Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, two or more analyzers positioned to receive light beams as they are emitted from the panels of a color management system. The analyzers are positioned to receive the light beams directly from the image assimilators before the light has passed through another optical element such as a light combiner. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the incoming light beams. By positioning the analyzers to receive the light beams directly from the image assimilators, i.e., prior to passage through other optical elements, the analyzers are able to remove substantially all of the noise before it has become indistinguishable, on the basis of polarization, from the light that comprises the desirable image. Accordingly, this embodiment produces images having dramatically improved levels of contrast relative to prior art systems.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for controlling the audio broadcast to users participating in a group conversation. In one embodiment, a communications server employs arbitration logic to decide which of the user has priority to speak, and accordingly mixes only the audio data steams for those users for broadcast to all users. The server can send notification to the user interfaces to inform the users of their current priority status and to allow the users to request that their priority be increased, decreased, eliminated, or passed on for the benefit of another user. A user may also attempt at his user interface to affect the priority of identified other users by informing the arbitration logic of a rating for that user. Additionally, a systems administrator may also arbitrate user priorities, either at his discretion or in conjunction with suggestions provided by the arbitration logic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is discloses for providing a substantially uniform, homogenous, polarized light. A beam of substantially un-polarized light is provided by a conventional light source. The un-polarized light is converted to at least four real images by using a light pipe and appropriate lensing. Each of the real images have a light region and one more dark regions at a first image plane. A portion of light from a light region in each real image is directed to one or more dark regions in each of the real images in a polarization dependent manner and the altered image is into a single image of substantially polarized light.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for allowing participants within a group conversation on a wireless communication network to at least temporarily break away from a group conversation and hold a side bar conversation. The side bar conversation may comprise several different types, including a public conversation (much like the original group conversation) or may constitute a private conversation (much like a standard phone call) or private text messaging or data exchange. A group conversation user wishing to hold the side bar conversation uses his user interface to alert other group conversation user(s) with whom he would like to hold the side bar conversation. Either the initiating user or the recipient user(s) can recommend the type of side bar conversation to be had using their user interfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling communications in a wireless communications network on the basis of user-specified locations or orientations, having particular utility to vehicle-based communications. Users of the network broadcast their locations and orientations (headings) to a central server. Using his user interface, a user can specify either a location or a heading and transmit the same to the server. The server will query other system users to determine which correspond to the specified locations or orientations, and the requesting user is then permitted to contact such other users. With such functionality, a given user can, for example, be enabled to communicate with other users at or near his current location, at or near some specified distant location, or that are traveling in the same direction as the user.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for organizing communications in a vehicular wireless communication system. In one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for operating a communication system in a first vehicle in which a microphone or microphones are selectively enabled to preferentially pick up the voice of only a particular participant in a vehicle. In other embodiments, user IDs are associated with the speaking participants, which allows a recipient receiving the voice communications to known who in the vehicle is speaking, and to block or modify such communications if necessary.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for using user IDs to enter a personalized communication profile into a communication user interface, and preferably a vehicle-based communication user interface. In one embodiment, the user IDs correspond to switches, which may comprises switches within the vehicle or on devices in wireless communication with the vehicle, such as a key fob. The key fob code can either constitute the user ID or can be user to retrieve it from either the vehicle's head unit or a communications server. The switch may be dedicated to inputting the user ID, or may comprise switches also serving other functions, such as seat adjustment of the vehicle. The user ID can also be loaded using a display associated with the user interface. Additionally, the user ID may also be retrieved using a voice recognition module, which allows for loading of the communication profile without the necessity of pressing switches.

Abstract: A system and procedure for posting and receiving location-based messages in a wireless communication based network. The system allows messages to be posted to specified users and to be associated with a particular location for which the message is pertinent. The messages can be left when a user passes a particular location, or the user can specify the location for the message even if not present at that location. The messages can then be displayed at a user interface of the recipient either when the recipient nears that location, or they can be reviewed in advance. Such location-based messages can be left either for another user or for the same user that is posting the method. The posted and received messages can be textual, audio, video, or pictorial messages and may be superimposed on computerized maps to make association between the message and the location more meaningful. Regardless, the disclosed system and methods allow messages to be associated with particular locations of interest.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for allowing a user to post a route to another mobile user or to himself. In one embodiment, a user engages his user interface to record and transmit the traveled route to a second user or to himself at a later time. The recipient receives the route in accordance with his user ID and other parameters specified or messages left by the initiating user. The route can be displayed on a map, in text, or audibly broadcast. In an alternative embodiment, the route can be left by a non-mobile user for the benefit of a mobile user using, for example, a home computer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for organizing communications in a vehicular wireless communication system. In one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for modifying communications broadcast within a vehicle. In one embodiment, the volume of the broadcast communications are scaled or modified in a manner to indicate the distance of the recipient of the communications. In another embodiment, broadcast communications are selectively broadcast through those speakers that are closest to the recipient of the communications in accordance with the angular orientation of the vehicle to the recipient. In another embodiment, the distance or angular orientation of the recipient is displayed on a user interface in the vehicle. In yet another embodiment, only the speakers are engaged in the vehicle that is nearest to the passenger that initiates the communication with the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively enabling communications at a user interface using a user profile. The system and methods have particular utility to communication user interfaces in vehicles but may be used with other wireless user interfaces as well. In one embodiment, a user uses his user interface to define a user profile indicative of the types of communication channels he wishes to receive. This user profile is transmitted to a communications server and is used to filter all potential channels so that the user only has access to those channels potentially of interest. User preferences specified in the user profile may be, for example, topical, commercial, weather, traffic, or emergency in nature, and can be stored for future reference. The user may also prioritize preferred or received channels so that they are given precedence at his user interface.

Abstract: A communications system for a vehicle having a foot pedal useable to control communications at a user interface in the vehicle. By controlling the user interface at least in part through activation of the foot pedal, communications in the vehicle are made more convenient and less dangerous as the user need not use his hands to operate the communications user interface. The foot pedal may perform a dedicated communications control function, or may be programmable to perform a communications control function of a user's choosing. Several foot pedals may be used, either in conjunction with a single seat, or each associated with a particular seat in the vehicle. Foot pedal communication settings may also be stored within the communications user interface for easy retrieval, and may be retrievable through entry of a user ID, such as may come from a key fob.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes a beamsplitter positioned to receive a light beam, a microdisplay positioned to receive the light beam from the beamsplitter and emit a modified light beam to the beamsplitter, and a plurality of prisms positioned to receive the modified light beam from the beamsplitter and emit a light output that compensates for an optical aberration induced by the beamsplitter.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, two or more analyzers positioned to receive light beams emitted from corresponding image assimilators, which each comprise a transmissive panel and a polarizing beamsplitter. Each analyzer is positioned to receive a light beam directly from an associated image assimilator before the light has passed through another optical element such as a light combiner. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the incoming light beams. These closely-coupled analyzers are able to remove substantially all of the noise before it has become indistinguishable, on the basis of polarization, from the light that comprises the desirable image. In an exemplary embodiment, an optical isolator is positioned to receive both a light output from a color management system and a reflection of the light output. The optical isolator is configured for isolating the light output from the reflection.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes an image assimilator and an analyzer. The image assimilator comprises a panel that produces a light beam comprising spatial information. The image assimilator also comprises a field lens positioned to receive the light beam and configured to emit a converging light beam whose cross-sectional area decreases with distance from the field lens. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of image assimilators and associated analyzers are included, each having a field lens for emitting a converging light beam. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the converging light beams. In addition, the converging nature of the field lens emitted light beams enables the size of the analyzers and other downstream components to be minimized. Accordingly, this embodiment produces images having dramatically improved levels of contrast with reduced size relative to prior art systems.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, two or more analyzers positioned to receive light beams emitted from corresponding image assimilators, which each comprise a transmissive panel and a polarizing beamsplitter. Each analyzer is positioned to receive a light beam directly from an associated image assimilator before the light has passed through another optical element such as a light combiner. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the incoming light beams. These closely-coupled analyzers are able to remove substantially all of the noise before it has become indistinguishable, on the basis of polarization, from the light that comprises the desirable image. In an exemplary embodiment, an optical isolator is positioned to receive both a light output from a color management system and a reflection of the light output. The optical isolator is configured for isolating the light output from the reflection.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, a separating polarizing beamsplitter, a compensating prism group, an image assimilator, and a combining polarizing beam splitter. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the separating polarizing beamsplitter receives a bi-oriented light input and separates it into two output beams, one comprising a first component and the other comprising a second component. The image assimilator receives an output light beam from the separating polarizing beamsplitter, transmits the light output to one or more corresponding microdisplays, receives one or more modified outputs from the microdisplays, and emits an output comprising those modified outputs to a combining polarizing beamsplitter.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes an image assimilator and an analyzer. The image assimilator comprises a panel that produces a light beam comprising spatial information. The image assimilator also comprises a field lens positioned to receive the light beam and configured to emit a converging light beam whose cross-sectional area decreases with distance from the field lens. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of image assimilators and associated analyzers are included, each having a field lens for emitting a converging light beam. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the converging light beams. In addition, the converging nature of the field lens emitted light beams enables the size of the analyzers and other downstream components to be minimized. Accordingly, this embodiment produces images having dramatically improved levels of contrast with reduced size relative to prior art systems.

Abstract: A unique method for providing entertainment to a portable device, such as a wireless communication device, is disclosed. The method includes steps of receiving location information related to said wireless communication device; providing challenges associated with a game to a user of a wireless communication; providing rewards in response to answers based upon the location of said wireless communication device. The method finds particular application in vehicles having telematics communications products.

Abstract: A method for reducing the PAR of a composite carrier includes obtaining the in-phase and quadrature components for each of the carriers in the composite carrier, computing vector magnitudes corresponding to each carrier, then adding the vector magnitudes and comparing the resulting sum to a threshold. If the sum exceeds the threshold, at least of the one of the carriers are attenuated, thereby reducing the PAR of the composite carrier. In one embodiment, only the carrier or carriers having significantly larger vectors are attenuated. The pre-calculation and the subsequent attenuation process allows the composite carrier PAR to be reduced to avoid peak regrowth when the carriers are ultimately combined and transmitted.