977 results about "Digital storage" patented technology

A self-contained device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event may include a mirror and be mounted to a vehicle windshield in place of a conventional rear-view mirror. The device includes a housing in which the electronics and related elements of the invention are contained. These elements include one or more data sensors, at least one of which is an image sensor,. Also included are a data sensor circuit and a capture circuit. The data sensor circuit responds to the triggering event, and may include data sensors coupled to vehicle systems such as a speedometer, tachometer, brake, turn signals or the like, or other data sensors such as an accelerometer or a vehicle position sensor. The triggering event may be, for example, a sudden change in acceleration indicative of an impending collision, or it may be a change in the signal provided by any such data sensor, including the image sensor. The capture circuit is coupled to the image sensor and captures a signal representing the video imagery by recording it in a digital memory, by transmitting it to a remote location, or by other suitable means. The capture circuit terminates capture of the signal in response to the data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event. The captured data thus describe circumstances leading up to the time of the triggering event. The data can be analyzed to help police, insurance or other investigative personnel understand those circumstances.

An implantable medical device is provided for subcutaneous implantation within a human being. The implantable medical device includes a pair of electrodes for sensing electrical signals from the human being's heart. Electronic circuitry having digital memory is provided with the electronic circuitry designed to record the electrical signals from the heart. The electronics of the electronic circuitry are housed in a case having a tapered shape to facilitate implantation and removal of the implantable medical device.

A method and system of controlling devices with digitally stored content. Devices such as home electronic appliances, lighting systems, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, home security systems and home entertainment systems are controlled from a single, centralized device. A set top box (STB) stores scripts that include program content for controlling the operation of a plurality of these devices from the STB. A user of the STB selects the desired scripts, and the STB accesses the selected scripts from storage based on a triggering mechanism such as time, content, event, etc. The STB selectively controls operation of certain devices designated in the script. The method provides ease of control over multiple and diverse devices, applications and media within a user's own home environment, with more functionality and flexibility than currently available.

A media storage and access system and methodology including a set-top box which receives and processes a plurality of signal sources and makes programming available locally through connected devices or via a data network such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. The system also integrates a multimedia storage system that allows programming content to be digitally stored. The system utilizes an integrated digital storage system and operating software to allow users to view a broadcast program (e.g., television, radio, etc.) with the option of instantly reviewing previous segments within the program. In addition, the system allows the user to store selected media programming while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. The system also allows stored media assets to be accessed locally via a media device connected to the unit or remotely via the Internet.

An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task / domains includes: a digital storage device that stores cumulative feedback data gathered from multiple users during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task / domains; a first digital logic device that determines the current task / domain with which the current user command is associated; a second digital logic device that determines a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task / domain; a first communication interface that communicates to the user the current response; and a second communication interface that receives from the user current feedback data regarding the current response. The current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in the digital storage device and associated with the current task / domain.

A method begins by a management unit of a distributed storage network (DSN) sending a software update notice to a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, wherein the plurality of DS units supports a plurality of digital storage vaults, and wherein a set of DS units of the plurality of DS units supports a digital storage vault of the plurality of digital storage vaults. The method continues with a DS processing module determining an update strategy for updating software of the plurality of DS units such that at least a decode threshold number of DS units of the set of DS units is continually available to service access requests to the digital storage vault and updating the software of at least some of the plurality of DS units in accordance with the update strategy.

A monitoring device (20) and method (200) for monitoring the health of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device (20) preferably includes eyewear (25) with an optical sensor (30), a digital storage and processing device (35) with a display member (40) and a control component (43), and a connection cable (45). The monitoring device (20) preferably displays the following information about the user: pulse rate; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; and distance traveled.

A method is presented for rapidly making and delivering directly to a consumer a full upper and / or lower denture on the basis of contemporaneous digital image information laser scanned from the person's oral cavity after all respective upper and / or lower teeth have been removed, the delivery of the denture occurring substantially contemporaneously with the creation of the contemporaneous digital image information and optionally including and based on archived digital image information laser scanned from the person's oral cavity before all respective upper and / or lower teeth have been removed and digitally stored. According to which this contemporaneous digital image information and archival digital image information of the oral cavity is converted, by means of what is called the rapid prototyping technique and thus with a processing step (20) and a combination of an optional laser scanning step (18) solely for archiving the oral cavity when upper and / or lower teeth are present and a repetition of the laser scanning step (18) at a subsequent time when upper and / or lower teeth have been removed, a pre-selected block of plastic is used in a processing step (26) at a remote rapid modeling facility for receiving and processing digital information to form the block of plastic or like material into a denture of which at least a part is formed to substantially perfectly fit in juxtaposed relationship to the corresponding gums of the consumer. At least, pre-selected outer or non-juxtaposing is selected for manufacture of the denture using an arbitrary archived digital image not derived from the consumer's oral cavity image but selected by the consumer for its style, cosmetic characteristics, for example, color of teeth, size and variety of teeth, and / or perceived suitability.

Provided is a secure digital memory card for extension of function, including: a flash memory installed in a host device and storing data generated by the host device; a controller controlling an access interface to the flash memory; a radio frequency circuit performing functions of a contactless integrated circuit card and a contactless integrated circuit card reader through a wireless interface control of the controller; an antenna unit connected to the radio frequency circuit to perform a function of a transmission and reception antenna; and a contact integrated circuit card adapter performing the function of the contact integrated circuit card reader through a wire interface control of the controller.

A cellular telephone includes an internally integrated digital entertainment module. The telephone includes a transceiver unit and a headset which is connected to the transceiver unit by wired or wireless link. The entertainment module includes an interchangeable ROM and / or expansion RAM for storing music or other audio signals for playback through the telephone's headset. Music or other audio signals in digitized form is stored in the interchangeable ROM or is loaded into the expansion RAM from a CD player, computer, or other source of digitized audio signals. Under control of the cellular telephone's microprocessor, the digitally stored audio signal is played back through the telephone's headset. The entertainment module may be located in the transceiver unit, a removable battery pack, or in a separate adapter.

A database of faceprint data corresponding to detected face regions within images acquired with an image acquisition device and digitally-embedded within one or more digital storage media includes image, identity and face recognition data components. The image data component include acquired digital image data including content data and unique identifiers corresponding to individual acquired digital images or face regions therein, or both. The identity data component includes an identification listing of known identities to which identified face regions detected within the image data have been determined to correspond. The face recognition data component includes, for an individual known identity, one or more identity tables corresponding to one or more identity entries, and one or more face class tables corresponding to one or more face class entries of the one or more identity tables. Each face class table includes one or more faceprint entries corresponding to normalized face regions determined from the acquired digital image.

An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task / domains. The apparatus comprises: a digital storage device that stores cumulative feedback data gathered from multiple users during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task / domains; a first digital logic device that determines the current task / domain with which the current user command is associated; a second digital logic device that determines a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task / domain; a first communication interface that communicates to the user the current response; and a second communication interface that receives from the user current feedback data regarding the current response. The current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in the digital storage device and associated with the current task / domain.

A device for prepaid recording of digital audio signals. In a system where digital radio signals are received in an encoded format, a digital converter that is enabled by a smartcard module is employed to convert encoded digital signals to decoded digital signals for recording onto a digital storage media. A smartcard having a prepaid account balance is employed to authorize and control the recording of digital signals. A buffer is advantageously employed to store a quantity of digital signals prior to recording.

An embodiment of the invention is a system for signal processing in preparation for wireless transmission, the wireless transmission being from a portable wireless communication device and including use of a power amplifier having nonlinear characteristics. The system includes memory for storing digitally-indexed information. The digitally-indexed information models nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier, and the digitally-indexed information is stored prior to processing of a first signal that reflects information to be communicated. The system further includes first logic, configured to accept the first signal and to retrieve, based on the first signal, a portion of the digitally-indexed information stored in the memory, and second logic, configured to generate a second signal based on the portion of the digitally-accessed information and on the first signal. The second signal pre-compensates for the nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier, and the second signal is for wireless transmission based on the second signal.

The invention provides a sensor probe which has: one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured to sense one or more parameters and a communication bus in electrical communication therewith. The one or more sensors and communication bus are disposed on a substrate. The sensor probe includes a digital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored and which is in electrical communication with the communication bus. The probe includes, a cable, a first end of which is in electrical communication with the communication bus and a second end of which is in electrical communication with a remote monitoring unit. The cable is configured to provide electrical power received from the remote monitoring unit to the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, and to communicate data received from the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit.

An audio information delivery system collects electronic data via Internet or other conveyance, and responsive to customer inquiries, selectively retrieves data from local stores in areas of interest to the inquiring customers, formats the data, and transmits the data in audio form to the customers via their telephones. Initially, an information delivery agency makes advance arrangements with remotely located content providers to repeatedly obtain information of prescribed character. Agency computers continually gather digitally stored audio and text information from the predefined content providers and assemble the gathered information into a universal database. Separately, the agency enrolls a number of individual customers, which includes obtaining each customer's preferences regarding information content and playback order. Responsive to a telephone call from a registered customer, agency's computers retrieve the caller's pre-stored preferences and proceed to identify information in the universal database that pertains to the caller's subject matter preferences. After preparing vocalizations of the text information, agency computer equipment audibly presents the audio information and vocalizations to the caller in predetermined order via the caller's telephone connection. This is achieved, for example, by using an intermediate telephone network such as a wireless carrier network.

The Brain system employs a graphical user interface to facilitate user interaction with highly flexible, associative "matrices" that enable users to conveniently organize digitally-stored "thoughts" (inter-related information) and their network of inter-relationships. Generally, ways are provided for interacting with the Brain by means of unidirectional messaging, including without limitation e-mail, instant message, paging, SMS, phone calls or even computer-generated postal mail. The system can update users of changes or other events by those means, and users can input queries, navigation, new data or other commands to the system by those means. Sending new users unidirectional messages that display interactive views of the Brain fosters viral propagation of an alternative user interface. Means are also provided for synchronizing local versions of common data repositories with centrally-stored versions of the same using those same sorts of general purpose unidirectional messaging methods.

A method for determining thresholds useful for converting cell physical levels into cell logical values in an array of digital memory cells storing physical levels which diminish over time, the method comprising determining extent of deterioration of the physical levels and determining thresholds accordingly for at least an individual cell in said array; and reading the individual cell including reading a physical level in the cell and converting the physical level into a logical value using the thresholds, wherein the determining comprises storing predefined physical levels rather than data-determined physical levels in each of a plurality of cells and computing extent of deterioration by determining deterioration of the predefined physical levels.

A method is provided for controlling a Mass Storage Class Digital Imaging Device using a SCSI pass through protocol. The protocol is based on industry standard SCSI protocol with modifications and extensions to allow transparent communication over a medium and is referred to as SCSI Pass Through (SPT). This protocol defines a set of commands that are initiated in a computer. The commands also include and extend industry standard Picture Transfer Protocol and are targeted for application and execution in a Mass Storage Class Digital Imaging Device. The invention includes the definition of data buffers in the form of data structures that can be used for packaging, passing, and receiving information related to the digital imaging device. The protocol is applicable to communication mediums that can be utilized in connecting any digital storage device to a computing device.

A digital storage system is coupled to a write-once memory array. File delete commands are implemented by over-writing a destructive digital pattern to at least a portion of the memory cells associated with the file to be deleted. One disclosed system alters the manner in which a file delete command is implemented, depending upon whether the file is stored in a write-once memory or in a re-writable memory.

Updateable, customizable identification bands are disclosed herein. The identification band may include a band having an opening therein and at least one transparent surface. An information tag is insertable into the opening and is visible through the at least one transparent surface. The information tag is updateable, customizable or replaceable. The identification band may include accessible digital data storage as well. The identification band may also include a clasp. The clasp may include a male part and a female part, the female part having a cave-like opening that enables the information tag to be inserted into the opening in the band. The male part desirably secures the ‘cave-like” opening such that a water tight seal is formed. The clasp may include digital storage capability, technology and / or a power source.

A process monitoring and event capturing system, including at least one video detector for monitoring a process and outputting a video signal and at least one event signal representing an event condition of the process being monitored. A recorder records the video signal and the event signal in a digital video file of a digital storage device having a predetermined data structure. The video file is structured to include at least one event feature data structure at the end of the video file for storing the event signal representative of the captured event condition. The digital storage device includes a temporary data file for storing video segments for examination by the user. The file format structure stores event data from the end of the data file forward in reverse order, permitting additions of data without affecting the previous file structure.

Theft, distribution, and piracy of digital content (software, video, audio, e-books, any content of any kind that is digitally stored and distributed) is generally accomplished by copying it, if possible, or, if it is protected from being copied in any fashion, such piracy is based upon a number of reverse engineering techniques. Aside from the straightforward copying of unprotected content, all of these other methods require first an understanding of the protective mechanism(s) guarding the content, and finally an unauthorized modification of that protection in order to disable or subvert it. Methods that prevent a skilled individual from using reverse engineering tools and techniques to attain that level of understanding and / or prevent anyone from performing such modifications can offer significant advantages to content creators who wish to protect their products.

A method and digital camera for capturing images to be provided to a service provider. The camera includes a capture device for capturing digital images; a memory for storing the captured digital images; an interface to a communications device for transmitting the stored images to a service provider; wherein the digital interface automatically transfers images to the network service provider during a specified time period. Rechargeable batteries may be provided for powering the digital camera; wherein the communications device recharges the batteries using the interface. The camera may further include a display for displaying digital files stored in the digital memory and displaying the at least one order status confirmation file on the display.

A digital printer is operationally associated with a digital storage medium interface and a graphic user interface to display and select images stored on the digital storage medium for local or remote printing. The graphical user interface includes user controls and an image display for displaying the images for printing. The graphical user interface enables a user to select, from, for example, a removable memory having images stored thereon, a subset of images to be printed. The graphical user interface is further adapted to permit communication via a network to a fulfillment center to enable remote printing and / or request photo products.