Abstract:
A system for distributing digital data over a video channel to a plurality of remotely located client terminals. The system involves selecting a set of digital data to be distributed and converting it to an intermediate format compatible with video broadcast. The intermediate data is then broadcast over a video channel during a time when no video content is being transmitted so that the intermediate format data takes the place of the video content. The intermediate format data is received at a remotely located client terminal where the set of digital data is recovered.
Abstract:
A system and method for distributing and presenting data such as video advertisements from a host server to a browsing device through a communications network. The method involves detecting an extended period of nonuse of the browsing device, establishing contact between the browsing device and the host server, preloading data from the host server to the browsing device, storing the data in the browsing device, detecting a start-up operation of the browsing device, and presenting the data through the browsing device.
Abstract:
The present invention is a means and method for synchronizing closed free-running systems, such as graphics systems, with no external synchronization signals required. Video games and most computer display controllers are closed free-running systems. Because most such systems have the means to switch between an interlaced and non-interlaced operation, and because interlaced and non-interlaced modes have a relative timing variation, the timing between two or more such closed free-running systems can be synchronized. This method allows synchronization with an imprecise timing reference. The vertical display timing is the free-running oscillator and the interlaced/non-interlaced mode transition is used as the timing adjustment means. The actual arrival time of data in a communication medium connecting two systems being synchronized is used in relation to an expected arrival time to provide the clock reference.
Abstract:
Apparatus, systems, and methods for interconnecting multiple consumer electronics devices in a home entertainment system. The consumer electronics devices are connected in a hub and spoke configuration, with each one being directly connected to a central electronics device. The central electronics device includes multiple identical, interchangeable jacks, each of which can receive cables connected to any of the consumer electronics devices, thereby significantly simplifying the process of connecting the components of the home entertainment system. The jacks are compatible with S-video and RCA video cables, such that the user does not need to understand the differences between these cables. In the hub and spoke configuration, all signals in the home entertainment system are accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. For example, any video or audio signal can be routed to a VCR, where it can be recorded.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for linking multiple remote players of real-time games is disclosed. The system of the present invention includes a first computer for directly linking the first computer with a second computer, the first computer comprises: 1) a network interface coupled to a network; 2) client application software executing in the first computer, the client application software includes: a) processing logic for connecting the first computer to a server on a network via the network interface; b) processing logic for requesting the server to match the first computer with a second computer using matching criteria; c) processing logic for receiving a network address of the second computer from the server; and d) processing logic for establishing a direct communication link with the second computer using the network address.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing physical security for a user account and supplying access to the environment and preferences associated with a particular user are provided. An internet terminal is coupled to a server system. The internet terminal detects the presence of a smart card. The smart card includes a memory such as a programmable ROM (PROM), any form of erasable PROM (EPROM) or Flash memory having stored therein identification information. The internet terminal reads the identification information from the smart card and transmits the identification information to a server. According to another aspect of the present invention an internet terminal can be configured by a server. The server receives identification information from an internet terminal. The identification information uniquely identifies a smart card. The server locates configuration information associated with a particular user of the server based upon the identification information. The configuration information may include customer preferences for customizing the operation of the internet terminal such as the type of on-screen keyboard presented by the internet terminal, the font used by the internet terminal for displaying text, background music options, and e-mail options. In any event, after locating the configuration information, the server downloads the configuration information to the internet terminal.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing flicker of a display image defined in HTML format for display on a television monitor. One embodiment of the present invention incorporates a tag that may be attached to an image to be displayed on a television monitor. This is done so by a particular tag that designates a file name which includes object of image data stored in a file. The tag identifies an image as either having a frequency profile that will result in interlace flicker or as having a frequency profile that will not result in interlace flicker. When a World Wide Web (WWW) browser employing this embodiment encounters such a tag, it will apply flicker reduction filtering to the image when the tag identifies the image as having a frequency profile that results in interlace flicker. Otherwise, the browser displays the image as is.
Abstract:
An apparatus for establishing a data communication link with a plurality of other modems on telephone line is disclosed. The Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) compliant modem of the present invention for establishing a data communication link with a plurality of other FDM compliant modems on a telephone line comprises a means for transmitting data on a first modulation band on the telephone line and a means for receiving data on a plurality of distinct modulation bands on the telephone line. The present invention also includes a system for linking a plurality of FDM compliant modems in a multiple site configuration on a telephone line, the system comprising a plurality of FDM compliant modems, each modem of the plurality of modems transmitting data on a distinct modulation band and receiving data on at least two other modulation bands.
Abstract:
A circuit for converting RGB to composite video. The circuit is particularly useful in a video overlay application. Notch filters are used both in the video path and keying path. The notch filters are centered at frequencies equal to the dot clock frequency of the RGB divided by integers where the result of this division falls within the chroma subcarrier spectrum.
Abstract:
A video display apparatus for composing video signals for a raster scanned display on a line-by-line basis. Objects are stored in a video RAM and are packed in the RAM without regard to their location on the display. A separate dispatch table contains information on each object and commands. A dispatcher operates on this information, allowing lines of data and commands to be extracted from the RAM as each video line is composed in a buffer.