Abstract: A Unistrokes symbollogy in which strokes of like profile (i.e., strokes that are distinguished from each other by their rotational orientation) are rotationally offset from each other by at least 90° is provided. This provides a sufficient tolerance for disambiguating these strokes when they are written into hand-held pen computers and the like by users having widely divergent hand writing styles.

Abstract: A document generating method and system is provided for autonomous selection and communication of information drawn from a varying data stream, keyed by a set of predetermined subjects corresponding to a parameter profile. An original set of predetermined subjects is selected comprised of contents which are updated over time to comprise the varying data stream. A user selects a subset of the original set to form a parameter profile. Incidental to the user generating a first document, a second document is generated comprised of data segments extracted from the subset. The first and second documents are associated and contemporaneously communicated to the user. Preferably, the subject invention is applicable to printed documents and the associating comprises identifying a white space within the first document and disposing the second document within that white space.

Abstract: A Unistrokes symbollogy in which strokes of like profile (i.e., strokes that are distinguished from each other by their rotational orientation) are rotationally offset from each other by at least 90° is provided. This provides a sufficient tolerance for disambiguating these strokes when they are written into hand-held pen computers and the like by users having widely divergent hand writing styles.

Abstract: The method and system of this invention analyzes a document to generate margin or end notes of references to portions of other documents and other portions of the same documents that relate to annotated passages in the document or to the entire document. The method and system of the invention is responsive to the annotation of a passage of a document to generate a query that retrieves portions of documents that have similar content to the annotated passage. The retrieved portions are made available to the reader through selectable links placed in the margin near the annotated passage in a display of the document. Additionally, the method and system of the invention provides end notes with links to portions that are similar in content to the overall content of the annotated document. The method and system of the invention assists the reader by passively generating selectable links to related portions to assist the user in relating the new document to other portions of documents.

Abstract: A Unistrokes symbollogy in which strokes of like profile (i.e., strokes that are distinguished from each other by their rotational orientation) are rotationally offset from each other by at least 90° is provided. This provides a sufficient tolerance for disambiguating these strokes when they are written into hand-held pen computers and the like by users having widely divergent hand writing styles.

Abstract: A positioning system including a light source, infrared beacon and controller. The infrared beacon broadcasts a signal. The positioning system may be used with a portable computing device.

Abstract: An infrared beacon assembly includes a light source removeably attachable to lighting fixtures that supply electrical power. A voltage converter is connected to the light source to provide a reduced supplied voltage. The infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal.

Abstract: A physical positioning system for a portable computing device equipped with an infrared receiver includes a light source removably attachable to a lighting fixture that supplies electrical power at a determined voltage. The light source has an attached voltage converter to provide a reduced supplied voltage. An infrared beacon is powered at the reduced supplied voltage through an electrical connection to the voltage converter. The infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal representative of a physical location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the location of an object. An object to be located can be provided with an object locator that includes a display. When the object locator receives a signal indicating that the object associated with the object locator is to be located, the display changes display state to provide a visual indication that the signal has been received. The object locator can be ambient energy-powered, and the display can be a bistable display, such as a rotating element display device.

Abstract: A personal storage device for receipt, storage, and transfer of digital information to other electronic devices has a pocket sized crush resistant casing with a volume of less than about ten cubic centimeters. A processor is positioned within the casing cavity and attached to the crush resistant casing, while a memory module also positioned within the casing cavity is configured to store received executable applications and data. An infrared transceiver is mounted on the crush resistant casing and in electronic communication with the processor and memory module to provide for receipt and storage of executable applications, and receipt, storage, and transfer of digital information to other electronic devices. The digital information stored by the personal storage device can be intermittently synchronized with other electronic devices.

Abstract: As an electronic pen (16) moves across a display screen (12), a position resolver (14) generates a series of x,y-coordinate positions which are sent to a remote computer system (20) having a relatively high latency or time delay before the positions are processed and intended display information is returned to the memory cells of a memory array (24) which controls the display on the display screen (12). During the time delay, a temporary display of the trajectory is created, preferably in light gray or another distinguishable color. Each x,y-coordinate position is compared (32) with an immediately preceding coordinate position to determine whether the pen has moved. If so, the new coordinate is stored in a memory (36) which stores a preselected number of the most recent coordinate positions and to a toggle circuit (38) which toggles a preselected bit of the display information stored in the corresponding memory cell of the memory array.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system of multiple devices and multiple users, wherein the identity and location of each device and user may be known to the system. A method is described for establishing media connections between at least a first user and a second user based on the context of the system and the environment of the particular device, computing devices, or users. The system receives a media connection request from the first user, including information indicating the first user preferences for media, and identifies the intended recipient user or users. The location and media devices in proximity to each of the users is determined, and the preset profiles and policies of the users involved are determined. Each user may specify acceptable media connections and contextual attributes. When the contextual attributes and acceptable media connections for each user are consistent, media device communications paths are established.

Abstract: A method for one button searching long lists is initiated by depressing a first search button to initiate a first mode scrolling search of a plurality of list members ordered in a list. Each list member is sequentially displayed on a small display, with the display typically being a handheld device capable of simultaneously displaying ten lines of alphanumeric characters. A second mode scrolling search is initiated after maintenance of the first search button in a depressed state and elapse of a first predetermined time interval of about one second. In the second mode scrolling search, a selected subset of list members, each having a same first letter, is ordered by their second letters for sequential display. A third mode scrolling search commences after maintenance of the first search button in a depressed state and elapse of another second, with selected subset of list members ordered by their first letter for sequentially display.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically monitoring contextual information concerning users and machines, including state and locational information including proximity. Interaction policies, including user specified interaction policies, may be registered on an identifiable address path. Methods are described for detecting, selecting and controlling computercontrolled devices, based on the proximity of the device to the user, the current context of the user, the location of other nearby users and devices, and the current state of the devices. Temporary transfer of control, including exclusive control, of particular computers and computer controlled devices to individual users based on the context and environment in proximity to those computing devices is also described.