Author: claimsbot

1. A system for implementing a navigation device, comprising:
a display coupled to said navigation device, said display being configured to display map data;
a map manager that coordinates a map update procedure to periodically realign said map data on said display according to device orientation data; and
a processor coupled to said navigation device to control said map manager.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said navigation device is implemented as one of either a computer device, a mobile personal digital assistant device, an vehicle navigation device, or a consumer electronics device.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager periodically realigns said map data on said display to correspond with a current direction of travel for said navigation device.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager derives said device orientation data from device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said location sensor includes a Global Positioning System receiver that generates said device location data including a longitude, a latitude, and an altitude of said navigation device.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said map manager derives a current device orientation for said navigation device by extrapolating a current direction of travel from two most-recent sets of said device location data.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager accesses said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said device orientation sensor includes a magnetic compass device that generates said device orientation data including compass degree parameters within a standard range of zero to three-hundred sixty degrees, comprising North, South, East, and West quadrants.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said device orientation sensor includes an inertial orientation sensor in which a starting point, all accelerations, and all changes of direction are detected to determine said device orientation data for said navigation device.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure based upon device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device, and also based upon said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said map manager utilizes said device location data from said device location sensor as a primary means of performing said map update procedure, said map manager utilizing said device orientation data from said device orientation sensor as a secondary means of performing said map update procedure only when said device location data remains unaltered for more than a user-selectable duration.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein said map manager concurrently utilizes both said device location data from said device location sensor, and also said device orientation data from said device orientation sensor to perform said map update procedure, said map manager combining said device location data and said device orientation data according to one or more user-selectable combination techniques that alternately include a weighted combination ratio, a non-weighted combination ratio, and a time-sharing combination technique.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein said map manager accesses a magnetic-Northtrue-North conversion table to convert initial device orientation values from said magnetic compass device into said device orientation data.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager realigns said map data on said display to be aligned with an orientation vector that is calculated by said map manager based upon said device orientation data to indicate a direction of travel for said navigation device.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein a vector tilt value for said orientation vector with respect to said navigation device is selectively chosen and stored by a device user, said vector tilt value alternately being automatically controlled by gravitational sensors coupled to said navigation device to maintain said orientation vector in a substantially horizontal position.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein a vector rotation value for said orientation vector with respect to said navigation device is selectively chosen and stored by a device user to facilitate viewing said map data from an offset viewing position.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager includes a refresh module that a device user utilizes to specify a refresh rate for performing said map update procedure to periodically realign said map data on said display.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure to realign said map data on said display only when changes in said device orientation data are greater than a user-selectable number of rotational degrees.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure in a manual mode during which a device user manually provides map orientation coordinates for realigning said map data on said display.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein said navigation device includes a wireless communications module for accessing a computer device on a distributed computer network to download at least one of either additional map data, software instructions, or ancillary data for facilitating said map update procedure.
21. A method for implementing a navigation device, comprising:
displaying map data by utilizing a display that is coupled to said navigation device;
coordinating a map update procedure with a map manager to periodically realign said map data on said display according to device orientation data; and
utilizing a processor coupled to said navigation device to control said map manager.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said navigation device is implemented as one of either a computer device, a mobile personal digital assistant device, an vehicle navigation device, or a consumer electronics device.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager periodically realigns said map data on said display to correspond with a current direction of travel for said navigation device, said map data including way points that provide a rudimentary view of at least one course of travel.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager derives said device orientation data from device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein said location sensor includes a Global Positioning System receiver that generates said device location data including a longitude, a latitude, and an altitude of said navigation device.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein said map manager derives a current device orientation for said navigation device by extrapolating a current direction of travel from two most-recent sets of said device location data.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager accesses said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said device orientation sensor includes a magnetic compass device that generates said device orientation data including compass degree parameters within a standard range of zero to three-hundred sixty degrees, comprising North, South, East, and West quadrants.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein said device orientation sensor includes an inertial orientation sensor in which a starting point, all accelerations, and all changes of direction are detected to determine said device orientation data for said navigation device.
30. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure based upon device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device, and also based upon said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein said map manager utilizes said device location data from said device location sensor as a primary means of performing said map update procedure, said map manager utilizing said device orientation data from said device orientation sensor as a secondary means of performing said map update procedure only when said device location data remains unaltered for more than a user-selectable duration.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein said map manager concurrently utilizes both said device location data from said device location sensor, and also said device orientation data from said device orientation sensor to perform said map update procedure, said map manager combining said device location data and said device orientation data according to one or more user-selectable combination techniques that alternately include a weighted combination ratio, a non-weighted combination ratio, and a time-sharing combination technique.
33. The method of claim 28 wherein said map manager accesses a magnetic-Northtrue-North conversion table to convert initial device orientation values from said magnetic compass device into said device orientation data.
34. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager realigns said map data on said display to be aligned with an orientation vector that is calculated by said map manager based upon said device orientation data to indicate a direction of travel for said navigation device.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein a vector tilt value for said orientation vector with respect to said navigation device is selectively chosen and stored by a device user, said vector tilt value alternately being automatically controlled by gravitational sensors coupled to said navigation device to maintain said orientation vector in a substantially horizontal position.
36. The method of claim 34 wherein a vector rotation value for said orientation vector with respect to said navigation device is selectively chosen and stored by a device user to facilitate viewing said map data from an offset viewing position.
37. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager includes a refresh module that a device user utilizes to specify a refresh rate for performing said map update procedure to periodically realign said map data on said display.
38. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure to realign said map data on said display only when changes in said device orientation data are greater than a user-selectable number of rotational degrees.
39. The method of claim 21 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure in a manual mode during which a device user manually provides map orientation coordinates for realigning said map data on said display.
40. The method of claim 21 wherein said navigation device includes a wireless communications module for accessing a computer device on a distributed computer network to download at least one of either additional map data, software instructions, or ancillary data for facilitating said map update procedure.
41. A navigation device, comprising:
a display that is configured to display map data;
a map manager that coordinates a map update procedure to periodically realign said map data on said display according to device orientation data; and
a processor that controls said map manager.
42. The navigation device of claim 41 wherein said navigation device is implemented as a portable electronic device.
43. The navigation device of claim 42 wherein said navigation device includes a wireless communications module for accessing one or more devices on a distributed computer network to download at least one of either additional map data, software instructions, or ancillary data for facilitating said map update procedure.
44. The navigation device of claim 42 wherein said navigation device wirelessly connects to a laptop computer to download ancillary data for facilitating said map update procedure.
45. The navigation device of claim 44 wherein said ancillary data includes time information and date information that are updated by utilizing an IEEE 802 protocol.
46. The navigation device of claim 42 wherein said navigation device wirelessly connects to a satellite feed to download ancillary map data for performing said map update procedure.
47. The navigation device of claim 41 wherein said map manager periodically realigns said map data on said display to correspond with a current direction of travel for said navigation device.
48. The navigation device of claim 41 wherein said map manager derives said device orientation data from device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device.
49. The navigation device of claim 41 wherein said map manager accesses said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.
50. The navigation device of claim 41 wherein said map manager performs said map update procedure based upon device location data generated by a device location sensor of said navigation device, and also based upon said device orientation data from a device orientation sensor of said navigation device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A hub-bearing assembly for rotatably mounting a wheel to a vehicle, the assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising:
a radially outer, stationary bearing ring;
a radially inner bearing ring, rotatable about the axis of rotation and providing a flange extending in a radially outer direction for mounting a wheel;
a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the outer and inner rings; and
a sealing device, mounted to the radially outer, stationary bearing ring and having a plurality of elastomeric sealing lips extending towards the radially inner bearing ring,
wherein the flange forms an annular relief projecting in an axially inner direction, the annular relief having a radially outer surface facing away from the axis of rotation, a radially inner surface facing towards the axis of rotation, and an end surface connecting the radially outer surface with the radially inner surface, the radially outer surface having a toroidal
shape that terminates at the end surface, wherein the entire radially outer surfaces has the toroidal shape, and
wherein at least one of the elastomeric sealing lips of the sealing device is a non-contacting axial lip that extends axially towards the flange and provides a free end portion which forms a labyrinth seal with the radially outer surface of the annular relief without contacting the annular relief.
2. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end portion includes a surface that faces the radially outer surface of the annular relief.
3. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the radially inner bearing ring forms a raceway adjacent to a base portion of the flange having a first toroidal surface portion and a first radial surface portion adjoined to the first toroidal surface portion,
wherein the sealing device provides only a single elastomeric sealing contacting lip in contact with the radially inner bearing ring, wherein the single elastomeric sealing contacting lip slidingly contacts the first toroidal surface portion or the first radial surface portion, and
wherein the first toroidal surface portion and the first radial surface portion are ground.
4. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the flange has a second radial surface portion formed on an axially inner side of the flange at a radially outer position with respect to the annular relief.
5. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the flange has a third radial surface portion formed on an axially inner side of the flange at a radially outer position with respect both to the annular relief and to the second radial surface portion, the second radial surface portion adjoining the third radial surface portion by means of a second toroidal surface.
6. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the free end portion of the non-contacting axial lip forms, with the second radial surface portion and with the annular relief, a sinuous annular gap which forms the labyrinth seal.
7. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular relief protrudes in an axially inner direction beyond the free end portion of the non-contacting axial lip.
8. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the toroidal shape of the radially outer surface extends from the second radial surface portion to the end surface of the annular relief.
9. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the single elastomeric sealing contacting lip contacts the first radial surface portion at a location between the radially inner surface of the annular relief and the first toroidal surface portion.
10. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the radially inner bearing ring further includes a cylindrical surface adjoined to the first toroidal surface portion, and wherein the sealing device further includes a radial lip extending towards the cylindrical surface without contacting the cylindrical surface.
11. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the radially inner surface of the annular relief has a toroidal shape that extends from the first radial surface portion to the end surface of the annular relief.
12. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner surface of the annular relief has a toroidal shape that terminates at the end surface.
13. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the entire radially inner surface has a toroidal shape.
14. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein plurality of elastomeric sealing lips includes only one sealing lip that contacts the radially inner bearing ring.
15. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the annular relief is positioned between the non-contacting axial lip and the one sealing lip that contacts the radially inner bearing ring.
16. The hub-bearing assembly according to claim 15, wherein the radially inner surface of the annular relief faces toward the one sealing lip that contacts the radially inner bearing ring.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for backing up data, the method comprising:
establishing at a server a connection with a wireless device over a wireless network using a wireless protocol;
pushing a request to backup data to the wireless device;
receiving the data from the wireless device; and
storing the data on a storage device connected to the network.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection is established in response to receipt of an indication that the wireless device has been powered on.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein connection is established periodically.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection is established in response to receipt of a request to backup data from the wireless device.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of pushing the request comprises sending a textual based service load to a proxy server, wherein the proxy server is configured to translate textual based service loads to binary based service loads and send the translated service load to the wireless device.
6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the service load provides a uniform resource identifier for an application that the wireless device may retrieve to transmit the data to the server.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data includes at least one of phone lists, calendars, address lists and note.
8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection between the server and the wireless device uses unused extra bandwidth.
9. A method on a proxy server for facilitating data backup, the method comprising:
receiving a request in a first protocol from a backup server for a wireless client to backup data to the backup server;
translating the request formatted in the first protocol into a translated request formatted in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is compatible with the wireless client;
sending the translated request to the wireless client over a wireless network;
receiving over the wireless network the data from the wireless client formatted in a third protocol;
translating the data formatted in the third protocol into translated data formatted in a fourth protocol compatible with the backup server; and
sending the translated data to the backup server.
10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the request is a textual based service load providing the client with a uniform resource identifier for an application which will identify, locate, and transmit the requested data to the backup server.
11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the translated request is a binary based service load.
12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the third protocol is a wireless application protocol.
13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the fourth protocol is a hypertext transfer protocol.
14. A method for backing up data, the method comprising:
responsive to receipt of a push from a backup server via a wireless network to backup data, retrieving, without user intervention, the data to be backed up from storage within the a wireless client; and
transmitting, without user intervention, the data to be backed up to the backup server via the wireless network utilizing a wireless protocol.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the data to be backed up is sent to the server by way of a proxy server and is sent using a wireless application protocol.
16. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:
transmitting a request to the backup server via the wireless network to retrieve backed up data;
receiving the backed up data from the backup server via the wireless network; and
storing the backed up data on the wireless client.
17. A method on a server for reloading backed up data, the method comprising:
receiving a request for backed up data from a wireless client connected via a wireless network;
retrieving the backed up data corresponding to the wireless client; and
transmitting the backed up data to the wireless client via the wireless network.
18. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system implemented as a server for backing up data, the computer program product comprising:
first instructions for establishing a connection with a wireless device over a wireless network using a wireless protocol;
second instructions for enabling a request to backup data to be pushed to the wireless device;
third instructions for receiving the data from the wireless device; and
fourth instructions for storing the data on a storage device connected to the wireless network.
19. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the connection is established in response to receipt of an indication that the wireless device has been powered on.
20. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the first instructions comprise instructions for establishing the connection periodically.
21. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the connection is established in response to a request to backup data received from the wireless device.
22. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the second instructions comprise instructions enabling the transmission of a textual based service load to a proxy server, wherein the proxy server is configured to translate textual based service loads to binary based service loads and send the translated service load to the wireless device.
23. The computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the service load provides a uniform resource identifier for an application that the wireless device may retrieve to transmit the data to the server.
24. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system implemented as a proxy server for facilitating data backup, the computer program product comprising:
first instructions for enabling receipt of a request, formatted in a first protocol, from the backup server for a wireless client to backup data to the backup server via a wireless network;
second instructions for translating the request formatted in the first protocol into a translated request formatted in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is compatible with the wireless client;
third instructions for enabling the transmission of the translated request to the wireless client;
fourth instructions for enabling the receipt of the data from the wireless client formatted in a third protocol;
fifth instructions for translating the data formatted in the third protocol into translated data formatted in a fourth protocol compatible with the backup server; and
sixth instructions for enabling the transmission of the translated data to the backup server.
25. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system implemented as a wireless client for backing up data, the computer program product comprising:
first instructions, responsive to receipt of a push from a backup server via a wireless network to backup data, for retrieving, without user intervention, the data to be backed up from storage within a wireless client; and
second instructions for enabling the transmission of the data, without user intervention, to be backed up to the server via the wireless network utilizing a wireless protocol.
26. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system implemented as a server for reloading backed up data, the computer program product comprising:
first instructions for enabling the receipt of a request for backed up data from a wireless client connected via a wireless network;
second instructions for retrieving the backed up data corresponding to the wireless client; and
third instructions for enabling the transmission of the backed up data to the wireless client via the wireless network.
27. A system for backing up data from a wireless device onto a server via a network, the system comprising:
a communication unit which establishes a connection with a wireless device over a wireless network;
a backup initiator which pushes a request to backup data to the wireless device;
a receiver which receives the data from the wireless device; and
storing unit which stores the data on a storage device connected to the network.
28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the connection is established in response to receipt of an indication that the wireless device has been powered on.
29. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the connection is established periodically.
30. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the connection is established in response to a request to backup data received from the wireless device.
31. A system for facilitating data backup, the system comprising:
a request receiver which receives a request in a first protocol from a backup server requesting that a wireless client backup data to the backup server;
a first translator which translates the request formatted in the first protocol into a translated request formatted in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is compatible with the wireless client;
a first transmitter which sends the translated request to the wireless client via a wireless network;
a data receiver which receives the data from the wireless client via the wireless network formatted in a third protocol;
a second translator which translates the data formatted in the third protocol into translated data formatted in a fourth protocol compatible with the backup server; and
a second transmitter which sends the translated data to the backup server.
32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the request is a textual based service load providing the client with a uniform resource identifier for an application which will identify, locate, and transmit the requested data to the backup server.
33. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the translated request is a binary based service load.
34. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the third protocol is a wireless application protocol.
35. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the fourth protocol is a hypertext transfer protocol.
36. A system for backing up data to a server via a network, the system comprising:
a data retriever which, responsive to receipt of a push from a backup server via a wireless network to backup data, retrieves, without user intervention, the data to be backed up from storage within the client; and
a transmitter which transmits, without user intervention, the data to be backed up to the backup server via the wireless network utilizing a wireless protocol.
37. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the wireless device is a wireless phone.
38. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the wireless device is a personal digital assistant.
39. A system for reloading backed up data onto a wireless client, the system comprising:
a receiver which receives a request for backed up data from the wireless client;
a retrieval unit which retrieves the backed up data corresponding to the wireless client; and
a transmitter which transmits the backed up data to the wireless client.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A polarizing film produced by stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film of a vinyl alcohol polymer that contains from 0.01 to 20 mol % of cationic group-containing units, from 0.5 to 24 mol % of \u03b1-olefin units having at most 4 carbon atoms and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the vinyl alcohol polymer, of a polyhydric alcohol, and wherein the thickness of the polyvinyl alcohol film ranges from 20 to 100 \u03bcm.
2. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cationic group-containing units are derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of trimethyl-(3-acrylamido-3-dimethylpropyl)ammonium chloride, 3-acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, 3-methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, quaternary ammonium salts of N-(3-allyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)dimethylamine, quaternary ammonium salts of N-(4-allyloxy-3-hydroxybutyl)diethylamine and quaternary ammonium salts of acrylamide, N-methylacrylamide, N-ethylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, diacetoneacrylamide, N-methylolacrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methylmethacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide and N-methylolmethacrylamide.
3. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content of cationic group-containing units in the polymer ranges from 0.05 to 10 mol % and the content of \u03b1-olefin units having at most 4 carbon atoms ranges from 0.8 to 15 mol %.
4. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 3, wherein the content of cationic group-containing units in the polymer ranges from 0.1 to 5 mol % and the content of \u03b1-olefin units having at most 4 carbon atoms ranges from 1 to 8 mol %.
5. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit content of the vinyl alcohol polymer is comprised of units of a copolymerizable unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, phthalic acid (anhydride), maleic acid (anhydride), itaconic acid (anhydride), acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and its sodium salt, sodium vinylsulfonate, sodium allylsulfonate, ethyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene in an amount of less than 10 mol %.
6. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 4, wherein the unit content of the copolymerizable unsaturated monomer is less than 5 mol %.
7. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the film after stretching is 3 to 75 \u03bcm.
8. The polarizing film as claimed in claim 1, for which the polyvinyl alcohol film is colored with a dichroic dye.
9. A polarizer produced by laminating a protective film on each surface or on one surface of the polarizing film of claim 1.
10. A liquid crystal display containing the polarizing film according to claim 1.