3350 results about "User Friendly" patented technology

An apparatus for upgrading a viewer interface for a television program delivery system (200) is described. The invention relates to methods and devices for viewer pathways to television programs and services. Specifically, the apparatus involves hardware and software used in conjunction with the interface and a television at the viewer home to create a user friendly menu based approach to accessing programs and services. The apparatus is particularly useful in a program delivery system (200) with hundreds of programs and a data signal carrying program information. The disclosure describes menu generation and menu selection of television programs.

The present invention concerns an automated vehicle rental system for a fleet of rental vehicles, where the vehicles are geographically distributed and normally locked when not rented. At least one of the vehicles, when not in use, is parked in an unguarded location. The system has a vehicle communications unit for enabling communication to and from the vehicle, user-carried electronic devices, or other readers, and for interfacing with the user. An on-board unit (OBU) is located on each of the vehicles for interfacing with the vehicle communications unit, and with a door unlocking mechanism. The system further has a central reservations, management and location system (CRMLS) in communication through a communications network with each OBU, the CRMLS performing all reservations and management functions, and being linked to a database containing a location and availability of each of thr vehicles and a rate for rental, the CRMLS also being provided with an allocation manager system for geographically allocating vehicles. In order to access the vehicle, the system also includes a key being borne by the user. The system minimizes the human intervention in the rental process, and is more user-friendly.

There is provided a system for supporting interactive operations for inputting user commands to a household electric apparatus such as a television set/monitor and information apparatuses. According to the system for supporting interactive operations applying an animated character called a personified assistant interacting with a user based on speech synthesis and animation, realizing a user-friendly user interface and simultaneously making it possible to meet a demand for complex commands or providing an entry for services. Further, since the system is provided with a command system producing an effect close to human natural language, the user can easily operate the apparatus with a feeling close to ordinary human conversation.

An apparatus and method defines a markup language for accessing data in a database. The markup language is preferably defined in extensible markup language (XML) by creating suitable document type definitions (DTDs), which define the grammar for accessing data in the database using the markup language. A bridge interprets the data request from the client in markup language format, a suitable database query for the database is formulated, and the data is then placed within a document for delivery in markup language format to the user. As new data types are added to the database, corresponding document type definitions (DTDs) may be dynamically generated, allowing a user to access new kinds of data in a database with a software tool that has a user-friendly graphical user interface without having to manually update the software tool for each new data type that is added to the database.

There is provided a system and method for rule-based dynamic server-side streaming manifest files. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to provide a first video content for playback, evaluating a plurality of rules for the first video content, generating a dynamic manifest file referencing the first video content, and providing the dynamic manifest file in response to the request, thereby enabling an application to playback the first video content for output on a display by interpreting the dynamic manifest file. The rules may implement various features such as dynamic advertisement insertion, load balancing, client customization, user and device targeting, enhanced security mechanisms, global announcements, and others. As streaming protocols are widely supported by default on many client platforms, the dynamic manifest files can be utilized in a user friendly and transparent manner compared to client-side solutions requiring cumbersome client software installations.

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for displaying one or more visualizations of quantitative measurements of the sentiment expressed among online social media participants concerning subject matter of interest in a category. Embodiments are configured for displaying how the sentiment among the online social media participants trends over time and how the sentiment trends with respect to social media source or groups of sources. Embodiments display the actionable information in a graphical interface in an intuitive and user-friendly manner at different levels of granularity that enables the quantified online social media content to be grouped and filtered in a variety of default and/or customizable ways.

Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment. In addition, access to the energy-consuming equipment for establishing remote energy control is not necessary; rather, the remote energy control can be effected by accessing user-friendly locations, such as those where thermostats and other controllers are typically located.

A remote control device for a home theater has a macro creation/editing mode with authoring tools on the remote's GUI. One of the editing tools lets the user move a selected macro step visibly up or down the list of steps on the GUI.

The embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods which update petroleum activity data and allows for geospatial modeling of the data in an interactive fashion or for the creation of a report to display customizable reports in accordance with user-preferred fields. Embodiments of the present invention also provide methods for collection of data from various Internet resources, including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and specifically allow user-friendly interaction to select various fields, such as bids, contract information, well production, and produce graphical representation or generate reports that accounts for the organization of the data.

A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks. Different colors and intensities can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions and an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint can be altered by user rotation of the ring. The schedule can be displayed and altered by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring. Initial device set up and installation, the viewing of device operation, the editing of various settings, and the viewing of historical energy usage information are made simple and elegant by virtue of the described form factor, display modalities, and user input modalities of the device.

Private Multimedia Network (PMN) complements, and is an improved alternative to digital videoconferencing and multimedia delivery systems. PMN's desktop and meeting room delivery system is designed to support the exponential growth of enterprise team-based initiatives. PMN provides “one-stop-shopping” for the full multimedia rubric. It delivers user-friendly control and cost/effective TV and broadcast quality videoconferencing and other multimedia services to organizations with “critical mass” campuses and building complexes. Though digital systems dominate the videoconferencing marketplace, PMN's hybrid digital/analog architecture has no digital peer in breadth or quality of service within or between campuses. The novel architecture leverages advances in analog video short-haul technology, digital long-haul technology, and telephony audio and control technology to deliver four-level multimedia services: 1) premise; 2) campus; 3) multi-site; and 4) ubiquitous (any site with ITU compatible multimedia equipment (e.g., videoconferencing) and communication links). On balance, the price/performance afforded by PMN's centralized Telco-based control and audio delivery combined with its decentralized broadcast quality video distribution raise videoconferencing and other multimedia services to a new level of ubiquity. Just as telephones and PC LANs, PMN delivers expensive Boardroom and mobile cart videoconferencing capabilities to every desktop via existing multimedia wall plates. The key phases for this invention are: Lip-synchronization across differing network communication links and protocols; Ubiquitous multimedia service; Cost/effective room and desktop deployment; Telco control and audio; Broadcast quality video; Isochronous Quality; Centralized control and distributed operation; and Interoperable architecture.

A method and system is provided for tracking a user's interaction with a resource or resources supplied by a server computer. When a user requests a Web page from a server for viewing using a Web browser, the user is redirected to a tracking server. The tracking server sends the requested Web page, with an embedded script to the user's computer along with an application program that can record the user's interaction with the Web page. As the user interacts with the Web page, input made by the user, such as mouse movements, button clicks, typing, etc. is streamed back to the tracking server by the application program. The recorded session may be later retrieved from the tracking server for playback. Based on the user's input, the tracked resource may be modified, such as making it more user friendly or more easily navigable.

A user-friendly reliable process is provided to help diagnose (assess) and treat (rehabilitate) impairment or deficiencies in a person (subject or patient) caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other neurocognitive disorders. The economical, safe, effective process can include: generating and electronically displaying a virtual reality environment (VRE) with moveable images; identifying and letting the TBI person perform a task in the VRE; electronically inputting and recording the performance data with an electronic interactive communications device; electronically evaluating the person's performance and assessing the person's impairment by electronically determining a deficiency in the person's cognitive function (e.g. memory, recall, recognition, attention, spatial awareness) and/or motor function (i.e. motor skills, e.g. balance) as a result of the TBI or other neurocognitive disorder.

Techniques for detecting, managing, and presenting syndication XML (feeds) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a web browser automatically determines that a web site is publishing feeds and notifies the user, who can then access the feed easily. In another embodiment, a browser determines that a web page or feed is advertising relationship XML, and displays information about the people identified in the relationship XML. In yet another embodiment, a browser determines that a file contains a feed and enables the user to view it in a user-friendly way. In yet another embodiment, feed state information is stored in a repository that is accessible by applications that are used to view the feed. In yet another embodiment, if a feed's state changes, an application notifies the repository, and the state is updated. In yet another embodiment, a feed is parsed and stored in a structured way.

At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A SEARCH view indicates signal strength by showing a rotating strength indicator, a trace mode MAP view in which line location is shown by a line that moves side-to-side, and a sonde mode MAP view in which sonde location is shown by a moving line, pole and equator.

A computer system representing user preferences in an N-dimensional preference topography and making recommendations based on such topography. The preference topography depicts user ratings of products in a recommendation database. Each product is represented by a product vector associated with N objectively measurable characteristics. The user rating of a product, therefore, represents the user's preference for the particular combination of the N objectively measurable characteristics making up the product. In making a recommendation of products to the user, the system assigns a rating to each product in the recommendation database based on the preference topography. The system then selects a plurality of maximally unique choices from the rated products for recommendation to the user. These maximally unique choices are calculated to be as diverse from one another as possible but still to the user's liking. In another embodiment of the invention, the system identifies portions of the N-dimensional rating space for which the user has indicated a positive association (a positive preference cluster) or a negative association (a negative preference cluster). In making a recommendation of a potential product, the system determines the similarities of products that fall in the positive preference cluster with the potential product. The system also takes into account the products that fall in the nearest negative cluster and determines the similarities with such products and the potential product. In one particular aspect of the invention, the system presents a virtual character for making the usage of the system more user-friendly and interesting. The virtual character is programmed to interact with the user for obtaining user ratings of products and thus determining where the user preferences lie.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing dynamic and selective management of the voicemails on a mobile telephone in addition to the voicemail server and to establish a selective voicemail mode, such as Automatic VM mode, Manual VM mode, and Default VM mode, which provides user friendly management of specific personal greetings. The system supports an integrated voicemail notification for various VM modes and displays a unified voicemail user interface. The voicemails stored on the mobile telephone may be categorized by the personal greeting or a key number associated with the personal greeting.

An interactive credit report educational and counseling system provides a method and system for compiling, presenting and explaining a consumer's credit report in an easier to understand and more user friendly format. A consumer's credit performance information is characterized and a customized display of a consumer's credit report information is provided. Through the customized display of information the user may access detailed explanations regarding the information contained within their credit report. Based on the characterization of the consumer's credit performance an action plan may be generated allowing the consumer to receive counseling as to actions to avoid or to take to enhance their credit score, thereby improving their credit worthiness.

An impact resistant wearable band assembly 10 which is particularly usefully and durable during physical exercise, fitness activities, sports, blood pressure measurements, and health care monitoring, can have a matrix, series or array of interlocking magnetic mechanisms 114 with matingly engageable portions 115 and 117 comprising magnets 116 and magnetically attractable portions 118 for detachably and magnetically securing end portions of a user friendly wearable band. In use, the versatile wearable band can be easily adjusted in a one handed movement from a locked position to a released position and vice versa. Advantageously, the wearable band assembly includes an electronic device 122 secured to an electronic device-supporting portion 120 of the wearable band.

A system and method for interactive wagering from a remote location. The invention may preferably be implemented on a multi-purpose device, and preferably uses a multi-purpose communication means, such that a dedicated terminal and/or dedicated line are not required. Various customizable features may be provided, allowing for user-friendly, interactive wagering and related communications between the remote location and an event location over a network, which may further include content locations and server locations, among others.