Abstract: An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be “virtual,” added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset.

Abstract: This invention relates to power assisted vehicles (10) and in particular to vehicles of the type which use electrically powered motors (13) to assist in the propulsion, of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for identifying objects in an image dataset that occlude other objects and for transforming the image dataset to reveal the occluded objects. In some cases, occluding objects are identified by processing the image dataset to determine the relative positions of visual objects. Occluded objects are then revealed by removing the occluding objects from the image dataset or by otherwise de-emphasizing the occluding objects so that the occluded objects are seen behind it. A visual object may be removed simply because it occludes another object, because of privacy concerns, or because it is transient. When an object is removed or de-emphasized, the objects that were behind it may need to be “cleaned up” so that they show up well. To do this, information from multiple images can be processed using interpolation techniques. The image dataset can be further transformed by adding objects to the images.

Abstract: A power assisted vehicle typically an electric bicycle which has an electric motor for providing power assistance to the bicycle and an accelerometer-based MEMS sensor for sensing the pitch of the bicycle and a control system for controlling the power supply to the electric motor and thus the power assistance provided to the bicycle to assist the rider of the bicycle when the bicycle is being ridden up a slope or incline.

Abstract: An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users.

Abstract: A yacht having an adjustable ballast assembly comprising a ballast, an elongated hollow ballast guide o mounted to the hull of the watercraft to extend transversely of the hull, the ballast being located within the guide and there being means for selectively moving the ballast longitudinally of the guide between respective opposite end positions in which at least part of the ballast is located laterally outwardly of the hull. The elongated guide may be located within an outer hollow guide and mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the outer guide so as to be capable of projecting telescopically from opposite ends of the outer guide.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional spatial index includes at least two dimensions that define physical boundaries of the features represented by the indexed data. In addition, the multi-dimensional spatial index includes at least one additional dimension that represents another property. The other property is an orthogonal, non-spatial property. The other property may be a property of the features represented by the indexed data or the other property may be a property of the data. The other property represented by the additional dimension may include: granularity, distance, altitude, scale bounds within which each spatial entity is significant, or other property. The multi-dimensional spatial index is applicable to the storage, retrieval, visualization and traversal of spatial data sets.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. A map database developer collects video data. The video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, video games, or other features. An application forms a video that shows a turn at an intersection from a first road onto a second road. The application adds video that depicts travel away from the intersection along the second road to video that depicts travel into the intersection along the first road to form a composite video that shows a turn at the intersection from the first road onto the second road. The composite video is then presented to a user on a display.

Abstract: A yacht having an adjustable ballast assembly comprising a ballast, an elongated hollow ballast guide mounted to the hull of the watercraft to extend transversely of the hull, the ballast being located within the guide and there being means for selectively moving the ballast longitudinally of the guide between respective opposite end positions in which at least part of the ballast is located laterally outwardly of the hull. The elongated guide may be located within an outer hollow guide and mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the outer guide so as to be capable of projecting telescopically from opposite ends of the outer guide.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be “virtual,” added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for identifying objects in an image dataset that occlude other objects and for transforming the image dataset to reveal the occluded objects. In some cases, occluding objects are identified by processing the image dataset to determine the relative positions of visual objects. Occluded objects are then revealed by removing the occluding objects from the image dataset or by otherwise de-emphasizing the occluding objects so that the occluded objects are seen behind it. A visual object may be removed simply because it occludes another object, because of privacy concerns, or because it is transient. When an object is removed or de-emphasized, the objects that were behind it may need to be “cleaned up” so that they show up well. To do this, information from multiple images can be processed using interpolation techniques. The image dataset can be further transformed by adding objects to the images.

Abstract: An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. A map database developer collects video data. The video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, video games, or other features. An application forms a video that shows a turn at an intersection from a first road onto a second road. The application adds video that depicts travel away from the intersection along the second road to video that depicts travel into the intersection along the first road to form a composite video that shows a turn at the intersection from the first road onto the second road. The composite video is then presented to a user on a display.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. Video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, or other features. A video is presented to a user on the display of a navigation system (or other device). An application associated with the navigation system uses the previously captured video data to create the video shown to the user. The application selects that video data that shows the end user's position from a vantage point. The application further superimposes an indication on the video at a location that corresponds to the position of the end user.

Abstract: A recycled insulation material includes plastic and/or rubber shredded or chopped up into individual pieces having random or semi-random sizes and lengths that when combined together create random or semi-random air-pockets in-between many of the individual pieces. The shredded or chopped up plastic and/or rubber pieces in combination with the air-pockets are configured to operate as an insulation filler for a variety of different panels, forms, pipes, conduits or any other item that requires insulation.

Abstract: A method and system of polyline generation for rendering a representation of a geographic region is provided. Within a database containing geographic data, polyline data entities represent geographic features. Each polyline data entity is associated with a drawcode that defines attributes of the data entity, and organized within the database based on the drawcode. During a rendering process, a processor can read a group of data from a database stored on a disc that is organized to contain all polyline data entities associated with the same drawcode. The processor can then render all geographic features in an area that are similar using one or a minimum number of disc reads.

Abstract: An energy multi-saccharide food product including: a saccharide component including 5 to 20% w/w galactose; to 25% w/w creatine; and optional further ingredients selected from: carbohydrate, fibre and fat.

Abstract: Deboned meat is subjected to processing in a surimi-type procedure in order to substantially reduce the heme content and thus the color intensity of the deboned meat, with bone marrow components and fat also being removed. When desired, the washed meat is subjected to dewatering, such as by pressing, in order to provide a color and fat reduced deboned meat. Multiple-stage separation is practiced, and the protein yield of the washed meat is advantageously elevated.

Abstract: An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users.