Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for adaptive compression is disclosed. The compression is adaptive based on one or more criteria related to the system, including but not limited to: the centralized authority, one or more remote devices, the communication channel, and/or the data communicated. For example, the compression may be adaptive based on one or more criteria related to the remote device, including dynamic and/or static criteria of the remote device. In this way, the adaptive compression may be reduce the amount of data transmitted from the remote device to the centralized authority, thereby conserving bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle to reduce driver distraction is disclosed. A controller operating inside or in combination with the head unit of the vehicle may monitor operation of the vehicle, and generate alerts indicative of operation of the vehicle (such as an alert indicative that the vehicle is operating at a predetermined speed). In response to the alert, the operation of the app in the vehicle may be modified.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for remote monitoring of mobile computing devices. The method and systems can use cloud-type services to monitor the mobile computing devices. The cloud-type services can include a server configured to maintain a virtual link between one or more web-based computing devices and the mobile computing devices. So that, even if the mobile computing devices are not communicating with the server, the server can perform one or more actions to maintain the link between the web-based device and the mobile computing device. The cloud-type services can also include a server that authenticates the mobile computing devices, and that sends a link to the mobile computing device if the mobile computing device is authenticated, the link for use by the mobile computing device to connect to a back-end server that is separate from the server.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle to reduce driver distraction is disclosed. A controller operating inside or in combination with the head unit of the vehicle may monitor operation of the vehicle, and generate alerts indicative of operation of the vehicle (such as an alert indicative that the vehicle is operating at a predetermined speed). In response to the alert, the operation of the app in the vehicle may be modified.

Abstract: A system is provided for processing video images for display. In one example, the system comprises a stream parser for retrieving a compressed main video data and a sub-picture identifier. A video decoder generates a main video image having a main video intensity value for each pixel in the main video. A sub-picture decoder determines a sub-picture image based on the sub-picture identifier. The sub-picture image includes a pixel data for each pixel in the sub-picture image indicative of a sub-picture pixel type including a background pixel type and a pattern pixel type. Each pixel includes a command code indicative of a background contrast level, a pattern contrast level, a background color level and a pattern color level. An intensity formatter generates a sub-picture pixel intensity for each pixel in the sub-picture image.

Abstract: A system and method for playing audio only in a disk player. The disc player is configured to read data from disks formatted according to a selected audio and video standard. The system includes a file reader to read files of audio and video files based on the audio and video standard. A stream parser identifies audio data, video data and sub-picture data. An audio decoder decodes the audio data according to the audio standard. A video stub receives the video data and leaves the video data unprocessed. A sub-picture menu processor extracts menu information. A user interface system to use the menu information to configure at least one user input to play audio-only from the disk according to the menu information.

Abstract: A system is provided for processing video images for display. In one example, the system comprises a stream parser for retrieving a compressed main video data and a sub-picture identifier. A video decoder generates a main video image having a main video intensity value for each pixel in the main video. A sub-picture decoder determines a sub-picture image based on the sub-picture identifier. The sub-picture image includes a pixel data for each pixel in the sub-picture image indicative of a sub-picture pixel type including a background pixel type and a pattern pixel type. Each pixel includes a command code indicative of a background contrast level, a pattern contrast level, a background color level and a pattern color level. An intensity formatter generates a sub-picture pixel intensity for each pixel in the sub-picture image.

Abstract: A system and method for interactive management of multiple wireless devices (such as PDA's or desktop or laptop computers) making graphical or video presentations while connected wirelessly to a display device whose wireless module converts the transmitted data from the wireless devices to the required format for display.

Abstract: When a document generated from an application is printed, each page of the document is treated as a separate image Then, one or more templates are generated for a document, with each template containing common elements for a set of images in the document. For each set of images, sets of changes are identified. The templates and corresponding sets of changes to each image in a set of images may be reduced from one color space to another color space. The reduced templates and corresponding sets of changes are then compressed and formatted into a native file transfer format understood by a mobile computing tool, for transfer to a mobile computing tool, where the data is decompressed and images are rebuilt from the templates and corresponding sets of changes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for display of information on an external display using a handheld computing device are provided. An expansion module is configured to attach to a handheld computing device such as a personal digital assistance (PDA). The expansion module includes a communication interface to operably connect the module to the computing device via a expansion slot. The module also includes a memory, and an external display controller. When the expansion module is connected to the computing device, the computing device detects the presence of the module. Control software is then executed by the computing system's microcontroller causing graphic control interfaces to be displayed on the computing system's display screen. A user using the control interfaces can operate the control software to cause the computing device display presentation data on the external display device.

Abstract: A signal from a remote control is used to operate a device having a built-in communication port and a built-in microprocessor, even though the port does not normally recognize the signal. Specifically, even if the port flags an error during decoding of information from the remote control signal, the microprocessor ignores the error and uses the decoded information in the normal manner. Therefore, the microprocessor recognizes a pattern formed at the communication port by a signal emitted by the remote control, e.g. to identify a button on the remote control that has been pressed. During the recognition process, the port flags one or more errors (such as framing error, parity error), and such errors are ignored by the microprocessor. Programming the microprocessor to ignore errors from the port allows the device to operate with signals in a format different from the format normally recognized by the port.

Abstract: A system and method for interactive management of multiple wireless devices (such as PDA's or desktop or laptop computers) making graphical or video presentations while connected wirelessly to a display device whose wireless module converts the transmitted data from the wireless devices to the required format for display.

Abstract: The application of external power to an external module connected to a portable information handling system enables the card detection signal to be asserted low, thereby allowing the personal digital assistant to detect and activate the external module. When external power is disconnected from the external module, the card detect signals turn off, thereby deactivating the external module and electrically disconnecting the external module from the personal digital assistant. Substantially all of the power for the external module is provided independently from the internal power supply of the portable information handling system.

Abstract: The application of external power to an external module connected to a portable information handling system enables the card detection signal to be asserted low, thereby allowing the personal digital assistant to detect and activate the external module. When external power is disconnected from the external module, the card detect signals turn off, thereby deactivating the external module and electrically disconnecting the external module from the personal digital assistant. Substantially all of the power for the external module is provided independently from the internal power supply of the portable information handling system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for display of information on an external display using a handheld computing device are provided. An expansion module is configured to attach to a handheld computing device such as a personal digital assistance (PDA). The expansion module includes a communication interface to operably connect the module to the computing device via a expansion slot. The module also includes a memory, and an external display controller. When the expansion module is connected to the computing device, the computing device detects the presence of the module. Control software is then executed by the computing system's microcontroller causing graphic control interfaces to be displayed on the computing system's display screen. A user using the control interfaces can operate the control software to cause the computing device display presentation data on the external display device.

Abstract: This invention provides a flexible, general-purpose, engine-based architecture for a multi-channel data communications controller. It can be customized to handle a wide range of protocols and other host system requirements with minimal reliance on the host's processing power. The always present time-critical tasks of transmitting and receiving serial data, as well as transmitting and receiving characters to/from the host, are handled quickly and efficiently by utilizing dedicated interface processors. This leaves the general purpose main engine less burdened with these time cricital tasks, enabling it to perform the relatively more complex (though less time critical) tasks of assembling and disassembling characters, as well as maintaining RAM-based data FIFOs and performing error-checking and other protocol-related tasks. Custon protocols can be implemented merely by re-microcoding the machine, without requiring modifications to the basic architecture of the chip, substantially reducing design time.