An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation that may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a video cassette recorder (VCR), medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

Adaptive pattern recognition based control system and method

An electronic program schedule system with access to both stored television program schedule information and data feeds containing status information for live programs such as sporting events. The system includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs and data feeds containing status information for certain of the programs, and a video display generator for generating a display signal simultaneously comprising information from both the stored schedule information and the received data feed. The system is further provided with user control means such as a remote controller for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto so as to control the content of the display signal. The display signal may be displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. In addition, the program schedule system of the present invention utilizes category-specific user interfaces providing access to multiple services including television programs, received data feeds, home shopping services, and video games as well as the stored program schedule information.

Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access

The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.

Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters

An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver.

Electronic television program guide schedule system and method

A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.

Client-server electronic program guide

An image and data display method includes the steps of: determining a display condition (18) having display and non-display of relative data on the basis of a previously determined user identifier and utilization condition (17); displaying a picture and a character string indicative of contents of a least one relative data determined to be able to be displayed in the previous step on the basis of the display condition together with the image during display of a specific scene; displaying, when at least one of pictures and character strings is selected, relative data corresponding to the selected picture and character string on the basis of the display condition; and displaying, when a command for displaying a list is inputted, a list of picture and character strings displayed until now and, when at least one in the list is selected, displaying relative data corresponding to the selected picture and character string on the basis of the display condition.

Image and data display method and apparatus

A biological image formation aiding system and a biological image forming method are provided in which three-dimensional data corresponding to a standard shape of a biological article, standard motion thereof, and a standard material feeling of an outer surface of the biological article are prepared, and a realistic three-dimensional synthesized image of an entire biological article with individuality can be formed simply. The system includes a shape data storage for storing data corresponding to a three-dimensional shape of a biological image; a motion data storage for storing data corresponding to three-dimensional motion of the biological image, a material feeling data storage for storing data corresponding to a three-dimensional material feeling of an outer surface of the biological image; editing/processing units capable of modifying at least one of the data corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the biological image, the three-dimensional data corresponding to the motion of the biological image, and the data corresponding to the three-dimensional material feeling of the outer surface of the biological image in accordance with a producer's intent; and an output unit responsive to the outputs of the editing/processing unit for synthesizing the data corresponding to the three-dimensional biological image, the data corresponding to the three-dimensional motion of the biological image, and the data corresponding to the three-dimensional material feeling of the outer surface of the biological image after modification with each other to provide synthesized three-dimensional data for a biological image to be produced.

Biological image formation aiding system and biological image forming method

A device and method of displaying images and data on a display device. The device and method displays still and moving images in which at least one icon is associated and displayed with each image on a screen. A single screen may contain several images which change over time. As the images change so do the icons associated with them. Upon selection of an icon by a viewer, the device and method will display one of several possible advertisements or information associated with the icon. The selection of which advertisement or piece of information is based on information stored about the viewer. This information would include data concerning the viewer's age, income, address and hobbies. A list of selections made by a viewer is maintained and may be displayed at the viewer's request. The system may also force the display of advertisements if desired by advertisers.

Method and apparatus for displaying an image and data related to the image conditioned on user identifier

A displayable color which is the nearest to a desired display color (the synthesis of the color of an original image and an error distributed by the preceding processing) for a particular picture element which is being processed on a scan line (or the picture element which is presently the object of processing) is selected, the displayable color is supplied to a display portion, and the error between the selected displayable color and the desired display color is distributed to those picture elements which are on un-processed scan lines among the group of picture elements in the proximity of the particular picture element by assigning a suitable weight thereto. The processing of the particular picture element may be executed in parallel with a plurality of picture elements on the scan line which is being processed.

Method of displaying continuous tone picture using limited number of different colors or black-and-white levels, and display system therefor

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide and display commodity information sorted or individualized in each user, in relation to contents and to efficiently display plural commodity information, especially when a user simultaneously selects plural commodity information. SOLUTION: When contents 402 are selected by a user terminal 410, commodity information 404 related to the contents 402 is also selected by the use of a commodity information program 403, the display/non-display of the commodity information 404 is determined in each user based on the display condition of the information 404, and when plural commodity information 404 can be displayed by the processing, the display priorities of these commodity information data is determined. During the display of the contents 402, data indicating the contents of each commodity information 404 are displayed, together with the contents based on the display priority determined by the processing. At the sometime, all commodity information data, selected in each user and including the commodity information 404 which is not displayed during the reference of the contents due to their low priority, are temporarily stored in a storage area and the temporarily stored commodity information data are displayed in accordance with users, requests. COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO

Akio Yajima

Papers

Image and data display method and apparatus

Biological image formation aiding system and biological image forming method

Method and apparatus for displaying an image and data related to the image conditioned on user identifier

Method of displaying continuous tone picture using limited number of different colors or black-and-white levels, and display system therefor

Method for displaying commodity information