Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mobile computing device (100) having a touchscreen display (10F), a back panel (10B1), and non-displaying lateral sides, wherein at least one of these lateral side (10V) is touch sensitive for receiving user inputs. The back panel includes a plurality of game-interaction buttons (151, 152, 153, 154, 161, 162, 163, and 164). During gameplays, the user will be able to feel the positions of but will not see these game-interaction buttons. For the purpose of allowing the user to easily get used to the feeling of positions of these game-interaction buttons, each of these buttons is situated or received at the bottom of a relatively small concave area on the back panel. These game-interaction buttons will be used to control the movement and actions of an avatar (120) within a virtual game environment (10Z) on the display.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for constructing a S3DD model comprising a pre-determined primary 3D model and a secondary 3D model obtained by modifying a copy of said primary model. Said modification is done by displacing said copy from the primary model by an amount of DMD and by rotating said copy relative to said primary model by an amount of DMAS. The values of the DMD and DMAS are obtained through geometry analysis based on the virtual 3D position of the object image behind the display relative to the physical 3D positions of the viewer's two eyes. In case of displaying the 3D image of a large object, its primary 3D model and the copy shall be divided into many small sub-models, with each sub-model being treated as an isolated or independent model with respect to calculations of the values of DMD and DMAS.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a window-based computer system (30) fully operated/controlled by either a remote control (710) or by a mouse for facilitating users' interaction with live TV events and allowing personally targeted TV advertising messages to be individually delivered to each TV viewer. The remote control includes only six OS-related functional keys for providing unlimited functions, including all forms of window manipulations/controls, easy access to files, application programs, tools, and to any display items. A user account on local computer remains associated with a web portal account of the user such that live personal information received from web site (300) may be presented within a live-information section (981) on the desktop (900). Moreover, the computer system allows a user to interact with any messages displayed as screen savor by designating a screen-savor-interaction key on the keyboard, and allows more than one person to work on the same file/project simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for enhancing digital streaming video. According to the present invention, the pixel resolution of the image frame of a digital streaming video, i.e., the numbers of pixels within said image frame, are artificially amplified by increasing the number of columns and rows of pixels therein. The color characters, such for examples as the color, contrast, brightness, saturation, hue, and/or luminescence, etc., of each newly created pixel or cell are obtained according to the color characters of those original neighboring pixels. The boundary or border of an image-element within said image frame may be improved by adjusting the color characters of those newly created or child pixels that are situated at or close to said image-element boundary. As a result, a small-frame digital video can be displayed as a large-frame high-resolution video having similar or even better image quality.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is animated talking toy figure feasible for digital actuation control and synchronization. Novel methods and apparatus are provided for control of and for coordinating the toy figure's sound and animation. Said toy figure has at least one articulated movable portion for providing animation effect, with the actuation thereof being provided by a two-phase actuation device, such as a solenoid, disposed therein. The toy figure's actuation-control circuitry includes logic switch means, and is adapted to be digitally controlled by a computing device. A computer-implemented method for controlling and synchronizing the toy figure's sound and animation includes, (i) creating actuation-control signal based on detailed textual content of the toy figure's audio speech, and (ii) synchronously transmitting to the toy figure the actuation-control signal, for control of said actuation-control circuitry, and a sound signal for playback through the toy figure's audio output device.

Abstract: Disclose herein are apparatus, methods and systems for computer remote control. According to the present invention, the user-interface of a conventional window-desktop system can be modified such that a user may use any type of input device, such as a handheld remote-control device or a mouse, to fully and conveniently interact with the desktop-window computer system. This is accomplished by taking full advantage of the flexibilities of software programming of a computer system according to the present invention. For example, after receiving a user input for displaying a display item, the interface system of the present invention will cause such a display item to be displayed on a display, and in the meantime, also cause the cursor to be located at said display item; thus the user is not always required to manually use the input device to quickly and precisely place the cursor at the desired position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for causing transmission of Web contents from a Web site to a home client computer in synchronization with the broadcasting of a TV program. Two systems for implementing said synchronization are provided including, (1) Server-Side Synchronization in which said synchronization is performed at the server sides: the TV broadcasting system is provided with a synchronization system for sending synchronization signals to the TV station's Web site; in response thereto, said Web site will send the Web contents or data associated with the TV program to the clients; and (2) Client Remote-Control Synchronization in which said computer is provided with application system for receiving and responding to signals transmitted from a conventional TV/VCR remote control device such that, when the TV channel is switched by said remote control device, the Web site accessed by the home computer will also be switched.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for enhancing digital streaming video. According to the present invention, the pixel resolution of the image frame of a digital streaming video, i.e., the numbers of pixels within said image frame, are artificially amplified by increasing the number of columns and rows of pixels therein. The color characters, such for examples as the color, contrast, brightness, saturation, hue, and/or luminescence, etc., of each newly created pixel or cell are obtained according to the color characters of those original neighboring pixels. The boundary or border of an image-element within said image frame may be improved by adjusting the color characters of those newly created or child pixels that are situated at or close to said image-element boundary. As a result, a small-frame digital video can be displayed as a large-frame high-resolution video having similar or even better image quality.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is improvement of computer-controlled animated talking toy system in which novel methods and apparatus are provided to coordinate and control the sound and animation of a toy figure. Said toy figure has at least one articulated movable portion for providing animation with the actuation thereof provided by a multi-phase electro-mechanical drive device disposed therein which is feasible for digital control by a multimedia computer connected thereto. An audio output device is disposed within the body of said toy figure and is connected to and controlled by the sound subsystem of said computer. The animation of the toy is controlled by said computer according to detailed text content of the toy's audio speech.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for installation on railroad cars and automatically connecting pneumatic and/or electric lines of two adjacent railroad cars. The principle of the product design is to apply pneumatic system's own pressure for automatically sealing the juncture area of the coupling and for sealing the hose end and maintaining air pressure at the compressor source when a train brake-in-two occurs. The preferred embodiment includes a substantially rectangular front-mating assembly attached to the front end of a rearwardly extending coupler shank and an installation portion for attaching said rectangular front-mating assembly to the undercarriage of a rail-car via said coupler shank. Said front-mating assembly includes a male and a female mating heads mounted on its front panel and a pair of alignment members installed at its two sides for guiding said mating heads to the appropriate coupling positions during the coupling.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is improvement of the standard Type-E or Type-F coupler, which is compatible with the existing standard couplers, for providing automatic uncoupling features. The improved coupler includes a coupler head of the type having standard coupling knuckle, guard arm, and an standard interior knuckle-control structure within a lock-receiving chamber. Said interior knuckle-control structure includes the standard components such as a knuckle-lock attached to a lock-lift assembly, a knuckle thrower and other standard components. In order to provide the coupler with automatic uncoupling feature, an electric actuator, such as a motor or a solenoid, is installed within a chamber provided behind said guard arm. Said actuator controls the movement of the lock-lift assembly via a leverage system provided so that the coupler lock can be lifted to the lock-set position by said actuator. The actuator is connected to and controlled by the serialization and operation-control system of the train.