Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system to provision to a Recipient a Processed Data Element carrying a Perception related to an individual, the Processed Data Element being generated from data acquired from a networked connected device used by the data subject, where the Processed Data Element is provisioned to the Recipient by the command of the data subject. Prior to the data subject issuing such command, the present invention presents to the data subject information related to the Recipient, or information related to an implication associated with the provisioning of the Processed Data Element to the Recipient. In accordance with many data protection regulations, the command serves as explicit informed consent by the data subject for the Recipient to use the provisioned process Data Element for the benefit of the Recipient.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and system for an entity to receive an inference or profile of characteristics that has been generated from personal or non-personal data related to an individual, where the inference or profile of characteristics has been provisioned to the entity by command of the individual. The provisioning of an inference or profile of characteristics related to the individual by the direct action of the individual, serves as explicit permission for the entity to employ the individual's inference or profile of characteristics for the advancement of the entity's business interests.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and system for an entity to receive an inference or profile of characteristics that has been generated from personal or non-personal data related to an individual, where the inference or profile of characteristics has been provisioned to the entity by command of the individual. The provisioning of an inference or profile of characteristics related to the individual by the direct action of the individual, serves as explicit permission for the entity to employ the individual's inference or profile of characteristics for the advancement of the entity's business interests.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for effecting targeted access to anonymous users of a network is provided. A second entity delineates parameters of an audience with heightened interest in an offering, and a first entity provides the second entity with access to an audience accordant with these parameters. Consumer data collected by a network connected appliance used by an appliance user is linked with an appliance user anonymous identifier, and communicated to the first entity. Using the parameters, the first entity analyzes the collected consumer data and aggregates the appliance user's anonymous identifier with anonymous identifiers of other appliance users, thereby generating an aggregate set of anonymous identifiers that point to members of the audience. This set is marked with an identification code that is communicated to the second entity that can be used by the second entity to gain access to the audience through the first entity.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for effecting targeted access to users of network connected appliances, and providing a measurement of the affect of such access, is described. A second entity supplies targeted consumer attributes of network connected appliance users who may have a heightened interest in a product or service of the second entity, a message promoting such product or service, and message impact criteria, to a first entity. The first entity communicates the message from the second entity to the appliance users without compromising the security and privacy of the appliance users. Measurements of the affect of such message, based on the message impact criteria and collected consumer data communicated from the appliance users' network connected appliances to the first entity, are communicated to the second entity.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for consumer authorized collection and communication of consumer data, while facilitating compliance with government consumer privacy legislation and regulations, is provided. Authorization is obtained from a user of a network connected appliance to collect and communicate to other entities consumer data resulting from the user's use of the appliance. The data is encrypted, linked with an appliance user anonymous identifier and communicated to a first entity, where it is analyzed by the use of defined parameters. Based on this analysis, the anonymous identifier of the appliance user is aggregated with anonymous identifiers linked with the consumer data of other appliance users whose consumer data has at least one parameter in common with the consumer data of the appliance user. The aggregate set of anonymous identifiers is provisioned to a second entity by the first entity.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling the use of data stored on a media or integrated circuit sample are provided. A sample identifier is created at the point of sample use. The type of sample could range from storage media, such as a Digital Video Disc, or DVD, on which, for example, data representing a motion picture is recorded, to an integrated circuit in which computer code is stored. The sample identifier is stored at a location that is different from where the data is to be employed, and compared with other sample identifiers. The use of the data is controlled based on the results of the comparison.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing coloration artifacts visible in digital images acquired under flash lighting conditions are provided. The coloration artifact problem is addressed by capturing two images of the scene, a first image illuminated by a limited spectral bandwidth flash light source, and a second image illuminated by broad spectral bandwidth flash light source. Pixels of the second image are replaced with selected counterpart pixels from the first image that do not contain the coloration artifact.

Abstract: A virtual multichannel sound system is presented to improve audio reproduction by statically or dynamically conforming signal processing to specific speaker characteristics and/or arrangements. According to one such aspect, one or more dynamic signal processing algorithms driving two or more speakers are altered in response to the relative physical characteristics or arrangements of these speakers, where parameter information for these algorithms is either factory set, user input, or automatically supplied to the processor. Examples of such relative speaker differences include speaker spacing or alignment, speaker or enclosure compliance, and enclosure configuration. Another aspect is to alter the processing algorithms in response to common speaker characteristics for certain conditions of input signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the creation and utilization of unique compressed data stream compositions, structures and formats which allow for the alteration of the data stream's data rate without first decoding the data stream back to its uncompressed form and then re-encoding the resulting uncompressed data at a different data rate. Such methods and apparatus perform this data rate alteration, known as scaling, such that optimal quality is maintained at each scaled data rate, while performing said scaling with low computational complexity. In addition, the present invention provides for data rate alteration in small increments. A unique application for the disclosed bit rate scaling method and apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A virtual multichannel sound system is presented to improve audio reproduction by statically or dynamically conforming signal processing to specific speaker characteristics and/or arrangements. According to one such aspect, one or more dynamic signal processing algorithms driving two or more speakers are altered in response to the relative physical characteristics or arrangements of these speakers, where parameter information for these algorithms is either factory set, user input, or automatically supplied to the processor. Examples of such relative speaker differences include speaker spacing or alignment, speaker or enclosure compliance, and enclosure configuration. Another aspect is to alter the processing algorithms in response to common speaker characteristics for certain conditions of input signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding watermark data to an input signal is provided. For this method watermark data is embedded into the input signal by modulating elements of the input signal to predefined relationships in reference to other elements of the input signal. By using referential relationships and by using patterned sequences, one or more bits of data can robustly be embedded. Further, a method and apparatus for recovering data embedded by the method and apparatus of the present invention, are also provided. To recover the embedded data, differences between elements of the input signal to reference elements of the signal are calculated and checked against predefined relationships. Predefined relationships thus found are used to recover pieces of the embedded information.

Abstract: Primarily in order to discourage compression of data of signals intended for interfacing with humans, such as those containing audio content, particularly music, and thus to discourage the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of such content, such as over the Internet, the signal data is modified in a manner that is normally not perceptible to humans when the signal is reproduced but which causes the signal to be significantly degraded in a manner that is perceptible if the signal is later compressed and decompressed. In one embodiment, an audio signal is modified directly in a manner that causes significant degradation of the signal if it is compressed and subsequently decompressed.

Abstract: A system and method for decoding and displaying a video bitstream representing video images and displaying the video images. The present invention discloses a split memory manager design which is particularly adapted to display MPEG-2 format video images. In addition, the present invention discloses a novel way of managing the video memory used in a video decode and display system. Finally, an intraframe video data compression system and method is disclosed to complement the disclosed video decoding and displaying system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method receive and process information, and adapt the operational characteristics of the processing in response to material included in the received information. More particularly, the apparatus and method embody a software-controlled process which adapts or modifies the software in response to the received information. One embodiment is described in connection with a motion picture film which carries a conventional analog SVA soundtrack and a digital soundtrack with a digital representation of software required to properly process the digital soundtrack.

Abstract: Analog sound tracks are recorded on a single one of the three dye layers present in a color motion picture film, one of the same dye layers that is used for the color picture information. The single dye layer, preferably the cyan dye layer, is read out using a narrow spectrum, substantially monochromatic light source, preferably a red light-emitting diode (LED), the spectrum of which is such as to be maximally absorbed by the dye layer and to remain well within the absorption range of the dye layer even when the dye layer color characteristics vary among film batches. The resulting lower-cost and environmentally-safer silverless analog-audio soundtracks have playback characteristics extremely close to conventional analog audio soundtracks prepared with silver.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method for receiving and processing information, and for adapting the operational characteristics of the processing in response to material included in the received information. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method embodying a software-controlled process which adapts or modifies the software in response to the received information. Although the invention has many applications, the invention is more particularly described in connection with a motion picture application in which film stock carries a conventional analog SVA soundtrack and a digital soundtrack with a digital representation of the software required to properly process the digital soundtrack.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to media carrying symbols representing digital information, the recovery from media of symbols representing digital information and the establishment of the digital information represented by such symbols. While the present invention has many applications, it is more particularly described in connection with preferred embodiments in which the symbols are recovered from and carried by tape- and disk-based storage media in which the symbols are arranged in spiral, concentric, parallel or linear tracks.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.