Other

Pointset Corporation

Ithaca Media Corporation

Televentions, LLC

Srt, Inc.

Light Ideas Incorporated

Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.

Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.

Litephone Systems Ltd.

Jerry R Iggulden

Donald A Streck

Kyle D Fields

Alan McFarland

Derek John Pyner

Jung-Ming Wu

Nigel Taylor

Richard Crack

Keith Constable

Arthur St Antoine

Bruce Stevens

Stuart J Lipoff

Daniel M Fields

Richard H Caro

Peter D Lippire

Raymond E Debs

George McLam

Jeanette C Tan

Ben Davidson

Christopher J Husa

Ron Poulin

Joseph W Pender

Alan Mcfarland

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of an appliance. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The appliance owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the appliance. Once the desired settings have been made, they are downloaded to the appliance either directly from the server or the appliance owner's computer or indirectly using a portable transfer device.

Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an appliance

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of an automotive appliance. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The automobile owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the automotive appliance. Once the desired settings have been made, they are downloaded to the automobile either directly from the server or the automobile owner's computer or indirectly using a portable transfer device.

Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an automotive appliance

Recorded audiovisual programs are aggregated for archival storage on another storage medium, such as a DVD. As related programs are temporarily recorded on a DVR, the lengths of the programs are summed and compared to the recording capacity of the DVD. When a sufficient number of programs have been temporarily recorded, a message is presented prompting the user to transfer the recordings to a DVD. Portions of the recorded programs, such as commercial messages, may be edited or deleted before transfer to the DVD. When programs are recorded onto a DVD, program information may also be recorded to assist in navigating among the recorded programs. The program information may also be used for the purpose of printing appropriate labels using a personal computer system.

Method and apparatus for making archival copies of audiovisual recordings

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of a motor vehicle. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The motor vehicle owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the motor vehicle. Once the desired settings have been made, they are transferred to the motor vehicle using a portable transfer device, which may comprise a key for operating the motor vehicle.

Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of a motor vehicle

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Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of motor vehicle

The method and apparatus operates in a video recorder and playback unit to identify selected broadcast segments, such as commercial advertisements, of a television signal in real-time for the purpose of either suspending recording or advancing playback of the television signal during each unwanted segment. A signature pattern associated with each segment of the television signal is detected and compared to stored signature patterns representative of selected segments such as commercial advertisement segments. If the signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns, the segment is thereby immediately identified as being one of the selected segments and is processed in real-time to control operation of the video recorder/player. If the signature pattern of the segment does not match any of the stored signature patterns, the segment is analyzed to determine whether the segment is nevertheless a selected segment and, if so, its signature pattern is stored along with the stored signature patterns.

Method and apparatus for controlling a video recorder/player to selectively alter a video signal

The present invention provides a game ball with a transient marking feature that may be used on any court surface. No preparation of the court surface is required. The game ball is coated with a temporary marking agent that is encapsulated or otherwise sealed against exposure to the air. When the ball contacts a surface with sufficient velocity, a small quantity of the marking agent is liberated to provide a visible mark on the surface at the point of contact. Similar to a 'disappearing ink', the marking agent dissipates after being released from the microcapsules.

Method and apparatus for temporarily marking a point of contact

A video recording and playback device () incorporates a processor () for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors () detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated () to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.

Method and apparatus for eliminating television commercial messages

The duration of a recording is automatically extended in the event that a televised program extends beyond the scheduled end of the television broadcast. Groups or 'clusters' of commercial messages are detected. If no such group is found at the end of a scheduled broadcast, it is presumed that the broadcast has been extended and the recording is likewise extended. The invention again looks for a group of commercial messages at the next hour or half-hour. The recording is extended until such a group is found or until the recording has been extended by a predetermined maximum amount of time.

Method and apparatus for insuring complete recording of a television program

The method and apparatus operates in a television receiver to identify unwanted broadcast segments, such as commercial advertisements, of a television signal in real-time for the purpose of selectively altering the television display during each unwanted segment. A signature pattern associated with each segment of the television signal is detected and compared to stored signature patterns representative of selected segments such as commercial advertisement segments. If the signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns, the segment is thereby immediately identified as being one of the selected segments and is processed in real-time to mute or otherwise alter the television signal during the segment. If the signature pattern of the segment does not match any of the stored signature patterns, the segment is analyzed to determine whether the segment is nevertheless a selected segment and, if so, its signature pattern is stored along with the stored signature patterns.

Method and apparatus for selectively altering a television video signal in real-time

An encapsulated marking agent is used to provide a temporary mark at a point of contact between two objects. In a specific example, a game ball is coated with a temporary marking agent that is encapsulated or otherwise sealed against exposure to the air. When the ball contacts a surface with sufficient velocity, a small quantity of the marking agent is liberated to provide a visible mark on the surface at the point of contact. Similar to a &ldquo;disappearing ink&rdquo;, the marking agent dissipates upon exposure to air.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clarita, CA, United States of America

Jerry R Iggulden