Ricky S Palmer

US Patent:

6577324, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/479569

Inventors:

Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH
Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

345705, 345716, 345753, 7075001

Abstract:

An audiovisual help documentation system for applications running on a multimedia computer workstation or personal computer includes a graphical documentation interface which allows a user to easily access audiovisual or textual documentation related to the application. A pop-up menu model is used to eliminate complexity. Textual and audiovisual âfilmclipâ documentation are stored in separate subject-specific files. The documentation menu includes a topic field for indicating a topic for which documentation is available, and a user selectable function associated with the topic field. The topic field is associated with a multimedia data file storing audio and video data streams representing the audio and video documentation for that topic. The documentation menu also includes a user selectable function associated with the topic field for retrieving text related to the associated topic. A âtalking pushbuttonâ fast help feature can also playback a âsound clipâ to the user which briefly describes a selected user function.

US Patent:

58316663, Nov 3, 1998

Filed:

Aug 5, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/692114

Inventors:

Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH
Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

H04N 715

US Classification:

348 17

Abstract:

A video scaling apparatus and technique for compressing and reconstructing video data sent between multimedia workstations during a video teleconference includes a video data scaling device which scale unscaled video data, having V horizontal lines of H pixels each, to reduce the quantity of horizontal lines and the quantity of pixels along each line. A pixel replication device replicate the received scaled pixels to increase the quantity of horizontal lines to V and the quantity of pixels along each of the horizontal lines to H. The scaling device reduces the quantity of horizontal lines to about V/2, and the quantity of pixels along each horizontal line to about H/2. A received pixel is replicated to replace an adjacent pixel along a line to reconstruct the line. The reconstructed line is replicated to replace an adjacent line. The replicated line is shifted by one pixel relative to the adjacent line from which it was replicated to reduce sharp edges and blockiness.

US Patent:

55948596, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

Feb 21, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/391086

Inventors:

Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH
Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G06F 1500
G09G 500

US Classification:

395330

Abstract:

A video teleconferencing workstation includes a video teleconference session window displayed on the workstation display. The session window includes a video image area for displaying video information associated with the video teleconferencing session, and a control area for displaying one or more selectable video teleconferencing functions represented as graphical pushbuttons. The user selectable video teleconferencing functions include a connection function, a control function and a monitor function. Selection of the connection function causes a call list window to be displayed on the workstation monitor for establishing video teleconferencing connections. Selection of the control function causes a control window to be displayed on the workstation display for adjusting parameters of the video teleconference. Selection of the monitor function causes a monitor window to be displayed on the workstation display for monitoring the parameters of the video teleconference.

US Patent:

6195683, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Feb 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/799782

Inventors:

Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH
Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1516

US Classification:

709204

Abstract:

A video teleconferencing method and apparatus for computer workstations connected by a digital data network includes a transmission source means for a local workstation to send audio and video teleconference data across the network to one or more remote workstations, and, a receiver for the local workstation to receive audio and video teleconference data back from the remote workstations. The local workstation sends teleconference data to each of the remote workstations over a variable bandwidth digital data connection, and each of the remote workstations returns teleconference data back to the local workstation over another variable bandwidth digital data connection. The transmission source means includes a master software process executing on the local workstation, and the receiver includes a slave software process executing the remote workstation. The master process of a local workstation causes execution of a slave process on a remote workstation for receiving video teleconference data from the local workstation. An audio data transmitter for sends an audio data stream to the remote workstation such that the audio data can be reconstructed into a continuous audio signal.

US Patent:

63205882, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/844688

Inventors:

Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH
Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

345473

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving synchronized audio/video "filmclips" to and from a data file of a multimedia computer workstation includes a storage means for a workstation to store audio and video data as digital data packets to the data file, and retrieval means for the workstation to retrieve audio and video data from the data file. The video data is presented as an image on the display of the workstation, while the audio data is sent to either amplified speakers or headphones. An audio data stream is stored to the data file such that the audio data can be retrieved from the data file and reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. The video data is stored to the data file such that each frame of video data is inserted into the stored audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the audio signal reconstructed by the workstation. Timing information is attached to each frame of video data stored to the file, and indicates a point in the continuous audio data stream which corresponds in time to the frame of video data. A synchronizer displays a frame of video data when the point in the audio data stream, corresponding to the timing information of the retrieved video frame is audibly reproduced by the workstation.

US Patent:

56236905, Apr 22, 1997

Filed:

Jul 16, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/915088

Inventors:

Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH
Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G11B 2702

US Classification:

395806

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving synchronized audio/video "filmclips" to and from a data file of a multimedia computer workstation includes a storage means for a workstation to store audio and video data as digital data packets to the data file, and retrieval means for the workstation to retrieve audio and video data from the data file. The video data is presented as an image on the display of the workstation, while the audio data is sent to either amplified speakers or headphones. An audio data stream is stored to the data file such that the audio data can be retrieved from the data file and reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. The video data is stored to the data file such that each frame of video data is inserted into the stored audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the audio signal reconstructed by the workstation. Timing information is attached to each frame of video data stored to the file, and indicates a point in the continuous audio data stream which corresponds in time to the frame of video data. A synchronizer displays a frame of video data when the point in the audio data stream, corresponding to the timing information of the retrieved video frame is audibly reproduced by the workstation.

US Patent:

53750683, Dec 20, 1994

Filed:

Jun 3, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/893074

Inventors:

Ricky S. Palmer - Nashua NH
Larry G. Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G06K 1500

US Classification:

364514

Abstract:

A video teleconferencing method and apparatus for computer workstations connected by a digital data network includes a transmission source portion for a local workstation to send audio and video teleconference data across the network to one or more remote workstations, and, a receiver for the local workstation to receive audio and video teleconference data back from the remote workstations. The local workstation sends teleconference data to each of the remote workstations over a variable bandwidth digital data connection, and each of the remote workstations returns teleconference data back to the local workstation over another variable bandwidth digital data connection. The transmission source portion includes a master software process executing on the local workstation, and the receiver includes a slave software process executing the remote workstation. The master process of a local workstation causes execution of a slave process on a remote workstation for receiving video teleconference data from the local workstation. An audio data transmitter for sends an audio data stream to the remote workstation such that the audio data can be reconstructed into a continuous audio signal.

US Patent:

59150980, Jun 22, 1999

Filed:

Oct 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/957338

Inventors:

Ricky Samuel Palmer - Nashua NH
Lawrence George Palmer - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corp. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

39520077

Abstract:

The disclosed system updates client systems regarding changes in a shared display region on a server using compressed graphical display information. The disclosed system compares a first bit map with a second bit map to generate a difference array. The difference array includes indication of each bit in the second bit map having a different value than in the first bit map. The system then transmits the difference array to a client system if at least one bit in the second bit map is different from a corresponding bit in the first bit map. In a further aspect of the disclosed system, the system run length encodes the difference array prior to transmitting if the second bit map is different from the first bit map to generate a run length encoded difference array. The client system generates an updated bit map based on an initial bit map and the difference array. The client system displays the shared region using the updated bit map.