International Business Machines Corporation

Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

James Alan Strothmann

James Lee Combs

Herman Rodriguez

Nicholas Brawne

David Emery Virag

Steven Anthony Barron

Elizabeth Bauer-Nilsen Sanders

Lori Rene Bolduc

Michael Kelly Perdue

Carl Chun-Hei Hu

James Randall Thomas

There is provided a method for automatically synchronizing playback between a first media service and a second media service, both services corresponding to the same media content source. Common audio events in the first media service and the second media service are matched. A playback timing of at least one of the first media service and the second media service is adjusted, based on a result of the matching step, so as to automatically synchronize the playback between the first media service and the second media service.

Automatic synchronization of audio and video based media services of media content

A method and apparatus for using DVD subpicture formatted information within a MPEG data stream to provide data channel information to a television receiver. More particularly, the television receiver comprises a MPEG decoder and a DVD subpicture processor. The MPEG decoder decodes the MPEG stream and extracts the DVD subpicture formatted signal and the DVD subpicture decoder processes one or more DVD subpicture bitstreams to produce DVD graphics. The DVD subpicture bitstream is used to carry and display data channel information such as stock quotes, electronic program guide information, advertisement information, and the like as well as provide interactive menuing functions.

Method and apparatus for using DVD subpicture information in a television receiver

A computer system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory circuit, an I/O coprocessor, and an input device comprising a touchpad and two joysticks positioned one to each side of the touchpad. The input device interfaces to the CPU via a serial data link to the I/O coprocessor. The touchpad has a default template graphic image inscribed on or in the touchpad surface and has a retainer for removably securing template overlays to be used with the touchpad instead of the default template.

Input device having two joysticks and touchpad with default template

An apparatus and a method for providing remote control capability involves transmitting IR and RF signals in a time multiplexed manner. The present apparatus comprises an input device, an IR signal transmitter, a RF signal transmitter and a controller operatively coupled to the input device, the IR signal transmitter and the RF signal transmitter. The controller generates and applies the IR and RF signals to the respective signal transmitters in time multiplexed manner. The IR and RF signals may be transmitted using different protocols without significantly increasing the computing capacity of the controller as compared to a controller of a remote control device which transmits only one type of remote control signal.

Remote control apparatus and method

A pressure sensitive touch pad and an overlay depicting a pattern, e.g., a typewriter keyboard, for providing specific data characteristics of the pattern to a host computer and to a specific application program of any one of a number of application programs resident in the host computer, which specific application program includes software programmed to accept configured touch pad output signals from the touch pad corresponding to the pattern, which output signals are a function of originally generated touch signals achieved by actuation, normally by touch, of the pressure sensitive overlay surface at any particular point on the pattern, which pattern on the overlay on the touch pad corresponds to and is coordinated with a specific application program in the host computer including a multitude of application programs.

Touch pad overlay driven computer system

A computer system is provided which allows a user to perform a system reset without performing a manual physical reset of the computer system. The computer system comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a removable memory circuit, an I/O coprocessor, an input device, and an system manager having a system management icon, system management menu, and a pointing icon. The system management menu provides a user with option for restarting a program application, resetting the computer system, inserting a new cartridge without physically resetting the computer system, and exiting the menu system.

Icon-based reset for cartridge memory computer system

An input device for a computer system is provided which translates large body part or multiple body part motion into directional data. The input device includes a rigid support member having sufficient size to accommodate use by a human being for sitting, a riser member, a connection device for connecting the riser member to the support member, a transducer device in physical communication with the riser member for sensing the riser member motion and for conveying the motion to a computer system in the form of representative electrical signals, and a resilient device in physical communication with the riser member for maintaining the riser in a predetermined position relative to the support member when the riser is not subject to external forces. The cross member may be embodied in several forms, including straight and synclinal cross members. Alternatively, a haptic sphere or disc may be employed instead of a cross member.

Gross motion input controller for a computer system

The present invention provides a computer system supporting multiple, removable ROM-based applications without requiring the ROM-applications to be inserted into a particular slot. The computer system accepts one or more cartridges into any combination of slots. Once a cartridge is inserted into a slot, the computer system senses the insertion of a cartridge. The computer system then determines whether to swap the address ranges associated with the cartridge connectors, or slots. The address swap is implemented by either (i) swapping the cartridge connector chip selects or (ii) performing a page swap with the memory management unit.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

James Alan Strothmann