Patents

A network-enabled user interface device, for example a VoIP telephony device, includes a display, a user input interface, an interface controller, and an application controller. The display is logically defined to include multiple distinct display areas. The interface controller is configured for generating display elements for the respective display areas based on received display requests, and controlling the user input interface based on received commands, and outputting responses to the application controller. The application controller is configured for supplying the commands to the interface controller and display requests based on execution of application operations. The application operations may be executed locally (i.e., within the user interface device), or remotely (e.g., by a server in communication with the user interface device). Remote application operations may include communications between the application controller and the remote server. The interface controller includes an arbitrator configured for selecting, for each display area, a corresponding display element to be displayed based on the received display requests, and based on determined conditions such as application state based on user input. Hence, multiple display elements for different application services may be selected for simultaneous display in respective display areas on the network-enabled user interface device based on prescribed conditions; moreover, the display may be dynamically changed by the arbitrator based on prescribed conditions, for example user input, an application state change, or a prescribed detected event.

Full patent text at USPTO

Data is stored using multiple selected network nodes in a network based on encoding of the data into multiple distinct encoded data units according to a prescribed encoding operation. The secure encoding operation generates a first prescribed number of encoded data units, whereas merely a second prescribed number of the encoded data units are necessary for recovery of the original data, the second prescribed number being less than the first prescribed number. The encoded data units are distributed among selected network nodes in a network, where any one network node receives less than the second prescribed number to ensure security. A requesting node recovers the original data by requesting the second prescribed number of encoded data units from among the network nodes having stored the respective encoded data units.

Full patent text at USPTO

An apparatus and method are provided for processing digital imagery. A reference platform device is provided with network and telephone connectivity that enable it to establish a connection with a central server. Additional connectors are provided for attaching digital cameras and video equipment to the reference platform. The user can connect their camera to the reference platform and, by simply pressing a single button, initiate a new connection to the central server and upload the electronic image files. Once uploaded, the user can edit the image files using a standard web browser and have the processed images reduced to paper or compact disk and forwarded to another location for pick up or mailing.

Full patent text at USPTO

A network provides distributed database services based on replicating data records to a new storage location that is closest to consumers of the data records, based on comparing a network distance between the new storage location and an attribute identifying a center of activity of at least one data element, relative to the network distance between any existing storage location in the center of activity. If the new storage location is closer to the center of activity relative to any of the other existing stores locations, than at least the one data element associated with the center of activity is copied to the new storage location. Multiple centers of activity may be utilized for respective data records, enabling data records to be copied on a per-record basis, or grouped as needed.

Full patent text at USPTO