Author: claimsbot

1. A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for a vehicle, the countermeasure assembly comprising:
a front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction and having a forward end;
a bumper extending generally transverse and lateral to the longitudinal direction of the front side rail and having a main bumper member and a bumper extension forming an end portion of the bumper, the bumper extension extending laterally from the main bumper member and forming an outboard end of the bumper, wherein the bumper extension is mounted to the forward end of the front side rail; and
a pivot link having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion, wherein the front mounting portion is engaged with the bumper extension and the rear mounting portion is engaged with the front side rail.
2. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the bumper extension has a front member and a rear member; and
the rear member is bolted to the forward end of the front side rail.
3. The countermeasure assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the front side rail is a hollow box structure comprising an inner wall, an outerwall, an upper wall, and a lower wall; and
bolts attaching the rear member of the bumper extension to the front side rail extend into a cavity of the hollow box structure through the forward end of the front side rail.
4. The countermeasure assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the front member and the rear member of the bumper extension each comprise a pair of opposed flanges that extend substantially horizontally; and
the front mounting portion of the pivot link is received within the pairs of opposed flanges.
5. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the front side rail defines a box structure including an outer wall, an inner wall, an upper wall and a lower wall; and
an engagement of the rear mounting portion with the front side rail defines a rear pivot joint that includes a pivot bracket mounted to the outer wall of the front side rail and engaged with the rear mounting portion of the pivot link.
6. The countermeasure assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the outer wall defines a vertical height of the front side rail; and
the pivot bracket has a base defining a length greater than the vertical height of the front side rail.
7. The countermeasure assembly of claim 6, further comprising a lower extension extending downward from the lower wall of the front side rail, wherein the base of the pivot bracket is further fastened to the lower extension.
8. The countermeasure assembly of claim 7, wherein the lower extension defines an outer wall that is generally planar with the outer wall of the front side rail.
9. The countermeasure assembly of claim 8, wherein the lower extension defines a box structure.
10. The countermeasure assembly of claim 5, wherein:
a bulkhead with a flange is disposed inside the front side rail; and
the flange is bolted to the pivot bracket through the front side rail.
11. The countermeasure assembly of claim 10, wherein the bulkhead extends across an entire width of a cavity defined by the box structure of the front side rail.
12. The countermeasure assembly of claim 10, wherein the pivot bracket and the bulkhead are arranged laterally outward from and longitudinally overlapping with an engine of the vehicle.
13. The countermeasure assembly of claim 10, wherein:
the bulkhead is substantially U-shaped and is positioned in the front side rail such that the U-shape of the bulkhead opens outward; and
the bulkhead forms a closed cavity with the outer wall of the front side rail.
14. The countermeasure assembly of claim 13, wherein:
a pivot bore of the rear mounting portion of the pivot link is aligned with apertures formed in the pivot bracket, the apertures defining a pivot axis of the rear pivot joint; and
the pivot axis is aligned with the bulkhead and positioned outward from the bulkhead.
15. The countermeasure assembly of claim 14, wherein:
the pivot bracket is secured to the front side rail with at least one front bolt and at least one rear bolt;
the closed cavity is located between the at least one front bolt and the at least one rear bolt in a longitudinal direction; and
the pivot axis of the rear pivot joint is located between the at least one front bolt and the at least one rear bolt in a longitudinal direction.
16. The countermeasure assembly of claim 10, wherein:
the pivot bracket includes a pair of opposed flanges that extend generally horizontally and laterally outward from the front side rail, the pair of opposed flanges being connected to and spaced apart by a vertical wall of the pivot bracket; and
the rear mounting portion of the pivot link is received between the pair of opposed flanges.
17. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein:
an engagement of the front mounting portion with the bumper extension defines a front pivot joint;
an engagement of the rear mounting portion with the front side rail defines a rear pivot joint; and
a center of the front pivot joint is offset from a center of the rear pivot joint in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle.
18. The countermeasure assembly of claim 17, wherein the center of the front pivot joint is vertically higher than the center of the rear pivot joint relative to the vehicle.
19. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear mounting portion of the pivot link has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the front mounting portion of the pivot link.
20. A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction to a forward end;
a bumper comprising a main bumper member and a bumper extension coupled to the forward end of the front side rail with fasteners extending through the forward end of the front side rail and into a cavity of the front side rail and the bumper extension is coupled to at least a portion of the main bumper member outboard of the front side rail; and
a pivot link comprising a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion, wherein the front mounting portion is engaged with the bumper extension and the rear mounting portion is engaged with the front side rail.

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 transformer inrush current suppression apparatus for suppressing a magnetizing inrush current generated by a three-phase transformer when the three-phase transformer is energized by a three-phase circuit breaker, which energizes the three-phase transformer with a three-phase power supply by simultaneous three-phase energizing, the transformer inrush current suppression apparatus comprises:
a target closing phase determining circuit for calculating energization flux errors in first to third phases by changing a closing phase of the first phase within a range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and for determining a target closing phase which minimizes an evaluated value of the energization flux errors in the first to third phases, each of the energization flux errors corresponding to a maximum offset amount of center values of transformer fluxes generated in a static state after the three-phase circuit breaker is energized when the three-phase circuit breaker is closed; and
a three-phase circuit breaker controller for controlling the three-phase circuit breaker to be closed at the target closing phase determined by the target closing phase determining circuit, and
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit calculates the energization flux errors in the first to third phases based on
residual flux values for the first to third phases of the three-phase transformer,
a variation in an inclination of a withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to a pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker,
a variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker, and
a connection condition of windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected,
while changing the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time within ranges including values the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time can have,
wherein the evaluated value is a sum of the energization flux errors in the first to third phases.
2. A transformer inrush current suppression apparatus for suppressing a magnetizing inrush current generated by a three-phase transformer when the three-phase transformer is energized by a three-phase circuit breaker, which energizes the three-phase transformer with a three-phase power supply by simultaneous three-phase energizing, the transformer inrush current suppression apparatus comprises:
a target closing phase determining circuit for calculating energization flux errors in first to third phases by changing a closing phase of the first phase within a range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and for determining a target closing phase which minimizes an evaluated value of the energization flux errors in the first to third phases, each of the energization flux errors corresponding to a maximum offset amount of center values of transformer fluxes generated in a static state after the three-phase circuit breaker is energized when the three-phase circuit breaker is closed; and
a three-phase circuit breaker controller for controlling the three-phase circuit breaker to be closed at the target closing phase determined by the target closing phase determining circuit, and
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit calculates the energization flux errors in the first to third phases based on
residual flux values for the first to third phases of the three-phase transformer,
a variation in an inclination of a withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to a pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker,
a variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker, and
a connection condition of windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected,
while changing the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time within ranges including values the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time can have,
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit further determines the energization flux errors based on offset amounts of closing time average values relative to the closing time of the first phase, the offset amounts being provided for two phases other than the first phase.
3. A transformer inrush current suppression apparatus for suppressing a magnetizing inrush current generated by a three-phase transformer when the three-phase transformer is energized by a three-phase circuit breaker, which energizes the three-phase transformer with a three-phase power supply by simultaneous three-phase energizing, the transformer inrush current suppression apparatus comprises:
a target closing phase determining circuit for calculating energization flux errors in first to third phases by changing a closing phase of the first phase within a range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and for determining a target closing phase which minimizes an evaluated value of the energization flux errors in the first to third phases, each of the energization flux errors corresponding to a maximum offset amount of center values of transformer fluxes generated in a static state after the three-phase circuit breaker is energized when the three-phase circuit breaker is closed; and
a three-phase circuit breaker controller for controlling the three-phase circuit breaker to be closed at the target closing phase determined by the target closing phase determining circuit, and
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit calculates the energization flux errors in the first to third phases based on
residual flux values for the first to third phases of the three-phase transformer,
a variation in an inclination of a withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to a pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker,
a variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker, and
a connection condition of windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected,
while changing the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time within ranges including values the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time can have,
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit determines the energization flux errors in the respective phases at the respective closing phases of the first phase based on the following:
an upper limit and a lower limit of the residual flux value for the first phase;
an upper limit and a lower limit of the residual flux value for the second phase;
an upper limit and a lower limit of the residual flux value for the third phase;
the variation in the inclination of the withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to the pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker;
the variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker;
the connection condition of the windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected; and
voltage phase differences.
4. A transformer inrush current suppression apparatus for suppressing a magnetizing inrush current generated by a three-phase transformer when the three-phase transformer is energized by a three-phase circuit breaker, which energizes the three-phase transformer with a three-phase power supply by simultaneous three-phase energizing, the transformer inrush current suppression apparatus comprises:
a target closing phase determining circuit for calculating energization flux errors in first to third phases by changing a closing phase of the first phase within a range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and for determining a target closing phase which minimizes an evaluated value of the energization flux errors in the first to third phases, each of the energization flux errors corresponding to a maximum offset amount of center values of transformer fluxes generated in a static state after the three-phase circuit breaker is energized when the three-phase circuit breaker is closed; and
a three-phase circuit breaker controller for controlling the three-phase circuit breaker to be closed at the target closing phase determined by the target closing phase determining circuit, and
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit calculates the energization flux errors in the first to third phases based on
residual flux values for the first to third phases of the three-phase transformer,
a variation in an inclination of a withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to a pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker,
a variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker, and
a connection condition of windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected,
while changing the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time within ranges including values the inclination of the withstanding voltage line and the closing time can have, further comprising:
a map memory for storing a map including relations between the residual flux values for the respective phases and the target closing phase,
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit determines the energization flux errors in the respective phases, at the respective closing phases of the first phase, for respective combinations of the residual flux values for the first to third phases based on the following:
the residual flux values for the first to third phases;
the variation in the inclination of the withstanding voltage line, the variation being due to the pre-arc characteristic of the three-phase circuit breaker;
the variation in closing time of the three-phase circuit breaker;
the connection condition of the windings of the three-phase transformer, to which the three-phase circuit breaker is connected; and
the voltage phase differences,
wherein, for the respective combinations of the residual flux values for the first to third phases, the target closing phase determining circuit determines the target closing phases of the first phase so as to minimize the evaluated value related to the energization flux errors in the first to third phases,
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit creates the map based on the target closing phases of the first phases determined for the respective combinations of the residual flux values for the first to third phases, and previously stores the map in the map memory,
wherein the target closing phase determining circuit determines the target closing phase of the first phase with reference to the map based on the residual flux values for the first to third phases.

1. A system for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) a user display,
b) digital data storage memory, which contains a first television program,
c) a user remote,
d) a delivery channel interface responsive to a delivery channel, which delivery channel provides data comprising a second television program that is being currently broadcast, without the user’s request, by a programming source,
e) a data manager responsive to said user remote and said data to cause said second television program to be stored in said digital data storage memory, and
f) wherein, said data manager operates in response to said user remote and at least one of said data and said digital data storage memory to allow the user to select said first or said second television program for display on said user display while said second television program is being stored.
2. A system for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) a user display,
b) digital data storage memory,
c) a user remote,
d) a delivery channel interface responsive to a plurality of delivery channels, each said delivery channel simultaneously providing data comprising a respective television program that is currently being publicly broadcast, without the user’s request, by a respective programming source,
e) a data manager responsive to said user remote and said data to cause a first of said television programs of d) to be displayed on said user display,
f) said data manager also responsive to said user remote and said data to cause a second of said television programs of d) to be stored in said digital data storage memory while said first television program is being displayed.
3. A system for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) a user display,
b) digital data storage memory with at least a first television program previously received from a delivery channel in d) and stored in said memory,
c) a user remote,
d) a delivery channel interface responsive to a plurality of delivery channels, each said delivery channel simultaneously providing data comprising a respective television program that is currently being publicly broadcast, without the user’s request, by a respective programming source,
e) a data manager responsive to said user remote and said data to cause at least one of said respective television programs of c) to be stored in said digital data storage memory simultaneously with the display of said first television program on said user display.
4. A system for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) a user display,
b) digital data storage memory,
c) a user remote,
d) a delivery channel interface responsive to a plurality of delivery channels, each said delivery channel simultaneously providing data comprising a respective television program that is currently being publicly broadcast, without the user’s request, by a respective programming source,
e) a data manager responsive to said user remote and to said data to provide a respective first television program of d) to said user display,
f) said data manager further responsive to said user remote and to said data to cause at least one other of said respective television programs of d) to be stored by said digital data storage memory simultaneously with the display of said first television program on said user display,
g) said data manager further responsive to a command, entered by a user via said user remote, to cause a pause in said first television program being provided to said user display.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein, at a time after the occurrence of the command of g), the user enters another command via said user remote to change the operation of said data manager such that the first television program continues from the point of said pause.
6. A system for receiving, storing and displaying a television program comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) a user display,
b) digital data storage memory,
c) a user remote,
d) a delivery channel interface responsive to a delivery channel, which delivery channel provides data comprising a television program that is being currently broadcast, without the user’s request, by a programming source,
e) a data manager responsive to said user remote and said data to provide said television program to said user display,
f) said data manager also responsive to said user remote and said data to cause said digital data storage memory to store said television program while it is being displayed on said user display,
g) said data manager further responsive to a command, entered by a user via said user remote, to change the operation of said data manager in e) above to pause said television program being provided to said user display.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein, at a time after the occurrence of the command of g), the user enters another command via said user remote for the purpose of changing the operation of said data manager such that said television program continues from the point of said pause.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein said data manager operates to continue said first television program after said pause at an increased speed relative to its original speed and to pitch correct said audio portion to compensate for pitch errors resulting from said increased speed.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said data manager operates to continue said television program after said pause at an increased speed relative to its original speed and to pitch correct said audio portion to compensate for pitch errors resulting from said increased speed.
10. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel is the traditional television channel corresponding to that station.
11. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel includes a cable television system.
12. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel is a satellite television system.
13. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said programming source is a subscription based programming network and said delivery channel is a satellite television system.
14. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the user may select, via said user remote, particular television programs that are to be broadcast in the future and said digital data storage memory will store said programs when they are broadcast.
15. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the user may select, via said user remote, particular categories of television programs that are to be broadcast in the future and said digital data storage memory will store said television programs when they are broadcast.
16. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein, upon command from the user via said user remote, said data manager causes program guide information, about television programs to be broadcast in the future, to be displayed on said user display, said user selecting, via said user remote, individual ones of said television programs to be stored by said digital data storage memory when broadcast.
17. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein, upon command from the user via said user remote, said data manager causes program guide information, about television programs to be broadcast in the future, to be displayed on said user remote, said user selecting, via said user remote, individual ones of said television programs to be stored by said digital data storage memory when broadcast.
18. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein, upon command from the user via said user remote, said data manager causes program guide information, about television programs to be broadcast in the future, to be displayed on said user display, said user selecting, via said user remote, particular categories of said television programs to be stored by said digital data storage memory when broadcast.
19. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein, upon command from the user via said user remote, said data manager causes program guide information, about television programs to be broadcast in the future, to be displayed on said user remote, said user selecting, via said user remote, particular categories of said television programs to be stored by said digital data storage memory when broadcast.
20. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said data manager is operable to cause at least one of said television programs to be stored on removable data.
21. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said data manager is operable to cause at least one television program previously stored in said digital data storage memory to be stored on removable data.
22. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the television program stored in said digital data storage memory is in compressed form.
23. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein, upon command from the user via said user remote, said data manager causes program guide information, about television programs to be broadcast in the future, to be displayed on said user display, said user selecting, via said user remote, particular ones of said television programs to be stored on removable data storage.
24. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving at least one television program which is being currently broadcast, without any user request, by a programming source via a delivery channel,
b) storing said television program in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing at least one of said television programs of a) or said previously received television program from said storage device to a user display.
25. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving at least one television program which is being currently broadcast, without any user request, by a programming source via a delivery channel,
b) storing said television program in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing said previously received television program from said storage device to a user display.
26. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving a plurality of television programs which are being currently broadcast, without any user request, each from a respective programming source via a respective delivery channel,
b) storing said plurality of television programs in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing one of said television programs of a) to a user display.
27. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving a plurality of television programs which are being currently broadcast, without any user request, each from a respective programming source via a respective delivery channel, each of said television programs comprising program data,
b) storing a first of said television programs in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing said first television program to a user display in response to its respective program data,
d) in response to a user command transmitted by said user remote, changing the first television program so that it responds to said storage device rather than to said program data, causing a pause in said first television program being provided to said user display.
28. A method as claimed in claim 27 including the further step:
e) in response to the user entering another command via said user remote at a time after the occurrence of the command of d), causing the said first television program to be continued from said pause and provided to said user display, thereby ending the pause.
29. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving at least a first television program which is being currently broadcast, without any user request, by a programming source via a first delivery channel,
b) storing said first television program in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing said first television program to a user display as it is received in response to said first delivery channel or after it is received in response to said storage device,
d) in response to a user command transmitted by said user remote, changing said first television program so that it responds to said storage device, thereby causing said first television program being provided to said user display to pause while said first television program is simultaneously being stored in said storage device.
30. A method as claimed in claim 29 including the further step:
e) in response to the user entering another command via said user remote after the command of d), causing said first television program to be continued from said pause and provided to said user display, thereby ending the pause.
31. A method as claimed in claim 27 or 29 including the further step:
e) in response to the user entering another command via said user remote after the command of d), causing said first television program to be continued and provided to said user display, the continuing first television program occurring at an increased speed relative to its speed before said pause, with pitch correction of the audio portion thereof to compensate for pitch errors resulting from said increased speed.
32. A method for receiving, storing and displaying television programs comprised of video and audio portions including in combination:
a) receiving a plurality of television programs which are being currently broadcast, without any user request, by respective programming sources via respective delivery channels,
b) storing said plurality of television programs in a storage device, said storage device also containing a program previously received over a delivery channel and stored on said storage device,
c) in response to a user command transmitted by a user remote, providing one of said television programs of a) to a user display as it is received or immediately thereafter,
d) in response to another user command transmitted by said user remote, changing said television program of c) so that a still frame of said television program is provided from said storage device and displayed on said user display,
e) in response to another user command transmitted by said user remote, providing said previously received television program to the user display to play from the point of said still frame.
33. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel is a traditional television channel.
34. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel includes a cable television system.
35. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein said programming source is a traditional broadcast television station and said delivery channel includes a satellite television broadcasting system.
36. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein said programming source is a subscription based programming network and said delivery channel includes a satellite television broadcasting system.
37. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 whereby a television program of a) which is being currently broadcast was selected by the user from a plurality of individual programs, at a time before the current broadcast of said program, to be stored in said storage device while being currently broadcast.
38. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 whereby a particular category including a television program of a) which is being currently broadcast was selected by the user from a plurality of categories of programs, at a time before the current broadcast of said program, to be stored in said storage device while being currently broadcast.
39. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) receiving program guide information about television programs which are to be broadcast in the future,
r) upon command from the user, displaying various of the program guide information on said user display,
s) while the program guide information is being displayed, selecting individual ones of said television programs to be stored when being currently broadcast.
40. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) receiving program guide information about television programs which are to be broadcast in the future,
r) upon command from the user, displaying various of the program guide information on said user remote,
s) while the program guide information is being displayed, selecting individual ones of said television programs to be stored when being currently broadcast.
41. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) receiving program guide information about television programs which are to be broadcast in the future,
r) upon command from the user, displaying various of the program guide information on said user display,
s) while the program guide information is being displayed, selecting particular categories of said television programs to be stored when being currently broadcast.
42. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) receiving program guide information about television programs which are to be broadcast in the future,
r) upon command from the user, displaying various of the program guide information on said user remote, and
s) while the program guide information is being displayed, selecting particular categories of television programs, including a television program of a), at a time before the current broadcast of said program, to be stored in said storage device while being currently broadcast.
43. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of storing at least one said currently broadcast television program on removable data storage media.
44. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of storing at least one said previously received program on removable data storage media.
45. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) receiving program guide information about television programs which are to be broadcast in the future,
r) upon command from the user, displaying various of the program guide information for the user to view,
s) in response to a user command given while the program guide information is being displayed, at a time in the future storing at least one then current television program on removable data storage media.
46. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, displaying a menu on said user display, said menu including a listing of currently stored television programs in said storage device of step b),
r) highlighting a particular stored program shown on said listing in response to said viewer pressing one or more cursor arrow keys on said user remote, and
s) providing to said user display from said storage device said highlighted particular stored program in response to said viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote.
47. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, displaying menu on said user display, said menu including a listing of currently stored television programs in said storage device of step b),
r) highlighting a particular stored program shown on said listing in response to said viewer pressing one or more cursor arrow keys on said user remote, and
s) providing to said user display from said storage device said highlighted particular stored program in response to said viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote.
48. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, displaying a menu on said user display, said menu including a listing of television program types,
r) highlighting a particular television program type shown on said listing in response to said viewer pressing one or more cursor arrow keys on said user remote, and
s) in response to said viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, storing in said storage device of step b) television programs of the highlighted type when being currently broadcast and thereby become said current television programs.
49. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further steps of:
q) in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, displaying a menu on said user remote, said menu including a listing of television program types,
r) highlighting a particular television program type shown on said listing in response to said viewer pressing one or more cursor arrow keys on said user remote, and
s) in response to said viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, storing in said storage device of step b) television programs of the highlighted type when being currently broadcast and thereby become said current television programs.
50. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein television programs stored in said storage device of step b) are stored utilizing digital data compression.
51. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein television programs stored in said storage device of step b) are stored in an MPEG compressed form.
52. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32wherein television programs include HDTV video and are stored in said storage device of step b) in an MPEG compressed form.
53. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 wherein said television programs being broadcast by a programming source of step a) are broadcast utilizing digital data compression.
54. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32wherein said television programs being broadcast by a programming source of step a) are broadcast in an MPEG compressed form.
55. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32wherein said television programs being broadcast by a programming source of step a) include HDTV video and are broadcast in an MPEG compressed form.
56. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of:
in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, a phone call is initiated.
57. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of:
in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, a phone call is answered.
58. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of:
in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, a phone call is initiated and said television program being provided to said user display of step b) is paused.
59. The method of claim 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or 32 including the further step of:
in response to a viewer pressing one or more keys on said user remote, a phone call is answered and said television program being provided to said user display of step b) is paused.

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 combination comprising
(a) a vehicle with a fuel powered motor; and
(b) a portable fuel system including
(i) a collapsible inner bag having at least one aperture for receiving or dispensing fuel;
(ii) a closure for opening and closing said aperture; and
(iii) a first outer bag encircling a major portion of said inner bag, said first outer bag being formed of fire retardant material.
2. The combination according to claim 1 further including a second outer bag for receiving said inner bag and first outer bag and magnet means within said second outer bag, said magnet means providing magnetic attraction to said vehicle.
3. The combination according to claim 1 further including a second outer bag for receiving said first inner bag and first outer bag and means on said second outer bag for securing said second outer bag to said vehicle.
4. The combination according to claim 1 further including a nozzle extending through said aperture interiorly to exteriorly of said inner bag.
5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said aperture is in an upper wall of said inner bag and wherein said inner bag has a lower wall downwardly therefrom and further including an aperture in said lower wall and a hose for directing fuel from said inner bag lower wall aperture to said vehicle.
6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said vehicle has a fuel tank mounted thereon and further including a valve movable from a first position directing fuel from said mounted fuel tank to said motor to a second position directing fuel from said hose to said motor.
7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said inner bag has a first wall with an interior surface and further including a stiffener member engaged to said interior surface.
8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said inner bag aperture is in a first wall and said nozzle includes an outwardly extending flange on one side of said first wall and further including a clamping member on the other side of said first wall and fastening members securing said clamping member to said flange with said first wall therebetween.
9. The combination according to claim 4 further including a closure on said nozzle, said closure being non-vented.
10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein inner bag has a first wall portion, a second wall portion and edges between said first and second wall portions and further including a first stiffener member on the interior surface of said first wall portion and a second stiffener member on the interior surface of said second wall portion.
11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said edges is pleated.
12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said inner bag has a first wall with an interior surface, a second wall with an interior surface and spaced apart first and second edges extending between said first and second walls, at least one of said edges being pleated.
13. The combination according to claim 12 further including a stiffening member on at least one of said first wall interior surface and said second wall interior surface.
14. The combination according to claim 12 further including a second outer bag for receiving said inner bag and said first outer bag and means for securing said second outer bag to said vehicle.
15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said means for securing comprises magnets retained in one or more portions of said second outer bag.
16. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said means for securing comprises one or more straps.
17. The combination according to claim 12 further including a nozzle extending through said aperture interiorly to exteriorly of said inner bag.
18. The combination according to claim 17 further including a stiffener member engaged to said interior surface encircling said nozzle.
19. The combination according to claim 17 wherein said nozzle includes an outwardly extending flange on one side of said first wall and further including a clamping member on the other side of said first wall and fastening members securing said clamping member to said flange with said first wall therebetween.
20. The combination according to claim 19 further including a stiffener member between said first wall and said clamping member.
21. The combination according to claim 20 wherein said stiffener member encircles said nozzle and further including a second stiffener member on the interior surface of said second wall.
22. The combination according to claim 17 further including a closure on said nozzle, said closure being non-vented.
23. A combination comprising
(a) a fuel powered motorized vehicle; and
(b) a portable fuel system including
(i) a collapsible inner bag having at least aperture for receiving or dispensing fuel;
(ii) a closure for opening and closing said aperture;
(iii) a first outer bag encircling a major portion of said inner bag, said first outer bag being formed of fire retardant material; and
(iv) a second outer bag for receiving said inner bag and said outer bag and further including means for supporting said second outer bag on said vehicle.
24. A portable fuel system for a vehicle with a fuel powered motor comprising:
(a) a collapsible inner bag having an upper wall with a first aperture for receiving fuel and a lower wall with a second aperture for dispensing fuel;
(b) a closure for opening and closing said first aperture;
(c) a tubular member for directing fuel from said second aperture to said vehicle;
(d) a first outer bag encircling a major portion of said inner bag, said first outer bag being formed of fire retardant material; and
(e) a second outer bag for receiving said inner bag and first outer bag.
25. The system according to claim 24 further including means on said second outer bag for securing said second outer bag to said vehicle.
26. The system according to claim 24 further including magnet means within said second outer bag, said magnet means providing magnetic attraction to said vehicle.
27. The system according to claim 24 further including a nozzle extending through said first aperture interiorly to exteriorly of said inner bag.
28. The system according to claim 27 further including a closure on said nozzle, said closure being non-vented.
29. The system according to claim 24 wherein said inner bag upper wall has an interior surface and further including a stiffener member engaged to said interior surface.
30. The system according to claim 24 wherein said inner bag has edges between said upper and lower wall portions and further including a first stiffener member on the interior surface of said upper wall and a second stiffener member on the interior surface of said lower wall.
31. The system according to claim 30 wherein at least one of said edges is pleated.
32. The system according to claim 24 wherein said inner bag has spaced apart first and second edges extending between said upper and lower walls, at least one of said edges being pleated.
33. The system according to claim 32 further including a stiffener member on at least one of said upper wall interior surface and said lower wall interior surface.
34. The system according to claim 32 wherein said stiffener member is spaced from said edges.