192results 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.