572 results about "General purpose computer" patented technology

An integrated multimedia, entertainment, communications and control system. The system is based on a general purpose computer and is capable of interfacing with, controlling or managing a wide variety of audio, video, telecommunications, data communications or other devices. The system includes a programming environment for creating services or user experiences that may incorporate features or functionalities of several devices that are conventionally operated as separate, standalone devices.

A foveated imaging system, which can be implemented on a general purpose computer and greatly reduces the transmission bandwidth of images has been developed. This system has demonstrated that significant reductions in bandwidth can be achieved while still maintaining access to high detail at any point in an image. The system is implemented with conventional computer, display, and camera hardware. It utilizes novel algorithms for image coding and decoding that are superior both in degree of compression and in perceived image quality and is more flexible and adaptable to different bandwidth requirements and communications applications than previous systems. The system utilizes novel methods of incorporating human perceptual properties into the coding the decoding algorithms providing superior foveation. One version of the system includes a simple, inexpensive, parallel pipeline architecture, which enhances the capability for conventional and foveated data compression. Included are novel applications of foveated imaging in the transmission of pre-recorded video (without eye tracking), and in the use of alternate pointing devices for foveation.

Described is a system and method for the destruction of adipose tissue using an energy applicator such as a HIFU transducer. The system has a scan head containing an energy applicator, a mechanical arm for carrying the weight of the scan head, and a therapy controller such as a computer for controlling the operation of the scan head. The therapy controller may be part of a general purpose computer, and may be used as a robotic controller to automate the procedure. Methods are included for destroying adipose tissue in a quick, non-invasive manner.

The present invention is directed to a system and methods for protecting a limited resource computer from malware. Aspects of the present invention use antivirus software on a general purpose computer to prevent malware from infecting a limited resource computer. Typically, antivirus software on the general purpose computer is kept “up-to-date” with the most recent software updates. When a connection is established between the limited resource computer and the general purpose computer, a signature of each application installed on the limited resource computer is transmitted to the general purpose computer. Then antivirus software on the general purpose computer compares the received signatures to known malware. Finally, the results of the scan are reported to the limited resource computer.

A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user.

A personal surgical center embodied as a general purpose computer (e.g. laptop) with wireless technology for monitoring the operation of an independent surgical center and / or handheld instruments. The computer tracks procedures in the operating room and instruments used during those procedures, and accounts for billing, supply management, and payment options. The monitoring of the instruments used during the surgery is conducted by the personal surgical center while actual control of the settings of those instruments is via the independent surgical center or via controls included in the instruments themselves. The monitored information is stored in a log file which is then transmitted to a hospital server for generating reports, inventory control, billing, and the like. Other information generated during the procedure (e.g. doctor notes) is also stored in the log file. The personal surgical center may also access the hospital server or local data storage device for retrieving a surgeon's specific surgery parameters, obtaining patient files, and the like.

A universal cable and system are provided that includes a universal cable and miniature quick connectors with interchangeable ends. The system allows for easy construction of various desired cable configurations that may include USB and Firewire® computer architecture, and other electrical communication wiring schemes. As a result, electrical connection between computers, computer peripherals, and other electrical equipment is quickly accomplished without a need for many cables and connectors, and their associated added costs. Universal cabling methods for using the system and cables are also provided.

A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user.

A computerized wagering gaming system and method is disclosed. The system includes a universal computerized game system operable to control a computerized wagering game, including a controller interface and a universal controller for processing an operating system instructions. The system includes game system devices and a game translator system for translating game events between the game system devices and the universal game control system. The controller interface operates as an interface between the universal controller and the game translator system.

A method of simultaneously executing one or more computer application programs in one or more host computer system or server system under the control of a second computer system, where the host computer system or server system generates either presentation information or generic computer messages, or both, based on the application programs, involves establishing selected parameters in the host computer presentation information or messages, or both, interpreting selected portions of the host computer system's presentation information or message information, or both, as input to a computer program resident in the second computer system, examining the host computer system presentation information or message information, or both, at the second computer system to detect the presence therein of one or more of the selected parameters utilizing information in a custom object database, and continuing operation of the second computer system during the examining for the selected parameters.

A comprehensive user control system for use with therapeutic wellness devices is described, comprising such a wellness device, data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network, and a removable data link capable of permitting data communication between the wellness device and data equipment. Other embodiments comprise a general purpose computer capable of connection to a data communications network and programmed to control a wellness device across a removable data link; a method of controlling a wellness device including obtaining over certain data communications connections a program for controlling the device and operating the device in accordance with the program; and a method of controlling a wellness device comprising presentation of a request for therapeutic relief not specifying a particular mechanical action to be performed by the device, and translation of that request into at least one command executable by at least one wellness device.

A monitoring system generates alerts indicating predefined conditions exist in a computer system. Alerts are generated by comparing alert definitions to a host state representing the state of the hardware and software components of a computer system. to determine if conditions defined in the alert definitions exist in the host state; and generating alerts accordingly. The host state is a static tree structure including elements in a fixed hierarchical relationship, the elements being given value by associated tokens, the elements and associated tokens representing the hardware and software components of the computer system. The alert definitions generate alerts according to the values of at least one token, at least one alert or a combination of various tokens and / or alerts. The host state is created by providing a static tree structure representing a general computer system. Component information indicating hardware and software components of the computer system is extracted from diagnostic data of the computer system. The host state is generated according to the static tree structure and the component information.

The invention provides a modular computer unit that contains all of the conventional components of a general-purpose computer disposed in a single housing with has only a single interface connector on one end of the computer unit. The unit is non-functional unless mated with either a docking stations or connector plate through a reciprocal connector with provides the computer unit with access to power and peripheral devices. The computer unit can be a wearable computer.

Decision information systems, methods, and computer programs for better informing decisions to use multiple drugs in drug delivery devices, including implantable devices, for drug administration. Executable computer programs and logic embodying methods of the invention can calculate consistent multiple drug mixture amounts and drug delivery flow rates. One program accepts user input indicating a desired first drug dose rate, an initial first drug concentration, a desired second drug dose rate, an initial second drug concentration, and the reservoir size of the drug delivery device. The program method calculates a first drug amount and a second drug amount to combine in a mixture as well as a first drug true concentration in the mixture. The drugs can be mixed consistent with the physician's instructions using the program output. The first drug true concentration can be entered into a programmer device as the only drug concentration entered. Another program calculates a consistent first drug, second drug, and diluent amount to be added to a mixture for injection into a fixed flow rate, implantable drug delivery device. Methods preferably output true concentrations and dose rates for all drugs to be added and most preferably show all calculations used to arrive at the flow rate and mixture amount calculations. Yet another program receives a new desired drug dose rate for a previously filled device. The program accepts the existing mixture volume and true drug concentrations for a partially depleted device and calculates a new mixture flow rate to achieve the desired dose rate using the existing mixture. The methods can be implemented as executable computer programs in programmer devices, general purpose computers, servers, handheld computers, and personal digital assistants.

A communications protocol in a computer readable medium of a general purpose computer system that operates as a special purpose controller when executing at least one program for broadcasting information. The communications protocol includes an access point location, an access point Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, a number of access point radios, and a radio type protocol of each access point radio.

A system for providing a location based offer, including: an offer element, in a processor for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer; and a memory unit for the computer. The offer element: generates, using the processor and a first set of rules or a first artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit, at least one respective offer for an item or service from at least one business entity, the offer for display on a map showing respective locations for the at least one business entity; transmits, according a second set of rules or a second artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit, the at least one respective offer to a wireless communications device (WCD) for display on a map by the WCD, the map including the respective locations; and receives, from the WCD a selection of an offer from among the at least one respective offer.

A knowledge driven composite design optimization process for designing a laminate part includes steps for generating a globally optimized 3-D ply definition for a laminate part, and modifying the 3-D ply definition to include features of the laminate part, where the generating and modifying steps are parametrically linked to one another and are performed in the recited order. Preferably, the generating step includes substeps for determining connectivity between a plurality of regions defining the laminate part, subsequently generating ramp features detailing interconnection of the regions defining the laminate part, and displaying views and corresponding tabular data describing the laminate part and illustrating both inter-region connectivity and the ramp features as specified by a user. A knowledge driven composite design optimization system and associated computer memory for operating a general purpose computer as a knowledge driven composite design optimization system are also described.

A method is disclosed of authenticating a consumer and authorizing a transaction over a network. The method includes first requesting, by a user, performance of a transaction between said user and a merchant, the user and the merchant performing the transaction over a non-secure web page. The user then enters transaction request information into a non-secure general purpose computer, and then enters a PIN into a graphic interface of the non-secure web page on the non-secure general purpose computer. providing, by the non-secure general purpose computer, the transaction request information and a PIN data package, the PIN data package being a digital representation of an impression of the users selection of at least one graphic image representing their PIN to a secure transaction manager via an internet system. The transaction manager then combines at least one of dynamic and corollary data with the PIN data package and securely provides the combination to a hardware security module (HSM). The HSM then distills the PIN data package into a PIN and encrypting the PIN into a PIN Block. Thereafter; the remainder of the transaction is performed.

The invention broadly comprises a computer-based method for presenting information regarding network performance and topology. The steps of the method include: displaying a first plurality of nodes in the network; displaying edges associated with the first plurality of nodes; and, displaying latency associated with the edges. The preceding steps, and those that follow, are performed by at least one general-purpose computer specially programmed to perform these steps. In some aspects, the method selects the first plurality of nodes. In some aspects, the network comprises a plurality of ISPs with respective pluralities of nodes and the respective pluralities of nodes comprises the first plurality of nodes. In some aspects, displaying a first plurality of nodes, edges, and latency is independent of cooperation from the plurality of ISPs. In some aspects, the method gathers information regarding the first plurality of nodes from vantage points outside the first plurality of nodes.

A general computer-implement method and apparatus to optimize problem layout on a massively parallel supercomputer is described. The method takes as input the communication matrix of an arbitrary problem in the form of an array whose entries C(i, j) are the amount to data communicated from domain i to domain j. Given C(i, j), first implement a heuristic map is implemented which attempts sequentially to map a domain and its communications neighbors either to the same supercomputer node or to near-neighbor nodes on the supercomputer torus while keeping the number of domains mapped to a supercomputer node constant (as much as possible). Next a Markov Chain of maps is generated from the initial map using Monte Carlo simulation with Free Energy (cost function) F=Σi,jC(i,j)H(i,j)—where H(i,j) is the smallest number of hops on the supercomputer torus between domain i and domain j. On the cases tested, found was that the method produces good mappings and has the potential to be used as a general layout optimization tool for parallel codes. At the moment, the serial code implemented to test the method is un-optimized so that computation time to find the optimum map can be several hours on a typical PC. For production implementation, good parallel code for our algorithm would be required which could itself be implemented on supercomputer.

An interactive radio system is disclosed. The overall architecture of the interactive radio system includes a broadcast system for broadcasting digital information across a radio signal to web radio receiver units. An interactive broadcast reception system includes a general purpose computer having a processor, display, and storage and internet connection, a broadcast receiver to communicate with the general purpose computer and to decode digital subcarrier data formatted as a broadcast markup language document, and application software that runs on the processor of the computer and communicates with the broadcast receiver to control the operation of the broadcast receiver and to respond to broadcast markup language commands in said broadcast markup language document by connecting to an internet address referenced in said digital subcarrier data.

The invention is a modular pen-type speech input device for use with personal computers, palm top computers, personal digital assistants, wearable computers, desktop computers or other general purpose computers. The invention consists essentially of a pen shaped device with integral microphone, rechargeable power supply, wireless transmitter and a plurality of function modules. These modules can be selectively removed or added depending on the desired function set of the user.

A universal computer event translator, which can be implemented as a computer program for execution on a personal computer, handheld device, or other computer processing platform, provides configurable event translation to map essentially any type of computer input event into essentially any other type(s) of computer input event. The program detects occurrences of desired types of input events, which may be generated via a particular input device, a timer, or another program or processing running on the computer, and provides rules-based translation processing of those events. For example, the program can translate mouse events into keyboard events, MIDI or other port events into mouse or keyboard events, or into custom events. One incoming input event can spawn one or more translated input events of one or more types; conversely, different types of incoming input events can be mapped to a single type or multiple types of translated input events.

Described is a system and method for the destruction of adipose tissue using an energy applicator such as a HIFU transducer. The system has a scan head containing an energy applicator, a mechanical arm for carrying the weight of the scan head, and a therapy controller such as a computer for controlling the operation of the scan head. The therapy controller may be part of a general purpose computer, and may be used as a robotic controller to automate the procedure. Methods are included for destroying adipose tissue in a quick, non-invasive manner.

The invention broadly comprises a method for enabling point of sales (POS) functionality in a wireless communications device (WCD) including the steps of: transmitting, using an interface element in at least one specially programmed general purpose computer, a POS function control signal to a communication network for transmission to a WCD, the WCD located in a retail location; activating a POS function, in response to the control signal, to enable POS functionality in the WCD, the POS function stored in a memory element for the WCD or in a memory element for the at least one specially programmed computer; acquiring, using the POS function, an identification of an item via the WCD; receiving, using the interface element, the identification data for the item from the WCD via the communication network; and generating, using a processor for the at least one general-purpose computer, an order including the first item.

A computerized wagering game apparatus is disclosed. The invention comprises a universal computerized game controller operable to control a computerized wagering game. The apparatus includes a video display device for providing a visual representation of a signal provided by the computerized game controller such that the video display device displays at least one visual image selected from the group consisting of a) computerized wagering game status information and b) symbol elements that change with the play of the wagering game. A communication port communicatively coupled to the computerized game controller is provided, as well as an interface assembly comprising one or more user interface devices. An I / O interface is configured to communicatively couple the interface assembly to the communication port. A method for reconfiguring a computerized wagering game apparatus having a harness for associating memory with output devices in the apparatus is also disclosed. The method comprises a) removing an original special-purpose computerized game controller used to control a computerized wagering game from the apparatus, the original computerized game controller designed to and capable of working exclusively with a particular computerized wagering game apparatus; b) inserting a universal computerized game controller operable to control a video wagering game that can be played on the video wagering game apparatus and an I / O interface that operatively couples the universal computerized game controller to user interface devices of the wagering game apparatus; and c) sending signals from the computerized game controller through the I / O and harness to confirm proper communication between the computerized game controller and the user interface devices.

A method and apparatus to estimate properties of an integrated circuit device utilizes reduced resources. The representation of an integrated circuit is sampled using the statistical techniques of survey sampling. An average value of a property is determined from these samples and used to determine the property of the integrated circuit as a whole. Thus a property of an integrated circuit is determined from an analysis of a fraction of the integrated circuit representation. Error bounds associated with the property can be optionally determined from the estimated variance of the sampled property measurements. The method is realized using a general purpose computer. The invention has application to the estimation of integrated circuit manufacturability, yield and other properties.

The invention broadly comprises a method for conducting a multiplayer game, including: transmitting a plurality of voting options; accepting votes from respective players via respective telecommunication devices, the votes selecting voting options from the plurality of voting options; ranking the voting options according to the votes; identifying a player who voted for a predetermined designation of the voting options; assigning a prize to the player; and notifying the player. The telecommunication devices can be cellular telephones, computers connected to the Internet, or land line telephones. In some aspects, the method: transmits another plurality of voting options; accepts other votes selecting a voting option from the other plurality of voting options; ranks the other voting options according to the other votes; identifies another player voting for another predetermined designation; assigns another prize to the other player; and notifies the other player. The steps are performed by a specially programmed general-purpose computer.

An I / O (Input / Output) interface is configured to couple a user interface assembly of interface peripheral devices to a communication port of a general purpose computer serving as a computerized wagering game controller. By connecting user interface assemblies of various gaming systems to a computerized game controller via various I / O interfaces and custom wiring harnesses, a common computerized game controller implements a game usable with a variety of existing gaming systems with different user interface assemblies.

The invention includes: a locating system; a computer, interfaced to the locating system and interpreting the positions of tracked objects in a generic computer model of a patient's hip geometry; a software module, executable on the computer, which defines the patient's pelvic plane without reference to previously obtained radiological data, by locating at least three pelvic landmarks; and a pelvic tracking marker, fixable to the pelvic bone and trackable by the locating system, to track in real time the orientation of the defined pelvic plane. Preferably, the system also includes a femoral tracking marker, securely attachable to a femur of the patient by a non-penetrating ligature and trackable by the locating system to detect changes in leg length and femoral offset.