Abstract: A system and method for automatically analyzing and characterizing Internet search results and annotating a search results page according to specific characteristics of each webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Such characteristics include the composition of each search results webpage as well as which search term elements are present in a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result out of those search term elements that were submitted to a search engine to produce the search results webpage. Further, search results are annotated to indicate which search term elements are present in a descendent webpage of a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Search results may also be optionally filtered according to specific characteristics of a webpage located at a search results URL such that certain categories of webpage are excluded from being referenced in the displayed search results.

Abstract: An Application-Specific Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device or fabric is described for use in applications requiring fast reconfigurability of devices in the field, enabling multiple personalities for re-using silicon resources (like arrays of large multipliers in DSP applications) from moment-to-moment for implementing different hardware algorithms. In a general purpose FPGA device or fabric, this fast reconfigurability is normally implemented by special reconfiguration support circuitry and/or additional configuration memory. Unfortunately, this flexibility requires a large amount of programmable routing resource and silicon area—limiting the viability in volume production applications. This invention describes how multi-program FPGA functionalities may be migrated to smaller die by constructing implementations with a hybrid FPGA/ASIC interconnect structure.

Abstract: A portable energy monitoring point includes at least one power plug receptacle, each power plug receptacle operably coupled to a separate integral power sensor circuit. Each integral power sensor circuit is configured to determine an electrical current drawn by an electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. An integral digital communications circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit to a remote device a power consumption for each of the at least one power plug receptacles. The power consumption is derived from the electrical current drawn by the electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle.

Abstract: A system and method are described to disable texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with that of a registered master phone. If the position and speed track that of the master phone, it is assumed that the user is a passenger and not a driver, and texting is enabled for that user. Texting at speed is disabled for a master phone user who may be an ordinary citizen or may be a professional driver of a mass transit vehicle. The user of a master phone may utilize a different service provider than a passenger. Information parameter measurements such as cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and then passed between service providers or alternately made available to other service providers by way of a central database.

Abstract: According to this invention, a user may capture a media link on any PC and perform this capture function at any physical location, then save the media link in a playlist, and subsequently play the media located at the media link on a TV server. The TV server may be controlled from a local device—typically a PC or a handheld remote control. Playlists may be maintained on a Web playlist function. Software on a local controller device can then select a media link from a Web playlist through the Internet, and the Web playlist function can then pass that link to a local TV server, thus avoiding the need for the controller device and the TV server to communicate through a LAN. Additionally, a playlist may include targeted advertisements shown physically adjacent to related playlist items.

Abstract: A portable energy monitoring point includes at least one power plug receptacle, each power plug receptacle operably coupled to a separate integral power sensor circuit. Each integral power sensor circuit is configured to determine an electrical current drawn by an electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. An integral digital communications circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit to a remote device a power consumption for each of the at least one power plug receptacles. The power consumption is derived from the electrical current drawn by the electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for remote control of a media server computer from a controller device, typically a laptop computer, where remote operation of the media server, including the selection of videos and other digital media may be performed from the controller while normal TV programming (cable, satellite, or broadcast) is viewed on the TV. Other embodiments describe background operations performed on the controller device, the media server, or both, such that new videos may be located on the web or locally on the LAN while a current video is playing on the media server and viewed on the TV. Methods are also described for more reliably establishing network connections between the controller and media server, and systems and methods are described for implementing a multi-video display on the media server where videos to be played on the media server are played on and selected by a controller device.

Abstract: A database of user preference information is extracted and compiled from multiple websites by web-crawling robots without cooperation or specific participation by users. Users who interact with a website are frequently required to register and create a login or userID name that uniquely identifies them. Thereafter, when an individual rates an item, it is often recorded and published under their userID name such that other users can see how a specific individual rated the item. Although there is no requirement that a specific user register on different websites utilizing the identical userID, it is extremely common that this practice occurs and the use of identical userIDs on multiple sites is used herein to expand preference analysis beyond a single site. Once the database exists, user's can request or be passively offered suggestions that result from preference associations across multiple websites as performed by a preference analysis and suggestion function.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for remote control of a media server computer from a controller device, typically a laptop computer, where remote operation of the media server, including the selection of videos and other digital media may be performed from the controller while normal TV programming (cable, satellite, or broadcast) is viewed on the TV. Other embodiments describe background operations performed on the controller device, the media server, or both, such that new videos may be located on the web or locally on the LAN while a current video is playing on the media server and viewed on the TV. Methods are also described for more reliably establishing network connections between the controller and media server, and systems and methods are described for implementing a multi-video display on the media server where videos to be displayed on the media server are displayed on and selected by a controller device.

Abstract: A directional and interleaved wireless mesh network is described where mesh nodes have directional antennas facing in horizontally orthogonal directions. The antennas can be focused to have a beam width of less than ninety degrees in order to achieve greater strength of signal and radiation. Each mesh node can have two radios that communicate on separate channels, such that packets propagated through the mesh network can utilize either channel in order to hop from one node to the next. Each radio can be connected to four orthogonally directed antennas in order to enable communication with adjacent nodes. Alternatively, a separate independent radio can be connected to each antenna in order to achieve greater simultaneity of transmission and reception to the node. For example, two such radio-antenna combinations can be facing in each of the four orthogonal directions, each of the two combinations operating on a different RF channel.

Abstract: An Electronic Mirror is described that can capture and display, using a digital/video camera or cameras, the image of a subject as they look when viewing themselves in a mirror. The captured image is displayed on a video monitor or TV set. A widescreen flat panel monitor is utilized, having the ability to physically rotate 90°. In portrait mode the monitor functions as an Electronic Mirror, and in landscape mode is capable of functioning as a conventional TV set or video monitor. Rotation is either manual or motorized. Captured images of a subject may be split such that a portion reflecting one type of outfit may be combined with a portion reflecting a different outfit, thus electronically creating a combination of clothing that may never have been actually worn. Video capture may also be supported enabling a subject to capture and replay a 360 degree view as they turn around.

Abstract: A portable computer is described including a reverse-mounted touchpad and associated buttons where the touchpad is mounted on the reverse surface of the panel containing the portable computer's display and facing away from the user. One or more associated buttons are mounted on the surface of the display panel facing the user and function as the buttons normally associated with a touchpad, traditionally called the “mouse buttons”. The buttons are mounted in close proximity to the reverse-mounted touchpad such that the user can operate both the touchpad and the buttons simultaneously with a finger and the thumb of the same hand.

Abstract: An assembly for attachment to a portable computer is described including a touchpad and associated buttons where the touchpad is mounted on one surface of the assembly and the associated “mouse” buttons are mounted on the reverse surface, the two surfaces facing in substantially opposite directions. The buttons are mounted in close proximity to the reverse-mounted touchpad such that the user can operate both the touchpad and the buttons simultaneously with the thumb and one or more fingers of the same hand. In one embodiment, the touchpad faces away from the user and is operated by a finger that is not the user's thumb. In another embodiment, the touchpad faces the user and is operated by the user's thumb. For all embodiments, the associated “mouse buttons” are mounted facing in the reverse direction relative to the touchpad.

Abstract: A system and method are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with those of other cell phone users in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones, it is assumed that a user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such as for instance cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and passed between service providers or alternately made available to other service providers via a central database. Cell phone users who are determined likely to be texting while driving based on the disclosed methods may be warned without disabling their texting capability.

Abstract: A remote controller/communicator device is described that aids in answering and processing incoming calls in a manner courteous to those in close proximity to the receiving party. These devices provide a silent, vibrating ring indication in a small wireless device that can be kept close to the user's body. Some embodiments also include bi-directional voice communications with a mobile phone thereby also implementing a wireless headset function. Additional embodiments further include a delayed “courtesy answer mode”, where the receiving party manually activates a recorded or automatically constructed message to be played for the caller, indicating that the receiving party will take their call shortly, and/or is relocating to a location where they will be better able to receive the call.

Abstract: An Electronic Mirror is described that can capture and display, using a digital/video camera or cameras, the image of a subject as they look when viewing themselves in a mirror. The captured image is displayed on a video monitor or TV set. A widescreen flat panel monitor is utilized, having the ability to physically rotate 90°. In portrait mode the monitor functions as an Electronic Mirror, and in landscape mode is capable of functioning as a conventional TV set or video monitor. Rotation is either manual or motorized. Captured images of a subject may be split such that a portion reflecting one type of outfit may be combined with a portion reflecting a different outfit, thus electronically creating a combination of clothing that may never have been actually worn. Video capture may also be supported enabling a subject to capture and display a 360 degree view as they turn around.

Abstract: A system and method are described to disable texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with that of a registered master phone. If the position and speed match that of the master phone, it is assumed that the user is a passenger and not a driver, and texting is enabled for that user. Texting at speed is disabled for a master phone user who may be an ordinary citizen or may be a professional driver of a mass transit vehicle. A professional driver may be known to the service provider and his phone may receive special treatment such that he is prevented from texting while driving but may be allowed to text while riding as a passenger. Passengers and operators of a train may be treated differently since the roadbed of a train has a known position.

Abstract: A system and method are described to disable texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with that of a registered master phone. If the position and speed track that of the master phone, it is assumed that the user is a passenger and not a driver, and texting is enabled for that user. Texting at speed is disabled for a master phone user who may be an ordinary citizen or may be a professional driver of a mass transit vehicle. The user of a master phone may utilize a different service provider than a passenger. Information parameter measurements such as cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and then passed between service providers or alternately made available to other service providers by way of a central database.

Abstract: An Application-Specific Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device or fabric is described for use in applications requiring fast reconfigurability of devices in the field, enabling multiple personalities for re-using silicon resources (like arrays of large multipliers in DSP applications) from moment-to-moment for implementing different hardware algorithms. In a general purpose FPGA device or fabric, this fast reconfigurability is normally implemented by special reconfiguration support circuitry and/or additional configuration memory. Unfortunately, this flexibility requires a large amount of programmable routing resource and silicon area—limiting the viability in volume production applications. This invention describes how multi-program FPGA functionalities may be migrated to smaller die by constructing hybrid FPGA/ASIC implementations that retain the multi-program capability.

Abstract: An enhanced communication and voicemail solution for mobile phones is described where still images and/or video clips are injected into the voice stream creating a “video-voice” call. When a receiving party is not available to take a video-voice call, this combined stream of voice and image information is stored at the mobile service provider in a manner similar to voice mail today. Then, stored video-voicemails may be retrieved at a later time by the receiving party. Also, realtime video-voice conversations may be recorded for later retrieval in order to document the conversation or because a party in the conversation is not able to view the images realtime. While the sending party may use a normal size mobile phone containing a miniature digital camera, the receiving party may view video-voicemail images on a variety of devices including a wireless mobile phone or PDA, or alternately a conventional PC connected to the World Wide Web.