Abstract: The present invention suggests a simplified and robust scanning method as a scenario for scanning video sources of a display device such as a TV or projector. The inventive method is attained by way of grouping the video sources and prioritizing the scanning priority for each video source group in terms of the viewing time statistic or the frame number statistic of each video source group. Therefore, the display device is capable of scanning each video source group based on the scanning priority to discover if there is a video signal inputted into the video source.

Abstract: A system for multimedia asset management includes: multimedia assets stored in storage locations, the assets containing collections of associated multimedia files and metadata; a web portal in communications with the storage locations and configured to provide a user access to the assets; a search engine accessible to the user through the web portal and configured, responsive to a user search query, to search for assets based on asset metadata and provide corresponding search results to the user. The web portal is configured: responsive to a user's selection of a selected asset located by the search engine, to provide the user access to the selected asset; and to automatically determine how the asset is presented to the user based, at least in part, on the nature of the user's connection to the storage location storing the selected asset and on an available application on the user's client machine.

Abstract: The present invention suggests a simplified and robust scanning method as a scenario for scanning video sources of a display device such as a TV or projector. The inventive method is attained by way of grouping the video sources and prioritizing the scanning priority for each video source group in terms of the viewing time statistic or the frame number statistic of each video source group. Therefore, the display device is capable of scanning each video source group based on the scanning priority to discover if there is a video signal inputted into the video source.

Abstract: A new system design of multimedia recognition, processing, and indexing utilizes several new researches and technologies in the field of multi-media processing. The system integrates mature technologies being used in video security surveillance, media post-production, digital video storage and management, military visual and tacking technologies. The system makes unique integration of these existing, new, and upcoming technologies that have not been used in this combined fashion before, therefore providing new usage and applications beyond the simple sum of the functions of each technology. These technologies as components in a system that is open standard, and therefore can improve itself by modifying and replacing the technology components. The design of the system targets primarily heavily produced media contents from news, entertainment, and education and training, but not limited to these contents. Other digital contents, from live broadcast, to web broadcast, to home video, web cam, etc.

Abstract: The system and method herein provide for the populating of a contact list on a portable device. Techniques involved can include monitoring and scanning messages in an email inbox to retrieve display names and simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) addresses of senders and/or recipients for each email. The system and method can selectively filter information from the emails to populate the contact list with new names and resolve any conflicts with existing names.

Abstract: An automatic liquid-crystal light shutter includes a NAND gate integrated circuit and a pair of RC oscillators operating in cooperation with two solar cells which experience internal resistance changes in response to received light. The changes in the internal resistance of the two solar cells results in a comparison signal which is applied to each of two NAND gates along with respective oppositely faced oscillator signals. When the NAND gate output signals are of different potential, the shutter passes light with little or no attenuation. If the NAND gate output signals are of the same potential, the liquid-crystal shutter becomes highly attentuated or unpassable for light. As a result, the automatic liquid-crystal shutter automatically passes low intensity light but attenuates or blocks high intensity light.