Abstract: A hand-held unit automatically identifies an animal sound, such as a bird call, by comparing an incoming sound with a stored database. The incoming sounds are divided into phrases, and each phrase is characterized by a finite set of parameters. These parameters are used to identify the nature of each phrase, and the animal is identified by searching a database for characteristic patterns of phrases. In another embodiment, a number of such units are located across a wide area, all of the units being connected to a central computer. The computer analyzes the information received from the various units, so as to track the migratory patterns of birds or other animals.

Abstract: An electronic tour guide overcomes the monotony of an automobile trip. The system includes a GPS receiver, a computer, and a database of pre-recorded information. These components may be contained in one housing, and may be permanently installed in a vehicle. The database contains information pertaining to various geographical regions. The computer receives a signal from the GPS indicating the position of the vehicle. The computer then retrieves information from the database, the retrieved information corresponding to the position determined by the GPS receiver. The information is presented to the traveler, either on a video display or through an audio playback unit. The system can therefore provide information on the history, geography, and/or culture, relating to the region through which the vehicle is traveling. The information can be modified to include specific reference to points of interest with respect to the instantaneous position and orientation of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a computer is employed to control the system. The system initially accepts analog signals and converts them into digital signals, which are then compressed, at a DPCM encoder, into a three bit code. Thereafter the once compressed signals are further compressed in accordance with a variable length code. The twice compressed digital signals are transmitted through formatter circuitry whereat a tag is added to indicate (in addition to other information) what forms of compression have been employed on the digital signals which follow the tag. The twice compressed and tagged digital signals are forwarded to a buffer storage device. The role of the buffer storage is to keep a relatively constant supply of data signals so that there is a relatively constant supply of pels moving to the transmitter at a constant frequency. The computer monitors the buffer fullness and the rate at which it is being loaded or is emptying.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for data compression in a digital facile document transmission system. In accordance with the method, only alternate scan lines are transmitted, i.e., every other line is deleted in transmission, and at the receiver, the missing scan lines are interpolated from the transmitted data. This compression technique provides a fixed compression ratio of 2 to 1 regardless of the complexity of the input document. The interpolation method relies on comparing, for each picture element to be interpolated, the colors of one or more pairs of adjacent picture elements of the transmitted scan lines and making a decision as to the color of the picture element to be interpolated on this basis.

Abstract: A facsimile to video converter responds to a high bit rate binary signal and produces a single digital (or analog) signal which represents a plurality of pixels for driving a raster scanned display to thereby generate a visual image represented by the binary signals even though the display has resolution too low to directly accept the binary signals.