Abstract: A system and method for data maintenance and privilege authorization is presented. An accessibility database server receives an accessibility record request from a requestor that includes a user identifier and a requestor identifier. The requestor identifier may correspond to a user, a healthcare practitioner server, an insurance server, a transcoding proxy server, a portal server, a web server, an advertisement server, or a service provider. The accessibility database server compares the accessibility record request with the requestor's access permission to determine whether the requestor has access corresponding to the particular request. If the requestor is authorized for the particular request, the accessibility database server processes the accessibility record request.

Abstract: A method and system using for establishing an intermediary connection between a client device and a secure website using a web proxy machine. In the preferred embodiment, a secure connection is established between the web proxy and the secure content server. A response from the content server, typically in HTML format, is sent to the proxy machine through a secure connection. The proxy machine is then able to manipulate the secure response from the secure server, in ways such as transcoding the response to a format readable by the user device, storing sensitive financial data in cookies in the proxy machine, and to return a response from the content provider to the client device with or preferably without cookies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining a three dimensional image in a data processing system. An object is presented, wherein the object includes a set of views for different angles of view for the object. In response to a user input to traverse a view from the set of views, a depth map is transcoded for the view into a non-visual output. In response to other user inputs to present other views from the set of views, depth maps from those views are transcoded into non-visual outputs. In this manner, a visually impaired user is able to perceive a 3-dimensional object.

Abstract: A system for removing and saving in an intermediary web server Internet cookies being transmitted from a web content server to a client device. Internet cookies, being persistent client data for a specific user and a specific content provider, typically contain sensitive data, including a history of past purchases or financial information about the user such as a credit card number. To protect the security of the cookies, and to allow an authorized user to use the cookies from multiple devices, such as different desktop computers, PDA's or cellular telephones, the cookies are removed from the data response from the web content server and stored in an intermediary web server, where they are accessible to the user.

Abstract: A method and system that provide an accessibility gateway to the Internet through the use of a web intermediary server, which may belong to a different domain than the web content server. The web intermediary server includes server-generated applications for modifying accessibility settings for supported client devices, registering the user for authority to use the intermediary server services, and generating web-based, user-specific browser service replacements such as history lists and bookmarks. A request for any web page is sent from the client device to the intermediary server. The intermediary server retrieves the requested web document, and applies user-defined transformations to the web document, which is then sent back to the user device's user agent. If the web document is from a secure web page, the intermediary server functions as a proxy for the user device to establish the requisite secure connection with the web page.

Abstract: A method, program and system for providing access to alternate formats within an electronic document are provided. The invention comprises parsing a web page and creating a document object model (DOM), and then parsing the alternate format attribute of an image element within the DOM. The browser then displays the web page containing an image (or images) according to the default settings of the browser. A user interface is specified which allows the user to select alternate formats for the default image. This user interface may be in the form of a pop up menu that is presented to the user in response to an input command, such as a right mouse click on the default image. The user can then select an alternate format which replaces the original image in the web page. Alternate formats may include text, audio, or tactile formats.

Abstract: A method and system using directive script in a web intermediary proxy machine that provides the function of a transcoder. The intermediary machine's transcoders are controlled by directive script that directs the order and properties of transcoder operations executed on one or more transcoders in the intermediary machine. These directive scripts are stored in an on-the-fly modifiable directive database accessible to the web intermediary proxy machine. The user's client machine browser passes an HTTP request to the web intermediary machine, which passes the HTTP request to a web content server, which returns an HTML response back to the web intermediary machine. This HTML response is sent to at least one transcoder that resides in or is at least accessible to the intermediary proxy machine. The transcoder identifies the type of device being used by the client from the HTTP request.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. An image is received at a receiver communicatively connected via a network to an image server and connected to a display device for output of the image. A translucent style is specified for a particular user at the receiver. A translucent filter overlay is applied over the image according to the translucent style for output to the display device, such that the image output to the display device is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. A selection of a filter for a particular user is received. The filter is applied to at least a portion of an original image. The original image is then graphically displayed overlayed by the filter within a user interface, such that the original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Abstract: A system and method for accessibility accounting services is presented. An advertisement server receives a accounting request corresponding to a user-initiated content transcoding request. The accounting server uses a user identifier that corresponds to the user to determine whether to authorize the content transcoding request. When the accounting server authorizes the content transcoding request, the accounting server tracks transcoding costs associated with the content transcoding request, such as content owner fees and transcoding server fees. On a frequent basis, such as monthly, the accounting server analyzes transcoding costs and bills its customers, such as an insurance server and a user, a transcoding fee.

Abstract: A system and method for accessibility insurance coverage management is provided. An insurance server receives a coverage request from a requestor that includes a user identifier corresponding to a user (i.e. policyholder). The insurance server matches the user identifier with a stored policyholder identifier and retrieves accessibility data corresponding to the matched policyholder identifier. If required, the insurance server updates the policyholder's accessibility data by receiving accessibility data from an accessibility database server. The insurance server identifies the policyholder's coverage using the user's accessibility data along with the user's policy information. The insurance server sends a message to the requester which indicates an amount of the particular item corresponding to the coverage request the insurance server covers. The insurance server receives accessibility service bills on a frequent basis, such as monthly.

Abstract: A system and method for providing accessibility advertisement is presented. An advertisement server receives a request that includes a user identifier. The user identifier corresponds to a user that prefers content to be presented in a particular presentation form. The advertisement server identifies the user's particular presentation form and uses the presentation form to select an electronic advertisement. In addition, the advertisement server may use advertisement data included in an advertisement tracker while selecting the electronic advertisement. The advertisement server stores tracking data in a local storage area corresponding to electronic advertisements, such as the number of times a particular advertisement is provided to a user. The advertisement server may then provide the tracking data to businesses that sponsor the electronic advertisements.

Abstract: A system and method for data maintenance and privilege authorization is presented. An accessibility database server receives an accessibility record request from a requestor that includes a user identifier and a requestor identifier. The requestor identifier may correspond to a user, a healthcare practitioner server, an insurance server, a transcoding proxy server, a portal server, a web server, an advertisement server, or a service provider. The accessibility database server compares the accessibility record request with the requestor's access permission to determine whether the requester has access corresponding to the particular request. If the requester is authorized for the particular request, the accessibility database server processes the accessibility record request.

Abstract: A system and method for accessibility content copyright permission is presented. A copyright server receives a copyright request from a requestor, such as a portal server. The copyright request corresponds to a user requesting a particular content to be transcoded. The copyright server identifies content copyright permissions associated with the requested content that indicate whether it is permissible to transcode the requested content. If the copyright server does not locate content copyright permissions associated with the requested content, the copyright server identifies the owner of the content and sends a message to the content owner requesting content copyright permission. The copyright server receives a response from the content owner, stores the response on a local storage area, and forwards the response to the requester. The content copyright permissions may include an amount of a transcoding fee that the content owner requires in order to transcode the requested content.

Abstract: A computer controlled display interface system is provided for accessing information interactively inaccessible through said display interface comprising means for storing a database model of the dynamic data content of said display interface, means for connecting said display interface to said stored database model, means in said database model for sensing predetermined displayed data content in said interface, and means responsive to said sensing means for providing said information to said interface. The information provided may come from a help library or from a database accessed through an Internet or World Wide Web Browser.

Abstract: A system, method, and program allow the execution of a different response of an application extension manager without modifying the default response of the application extension manager. The application extension manager resides in system memory. The application extension manager allows an execution unit to execute a task or a series of tasks in an ordered list associated with an event. A task is a set of executable instructions associated with an event that may be executed by the execution unit. When an event occurs, the application extension manager acquires the task on top of the ordered list. The acquired task then becomes selected to be executed by the execution unit. The selected task returns a value which indicates whether the application extension manager should proceed to the next task. If the value indicates to proceed to the next task, the next task becomes the selected task and the above stated process is repeated.

Abstract: A described computer network includes a first computer system and a second computer system. The first computer system transmits screen image information and corresponding speech information to the second computer system. The screen image information includes information corresponding to a screen image intended for display within the first computer system. The speech information conveys a verbal description of the screen image. When the screen image includes one or more objects (e.g., menus, dialog boxes, icons, and the like) having corresponding semantic information, the speech information includes the corresponding semantic information. The second computer system responds to the speech information by producing an output (e.g., human speech via an audio output device, a tactile output via a Braille output device, and the like). The semantic information conveyed by the output allows a visually-impaired user of the second computer system to know intended purposes of the objects.

Abstract: A navigation device includes accelerometers for measuring movement. Given a beginning location and orientation, the device determines current location and orientation based on the information from the accelerometers. A user enters a list of items, such as a shopping list, into the device and the device determines a path to the items. The device then generates and presents directions for navigation. The path may be calculated to avoid hazards; such as shelves being stocked, congested checkout lines, and spilled items. The item list may be loaded into the device, using the bar code reader, optical character recognition, or through a store computer or the Internet. Planes of infrared beams are arranged within the environment such that a navigation device is likely to or must pass through a plane. A path may be computed to ensure that the navigation device passes through an IR plane. The navigation device has a plurality of IR sensors arranged in a tetrahedron.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. An image is received at a receiver communicatively connected via a network to an image server and connected to a display device for output of the image. A translucent style is specified for a particular user at the receiver. A translucent filter overlay is applied over the image according to the translucent style for output to the display device, such that the image output to the display device is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. A selection of a filter for a particular user is received. The filter is applied to at least a portion of an original image. The original image is then graphically displayed overlayed by the filter within a user interface, such that the original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.