Abstract: A system and method for displaying text calendar entries as an iconic display that automatically selects a picture and extracts useful text to show as the calendar display by inspecting each calendar entry's text. The picture used may be determined from a database of pictures and keywords. The database may be on a computing device that has a calendar feature (such as a smart phone, a computer, or the like) or may reside on a separate server that the computing device may access via, for example, an internet connection.

Abstract: The present invention seamlessly enables a single media stream to be exposed to as many clients/applications as desired, in a manner that is completely transparent to the client/application. Further, an embodiment of the present invention combines media streams from multiple devices (e.g., webcams, microphones, etc.) into a single virtual stream that can then be accessed by as many clients as desired. In some embodiments of the above invention, each client can request a different format and frame rate. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the ability to provide media data from one or more sources to one or more client applications is completely transparent to the applications, as well as to the users.

Abstract: The present invention combines features of an executable process with the need for multiple application programs to share a single input device. The present invention provides an executable program implemented as a process that allows multiple applications to communicate with a single input device. This is achieved by loading the input device control executable program as a process. The executable program is a server thus allowing multiple application programs to interface with the same input device. The multi-instance input device control (MIIDC) executable program responds to each application program request as if the input device is open for the calling application program. Each application program is thus enabled to communicate with the input device instance without interrupting the operation of other application programs communicating with the input device. The input device instance keeps track of all the connections to it and multiplexes and resolves conflicting requests.

Abstract: The present invention combines features of an executable process with the need for multiple application programs to share a single input device. The present invention provides an executable program implemented as a process that allows multiple applications to communicate with a single input device. This is achieved by loading the input device control executable program as a process. The executable program is a server thus allowing multiple application programs to interface with the same input device. The multi-instance input device control (MIIDC) executable program responds to each application program request as if the input device is open for the calling application program. Each application program is thus enabled to communicate with the input device instance without interrupting the operation of other application programs communicating with the input device. The input device instance keeps track of all the connections to it and multiplexes and resolves conflicting requests.

Abstract: The present invention combines features of an executable process with the need for multiple application programs to share a single input device. The present invention provides an executable program implemented as a process that allows multiple applications to communicate with a single input device. This is achieved by loading the input device control executable program as a process. The executable program is a server thus allowing multiple application programs to interface with the same input device. The multi-instance input device control (MIIDC) executable program responds to each application program request as if the input device is open for the calling application program. Each application program is thus enabled to communicate with the input device instance without interrupting the operation of other application programs communicating with the input device. The input device instance keeps track of all the connections to it and multiplexes and resolves conflicting requests.