Abstract: A system and method for effectively determining a current physical location of a remote control device includes a television device that is configured to receive television control information over an RC-TV communications link. The remote control device transmits the device control information over the RC-device communications link for controlling various functions of the television device. In situations in which the current physical location of the remote control device is unknown, a system user may initiate a location search procedure with a search trigger event to locate the remote control device. The remote control device then generates one or more location indicators in response to the search trigger event to thereby facilitate determining the current physical location of the remote control device.

Abstract: A method of customizing an on-screen menu display. According to one embodiment, a plurality of selectable themes is provided and in response to a selection of one of the selectable themes, the graphical user interface is customized. According to one embodiment, the selectable themes provided are based on user's prior history and use (e.g., using a web cookie). Accordingly, various navigatible items, selectable items and related content may be customized and displayed to have the look and feel of the selected theme. Selectable themes may be a stilled image, animation, audio or a combination thereof. Accordingly, the on-screen display is customized based on the selected theme. In one embodiment, the selected theme and the configured on-screen display may be stored. Moreover, in one embodiment, an update for the selected theme may be automatically provided.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively determining a current physical location of a remote control device includes a television device that is configured to receive television control information over an RC-TV communications link. The remote control device transmits the device control information over the RC-device communications link for controlling various functions of the television device. In situations in which the current physical location of the remote control device is unknown, a system user may initiate a location search procedure with a search trigger event to locate the remote control device. The remote control device then generates one or more location indicators in response to the search trigger event to thereby facilitate determining the current physical location of the remote control device.

Abstract: A scripting engine causes a computer to perform operations. The scripting engine includes a first script interpreter that executes a carrier script. A steganographic decoder extracts a hidden script that is steganographically coded in the carrier script. A second script interpreter executes the hidden script. The carrier script may include a graphic image file and the hidden script may be steganographically coded in the graphic image file. The scripting engine may further include a decryption module that decrypts the hidden script with a key that may be steganographically coded in a third script.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for outputting advertising displays from a video device, preferably having an integral display. The video device is configured for outputting a source of regular video content when in an active mode. When switched to a stand-by mode then visualizations containing advertising are output instead of the regular content. Visualizations are preferably generated in response to stored content which can be directly displayed, displayed over generated backgrounds, or used as parameters for generating complete visualizations. The extent to which the visualizations are displayed on the video display in stand-by mode is tracked and used for determining the value of incentives to which the user is entitled. User incentives are preferably communicated over the Internet to a server which maintains point values and controls redemption for the points of various users.

Abstract: A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface.

Abstract: Hair care compositions, methods, and articles of commerce that can help maintain a longer lasting hair style appearance, including coloring and grooming. Such compositions can be applied to any areas where maintenance of longer lasting hair style appearance is desired, such as the scalp, neck, and/or beard. The present invention also relates to methods of marketing such compositions.

Abstract: Hair care compositions, methods, and articles of commerce that can increase the appearance of thicker and fuller hair. Such compositions can be applied to any areas where a thicker and fuller hair appearance is desired, such as the scalp or face. The present invention also relates to methods of marketing such compositions.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: A device that provides an interface between alternating current powerline communication signals and direct current powerline communication signals. In one embodiment alternating current powerline communication signals and direct current powerline communication signals are interfaced with a bridging device. In another embodiment, a router configuration allows dissimilar protocols to be interfaced to direct current using a router configuration. In yet another embodiment the alternating current powerline communication and direct current powerline communication signals are interfaced using a passive repeater configuration. In the bridge and router configurations, use of an internal computer allows for additional features, such as error checking, buffering, diagnostics, and virus checking.

Abstract: A digital intercom device consistent with certain embodiments uses power line communication (PLC). A power line interface connects to a power line serving as a communication medium. An audio codec is coupled to the power line interface for encoding and decoding digital data to and from data suitable for use by the power line interface. A digital to analog converter receives digital decoded data from the codec and converts the digital coded data to a received analog signal. A receive audio amplifier amplifies the received analog signal to a level adequate to drive a speaker. A transmit audio amplifier amplifies a transmit audio signal and provides an amplified transmit audio signal as an output. An analog to digital converter converts the amplified transmit audio signal to a digital representation thereof and passes the digital representation to the codec. A control processor controls operation of the interface and the audio codec.

Abstract: A wireless home entertainment system consistent with certain embodiments has at least one server having at least one manipulable authentication element thereon, wherein the manipulable authentication element is not a general purpose data entry element. At least one component is in wireless communication with the server. A User Interface is used for selecting an authenticated component to be de-authenticated. A person can cause the server to regard an authenticated component as being de-authenticated by manipulating the authentication element while a component to be de-authenticated is selected using the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A beacon method for use in a wireless communication network involves populating a beacon frame's channel identification data with accurate data associated with use of a particular channel for wireless communication; populating the beacon frame's network identification data with data including at least one false data element, where the beacon network identification data are intended to identify the network using the particular channel; storing the beacon frame in a computer readable storage medium; and transmitting the beacon frame over a channel to be reserved. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for controlling a display device. In one embodiment, a start position is registered which defines the first position and orientation of a remote controller relative to the position of the display device. When movement of the remote controller is detected, a second position and orientation of the remote controller is determined. A point on the display device is determined where a mathematical line extending from the front edge of the remote controller along its longitudinal axis intersects the front plane of the display device. Finally, a message is sent for causing a cursor displayed on the display device to be moved to the point where the mathematical line intersects the front plane of the display device.

Abstract: Polygon rendering systems for rendering a polygon in an image to be displayed include a rasterizer unit, a first memory buffer, and one or more additional memory buffers. The rasterizer unit is configured to generate one or more low resolution fragments representing a portion of the polygon at a low resolution and one or more high resolution fragments representing a portion of the polygon at one or more higher resolutions. The first memory buffer is configured to store the low resolution fragments as pixels. The first memory buffer is further configured to store data based on the one or more high resolution fragments. The one or more additional memory buffers are configured to store the high resolution fragments as high-resolution sub-pixels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a power line communication (PLC) network. One aspect of the invention is to use the DC power lines within a vehicle to network a plurality of electronic devices within the vehicle. In another embodiment, a vehicle's DC power lines may be used to both power an electronic user device, as well as provide network connectivity between two or more electronic user devices. In one embodiment, network access is accomplished through use of connectors (e.g., cigarette lighter sockets) which are already standard in vehicles.

Abstract: A video apparatus consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver that receives a data stream containing video data and video overlay data, wherein the video data includes a censored region having boundaries. A video plane receives the video data in order to render a video frame for display, the video data including the censored region. A video overlay plane receives the video overlay data in order to render a frame of overlay video data for display. The overlay data has boundaries that overlay the censored region. An alpha plane defines overlay boundaries for the overlay data to determine how much of the overlay video data overlays the censored region when rendering the video frame. The alpha frame defines boundaries that are smaller than the boundaries of the overlay data and larger than the boundaries of the censored region. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A videoconferencing method consistent with certain embodiments involves receiving a video stream via a broadband network connection at a television display to display a remote party's inbound video information. A video stream is transmitted via a wireless cellular telephone's camera to the remote party to provide outbound video information. Inbound audio is received from the remote party via the broadband network connection at the television display and playing the audio using the television display's audio circuits. Outbound audio is transmitted to the remote party via the wireless cellular telephone's audio circuits. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and process for converting sensory data, e.g., visual, audio, taste, smell or touch, to neural firing timing differences in a human brain and using acoustic signals to generate the neural firing time differences. Data related to neural firing time differences, the acoustic signals, and a user's response map may be stored in memory. The user's response map may be used to more accurately map the calculated neural firing time differences to the correct neural locations.