Abstract: The need for a more readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder.

Abstract: A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.

Abstract: An alarm system controller is provided, having a packet data network interface; a security alarm system interface configured to communicate with security alarm sensors; and a controller configured to receive at least one input from the security alarm system interface, to process the at least one input to determine an alarm condition, and to communicate the alarm condition and a markup language interface through the packet data network interface. The packet data network interface may communicate with the Internet. An environmental control system interface may also be provided to communicate with an environmental control system and to communicate the markup language interface through the packet data network interface, wherein the packet data network interface is configured to control the environmental control system. The markup language interface may be, for example HTML or XML.

Abstract: A mobile system and method of operation thereof, comprising a radio frequency system, adapted to derive information relating to a position within an environment, based on communications with at least one terrestrial or extraterrestrial transmitter, and remotely transmit to and receive radio frequency information-bearing communications; a memory adapted to store at least a vehicle itinerary or position-related information; a controller, receiving the derived information and controlling a communication of the information-bearing communications relating to at least the stored itinerary or position related information; and a user interface, having a functionality defined by the controller, adapted to interface a user for receipt or presentation of information relating at least one of the itinerary or position-related information and the communicated information.

Abstract: A system and method of predicting items likely to appeal to a user, based on data received from a remote site. One or more local systems are provided, along with a remote system, said local systems communicating with said remote system over a network connection. Each local system maintains a set of characterized items. A local processor predicts an appeal of an item to a user based on the comparison with the set of characterized items with, e.g., user preferences. The user may interact through graphical user interface. At least one user-preference predictive algorithm may be employed to present items predicted to appeal to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating information between a first party and a second party, comprising the steps of receiving, by an intermediary, an identifier of desired information and accounting information for a transaction involving the information from the first party, transmitting an identifier of the first party to the second party, and negotiating, by the intermediary, a comprehension function for obscuring at least a portion of the information communicated between the first party and the second party. The data transmission may be made secure with respect to the intermediary by providing an asymmetric key or direct key exchange for encryption of the communication between the first and second party.

Abstract: A communications routing system, and method, for representing a plurality of predicted characteristics of a plurality of communications sources, each having an economic utility; representing a plurality of predicted characteristics of a plurality of communications targets each having an economic utility; and determining an optimal routing between the plurality of communications sources and the plurality of communications targets, by maximizing an aggregate utility with respect to the respective predicted characteristics of communications source and communications destination represented by linkages.

Abstract: A method for controlling a door, comprising the steps of storing energy during a manual opening of a door, sensing an object within a doorway, selectively applying a force derived from the stored energy, to close the door, based on the sensing of an object in the doorway. The closure is preferably controlled by an electronic control. A door closing device comprising an energy storage device for storing energy during door opening and releasing the stored energy to subsequently close the door, a damping system for damping a closure of the door, a sensor for detecting an object within a doorway, having an output, a controllable device for selectively restraining the energy storage device from closing the door, and a control system for controlling the controllable device based on the output.

Abstract: A method for providing unequal allocation of rights among agents while operating according to fair principles, comprising assigning a hierarchal rank to each agent; providing a synthetic economic value to a first set of agents at the a high level of the hierarchy; allocating portions of the synthetic economic value by the first set of agents to a second set of agents at respectively different hierarchal rank than the first set of agents; and conducting an auction amongst agents using the synthetic economic value as the currency. A method for allocation among agents, comprising assigning a wealth generation function for generating future wealth to each of a plurality of agents, communicating subjective market information between agents, and transferring wealth generated by the secure wealth generation function between agents in consideration of a market transaction. The method may further comprise the step of transferring at least a portion of the wealth generation function between agents.

Abstract: A mobile system and method of operation thereof, comprising a radio frequency system, adapted to derive information relating to a position within an environment, based on communications with at least one terrestrial or extraterrestrial transmitter, and remotely transmit to and receive radio frequency information-bearing communications; a memory adapted to store at least a vehicle itinerary or position-related information; a controller, receiving the derived information and controlling a communication of the information-bearing communications relating to at least the stored itinerary or position related information; and a user interface, having a functionality defined by the controller, adapted to interface a user for receipt or presentation of information relating at least one of the itinerary or position-related information and the communicated information.

Abstract: A system and method of predicting items likely to appeal to a user, based on data received from a remote site. One or more local systems are provided, along with a remote system, said local systems communicating with said remote system over a network connection. Each local system maintains a set of characterized items. A local processor predicts an appeal of an item to a user based on the comparison with the set of characterized items with, e.g., user preferences. The user may interact through graphical user interface. At least one user-preference predictive algorithm may be employed to present items predicted to appeal to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating in a communication network, comprising presenting a communication comprising data over a communications network to a router, said router being adapted to route the communication to one of a plurality of available network destinations; automatically executing a communication targeting algorithm in the router, based at least in part on the data, wherein the communication targeting algorithm operates to contextually jointly analyze a plurality of parameters extracted from the data and a plurality of contextual parameters, to determine an optimum target for the communication, wherein the optimum target varies in dependence on both the data and the context of the communication; and routing the communication in dependence on the algorithm execution.

Abstract: An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence.

Abstract: A mobile system and method of operation thereof, comprising a radio frequency system, adapted to derive information relating to a position within an environment, based on communications with at least one terrestrial or extraterrestrial transmitter, and remotely transmit to and receive radio frequency information-bearing communications; a memory adapted to store at least a vehicle itinerary or position-related information; a controller, receiving the derived information and controlling a communication of the information-bearing communications relating to at least the stored itinerary or position related information; and a user interface, having a functionality defined by the controller, adapted to interface a user for receipt or presentation of information relating at least one of the itinerary or position-related information and the communicated information.

Abstract: The need for a more-readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder.

Abstract: A network media appliance, comprising at least one packet data network interface, adapted for communicating data packets with a data network according to an Internet Protocol; a media data interface, and a processor, having an associated memory for storing executable code, said code defining at least a remote virtual interface function, and a data transfer function for controlling transfer of data through said media data interface.

Abstract: An Internet appliance, comprising, within a single housing, packet data network interfaces, adapted for communicating with the Internet and a local area network, at least one data interface selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus, an IEEE-1394 interface, a voice telephony interface, an audio program interface, a video program interface, an audiovisual program interface, a camera interface, a physical security system interface, a wireless networking interface; a device control interface, smart home interface, an environmental sensing interface, and an environmental control interface, and a processor, for controlling a data transfer between the local area network and the Internet, and defining a markup language interface communicated through a packet data network interface, to control a data transfer or control a remote device.

Abstract: An Internet appliance, comprising, within a single housing, packet data network interfaces, adapted for communicating with the Internet and a local area network, at least one data interface selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus, an IEEE-1394 interface, a voice telephony interface, an audio program interface, a video program interface, an audiovisual program interface, a camera interface, a physical security system interface, a wireless networking interface; a device control interface, smart home interface, an environmental sensing interface, and an environmental control interface, and a processor, for controlling a data transfer between the local area network and the Internet, and defining a markup language interface communicated through a packet data network interface, to control a data transfer or control a remote device.

Abstract: A call-management method and system for distributing calls to agents, wherein each agent has a profile, e.g., defining agent skills, efficiency, etc. The call center management system implements an algorithm for selecting an agent to receive a call to optimize caller utility, call center efficiency, and agent training. Therefore, the algorithm does not seek to necessarily route a call to the agent having the skill set most suited to the call; rather, the call may be routed to an agent who needs experience in the area of the call, and thus serves as a training exercise. Skilled agents may be made available to shadow the training agent when available.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating in a communication network, comprising presenting a communication comprising data over a communications network to a router, said router being adapted to route the communication to one of a plurality of available network destinations; automatically executing a communication targeting algorithm in the router, based at least in part on the data, wherein the communication targeting algorithm operates to contextually jointly analyze a plurality of parameters extracted from the data and a plurality of contextual parameters, to determine an optimum target for the communication, wherein the optimum target varies in dependence on both the data and the context of the communication; and routing the communication in dependence on the algorithm execution.