Apple Inc.

Mo-dv, Inc.

Starsignal, Inc.

Other

Eric R Hamilton

John L Douglas

Gregory Kent Wallace

Robert D Widergren

Peter Chou

Jian Lu

Jeffrey B Widergren

A removable non-volatile memory device durably stores a serial number or identifier, which is used to mark multimedia content legally stored on the removable non-volatile memory device. In order to retrieve the serial number, a host electronic system coupled to the removable non-volatile memory device sends a sequence of multiple file access commands to access a predefined target file stored on the removable non-volatile memory device. In accordance with the executed predefined sequence of multiple file access commands, a corresponding sequence of data access commands are received at the removable non-volatile memory device and are interpreted as a request by the host electronic device to read the serial number. The removable non-volatile memory device outputs the serial number in response to the sequence of data access commands.

Accessing a serial number of a removable non-volatile memory device

An encoding manager facilitates robust single-pass variable bit rate video encoding of a video sequence. Before encoding the video sequence, the encoding manager determines the size of a buffer to use for keeping track of over/under used bits generated during encoding. The encoding manager uses the target bit rate for the video sequence and the length of the video sequence to determine the size of the buffer. After allocating bits to a frame of the sequence, the encoding manager determines the quant to use to encode that frame. The determination of a quant to use to encode a frame is informed by the fullness of the buffer. The encoding manager adjusts the quant to use (and thus the aggressiveness of its encoding) in response to the amount of overflow generated thus far by the encoding of the video sequence.

Robust single-pass variable bit rate encoding

A computer assisted instructional information delivery system having at least two stations. One station for an instructor and one or more stations for students. An interactive monitor is positioned in each station. Each interactive monitor displays instructional information in visual form as inputted by a stylus or light pen on the interactive monitor. A network communication system operated by a central processing unit and corresponding software, communicates the instructional information from the stylus as inputted on one of the interactive monitors and selectively displays the instructional information simultaneously and concurrently onto any or all of the interactive monitors of the stations.

Computer assisted instructional delivery system and method

A computer-based video compression system for processing natural information signals, such as video signals or audio signals, for the purpose of forming a compact data file of compressed signals which can be expanded to produce the original information signals is provided by a unique subsystem in a host computer which uses a high speed signal processor to compress video images and to expand video images. The unique compression process uses segmentation and predictive techniques in conjunction with a discrete sine transform, quantization and Huffman coding to provide optimal compression. Further the segmentation and predictive techniques in conjunction with the discrete sine transform diminish the magnitude of correlated errors generated by the compression process. The compression system of this invention is further enhanced by a special circuit which transfers data between the host computer and the compression subsystem at rates greater than were previously possible.

Growing community of inventors

Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Eric R Hamilton