Abstract: A monitoring pad assembly is provided for use with a graphical user interface including a monitoring pad and a signal assembly, at least one of which may be adapted to be worn on at least one of a user's digits, wherein movement of the signal assembly relative to the touch pad housing indicates a desired movement of the pointing device. Further embodiments of the invention provide a method for tracking an on-screen pointer, including the steps of: emitting a signal from a device adapted to be worn on at least one of a user's digits, and monitoring the movement and direction of the emitted signal.

Abstract: The current invention provides that data sent from a source computer to a recipients computer can be selected in real time according to at least one characteristic of the recipient which can be kept in a profile. Information such as the recipient's position, preferred websites, browsing history, content a visited website, information from a third party, or the recipients response to a question posed also could be included in the profile, and various ways to obtain this information are disclosed. A pricing method values an advertisement sent over the Internet according to the time the recipient viewed the advertisement, or whether the advertisement resulted in an inquiry or sale. The advertisements can be selected in real-time and displayed with the requested web page.

Abstract: A pointing device is provided for use in computing devices comprising a printed circuit board, a tracking device adapted to generate a tracking signal in response to a user vocal input and relay the tracking signal to the printed circuit board, and a selection device adapted to generate a selection signal in response to a user manipulation and relay the selection signal to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling handoffs in a wireless communication system include receiving a location vector from a mobile unit, and determining whether to perform a handoff of the mobile unit based on the received vector. The vector may also include time information related to the time at which the vector was transmitted. The vector may be obtained from a GPS satellite signal or one or more terrestrial stations.

Abstract: A pointing device is provided for use with a computer, including a tracking device adapted to generate a signal for use by a processor in moving a pointer on screen, and a selecting device adapted generate a selection signal for use by the processor to determine operations to execute. The tracking device and the selecting device are respectively incorporated into at least two distinct apparatuses that are separately operable by different and multiple user body parts. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the improved pointing device may be operated at least in part by, for example, several of a user's fingers, by a foot, or by a user's eyes. The pointing device thus distributes conventional mouse functions in a way that allows them to be executed by multiple body parts, thereby reducing repeated stress to any single user appendage.

Abstract: A heterogeneous mix of traffic having one or more protocol formats and supplied by one or more users or sub-networks is transported in a communication network by using digital containers that are routed and processed in network nodes interconnecting the users or sub-networks. A digital container includes a frame structure comprising a header section and a payload section, the header section including information for routing the digital container and for identifying the type of payload being carried. The payload section is capable of carrying one or more different types of traffic formatted according to one or more protocols, e.g., IP, ATM, and so on. Processing of the individual payload remains a user or sub-network responsibility while the less processor-intensive routing and processing of digital containers occurs at the network node level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a burst mode power line data network system having at least one burst mode power line transmitter (BMPLT) and at least one burst mode power line receiver (BMPLR) for enabling signaling, telephony and data communications via power lines without using carrier frequencies. The BMPLT transmits line encoded bursts of information via a power line to the BMPLR which receives the line encoded bursts of information and has a maximum inter-packet idle time of only one bit between bursts. The invention permits the use of AC coupling in a receiver and results in outputting data with constant pulse widths irrespective of optical signal power levels, etc. In one embodiment, a receiver has a wide dynamic range, is highly stable, may be used over all frequencies of interest without developing high speed electronics or optical components, and has no sensitivity penalty as compared to existing burst mode/packet mode receivers.

Abstract: A wireless means of guidance for a device in accordance with the present invention includes receiving signals from at least one wireless base station indicating at least a respective position thereof, determining the current position of the device using at least the information contained in the received signals, calculating a vector between the determined current position and a predetermined desired destination for the device, and making trajectory corrections to the device's current trajectory so as to guide the device to the desired destination. In addition to the information contained in the received signals, the guidance system may also use stored information regarding parameters, such as the location, communication protocols and operating frequencies of the wireless base stations, as well as previous position information, for determining a current position for the device.

Abstract: A wireless means of guidance for a device in accordance with the present invention includes receiving signals from at least one wireless base station indicating at least a respective position thereof, determining the current position of the device using at least the information contained in the received signals, calculating a vector between the determined current position and a predetermined desired destination for the device, and making trajectory corrections to the device's current trajectory so as to guide the device to the desired destination. In addition to the information contained in the received signals, the guidance system may also use stored information regarding parameters, such as the location, communication protocols and operating frequencies of the wireless base stations, as well as previous position information, for determining a current position for the device.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically maintaining the security of an area. In one embodiment of the invention, several space area network elements may be placed near or in a circular pattern around an area to be kept space, such as a school. The space area network elements are devices including sensors to sense the presence of an unwanted object such as a gun. The space area network elements may also include a wireless communication unit so that when the presence of an unwanted object or gun is sensed, a third party entity such as a the police may be alerted. The space area network elements also include inter-element communication units that allow the space area network elements to share information and form a space area network. Additionally, the space area network elements may include a positioning system unit that obtains data related to the position of the space area network. By way of the positioning system unit, position information may also be communicated to the third party entity.

Abstract: A monitoring and tracking system for monitoring and tracking an object may have a plurality of object area network elements. Each of the object area network elements may have a wireless communications unit and a GPS unit, wherein the GPS units are designed to facilitate the calculation of position data for each of the plurality of object area network elements. The wireless communications units may be designed to facilitate communications between the plurality of object area network elements and at least one base station. Each of the plurality of object area network elements may further have a sensor unit, the sensor units each having at least one temperature sensing unit for obtaining temperature data and at least one pressure sensing unit for obtaining pressure data. The object area network elements may be designed to communicate the temperature data, the pressure data, and the position data to the base station.

Abstract: The current invention provides that data sent from a source computer to a recipient's computer can be selected in real time according to at least one characteristic of the recipient which can be kept in a profile. Information such as the recipient's position, preferred websites, browsing history, content a visited website, information from a third party, or the recipient's response to a question posed also could be included in the profile, and various ways to obtain this information are disclosed. A pricing method values an advertisement sent over the Internet according to the time the recipient viewed the advertisement, or whether the advertisement resulted in an inquiry or sale. The advertisements can be selected in real-time and displayed with the requested web page.

Abstract: A monitoring and tracking system for monitoring and tracking an object may have a plurality of object area network elements. Each of the object area network elements may have a wireless communications unit and a GPS unit, wherein the GPS units are designed to facilitate the calculation of position data for each of the plurality of object area network elements. The wireless communications units may be designed to facilitate communications between the plurality of object area network elements and at least one base station. Each of the plurality of object area network elements may further have a sensor unit, the sensor units each having at least one temperature sensing unit for obtaining temperature data and at least one pressure sensing unit for obtaining pressure data. The object area network elements may be designed to communicate the temperature data, the pressure data, and the position data to the base station.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically maintaining the security of an area. In one embodiment of the invention, several space area network elements may be placed near or in a circular pattern around an area to be kept space, such as a school. The space area network elements are devices including sensors to sense the presence of an unwanted object such as a gun. The space area network elements may also include a wireless communication unit so that when the presence of an unwanted object or gun is sensed, a third party entity such as a the police may be alerted. The space area network elements also include inter-element communication units that allow the space area network elements to share information and form a space area network. Additionally, the space area network elements may include a positioning system unit that obtains data related to the position of the space area network. By way of the positioning system unit, position information may also be communicated to the third party entity.

Abstract: By way of the present invention, personal data may follow a monitored person in his or her travels, continuously and automatically, without the need for manual adjustment or updating of databases. As a monitored person's location is tracked during his or her travels, personal data may be automatically and continuously referenced and updated. As a monitored person moves from a first location to a second location, the personal data related to the monitored person may move from a first dynamic database, located in a first server, located within the geographic region of the first location, to a second dynamic database located in a second server which, in turn, is located within the geographic location of the second location. The personal data may be moved or transferred from the first dynamic database to the second dynamic database via a wireless or cellular communications network.

Abstract: Large scale systems can be monitored and, if necessary have an action taken, by employing a knowledge machine that develops programs for at least two machines, the first machine being an information collection system which obtains the latest values of variables, which may be objects, and a second machine which employs the variables in the execution of the program developed for it by the knowledge machine to determine the current state of the large scale system. In response to the monitoring an action may be taken. Advantageously, the environment as it would have existed without the program which controls the second machine having taken previous action may be known, and this information is used to take further action now or in the future. Thus, the system is self learning and self adjusting, allowing it to optimize the environment in an adaptive manner.

Abstract: The present invention is an enhanced signaling system (ESS) that provides a signaling platform that is independent of the electronics and optical switching and transmission systems. The invention provides controllability on an end-end basis to a concatenation of optical and electronic systems by the service providers and end users. Since the present invention enables control over the transport network resources by the end user and service providers, it accelerates the process of service creation and network service expansion. By providing end-end control over the connection, it allows total control of service requirements and QoS. Accordingly, service providers can allocate transport network resources in a dynamic fashion independent of other network users (when dedicated wavelengths and resources are allocated), or in conjunction with other users when sharing of transport wavelengths is allowed.

Abstract: A camera may be disposed near a license plate receiving portion of a vehicle and samples of image data obtained by the camera are stored in a storage unit. The storing of image samples only begins when the vehicle comes close to another vehicle or object, or when the brakes are forcefully activated. The rate at which the samples are stored may be varied as a function of the distance between the vehicle and another object, such as or example, a vehicle. The storing of image samples ends when the storage unit is full after the occurrence of an accident has been detected by a detector such as an impact detector, a hard-braking detector, an airbag inflation detector, a proximity detector or a sound detector. The stored image data, along with other saved data may be accessed by a person such as a police officer or insurance agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a burst mode power line data network system having at least one burst mode power line transmitter (BMPLT) and at least one burst mode power line receiver (BMPLR) for enabling signaling, telephony and data communications via power lines without using carrier frequencies. The BMPLT transmits line encoded bursts of information via a power line to the BMPLR which receives the line encoded bursts of information and has a maximum inter-packet idle time of only one bit between bursts. The invention permits the use of AC coupling in a receiver and results in outputting data with constant pulse widths irrespective of optical signal power levels, etc. In one embodiment, a receiver has a wide dynamic range, is highly stable, may be used over all frequencies of interest without developing high speed electronics or optical components, and has no sensitivity penalty as compared to existing burst mode/packet mode receivers.

Abstract: A network-based intelligent information-sourcing system has capabilities akin to an automated universal teacher, researcher, or expert, in that the system is able to interpret, both independently and in context, and provide comprehensive answers to received queries on substantially any subject. This capability is achieved by enhancing existing telecommunications networks and intelligent networks to incorporate a knowledge-processing capability. This network uses the communication capability of the network to collect queries from, e.g., students in an interactive mode, then passes the question to a "knowledge ring" which comprises numerous knowledge bases arranged hierarchically, and then sends the response back from an "artificially intelligent instructor". Once the query is understood, the system restates the question back to the student in the way the particular knowledge base is integrated, Upon confirmation, the system delivers the response back to the student.