Abstract: A digital communication method, comprising: providing a digital packet radio transceiver which communicates through an antenna array, defining a directional pattern with distinct spatial communication channels using a plurality of frequency channels; detecting channel conditions based on a feedback protocol between the digital packet radio transceiver and a remote digital packet radio system, selectively controlling the digital packet transceiver to transmit information responsive to the channel conditions; detecting another digital packet radio transceiver concurrently using the same frequency channels, and selectively controlling an interference with the other digital packet radio transceiver in dependence on information from the other digital packet radio transceiver, by one of deferring to transmissions by the other digital packet radio transceiver, and competing with transmissions by the other digital packet radio transceiver.

Abstract: A digital communication method, comprising: providing a digital packet radio transceiver which communicates through an antenna array, defining a directional pattern with distinct spatial communication channels using a plurality of frequency channels; detecting channel conditions based on a feedback protocol between the digital packet radio transceiver and a remote digital packet radio system, selectively controlling the digital packet transceiver to transmit information responsive to the channel conditions; detecting another digital packet radio transceiver concurrently using the same frequency channels, and selectively controlling an interference with the other digital packet radio transceiver in dependence on information from the other digital packet radio transceiver, by one of deferring to transmissions by the other digital packet radio transceiver, and competing with transmissions by the other digital packet radio transceiver.

Abstract: An adaptive interface, predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. An input is predicted, and the predictive mechanism may be is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein an input is matched to a media stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inferential programming of the device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

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: An adaptive interface, predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. An input is predicted, and the predictive mechanism may be is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein an input is matched to a media stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inferential programming of the device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic appliance preferably includes a user interface, data input and/or output port, and an intelligent processor. A preferred embodiment comprises a set top box for interacting with broadband media streams, with an adaptive user interface, content-based media processing and/or media metadata processing, and telecommunications integration. An adaptive user interface models the user, by observation, feedback, and/or explicit input, and presents a user interface and/or executes functions based on the user model. A content-based media processing system analyzes media content, for example audio and video, to understand the content, for example to generate content-descriptive metadata. A media metadata processing system operates on locally or remotely generated metadata to process the media in accordance with the metadata, which may be, for example, an electronic program guide, MPEG 7 data, and/or automatically generated format.

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.