of the data set. This changing address may include the IP addresses of different ports on a server, or may indicate the IP addresses of different servers. The pattern of changes of the IP address is known to both the client and the server(s), and preferably secret from others. Without knowing the pattern of changes of IP addresses, it will be difficult for an eavesdropper to intercept the data set. To further enhance the security of this approach, the server system is configured to expect subsequent requests at the changed IP address. If the subsequent requests do not arrive within a threshold time period, the server system is configured to terminate further access to the data set by the requestor.

Abstract: A recommendation system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, the personal schedule of the user is used to modify the recommendation functions of media events. The personal schedule may be entered by the user or determined through monitoring over time. An exemplary recommendation function modification is if a media event ends after the user's bedtime, as indicated by the personal schedule. In this example, the recommendation function of that event will be reduced in value because the user will likely go to bed before the event is over.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method and apparatus for encoding areas of an image that have definable parameters as graphic objects and then encoding the remaining areas of the image, if any, as a raster scanned image. The invention is particularly well suited for the encoding of an image that has areas that can be described as having a particular texture characteristic. Each area of the image, and subsequent images, that have the particular texture characteristic is encoded with an identifier to the texture characteristic, rather than encoded with the details of the texture itself. Regular texture pattern types, such as bricks, marble, woodgrain, satin, velour, etc. are associated with areas of the image, and the encoding of these areas merely contain an identification of the pattern type. Areas of the image that do not contain regular texture pattern types are encoded as conventional raster scanned areas of the image.

Abstract: To facilitate the framing of an image in a camera's field of view, a mirror system is provided that has a field of reflection that corresponds substantially to the field of view of the camera. If a target person can see his or her reflection in the mirror, the target person is assured that a substantially similar image is being seen by the camera. This invention also includes an integration of the mirror-camera framing system with computer vision applications, such as a teleconferencing system, a recognition system, a broadcast system, and a messaging system with attached images for personalization and authentication. The use of a mirror for image feedback allows the invention to be embodied in a small low powered device, such as a watch, pendant, or portable telephone.

Abstract: When a person requests access to a chat session, the time of the request is used to determine which chat room the person is placed. Other parameters are used to determine the surrounding factors, or context, within which the person initiated the request, such as the particular television program that the person was watching at the time of the request. By forming chat rooms based on the time of entry and the context in which the request is made, the chat rooms are likely to contain people with a common topic to discuss, such as the television news story being broadcast at that time. These time-of-entry chat rooms can also be structured to be of limited duration, obviating the overhead burden of deleting topic-specific chat rooms when the topic ceases to be of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for encoding areas of an image that have definable parameters as graphic objects and then encoding the remaining areas of the image, if any, as a raster scanned image. This method and apparatus is particularly well suited for the encoding of an image that has areas that can be described as having a particular texture characteristic. Each area of the image, and subsequent images, that have the particular texture characteristic is encoded with an identifier to the texture characteristic, rather than encoded with the details of the texture itself. Regular texture pattern types, such as bricks, marble, woodgrain, satin, velour, etc. are associated with areas of the image, and the encoding of these areas merely contain an identification of the pattern type. Areas of the image that do not contain regular texture pattern types are encoded as conventional raster scanned areas of the image.