Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lossless compression and decompression of video image data. Video data is comprised of the RGB, YUV or gray scale (color) information for each pixel of each frame of the video data. Storage of such video data can require large amounts of data. The present invention provides for lossless compression and decompression of the individual frames of video image data. Each individual frame of video image data is processed in n.times.n pixel blocks. The combination of colors (called the color list) and the number of different colors in the pixel block is then determined. If the number of colors is above a predetermined threshold, no compression occurs. If the number of colors is below a predetermined threshold, searches for prior occurrences of the combination of colors is than performed. In some instances, a color list for contiguous pixel blocks will be the same. In this instance, a pixel map representing the positioning of the colors in the pixel block is output.

Abstract: A method for filtering data to be compressed by frame differencing is disclosed. In applications where large amounts of data must be either stored or transmitted, such as, for example, digital image data, various techniques are used to compress the data. One such technique is frame differencing wherein after a reference frame or key is encoded, only the differences between each frame and the immediately preceding frame in the sequence are encoded. The present invention operates as a pre-process or in conjunction with such a technique by determining which of the changed data points can be disregarded without significantly affecting, for example, the stored image, thereby reducing the amount of data which must be stored or transmitted. The determination is made in the present invention by comparing the pattern of changed data points in the vicinity of the data point under consideration with a set of pre-determined patterns.

Abstract: A method for filtering data to be compressed by frame differencing is disclosed. In applications where large amounts of data must be either stored or transmitted, such as, for example, digital image data, various techniques are used to compress the data. One such technique is frame differencing wherein after a reference frame or key is encoded, only the differences between each frame and the immediately preceding frame in the sequence are encoded. The present invention operates as a pre-process or in conjunction with such a technique by determining which of the changed data points can be disregarded without significantly affecting, for example, the stored image, thereby reducing the amount of data which must be stored or transmitted. The determination is made in the present invention by comparing the pattern of changed data points in the vicinity of the data point under consideration with a set of pre-determined patterns.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for game development. On a first display, a branched time line structure including decision nodes is developed. On a second display, video images are viewed. According to the present invention, portions of the video images are correlated with portions of the branched time line structure so that upon simulated play, a game developer can move along the branched time line structure, taking alternate time paths when reaching decision nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lossless compression and decompression of video image data. Video data is composed of the RGB, YUV or gray scale (color) information for each pixel of each frame of the video data. Storage of such video data can require large amounts of data. The present invention provides for lossless compression and decompression of the individual frames of video image data. Each individual frame of video image data is processed in n.times.n pixel blocks. The combination of colors (called the color list) and the number of different colors in the pixel block is then determined. If the number of colors is above a predetermined threshold, no compression occurs. If the number of colors is below a predetermined threshold, searches for prior occurrences of the combination of colors is than performed. In some instances, a color list for contiguous pixel blocks will be the same. In this instance, a pixel map representing the positioning of the colors in the pixel block is output.

Abstract: Novel substantially pure periplasmic 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are provided which are obtainable from gram negative bacterium capable of growing on restricted media containing cAMP or cGMP as a sole carbon source. Also provided is the isolated DNA coding for such enzymes and related methods of producing the same.