162 results about "Home computer" patented technology

Disclosed herein are inventions that integrate a home television set top box (“STB”) or home media center with a smart voicemail system of a telephone service provider. Smart voicemail features, such as email notification of voicemails, or online playback of voicemails, may be used to obtain digital voicemail audio files that are then stored and maintained in a home computer network. These files can be served over the network via a networked television STB or a media center computer, to a display monitor during normal usage. Embodiments cause new voicemail notifications to be displayed during typical operation of a television with the STB or media center computer and provide users with an interface for responding to new voicemail notifications, and reviewing, managing, and playing back voicemail. Messages received thus can be easily identified and reviewed through an interface with which subscribers are extremely comfortable.

This invention relates to an interactive medication container or console that hold or otherwise organizes one or more medication vials or containers. Each vial has a memory strip containing medication and prescription information. Each vial can also include a reminder unit that is attached to and portable with the individual vials. The console or reminder unit reads the information strip of the vial and communicates this information to or interacts with a patient to remind them to take the medication. The medication container or reminder unit also gathers or tracks information such as consumption time, quantity remaining, patient feedback, and contraindication information. The medication container or reminder unit interacts with the patient by displaying questions or receiving and recording input from the patient before, during or after a dose of medication is taken. The patient input can be used to modify the dosing regimen for future doses of medication. The medication container reorders medication when the quantity remaining reaches a threshold level. Contraindication information in the memory strip is downloaded to a personal home computer or a hospital or nursing home computer.

This invention relates to an interactive medication container or console that hold or otherwise organizes one or more medication vials or containers. Each vial has a memory strip containing medication and prescription information. Each vial can also include a reminder unit that is attached to and portable with the individual vials. The console or reminder unit reads the information strip of the vial and communicates this information to or interacts with a patient to remind them to take the medication. The medication container or reminder unit also gathers or tracks information such as consumption time, quantity remaining, patient feedback, and contraindication information. The medication container or reminder unit interacts with the patient by displaying questions or receiving and recording input from the patient before, during or after a dose of medication is taken. The patient input can be used to modify the dosing regimen for future doses of medication. The medication container reorders medication when the quantity remaining reaches a threshold level. Contraindication information in the memory strip is downloaded to a personal home computer or a hospital or nursing home computer.

An improved system and procedure for allowing a user to post a route to another mobile user or to himself. In one embodiment, a user engages his user interface to record and transmit the traveled route to a second user or to himself at a later time. The recipient receives the route in accordance with his user ID and other parameters specified or messages left by the initiating user. The route can be displayed on a map, in text, or audibly broadcast. In an alternative embodiment, the route can be left by a non-mobile user for the benefit of a mobile user using, for example, a home computer.

Services for a vehicle or fleet of vehicles can be ordered, renewed, modified, managed, configured, and/or cancelled through a common interface. Services may be managed remotely from outside the vehicle as well as from within the vehicle. For example, the driver of a vehicle could access a secure web site from their home computer to subscribe for satellite radio services, cancel a subscription for global positioning information, renew a contract for broadband Internet access in the vehicle, and modify a relationship for remote vehicle security services. Each service that is registered with the system can possess a different status. Such functionality allows devices necessary for various services to be pre-installed in the vehicle. The service management system can also store user profiles that reflect user preferences and patterns of behavior with respect to how the services are performed and configured.

Systems and methods of performing a simplified data transfer are provided. For example, a method of simplified data transfer may involve downloading an index of files accessed or modified on a home computer onto a handheld device from an online data storage server, displaying on the handheld device a user selectable list of files based on the index of files, issuing a request for a file selected by a user from the list of files from the handheld device to the data storage server, and receiving the file selected by the user onto the handheld device from the data storage server.

Embodiments of the present invention provide services that enable individuals to rent and/or purchase content over the Internet and to receive it electronically, referred to below as “EZTakes.” This content may include movies, TV shows, music, games and other information typically distributed on CD/DVD. EZTakes leverages high-speed broadband Internet connections, peer-to-peer networking, digital rights management (DRM) and the growing prevalence of home computers that now typically feature large hard drives (e.g. 180+gigabytes) and have the capability to “burn” (i.e. create) DVDs and/or CDs. EZTakes bridges the gap between the home computer and the living room by using standard technologies that consumers already own and are already familiar with: home computers, DVD media, DVD players and the Internet. EZTakes also promotes the interests of content owners (e.g. movie production companies) by expanding their revenue opportunities through enabling them to distribute their content assets over the Internet. EZTakes also includes technical control mechanisms, such as digital watermarking, that could not easily be exploited when using physical DVD/CD distribution channels.

When the user works at home on his home computer, a work monitor logs his file activities on all the drives of his home computer in a work monitor log, which can be displayed in a work monitor window. The user can choose to update from the work monitor window. When update is selected, the files in the work monitor log are selected for file synchronization. When file synchronization is performed, files on the user's home computer are synchronized with corresponding files on the user's office computer. Preferably, the date and time of a file on the home computer selected for file synchronization are compared to the corresponding date and time of the corresponding file on the office computer to determine the direction of file synchronization. The newer version of the file overwrites the older version of the file on either the home or office computer. The file activities which qualify for logging in the work monitor log are selectable by the user as either accesses to the file, for example, reading a file without necessarily writing over it, or as file modification, which requires that the user writes the file. The generation of the work monitor log involves logging each file activity when the work monitor is enabled by the user. The user may wish to disable the work monitor for periods of time for various reasons. The user may select a variable time period for which log entries are maintained in the work monitor log, for example one week. Work monitor log entries are deleted from the work monitor after they have been in the work monitor log for more than the variable time period.

The present invention relates to a kit and method for creating a personal photo book on a home computer. The kit includes software, photo pages, extra-long photo pages to make a cover for the book and a book. The software causes a graphical user interface to be displayed that assists in designing layout pages and a cover for the book. The photo pages are secured in the book by squaring page layout templates that have been printed on the photo pages with the attachment pages secured within the book. The printed page layout templates are then secured to the book by the use of an adhesive located on the attachment page. The majority of the attachment page may then be removed by use of a perforation on the attachment page.

The present invention relates to a kit and method for creating a personal photo book on a home computer. The kit includes software, photo pages, extra-long photo pages to make a cover for the book and a hard-bound book. The photo pages are secured in the hard-bound book by squaring page layout templates that have been printed on the photo pages with the attachment pages secured within the hard-bound book. The printed page layout templates are then secured to the hard-bound book by the use of an adhesive located on the attachment page. The majority of the attachment page may then be removed by use of a perforation on the attachment page.

A voice-controlled system for providing digital audio content in an automobile is presented. The system comprises a CPU unit that includes a microprocessor programmed to decode and deliver digital media such as MP3s and ebooks to a listener. The CPU unit also includes a storage device for storing the media, RAM and a power supply. The storage device is a “plug-in” unit, such as a hard disc drive, that may be removed and inserted into a home computer for downloading media. The system is controlled using a voice-based input device that interfaces with the CPU unit. The voice-based device is operative to control in a hands-free manner, for example, the selection of the media to be delivered and the volume at which the media is delivered. A display and control unit is suitable for mounting on the dashboard of an automobile and provides an alternative to voice control of the system. The display and control unit also provides a scroll-through list of the available media and information about the media being played such as the title, the artist, the volume at which it is being played and a sound spectrum analysis.

A digital, wireless PC/PCS modem is disclosed for incorporation with personal home computers, laptop units, hand-held computer units, and cellular phones for providing wireless communication via satellite transmission. The invention is a device that combines a personal computer (PC) modem with a satellite link and relay system for computers. This will allow the user to establish a communications link with Internet(TM) access, access to direct dial telephones, faxing on demand, hyperterminal access for remote computer link-up, video, and voice applications. Utilizing existing software and hardware, this invention uses digital satellite technology and combines it with a PC modem for access to various communication links including phone links, without a phone line. In order to accomplish this, the laptop has a type II PCMCIA card slot for receiving the PC modem. An antenna is attached to the plug-in cellular phone card for the modem using a swivel joint assembly.

In a method and system for automatically notifying a user when financial transactions (e.g., debit card transactions and credit card transactions) are carried out in association with the user's credit card or other financial account, each time a financial transaction is completed, a notification message is generated and transmitted to a user-designated terminal. Examples include transmitting e-mails, other text messages, or audio messages to the user's home computer terminal or mobile phone or other wireless unit. The notification message contains information identifying the user account and specifying the nature of the transaction, such as monetary amount, time of day and date, and where the transaction occurred. The notification is generated and transmitted substantially immediately after the transaction is completed. This way, a user is informed of each transaction separately and substantially contemporaneously with when the transaction is carried out, allowing users to intuitively assess the transaction from a time sense.

A network may receives tracking information of various emergency services personnel, so that when a security breach has occurred at a residence or place of business, the network receives a surveillance profile from a home computer that is disposed where the detector is located, and dispatch the most geographically appropriate emergency services personnel as determined based on the tracking information. The surveillance profile may include its address, location within the residence of place of business, and a physical description or layout of the premises in which the sensor is located. Then, a verification protocol is initiated by calling a predetermined sequence of telephone numbers set by the subscriber to the security system. Dispatching of the appropriate emergency services personnel includes the network accessing a security platform database to find corresponding emergency services personnel to respond to the detected security breach in accordance with the information received in the surveillance profile.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to application-service provision by application-service-provider centers to remote application-service consumers, including small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and other similarly-sized institutions and organizations, as well as to users of individual computers, such as home computers. Rather than executing applications at an application-service-provider center, the applications are instead distributed to remote client sites for execution by virtual machines controlled and managed by an application-service-provider center. Execution of the applications by virtual machines at remote client sites alleviates constraints and bottlenecks associated with communications between client computers and remotely executing applications, while providing management capabilities and security that allow the application-service center to manage application execution as if the remotely executing applications were executing within the application-service center.

This method of loan settlement is accomplished by providing automated document production through the internet for all documents relating to a loan settlement, particularly a par loan trading settlement. Once the information is entered by the client and supplemented by the automated system, the system enables the buyer and the seller, on their business or home computers, to access such documents and information, immediately and in a secure and efficient manner. The system itself is accomplished easily by the use of state-of-the art hardware, software and internet links. The system expedites closing, and is used, as well, for settlement of original loans, and/or loans for distressed entities.

A customerized driving environment setting system in which a portable memory card having multiple setting data stored therein is insertable into a card reader/writer on a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle wireless download device is controlled to download updated data from a remote customs service center wirelessly for updating the setting data of the portable memory card. Accessing of the card reader/writer to the portable memory card enables the user to set the accessories of the motor vehicle subject to the setting data of the portable memory card quickly, and to update the setting data of the portable memory card wirelessly. The user can carry the portable memory card to the repair shop, information station, and home computer to update the setting data anytime and anywhere.

The present invention includes apparatuses, methods, computer readable media and systems comprising means for using a portable, handheld electronic device (such as Apple's iPod™) to capture analog signals, convert them into digital signals and store the digital signals as media files (e.g., audio files, video files, image files, etc.). The electronic device can subsequently be used to modify the media files. The modifications can be virtual modifications, in which metadata is stored on the electronic device in a manner that does not alter the media file. The virtual modifications can be used by the electronic device to give the perception to the user that a media file has been actually modified. In addition, the virtual modifications can be used by an application running on a host device, such as a home computer or network server (like Apple's .MAC™ servers), to actually modify the digital media file.

A system and method for providing an online personalized inventory of authorized content that is accessible from virtually any location by a wirelessly connected user. A server in communication with a personalized database is accessible from a plurality of locations via RF, permits automatic viewing of an authorized library, and/or select portions for additional purchase and download. Retrieval of a personalized catalog of authorized content for enjoyment while traveling, etc. is effectuated without having to “sync” or “resync” with a home or base computer, or worry about backing up the collection. The system permits adding to the online personalized collection by purchasing additional material, without having to upload the purchases to a base or home computer, as they are kept track of and maintained by the server. A plurality of player devices can each download portions of the personalized content.