Abstract: The invention is directed to systems that include a portable computing device comprising a first cover member hingedly coupled to a second cover member, and at least two portable power packs. The power packs are configured to detachably electrically couple to the underside of at least one of the cover members. The user has the option to select one or more power packs that provide the features that the user desires.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a figurine that utilizes wireless communication to harness computing power of an external computer. The figurine may capture visual or audible input and wirelessly transfer the input to the external computer, either directly or via a network. The external computer processes the input, generates output, and transfers the output to the figurine. The output can then be presented to a child as though the figurine processed and generated the output directly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include devices and methods for delivering information that is stored in one or more delivery formats in a memory to a user in a format appropriate for the user. A user device stores an information delivery format indication. The information device detects the user device and receives the information delivery format indication from the user device. A plurality of files within a memory of the information device contain information, each file containing the information in a different delivery format. The information device uses the information delivery format indication to select a file containing the information in a format appropriate for a user of the user device, and delivers the information to the user using the selected file.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a kiosk for a retail establishment or other similar environment where customers may seek information. The customer can input a product identification or product description to the kiosk, e.g., by speaking to the kiosk or typing the product identification or description at the kiosk. The kiosk parses the user's input to identify a store location associated with the product. The kiosk outputs the location to the user, e.g., in the form of verbal or printed directions to a location of the product, or a printed map of the store with a conspicuous identification of the location associated with the product. The user can use the output of the kiosk to quickly locate the product of interest. In other embodiments, the kiosk may receive verbal requests from a user and respond accordingly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a system including a database that supports a plurality of client translation devices. Although each client translation device may operate as a stand-alone translator, each device may establish a communication with a server that can keep the client translation device up-to-date. The server is coupled to a database that supports the client translation devices by dynamically adding, subtracting and changing translation entries, thereby evolving as the language evolves. The server communicates one or more translation entries in the database to the client translation devices.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques by which visual data is mapped to one or more display devices as a function of the positions of the display devices. The invention may support mapping of visual data to any number of display devices, which may cooperate to display the visual data as if the display devices were a single, large display device. In addition, the invention supports dynamic monitoring of the positions of display devices, with the visual data being mapped to a display device changing as the position of each display device changes.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to text translation tools that are especially useful for translation of related electronic documents. Related electronic documents are any documents in electronic form that are related to one another, such as electronic slides, spreadsheet entries, pages of a book, a set of collected text files, and a set of drawings that including text and the like. The invention provides for translating source text from a source document in a source language into target text in a target language. The invention further provides for mapping the target text to target document according to one or more format characteristics of the source text. As a result, the target document preserves some of the “look and feel” of the source document. In source documents that include one or more graphic elements, the invention supports mapping the graphic elements to the target document.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques for finding and constructing phrases for translation. In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held device that acts as an electronic phrase book implements the techniques of the invention. The device presents the user with a menu of object words and receives the user's selected object word. The device presents a menu of phrases that include the object word in context, and receives the selected phrase. The device may further present the user with a menu of modifiers that further refine the meaning of the phrase, and receive a selected modifier. In this way, the user quickly constructs a phrase of interest. The device translates the phrase, and presents the user with the translation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include devices and methods for delivering information that is stored in one or more delivery formats in a memory to a user in a format appropriate for the user. A user device stores an information delivery format indication. The information device detects the user device and receives the information delivery format indication from the user device. A plurality of files within a memory of the information device contain information, each file containing the information in a different delivery format. The information device uses the information delivery format indication to select a file containing the information in a format appropriate for a user of the user device, and delivers the information to the user using the selected file.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for translation of messages in one language to another. A translation system may receive the messages in spoken form. A message may be transmitted to a server, which translates the message, and may generate the translation in audio form. When the server identifies an ambiguity in the course of translation, the server may interrogate a party to the conversation about an identified ambiguity. By receiving a response to the interrogation, the server may generate a translation that more accurately conveys the meaning that the party wished to convey. A user may customize the translation system in a number of ways, including by specification of a dictionary sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for translation of written languages using a network. A user captures the text of interest with a client device and transmits the image over the network to a server. The server recovers the text from the image, generates a translation, and transmits the translation over the network to the client device. The client device may also support techniques for editing the image to retain the text of interest and excise extraneous matter from the image.

Abstract: A customer controlled gain circuit allows a customer to control the transmission amplifier gain in a trunk circuit by means of multifrequency signals. The trunk circuit contains a multifrequency receiver which receives and decodes gain control commands. The commands are applied to a bidirectional shift register containing a single circulating bit. One gain command causes the bit to shift in one direction while another gain command causes the bit to shift in the other direction. The bit appearing at the outputs of the shift register drives a plurality of FET gate circuits which switch various feedback paths in the trunk transmission amplifier.