194results about How to "Smooth transit" patented technology

A context-aware voice guidance method is provided that interacts with other voice services of a user device. The voice guidance does not provide audible guidance while the user is making a verbal request to any of the voice-activated services. Instead, the voice guidance transcribes its output on the screen while the verbal requests from the user are received. In some embodiments, the voice guidance only provides a short warning sound to get the user's attention while the user is speaking on a phone call or another voice-activated service is providing audible response to the user's inquires. The voice guidance in some embodiments distinguishes between music that can be ducked and spoken words, for example from an audiobook, that the user wants to pause instead of being skipped. The voice guidance ducks music but pauses spoken words of an audio book in order to provide voice guidance to the user.

A context-aware voice guidance method is provided that interacts with other voice services of a user device. The voice guidance does not provide audible guidance while the user is making a verbal request to any of the voice-activated services. Instead, the voice guidance transcribes its output on the screen while the verbal requests from the user are received. In some embodiments, the voice guidance only provides a short warning sound to get the user's attention while the user is speaking on a phone call or another voice-activated service is providing audible response to the user's inquires. The voice guidance in some embodiments distinguishes between music that can be ducked and spoken words, for example from an audiobook, that the user wants to pause instead of being skipped. The voice guidance ducks music but pauses spoken words of an audio book in order to provide voice guidance to the user.

A method of providing navigation on an electronic device when the display screen is locked. The method receives a verbal request to start navigation while the display is locked. The method identifies a route from a current location to a destination based on the received verbal request. While the display screen is locked, the method provides navigational directions on the electronic device from the current location of the electronic device to the destination. Some embodiments provide a method for processing a verbal search request. The method receives a navigation-related verbal search request and prepares a sequential list of the search results based on the received request. The method then provides audible information to present a search result from the sequential list. The method presents the search results in a batch form until the user selects a search result, the user terminates the search, or the search items are exhausted.

Some embodiments provide a navigation application. The navigation application includes an interface for receiving data describing junctures along a route from a first location to a second location. The data for each juncture comprises a set of angles at which roads leave the juncture. The navigation application includes a juncture simplifier for simplifying the angles for the received junctures. The navigation application includes an arrow generator for generating at least two different representations of the simplified juncture. The representations are for use in displaying navigation information describing a maneuver to perform at the juncture during the route. The navigation application includes an arrow selector for selecting one of the different representations of the simplified juncture for display according to a context in which the representation will be displayed.

Some embodiments provide a navigation application. The navigation application includes an interface for receiving data describing junctures along a route from a first location on a map to a second location on the map. The data for each juncture includes a set of angles at which roads leave the juncture. The navigation application includes a juncture decoder for synthesizing, from the juncture data, instruction elements for each juncture that describe different aspects of a maneuver to be performed at the juncture. The navigation application includes an instruction generator for generating at least two different instruction sets for a maneuver by combining one or more of the instruction elements for the juncture at which the maneuver is to be performed. The navigation application includes an instruction retriever for selecting one of the different instruction sets for the maneuver according to a context in which the instruction set will be displayed.

A method of displaying navigational instructions when a navigation application is running in a background mode of an electronic device is provided. The method displays a non-navigation application in the foreground on a display screen of the electronic device. The method displays a navigation bar without a navigation instruction when the device is not near a navigation point. The method displays the navigation bar with a navigation instruction when the device is near a navigation point. In some embodiments, the method receives a command to switch from running the navigation application in the foreground to running another screen view in the foreground. The method then runs the other screen view in the foreground while displaying a navigation status display on an electronic display of the device.

Some embodiments provide a mapping application for rendering map portions. The mapping application includes a map receiver for receiving map tiles from a mapping service in response to a request for the map tiles needed for a particular map view. Each map tile includes vector data describing a map region. The mapping application includes a set of mesh building modules. Each mesh building module is for using the vector data in at least one map tile to build a mesh for a particular layer of the particular map view. The mapping application includes a mesh aggregation module for combining layers from several mesh builders into a renderable tile for the particular map view. The mapping application includes a rendering engine for rendering the particular map view.

Techniques and tools are described for rendering views of a map in which map metadata elements are layered in 3D space through which a viewer navigates. Layering of metadata elements such as text labels in 3D space facilitates parallax and smooth motion effects for zoom-in, zoom-out and scrolling operations during map navigation. A computing device can determine a viewer position that is associated with a view altitude in 3D space, then render for display a map view based upon the viewer position and metadata elements layered at different metadata altitudes in 3D space. For example, the computing device places text labels in 3D space above features associated with the respective labels, at the metadata altitudes indicated for the respective labels. The computing device creates a map view from points of the placed labels and points of a surface layer of the map that are visible from the viewer position.

An engine with cylinder deactivation (Displacement on Demand or DOD™) includes standard (STD) cylinders which are not deactivated and DOD cylinders which can be deactivated by closing their intake and exhaust valves and shutting off their fuel supply. To provide smooth transitions, the STD and DOD cylinders form separate groups each supplied with charge air through one or more separate throttles. When switching to DOD operation, the throttles are oppositely actuated to cut out the DOD cylinders and maintain torque in the active cylinders prior to deactivation of the cylinder valves. When returning to STD operation, the valves are reactivated before oppositely actuating the throttles to enable full cylinder operation. In DOD operation, a small supercharger may be operated to boost torque of the operating STD cylinders and thus increase the DOD operating range.

Some embodiments provide a navigation application that presents a novel navigation presentation on a device. The application identifies a location of the device, and identifies a style of road signs associated with the identified location of the device. The application then generates navigation instructions in form of road signs that match the identified style. To generate the road sign, the application in some embodiments identifies a road sign template image for the identified style, and generates the road sign by compositing the identified road sign template with at least one of text instruction and graphical instruction. In some embodiments, the road sign is generated as a composite textured image that has a texture and a look associated with the road signs at the identified location.

A method and device for dynamically overlaying two or more video streams uses specialized metadata that are attached to at least one of the video streams.

An adaptive process controller performs continuously scheduled process model parameter interpolation to determine a particular set of process model parameters which are used to develop controller tuning parameters for controller tuning. More particularly, a state-based, adaptive PID controller described herein uses a new technique to determine an appropriate process model to be used to perform adaptive tuning over the various operating regions of the plant, and in particular, uses a process model parameter determination technique that enables continuously scheduled process model parameter update over the various plant operating regions or points. The use of this continuously scheduled process model parameter update method provides for smoother transitions between tuning parameters used in the PID controller during adaptive tuning procedures which are implemented based on changes in the operating region or the operating point of the process, thereby providing for better overall control.

Apparatus and methods according to some embodiments of the present invention use a graphical model, such as a Markov random field model, to represent principal driving directions within an environment. The model has a plurality of nodes representing spatial locations within the environment, and the principal direction for each node is determined probabilistically using linear features detected within an image of the environment. Apparatus and methods according to embodiments of the present invention can be used in improved autonomous navigation systems, such as robotic vehicles.

The present invention facilitates processor speed adjustments within acceptable temperature ranges. In one embodiment, a present invention system includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the processor. When the temperature sensor senses the processor temperature approaching predetermined levels one or more adjustments are performed. For example, the adjustment can include automatically increasing or decreasing a voltage level in response to crossing a temperature threshold.

A knitted therapeutic compression and cushion sock and a method for making such a sock include a terry-knit cushioning layer in selected bottom portions of the sock, allowing for greater ventilation and cooling in the top portion. The sock includes graduated zones of compressive pressures. Gradual changes in compressive pressures from one zone of compressive pressure to another can be provided by compression flaring, or changing the feed rate of elasticized yarn during knitting at or near the interface of two zones having different compressive pressures. Such a sock is useful for padding and compressing foot and leg areas to both prevent and treat vascular and skin conditions such as foot and leg ulcers.

Gaming devices and methods are set forth which provide for face, body and / or tracking to enable 3D rendering of images at a virtual button panel. Lenticular barrier or motion parallax technology may be used. A player's interface with the button panel may be through touch a touch screen or sensing of non-touch gestures.

The present invention facilitates maintenance of processor speed by voltage level adjustment. In one embodiment, a present invention voltage adjustment system includes a speed analysis component that compares an actual speed of a processing unit to a directed speed. If the actual speed is lower than the directed speed, a voltage control component directs offset adjustments in a voltage level of a power signal to the processor. For example, the voltage control component directs an increases in a voltage level of a power signal. The voltage level can be altered to compensate for variations in hardware tolerance variations. In one embodiment of the present invention, a voltage sensor measures the actual voltage of the processing unit.

A method of providing navigation instructions in a locked mode of a device is disclosed. The method, while the display screen of the device is turned off, determines that the device is near a navigation point. The method turns on the display screen and provides navigation instructions. In some embodiments, the method identifies the ambient light level around the device and turns on the display at brightness level determined by the identified ambient light level. The method turns off the display after the navigation point is passed.

The invention concerns a spring-force clamp connector for connecting an electrical conductor, which has a conductive core piece with a four-cornered material passage according to this design, in which the end of the clamping member of a leaf spring penetrates such that the end of the clamping member forms a clamping site for the electrical conductor together with an inner wall area of the aperture collar of the material passage. It is proposed to use for the inner wall area of the aperture collar of the material passage a new shaping with a cross edge / edge and to arrange the clamping site for the electrical conductor deep in the material passage, whereby at the same time a metal-encased conductor pre-capture pocket is formed.

Image depth augmentation system and method for providing three-dimensional views from a two-dimensional image. Depth information is assigned by the system to areas of a first image via a depth map. Foreground objects are enlarged to cover empty areas in the background as seen from a second viewpoint at an offset distance from a first viewpoint of the first image. The enlarged objects are used to regenerate the first image and to generate the second image so that empty background areas are covered with the enlarged foreground objects. The resulting image pair may be viewed using any type of three-dimensional encoding and viewing apparatus. Can use existing masks from non-3D projects to perform depth augmentation and dither mask edges to provide for realistic soft edges for depth augmented objects.

A system and method for connecting pending and preset telephone calls to facilitate transitioning to a phone call. Embodiments of the present invention include a method for anticipating and connecting a telephone call comprising identifying a trigger action associated with an anticipated outgoing telephone call, retrieving a phone number associated with said trigger action, and automatically setting a programmable speed dial button wherein by selecting the speed dial button, said phone number associated with said trigger action is dialed. Embodiments of the present invention also include a system for anticipating and connecting outgoing telephone calls comprising a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus, a database coupled to said bus, a call engine coupled to said bus wherein said call engine identifies trigger actions associated with outgoing telephone calls and retrieves phone numbers associated with said trigger actions, and a telephone coupled to said computer system wherein said telephone is coupled to a telephone network.

An instrument for the surgical removal of a defective heart valve. The instrument has elements that can be collapsed, in which the instrument cutting elements are collapsed when the instrument is introduced into the surgical field and are covered by means of contact protective sheaths. The instrument cutting elements are formed as cutting ring halves that can fold in around a hinge axis, these cutting ring halves being elastically deformable during the folding-in process, whereby their deformation is achieved by fish joints that also serve to aid in mutually moving the contact protective sheaths onto each of two body members.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating intranasal administration of a medication to a patient's sphenopalatine / pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus includes a catheter having a lumen disposed therethrough, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine / pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus also includes a straightening member configured to removably engage the catheter. The straightening member straightens the intrinsic curvature such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the catheter is engaged by the straightening member.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating intranasal administration of a medication to a patient's sphenopalatine / pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus includes a catheter having a lumen disposed therethrough, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine / pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus also includes a straightening member configured to removably engage the catheter. The straightening member straightens the intrinsic curvature such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the catheter is engaged by the straightening member.