barnesandnoble.com LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160078593 | UNIVERSAL DIGITAL CONTENT ZOOMING TECHNIQUES - Techniques are disclosed for digital content zooming. In one example case, the hypotenuse of the digital content (or a combination of both height and width values of the content) is initially set to provide the 100% zoom level and is subsequently used to resize or zoom that content. In particular, an arbitrary constant that is independent of the content itself is used to define the initial or 100% zoom level at which the content is initially displayed. The arbitrary constant may be, for example, a hypotenuse size in pixels, or a specific combination of height and width in pixels. In one specific example, the arbitrary constant can be selected based on, for instance, an average of current physical screen and/or virtual viewing window resolutions' hypotenuse sizes, in pixels. In any case, the arbitrary constant can be used to set the initial size of the content, and to compute zoom steps. | 03-17-2016 |
20160018968 | DIGITAL FLASH CARDS INCLUDING LINKS TO DIGITAL CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for creating digital flash cards that include links to content from one or more digital content sources, referred to herein as a flash card mode. The mode allows a user to create a digital flash card by selecting a portion of a digital content source and performing a create command. The created flash card includes at least two virtual sides and a first side of the flash card identifies the location of the selected portion of digital content. The location may be identified, for example, by a canonical fragment identifier (CFI). Text can then be entered for a second side of the flash card. Flash cards can be shared with other users, and because the flash cards only identify locations of content within digital content sources, the mode is well-suited to handle sources including digital rights management (DRM) protection, for example. | 01-21-2016 |
20150186397 | UI TECHNIQUES FOR NAVIGATING A FILE MANAGER OF AN ELECTRONIC COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for a swipe based file manager navigation mode in electronic computing devices, such as a touch screen device. Digital files may be organized in a hierarchical or treelike file manager capable of having multiple directory or folder levels. Folders (or directories) may allow a user to group files into separate collections, and folders may be organized within other folders. In some embodiments, the navigation mode may allow a user to navigate through or access the directory levels of the file manager using vertical swipe gestures. In some such embodiments, a vertical gesture performed to access a child (lower) directory level may have to be performed over the directory or folder to be accessed. As the user navigates through the directory levels, the navigation mode may be configured, in some embodiments, to provide animations. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186351 | Annotation Mode Including Multiple Note Types For Paginated Digital Content - Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186350 | DELETING ANNOTATIONS OF PAGINATED DIGITAL CONTENT - Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186349 | MERGING ANNOTATIONS OF PAGINATED DIGITAL CONTENT - Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186348 | Multi-Purpose Tool For Interacting With Paginated Digital Content - Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186346 | DIGITAL FLASH CARD TECHNIQUES - Techniques are disclosed for providing a digital flash card function in electronic devices. In an embodiment, a digital flash card includes a word or phrase along with the definition of the word or phrase pulled automatically from a glossary or dictionary. The digital flash card may be created through an options menu after selecting a word or phrase, automatically whenever a word or phrase is highlighted by the user, or whenever a word or phrase is looked up. Once the flash cards have been created, they may be organized into various folders or stacks, and in some cases the flash cards may automatically be organized based on the source of the selected word or phrase. Once one or more flash cards have been created, the user may view flash cards, flip them over to view the opposite side, and scroll through the flash cards using various touch screen gestures. | 07-02-2015 |
20150186008 | MOVE ICON TO REVEAL TEXTUAL INFORMATION - Techniques are disclosed for providing a content information viewing mode in electronic devices. In an embodiment, in response to a gesture performed on an electronic touch sensitive device, a content icon may be moved from its original location and information about that item of digital content may be displayed to the user. The information may be displayed on the portion of the screen previously occupied by the content icon. Releasing contact with the touch screen allows the icon to return to its original location. Moving the content icon past a certain point, may allow the user to edit the newly displayed content information. An audio and/or visual indicator may be output by the electronic device alerting the user that the newly visible information may now be edited. Movement that extends further may indicate that icon movement is desired, not the information viewing/editing mode. | 07-02-2015 |
20150185982 | CONTENT FLAGGING TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for providing a side flag mode in electronic devices. In an embodiment, a touch screen gesture performed over a side flag marker may activate the side flag. An activated side flag may be color coded and/or assigned an icon in order to organize the side flags or denote a level of importance or interest. Such side flags are linked to the reflowable digital content rather than a page number, such that when formatting settings are adjusted, the side flags follow an assigned section of text as the text is reflowed and reorganized over a device viewport. The side flag mode may allow the user to organize a table of contents to display only the sections of content associated with activated side flags, and these sections of content may also be organized based on the color or type of side flags the user has created. | 07-02-2015 |
20150185981 | USER INTERFACE FOR NAVIGATING PAGINATED DIGITAL CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for navigating pages of paginated digital content (e.g., an eBook), referred to herein as a go-to mode. The go-to mode may include a page number input field and a keypad. The keypad, which may be presented in response to a reveal command (e.g., tapping on the input field), can be used to provide numerical input to the input field and allow a user to navigate to the input page number. The go-to mode may be configured to disable keys on the keypad when selection of one of the keys would result in an invalid input in the input field. The go-to mode may also be configured to update which keys are disabled and/or enabled when a cursor position in the input field is changed, contents in the input field are selected, or a number is input into or deleted from the input field. | 07-02-2015 |
20150177933 | VISUAL THUMBNAIL SCRUBBER FOR DIGITAL CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for providing a thumbnail scrubber mode in electronic devices, such as a touch screen device. In an embodiment, a thumbnail scrubber may be displayed to the user in response to a distinguishable touch screen gesture, or in response to a toolbar command. A toolbar may be displayed on the device including a scrubber bar, and the thumbnail scrubber mode may be invoked when a user interacts with the scrubber bar. The thumbnail scrubber displays multiple thumbnail images of pages of digital content and allows the user to preview and scroll through the digital content while continuing to display the current page in the main viewer of the device. After scrubbing through the digital content pages, the user may select one of the thumbnail images in the scrubber in order to access that page of the digital content. | 06-25-2015 |
20150100876 | ANNOTATION OF DIGITAL CONTENT VIA SELECTIVE FIXED FORMATTING - Techniques are disclosed for providing a fixed format viewing mode in electronic computing devices. The fixed format viewing mode may be engaged upon receiving virtual ink annotations at the touch screen of the electronic device. The annotations may be input using an active stylus. Upon receiving virtual ink annotations, the current page of digital content may be converted into a fixed format page wherein the formatting characteristics are held constant and the annotations remain in the same location with respect to the underlying digital content. Formatting characteristics for other pages of the digital content may be altered, however the fixed format page maintains the same format as when the annotations were added. The user may hide and/or edit virtual ink annotations, and when the annotations are hidden the content of the fixed format page may flow normally and match the formatting characteristics of the rest of the digital content. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100874 | UI TECHNIQUES FOR REVEALING EXTRA MARGIN AREA FOR PAGINATED DIGITAL CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for revealing extra margin area for paginated digital content, referred to herein as an extra margins mode. For example, the extra margins mode may be used to reveal/expose extra margin area (galley area) at the perimeter of one or more pages of an eBook or a photo of a photo album. Once galley area is exposed, a user can add content to the galley area, such as annotations using a stylus. In some cases, the extra margins mode may be configured to expose galley area for one or more pages in response to a reveal command input, such as a pinch gesture, a drag gesture, or an inward flick gesture from near the edge of a page using a stylus. The extra margins mode may also be configured to hide exposed galley areas in response to a hide command input, such as spread gesture. | 04-09-2015 |
20150052472 | Creation and Exposure of Embedded Secondary Content Data Relevant to a Primary Content Page of An Electronic Book - Disclosed are several methods, apparatus, and a system to create, expose, and hide embedded secondary content data relevant to a primary content page of an electronic book generated by a content generating device. The method, system, and apparatus is enabled through a Y-axis slide apart gesture that is applied to a notification region of the primary content page such that the secondary content data is made visible when the Y-axis slide apart gesture is applied to the notification region. The method, system, and apparatus is also enabled through a Y-axis pinch close gesture that is applied to a boundary of an exposed pane that is appearing in the primary content page such that the Y-axis pinch close gesture collapses the exposed pane in which the secondary content data is made visible. In one embodiment, the system comprises an association server, an electronic book distribution server, and a content rendering device. | 02-19-2015 |
20140380247 | TECHNIQUES FOR PAGING THROUGH DIGITAL CONTENT ON TOUCH SCREEN DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture. | 12-25-2014 |
20140380214 | DRAG AND DROP TECHNIQUES FOR DISCOVERING RELATED CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for providing a drag and drop discovery mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In response to a user dragging and dropping a content icon into a search box, the content discovery mode may perform a search for content similar to that deposited into the search box. The search box may increase in size or change appearance while receiving the content icon. The results of such a search may be displayed to the user with a content discovery animation that shows similar content icons emerging from the search box and populating the device screen. The animation may be accompanied by sound effects. The newly discovered content may be randomly scattered over a portion of the screen, or they may be bundled into groups based on similar characteristics, and each group may be accompanied by a header notifying the user of the characteristics of the group. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379467 | In-Store Promotion Techniques For Electronic Devices - In-store promotion techniques for alerting an electronic device user of local in-store promotional events are disclosed. The in-store promotion mode may determine the user's taste profile based on the user's shopping cart, wish list, search history, purchase history, content ratings, favorite authors, and/or event preferences. A promotion notification relating to promotions matching the user's taste profile may be displayed to the user, for example, with a pop-up window, a message on the user's welcome screen or home page, or other notification displayed to the user on the device screen. The promotion notifications may be limited to promotional events taking place at the user's local retail store, and the user may designate the local retail store. The promotion notification may be a generic message notifying the user of the existence of a promotion, and upon visiting the retail store a welcome message including the promotion details may be displayed on the device. | 12-25-2014 |
20140372943 | HOTSPOT PEEK MODE FOR DIGITAL CONTENT INCLUDING HOTSPOTS - Techniques are disclosed for a hotspot peek mode for use with digital content that includes one or more hotspots. Each hotspot includes a link to a source of additional content, where the source may be, for example, a web page or another portion of the digital content. The hotspot peek mode may be configured to display (or otherwise present) a pop-up panel on displayed digital content in response to a peek command (e.g., a tap or hover input) performed on a hotspot. The pop-up panel may include additional content from the source associated with the given hotspot, to provide a peek at the source. The hotspot peek mode may be further configured to navigate to the source in response to a selection made inside the pop-up panel. In some cases, the functionality of the hotspot peek mode may be fully integrated within an eReader application or another suitable application. | 12-18-2014 |
20140365851 | SCRAPBOOKING DIGITAL CONTENT IN COMPUTING DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for providing a scrapbooking function in electronic computing devices. The user can engage the scrapbooking function with a content sampling command that engages a scrapbook creation mode which virtually rips a digital content sample from a content source. The digital content sample may be displayed to the user with a torn edge, as if it had been physically torn from a magazine or catalogue. The content sampling command may be, for example, a swipe gesture, an S-gesture, or selecting a scrapbook UI control feature. The user may save the sampled content into a new scrapbook or save it to an existing scrapbook. The user may also engage the scrapbooking function by entering a scrapbook viewing mode which allows the user to view and edit existing scrapbooks. The content sample may include all encrypted data present in the digital content from which it is sampled. | 12-11-2014 |
20140344951 | KID MODE USER INTERFACE WITH APPLICATION-SPECIFIC CONFIGURABILITY - A user interface is disclosed that is configured to provide a multi-user, multi-application experience for users of a given computing device, where each user account of the device is configurable with applications suitable for that user and each application has a usage timer associated therewith. Thus, each user may have access to applications that are different from another user of that device, and each user can be allocated application usage time independent from other users. The usage timers can be configured to reset once a usage period has lapsed. In some cases, the size of icons displayed for a given user account are automatically sized based on the age range of that user. A reward program may automatically increase the time allotted for given applications/content upon successful usage/consumption of educational applications/content. In a classroom/group setting, multiple computing devices may be simultaneously set into Kid Mode by a master computing device. | 11-20-2014 |
20140344765 | Touch Sensitive UI Pinch and Flick Techniques for Managing Active Applications - Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a touch sensitive computing device using a pinch and flick gesture input, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode allows a user to perform a pinch gesture on a display of active applications to form a stack of those active applications. The user can then perform a flick gesture on the stack to perform a function on all of the active applications in the stack. The function may include closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting the active applications in the stack, for example. In some cases, the manage active apps mode may be configured to provide feedback (e.g., an animation or sound) after a stack has been flicked to indicate that the function was performed (e.g., that the apps were closed, stopped, etc.). | 11-20-2014 |
20140344764 | SHAKE-BASED FUNCTIONS ON A COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a mobile computing device, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode may be invoked by shaking the device while pressing the device's power button (or while manipulating one or more other user interface control features). The device may include one or more accelerometers, for example, to detect when (and possibly how) the device is being shaken. When invoked, the manage active apps mode may be configured to perform the function of closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting of one or more of the device's active applications, for example. In some cases, the mode function performed may be determined by the direction the device is being shaken, such as if the device is being shaken from side-to-side or up-and-down. | 11-20-2014 |
20140331187 | GROUPING OBJECTS ON A COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for providing a group mode in a computing device to group objects (e.g., files, photos, etc.) displayed and/or stored on the computing device into a bundle. The group mode can be invoked in response to a swipe gesture, a press-and-hold gesture, and/or other user input indicative that the group mode is desired. The user may interact with the bundle once it is formed, including sharing or organizing the bundle as desired, for example. In some cases, the user input used to invoke the group mode may also be used to invoke a bundle interaction, such as to group and share the bundle using a single swipe gesture. In some cases, the user may be able to select the objects desired to be grouped and cause them to be grouped into a bundle using the same user input, such as one continuous swipe gesture. | 11-06-2014 |
20140331175 | SWIPE-BASED DELETE CONFIRMATION FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for providing a swipe-based delete confirmation mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the delete confirmation mode by performing a delete command, which causes the device to display a delete confirmation swipe gesture prompt. The delete confirmation prompt may be included within a delete confirmation graphic or a delete confirmation pop-up window. By performing the delete confirmation swipe gesture on the touch sensitive surface, the user may confirm the delete command. By not properly performing the delete confirmation gesture, closing a delete confirmation pop-up window, tapping an area of the screen not associated with the delete confirmation prompt, or otherwise not performing the delete confirmation swipe gesture, the device may cause the delete function to be abandoned. | 11-06-2014 |
20140331158 | TOUCH SENSITIVE UI TECHNIQUE FOR DUPLICATING CONTENT - Techniques are disclosed for providing a duplicate content mode in touch sensitive computing devices. The duplicate content mode can be used to copy content or objects to a target location using a multiple contact point drag and drop gesture. For example, the duplicate content mode may be used to copy files from a first folder to a second folder. In some cases, the duplicate content mode drag and drop gesture is initiated using multiple contact points, such as two or more fingers, but may transition to a smaller number of contact points, such as one finger, once initiated. In some cases, the user may be able to select additional content after initiating the drag and drop gesture. Once the content has been copied to the target location, the user can then share or organize the content to the users liking. | 11-06-2014 |
20140317724 | COLOR PATTERN UNLOCKING TECHNIQUES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for providing a color pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The color pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create a specific color pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable color pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of colors. Example color patterns include a combination of colors arranged in a certain order, a combination of colors combined with a password, a combination of colors combined with one or more words written out in one or more colors, or a combination of colors each matched with a specific image. When the user has arranged the proper color pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct color pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked. | 10-23-2014 |
20140317723 | IMAGE PATTERN UNLOCKING TECHNIQUES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for providing an image pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The image pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create or otherwise select a specific image pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable image pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of images, or even a single image selected from an image group. The unlocking mechanism may include images gathered from the user's photo collection and/or one or more online profiles, and the unlock pattern could be a selection of such images. In other embodiments, a combination of color and images can also be used, such as matching colors to images. When the user has arranged the proper image pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct image pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked. | 10-23-2014 |
20140306899 | MULTIDIRECTIONAL SWIPE KEY FOR VIRTUAL KEYBOARD - Techniques are disclosed for providing a multidirectional swipe key for a virtual keyboard of a touch sensitive computing device. The multidirectional swipe key can be used to translate one or more swipe gestures started from the key into cursor movement (or directional input). The characteristics of the multidirectional swipe key gestures, such as the swipe direction and/or swipe length, may affect the resulting cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may be configured such that held swipe gestures cause continual cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may also be configured such that dragging the gesture to make a longer swipe accelerates cursor movement (or directional input) and vice versa. | 10-16-2014 |
20140306898 | KEY SWIPE GESTURES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE UI VIRTUAL KEYBOARD - Techniques are disclosed for providing a virtual keyboard key swipe mode for touch sensitive computing devices. The keyboard key swipe mode allows for the selection and/or input of key options for a particular virtual keyboard key using swipe gestures started from that particular key. Key options may include, for example, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers or characters. In one example case, an upward swipe gesture performed on a letter key causes an uppercase selection of that letter key and a downward swipe gesture performed on the letter key causes a lowercase selection of that letter key. In another example case, a rightward swipe gesture performed on an alphanumeric key may cause a first character selection and a leftward swipe gesture performed on the alphanumeric key may cause a second character selection. The keyboard key swipe mode may further include a change-all-keys user input that transitions all keys simultaneously. | 10-16-2014 |
20140306897 | VIRTUAL KEYBOARD SWIPE GESTURES FOR CURSOR MOVEMENT - Techniques are disclosed for providing a virtual keyboard cursor swipe gesture mode in touch sensitive computing devices. The keyboard cursor swipe mode is configured to translate a swipe gesture (initiated on or over a virtual keyboard of the device) into cursor movement in the direction of the swipe gesture. In some instances, characteristics such as the swipe length, swipe speed, and/or number of contact points used when swiping may affect when the mode is invoked and/or the distance and/or speed of the cursor movement. The keyboard cursor swipe mode may also be configured with a highlighting feature that highlights text while the cursor is moved in combination with a highlight activation action, such as holding the shift key. In some cases, the keyboard cursor swipe mode may allow for continual cursor movement as long as the swipe gesture is held. | 10-16-2014 |
20140281507 | TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING INCORRECT WEP KEY FOR OPEN AUTHENTICATION - Techniques for detecting reason for connection attempt failure for DHCP with an Open Key authentication (WEP) protocol are discussed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269536 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING INCORRECT WEP KEY FOR OPEN AUTHENTICATION - An electronic device for detecting reason for connection attempt failure with an Open Key authentication (WEP) protocol is discussed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140258911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND VIEWING COMIC BOOK ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS - A system and method for enhancing electronic comic book reading by dynamically expanding text bubbles (“bubbles”) to make them easier to read, especially on a small mobile device. The method s include skimming a sequence of expanded bubbles, flinging through a sequence of expanded bubbles and positioning expanded bubbles so as not to hide the comic character(s) uttering the phrase. The methods are performed with irregular bubble outlines (like curly, bumpy, or jagged text bubbles commonly found in comics). Further the method includes pre-processing the content in an automated fashion to enable skimming and flinging through the sequences of expanded bubbles. | 09-11-2014 |
20140256250 | PEER-TO-PEER DATA TRANSFER USING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC)-ENABLED STYLUSES - Peer-to-peer data transfer techniques using near field communication (NFC)-enabled styluses are disclosed. The styluses are intended for use with an electronic touch sensitive device. A first data transfer technique is through stylus NFC sharing, where the NFC wireless connection is used to allow peer-to-peer data transfer between the NFC-enabled stylus and another NFC-enabled device. A second data transfer technique is through stylus NFC pairing, where the NFC-enabled stylus is used to establish a more capable wireless connection Bluetooth-based or Wi-Fi-based), which can then be used to allow peer-to-peer data transfer with another NFC-enabled device. The stylus NFC pairing may pair the other NFC-enabled device to either the stylus or a related touch sensitive device. These techniques allow for peer-to-peer transfer of data such as documents, presentations, lectures, notes, or photos, for example. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253522 | STYLUS-BASED PRESSURE-SENSITIVE AREA FOR UI CONTROL OF COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a pressure-sensitive control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The pressure control feature function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based pressure-sensitive control feature is configured to allow for squeeze actions, tapping actions, and various combinations of such pressure-types on the pressure-sensitive control feature to uniquely identify a corresponding function to be carried out on the computing device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253521 | STYLUS SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH STYLUS ANGLE DETECTION FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in electronic devices by changing the angle between a stylus and a stylus detection surface of an electronic device. The stylus and/or device can detect the stylus angle of inclination and any changes in stylus angle. Each uniquely identifiable angle change or combination of angle changes may be associated with a distinct device or stylus function. A greater angle change may result in an accelerated function or a different function entirely. The stylus angle gesture may perform functions on selected content or on one or more UI control features or icons on the device. In other cases, functions can be performed without reference to specific content or control features. The various functions assigned to stylus angle gestures may be performed on an application-specific level or a global device level. An animation can be displayed as the stylus gestures are executed. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253520 | STYLUS-BASED SLIDER FUNCTIONALITY FOR UI CONTROL OF COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a slider control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or is otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The slider function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based slider is biased to return to a middle, or home, position thereby allowing for both forward and backward sliding actions. An appropriate animation or sound or haptic response can also be provided that may be indicative of or otherwise related to the action being taken. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253470 | TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH STYLUS-BASED GRAB AND PASTE FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for grabbing and pasting content using a stylus in communication with an electronic device. The grab function can be used to copy/cut content from the device to stylus memory. The paste function can be used to delete content from the stylus memory, or paste that content to the same or different device. The user can grab content to the stylus with a stylus action, which may include manipulating a stylus control feature or performing a particular stylus gesture. The content may then be deleted from the stylus memory or pasted to a device by performing another stylus action, which may be the same or distinct from the grab stylus action. Pasting the content from the stylus memory to an electronic device may also include removing the content from the stylus memory. An animation can be displayed as content is sucked into stylus, or pasted to new locations. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253469 | STYLUS-BASED NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - A stylus-based notification system is disclosed. In some embodiments, a stylus configured as described herein is capable of one-way or two-way wireless communication with an electronic device that is paired with the stylus and includes one or more visual features for providing a user with visual notifications and/or feedback. In some cases, for example, a given visual indicator such as an LED ring or other indicator on the stylus that emits light that is visible at any stylus orientation may alert a user that data has been received by the stylus from an associated device and/or sent from the stylus to such device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253468 | Stylus with Active Color Display/Select for Touch Sensitive Devices - Styluses with active color indicator functionality are disclosed. The styluses are intended for use with a touch sensitive device. The active color generally refers to the color currently in use by the touch sensitive device, such as in a virtual drawing or note taking application. Active colors can be selected using the touch sensitive device and/or the stylus itself. When the active color is selected using the touch sensitive device, the stylus receives the active color information and indicates the color on the stylus (e.g., via a correspondingly colored LED or LCD or a color rotation mechanism). When the active color is selected from the stylus itself, that color is indicated on the stylus and active color information is transmitted to the touch sensitive device. The active color can be displayed such that it is detectable regardless of stylus position (e.g., no blind spots). | 09-11-2014 |
20140253467 | STYLUS-BASED USER DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS - A stylus-based data storage and access system is disclosed. In some example embodiments, a stylus configured as described herein includes storage for storing a user's access data, profile (e.g., device settings and preferences), and/or content and can wirelessly communicate with an electronic device that is paired therewith. Upon pairing, the user of the stylus can access his or her user data (stored locally on the stylus) and/or other data on the paired device or in the cloud. If desired, additional users having styluses of their own can use the same device in like fashion. Once a new user is logged into the device, any previous user can be logged out. A given user can utilize the user interface provided by the device to setup stylus-based access to the device by providing access information, which can be saved to the stylus. Subsequently, the user may review/alter that stylus-based information, as desired. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253466 | STYLUS-BASED REMOTE WIPE OF LOST DEVICE - Techniques for remotely wiping data from a computing device are provided. Instructions for wiping data from the computing device can be sent via an input device such as a stylus associated with the computing device, or a dedicated module. In cases where the computing device is lost or stolen, the user, via the stylus, may remotely activate a data wipe function so as to remove selected or all information from the computing device, ensuring that sensitive information is not extracted from the device. In some cases, a back-up application configured to remotely back-up data of the target computing device is launched before that data is wiped from the device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253465 | STYLUS SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH HOVER OVER STYLUS CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for performing stylus-based actions in electronic devices without the stylus having to touch the stylus detection surface. A stylus action may include manipulating one or more control features of the stylus, and each control feature action or combination of actions may be associated with distinct functions. The device may detect, for example, whether the stylus is pointing to specific content or one or more UI control features or icons on the device, for which a corresponding function can be performed. In other cases, functions can be performed without reference to specific content. The device may track stylus location over the detection surface and the non-touch stylus action may be location sensitive. The various functions assigned to non-touch stylus actions may be performed on an application specific level, or a global device level. An animation can be displayed as non-touch stylus actions are executed. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253464 | STYLUS SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH STYLUS IDLE FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in electronic devices by placing a device stylus in an idle position. The function may be, for example, activating a device idle mode, activating power saver or power-down mode, activating sleep mode, activating a screensaver, and/or locking the device. In some embodiments, an idle position may include setting the stylus in a horizontal position next to but not touching the device, setting the stylus in a stationary position relative to the computing device, or latching the stylus to the device or to a protective device case. In some embodiments, the stylus and/or device can detect the stylus' angle of inclination with respect to the device, thus detecting the nature of the stylus' resting. In other embodiments, when a magnetic stylus is latched to the device or device case, a magnetic sensor within the device may detect the stylus, thus activating a stylus idle mode. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253463 | STYLUS-BASED TOUCH-SENSITIVE AREA FOR UI CONTROL OF COMPUTING DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a touch-sensitive control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The swipe function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based touch-sensitive control feature is configured to allow for both forward and backward swiping actions, tapping actions, and various combinations of such touch-types on the touch-sensitive control feature to uniquely identify a corresponding function to be carried out on the computing device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253462 | SYNC SYSTEM FOR STORING/RESTORING STYLUS CUSTOMIZATIONS - Techniques are disclosed for restoring stylus customizations using a stylus sync system on a touch sensitive device. The stylus customizations may relate to the stylus functionality and/or control features, for example. The sync system stores the customizations from a first stylus such that those customizations can be later restored to a second stylus. For example, the sync system may allow a user to restore stylus customizations to a replacement stylus, a borrowed stylus, or an upgraded or otherwise new stylus. This allows the user to maintain previously selected customizations without having to manually re-program each one individually. Once the stylus customizations are restored to the second stylus, the sync system can store any additional customizations made to this second stylus such that those customizations can be later restored to a third stylus, and so forth. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253461 | STYLUS CONTROL FEATURE FOR LOCKING/UNLOCKING TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for locking and/or unlocking a touch sensitive device using one or more stylus control features. For example, the stylus control feature may be a twistable top button knob. In some instances, the twistable top button knob may be rotated and/or depressed to lock a related device. In some other instances, the twistable top button knob may be used to unlock a related device using a unique rotation sequence, thereby providing a security mechanism. For example, the unlocking sequence may require a user to rotate the twistable top button knob in a first direction to a first reference point, in a second direction to a second reference point, and back in the first direction to a third reference point. The stylus may also include a feedback indicator, such as a multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED), that indicates the lock status of a related device, for example. | 09-11-2014 |
20140247238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DUAL MODE STYLUS DETECTION - A system and method for improved accuracy in the detection of a stylus on a touch sensitive surface of an electronic device, such as a tablet. A dual method of detection is employed including electromagnetic induction detection of the stylus as it is in the vicinity of the screen of the electronic device, as well as capacitive detection of the stylus tip as it contacts the touch screen. The electronic device detects the presence of the top of the stylus and provides the general coordinates of its position. Then, as touches occur on the surface of the device, e.g., the stylus tip as well as the various parts of the user's hand, the system uses the coordinates supplied from the electromagnetic induction detection to very quickly and accurately pinpoint the actual location of the stylus input on the surface of the device. | 09-04-2014 |
20140245042 | METHOD FOR HIBERNATION CONTROL BASED ON BATTERY CAPACITY - Apparatus and algorithms to balance power savings and convenience to users of electronic devices based on usage patterns, charging and battery efficiency and capacity, and users' subscriptions. | 08-28-2014 |
20140245041 | APPARATUS FOR HIBERNATION CONTROL IN A DEVICE - Apparatus and algorithms to balance power savings and convenience to users of electronic devices based on usage patterns, charging and battery efficiency and capacity, and users' subscriptions. | 08-28-2014 |
20140244427 | SYSTEM FOR GENERATING USER PROFILES - A recommendation for a product based on a user profile and product affinity is discussed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140244426 | METHOD FOR GENERATING USER PROFILES - A recommendation for a product based on a user profile and product affinity is discussed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140233772 | TECHNIQUES FOR FRONT AND REAR SPEAKER AUDIO CONTROL IN A DEVICE - Techniques for audio control for an electronic device are discussed. The audio control for speaker channel configuration facilitates supporting proper audio stereo sound based at least in part on an orientation of the electronic device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140233742 | APPARATUS FOR SPEAKER AUDIO CONTROL IN A DEVICE - The electronic device has audio control for speaker channel based at least in part on an orientation and number of speakers of the electronic device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140223542 | SECURE NOTE SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING DEVICE LOCK SCREEN - Techniques are disclosed for recording secure notes from the lock screen of a computing device. A note recording user interface may be accessed from the lock screen to allow a user to leave a note, such as a text, video, audio, or drawn note, or some combination thereof. The notes left using the note recording user interface may be saved such that only the intended recipient can access them, for example, after unlocking the computing device, thereby preventing others from seeing previously saved notes. The secure note system may include a retrieve notes function that allows users and/or recipients to retrieve the recorded notes directly from the lock screen of the computing device used to record them. The secure note system may also be configured to send notifications to inform the recipient when a secure note has been recorded (e.g., email or text message including copy of note). | 08-07-2014 |
20140223382 | Z-SHAPED GESTURE FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE UI UNDO, DELETE, AND CLEAR FUNCTIONS - Techniques are disclosed for providing a Z-shaped gesture mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In some cases, the Z-shaped gesture mode may be configured to undo an action or delete or clear content when a Z-shaped gesture is made. The Z-shaped gesture mode may also be configured to allow the reversal of previously performed undo, delete, and clear functions using a Z-shaped gesture. In some instances, the undo, delete, and clear functions are performed by a Z-shaped gesture drawn from top to bottom, and the reverse function is performed by a reverse Z-shaped gesture drawn from bottom to top. In some cases, the starting contact point and/or ending contact point of the Z-shaped gesture may control the function performed. In some configurations, the Z-shaped gesture mode may include a gesture and hold feature that is activated by holding the ending contact point of the Z-shaped gesture. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218343 | STYLUS SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH HOVER OVER STYLUS GESTURE FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in electronic devices using stylus gestures while the stylus is hovering over a stylus detection surface of an electronic device. In some cases, a stylus gesture may be accompanied with the user holding down one or more stylus control features. Each uniquely identifiable gesture or combination of gestures may be associated with a distinct device or stylus function. The device may detect whether the stylus is pointing to specific content on the device at the beginning of a gesture and the stylus hover over gesture may perform functions on selected content or on one or more UI control features or icons on the device. In other cases, functions can be performed without reference to specific content. The device may track stylus location, and the non-touch stylus gestures may be location sensitive. An animation can be displayed as non-touch stylus gestures are executed. | 08-07-2014 |
20140215340 | CONTEXT BASED GESTURE DELINEATION FOR USER INTERACTION IN EYES-FREE MODE - Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the use of an electronic device having a user interface that is sensitive to a user's gestures. An “eyes-free” mode is provided in which the user can control the device without looking at the device display. Once the eyes-free mode is engaged, the user can control the device by performing gestures that are detected by the device, wherein a gesture is interpreted by the device without regard to a specific location where the gesture is made. The eyes-free mode can be used, for example, to look up a dictionary definition of a word in an e-book or to navigate through and select options from a hierarchical menu of settings on a tablet. The eyes-free mode advantageously allows a user to interact with the user interface in situations where the user has little or no ability to establish concentrated visual contact with the device display. | 07-31-2014 |
20140215339 | CONTENT NAVIGATION AND SELECTION IN AN EYES-FREE MODE - Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the use of an electronic device having a user interface that is sensitive to a user's gestures. An “eyes-free” mode is provided in which the user can control the device without looking at the device display. Once the eyes-free mode is engaged, the user can control the device by performing gestures that are detected by the device, wherein a gesture is interpreted by the device without regard to a specific location where the gesture is made. The eyes-free mode can be used, for example, to look up a dictionary definition of a word in an e-book or to navigate through and select options from a hierarchical menu of settings on a tablet. The eyes-free mode advantageously allows a user to interact with the user interface in situations where the user has little or no ability to establish concentrated visual contact with the device display. | 07-31-2014 |
20140210729 | GESTURE BASED USER INTERFACE FOR USE IN AN EYES-FREE MODE - Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the use of an electronic device having a user interface that is sensitive to a user's gestures. An “eyes-free” mode is provided in which the user can control the device without looking at the device display. Once the eyes-free mode is engaged, the user can control the device by performing gestures that are detected by the device, wherein a gesture is interpreted by the device without regard to a specific location where the gesture is made. The eyes-free mode can be used, for example, to look up a dictionary definition of a word in an e-book or to navigate through and select options from a hierarchical menu of settings on a tablet. The eyes-free mode advantageously allows a user to interact with the user interface in situations where the user has little or no ability to establish concentrated visual contact with the device display. | 07-31-2014 |
20140204547 | APPARATUS FOR SPLIT WIRE ROUTING IN A BRACKET FOR A DEVICE - Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. Electrical tape surrounding a battery may be breached to expose a cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells. One example case includes a first electrical component placed within the bracket, and a second electrical component routing in a divergent path to the first electrical component external to the bracket, wherein the first and second electrical component have a common start and end point. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204035 | SELECTIVE TOUCH SCAN AREA AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES - Techniques are disclosed for selective area scanning, touch scanning, and/or reporting of touch screen contacts in electronic touch sensitive devices. The selective area scanning can be used to only scan a specific section of a touch screen area, the selective touch scanning can be used to scan only for specific touches or input sources on a touch screen, and the selective reporting can be used to selectively report only desired contacts to a device processor and reject all other contacts. Multiple selective scan areas can be provisioned, with each discrete area customizable with respect to location, size, accepted touch types and/or reporting criteria. En some cases the user can configure some or all of these selective screen features. | 07-24-2014 |
20140201997 | METHOD FOR SPLIT WIRE ROUTING IN A CAVITY FOR A DEVICE - Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a cavity of a device are disclosed. A wire or group of wires can be routed in a split wire configuration, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures). One example embodiment includes exposing a cavity between at least two electrical parts within an electrical device, and routing a first electrical component through the cavity and routing a second electrical. component in a divergent path to the first electrical component, wherein the first and second electrical component have a common start and end point. In some cases, the first and second electrical components are wires. Numerous such split wire configurations will be apparent in light of this disclosure. | 07-24-2014 |
20140201996 | TECHNIQUES FOR SPLIT WIRE ROUTING FOR A BRACKET IN A DEVICE - Techniques for efficient split wire routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A split wire routing is discussed with a common start and end point but allows divergent paths for individual and/or groups of wires. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The electrical tape surrounding a battery may be cut or otherwise breached in order to expose the cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the battery cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells. | 07-24-2014 |
20140176451 | METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE SCAN RATE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Techniques are disclosed for setting a scan rate for an electronic device based on interaction with the user and/or application type. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176450 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE SETTING OF SCAN RATE - Techniques are disclosed for setting a scan rate for an electronic device based on interaction with the user and/or application type. | 06-26-2014 |
20140173530 | TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH PINCH-BASED EXPAND/COLLAPSE FUNCTION - Techniques are disclosed for expanding and collapsing content in electronic touch sensitive devices. The expand/collapse function can be used to navigate through content that may be displayed on a screen. The user can engage the function with a pinch-based gesture. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that displays a sample of the previously hidden detailed data relating to the content currently displayed on the screen. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, tap-expand feature that allows the user to select one or more items that are intended to be expanded or collapsed. Such a feature can include an initial single contact, followed by an inward or outward pinch with at least one additional contact point, in some example case. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173529 | CIRCULAR GESTURE FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE UI CONTROL FEATURE - Techniques are disclosed for providing a circular gesture mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the mode with a particular gesture that includes a combination of contact points that uniquely identify that the circular gesture mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a press-and-hold activation contact point in conjunction with one or more additional contact points moving in a circular motion, or a multiple contact points moving circular motion. The circular gesture can be used to cause, for instance, specific functions within a given application, and/or within different applications. Clockwise movement can be used to cause one type of change, while counter-clockwise motion can be used to cause another type. Changing pages, sections, and chapters of a book, or changing volume of an audio application, or changing a tool within a given application, or from changing from one application to another are example uses. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173484 | BLOCK-BASED CONTENT SELECTING TECHNIQUE FOR TOUCH SCREEN UI - Techniques are disclosed for providing a content selecting mode in electronic touch screen devices. The content may be, for instance, text, graphics, images, files, and/or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a combination of gestures and touch points on the touch screen. The combination may include, for example, multiple initial touch points within a given content block, followed by a dragging gesture that moves the touch points into or otherwise within the given content block, wherein the entire content block is then highlighted/selected. The initial touch points may touch, for instance, any piece of content within that block and the subsequent dragging gesture moves those initial touch points toward another piece of content within that block. As the drag continues into other blocks, so does selecting. The techniques can be used, for example, to select entire sentences or paragraphs or other content blocks. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173483 | DRAG-BASED CONTENT SELECTION TECHNIQUE FOR TOUCH SCREEN UI - Techniques are disclosed for providing a content selecting mode in electronic touch screen devices. The content may be, for instance, text, graphics, images, files, and/or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a combination of gestures and touch points on the touch screen. The combination may include, for example, one or two initial touch points at a desired starting location of the target content, followed by a dragging gesture with two or more touch points moving from that location to the desired end location of the target content, wherein content between the starting and end locations is highlighted or otherwise selected. In one example case, if the initial touch includes multiple touch points then selecting of the target content may commence immediately, while a single initial touch point causes selecting to commence after a brief hold or the addition of another touch point at the starting location. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173482 | MULTI-PAGE CONTENT SELECTION TECHNIQUE - A multi-page content selection mode is provided for devices and systems having display capability. The content may be any type (e.g., text, images, files, etc). In some cases, the user can engage the mode with a combination of gestures and touch points on a touch screen. The combination may include, for example, one or more initial touch points at a desired starting location of target content, followed by a dragging gesture moving from that location to a desired end location of that content. Content between the starting and end locations is selected. Input devices other than touch screens can be used to engage the selection process. During a multi-page selection process, content of a second page can be previewed in a preview area on a first displayed page. In some such cases, content from the second page scrolls into the preview area and displaces content from the first displayed page. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173473 | CONTENT SELECTING TECHNIQUE FOR TOUCH SCREEN UI - Techniques are disclosed for providing a content selecting mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The content may be, for instance, text, photos, and/or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a gesture that includes a combination of contact points on the touch sensitive surface that identifies the content selecting mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a first contact point at a starting location in the content, and a second contact point at an end location in the content to be selected. Upon receiving the second contact point, the content between the first and second contact points is selected. The selection may be traverse section breaks, column breaks, and page breaks as needed, depending on the placement of the contact points. Intervening navigation gestures such as scrolling or paging swipes between the two contact points can be used to locate the desired end location. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168095 | TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH PINCH-BASED ARCHIVE AND RESTORE FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for archiving and restoring content in electronic touch sensitive devices. The archive/restore function can be used to move, delete, or restore content that may be displayed on a screen. The user can engage the function with a particular pinch-based gesture. In some cases, the archive function includes closing a document or application, saving a file to a selected location, reversibly deleting a file, permanently deleting a file, or deleting a user-selected portion of content. In some cases, the restore function includes recovering a file from the trash bin by saving it to a previous save location, or returning content view to a previous state. In some cases, the archive function includes deleting a user-selected portion of a document, deleting a file, saving a file to a selected location, or saving one or more items to a previous save location. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168077 | MULTI-TOUCH NAVIGATION MODE - Techniques are disclosed for providing a navigation mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The navigation mode can be used to advance forward and backward through displayed pages of content on a page-by-page or multi-page basis, such as pages of an eBook, photos, lists such as search results and files, or other consumable content that can be displayed in a page-like fashion. The user can engage the navigation mode with a particular gesture that includes a combination of contact points that uniquely and/or globally identify that the navigation mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a press-and-hold activation contact point by one hand of the user, and one or more additional moving gesture contact points that indicate the desired navigation using the other hand of the user. Horizontal and/or vertical paging speeds correspond to the number of moving contact points, which can be effected with swiping or circular gestures. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168076 | TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH CONCENTRATION MODE - Techniques are disclosed for providing a concentration mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The concentration mode can be used to highlight given textual content on a line by line basis, or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a particular gesture. Once engaged, a UI feature is displayed that assists the user in viewing the given content. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that encompasses one to three complete lines of displayed text or other content. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, a straight-edged reading guide. The initial placement of the UI feature can be set, for instance, based on the initial contact point touched by the user. As the contact point moves, the UI feature moves accordingly. Concentration mode disengages when user releases contact point. | 06-19-2014 |
20140143894 | Method for Registering a Device - A registration flow to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140143893 | Method for Authentication for In-Store Reading - An authentication scheme to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140143892 | Architecture System for In-Store Reading - An architecture and techniques to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140143159 | Method for a Transactional Flow to enable In-Store Reading - A transactional flow to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140114797 | SYSTEM FOR GENERATING CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS - Techniques are disclosed for providing product recommendations based on content clusters. The product may be, for example, goods or services. In some embodiments, the techniques are implemented in a system configured to form a product cluster based at least in part on product metadata, correlate the product cluster based at least in part on product correlation data, and calculate each product distance to a center of each correlated product cluster. In some cases, the system may be further configured to generate recommendations based on product clusters, wherein only products within a given distance to a center of each correlated product cluster are recommended. In some cases, forming a product cluster is carried out using k-means clustering so as to minimize the within-cluster sum of squares. | 04-24-2014 |
20140114796 | TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS - Techniques are disclosed for providing product recommendations based on content clusters. The product may be, for example, goods or services. In some embodiments, the techniques include forming a product cluster based at least in part on product metadata, correlating the product cluster based at least in part on product correlation data, and calculating each product distance to a center of each correlated product cluster. In some cases, the techniques may further include generating recommendations based on product clusters, wherein only products within a given distance to a center of each correlated product cluster are recommended. In some cases, forming a product cluster is carried out using k-means clustering so as to minimize the within-cluster sum of squares, and the techniques may further include optimizing the within cluster sum of squares. | 04-24-2014 |
20140043516 | FRONT PROJECTION EREADER SYSTEM - Techniques are disclosed for purchasing, accessing, and/or providing electronic content by a projection based eReader. In accordance with one embodiment invention, a projector system is provided that is configured to engage a lighting socket and can be controlled by, for example, a remote control and/or imaged user input actions. Power to the system can be received through the socket based interface. The techniques can also be used in non-socketed configurations. The system is capable of creating large images suitable for reading large publications, such as newspapers or magazines, but can generally be used for any type of content including small print. In some embodiments, the system projects an image onto a lightweight, rigid screen that can be held by an individual that is situated in the area near the projection system. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043265 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND INTERPRETING ON AND OFF-SCREEN GESTURES - A system and method for the detection and interpretation of unique and distinctive gestures by extending the input sensor area to a perimeter area beyond the display area. In systems that have more flexible requirements, an additional gesture band can be located within the display area. The extended input sensor area allows for new gestures that are facilitated by the expanded sensor area. One gesture initiated around the corner of the device is most useful as ‘next’ and ‘previous’ navigation gestures found in traditional electronic publication reader applications, but can be overloaded or repurposed to serve different functions depending on the context. An gesture is used to initiate screen capture process. A third gesture is a corner-fold bookmark gesture and is used to bookmark a page by ‘dog earing’ the corner of the page electronically. An additional gesture, also initiated at the corner of the device launches selectable icons for the most frequently used applications. | 02-13-2014 |
20140032712 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE LAST RELEVANT PAGE IN A DIGITAL PUBLICATION - A system and method for use in connection with a reader for digital publication, such as electronic books, eBooks. The system and method identifies the last interesting or relevant page as the page at which most readers will exit the electronic book and never open it again. An element can be placed on last interesting page that will engage the user in further reading experiences. Users' devices that are registered in the system keep track of the last page viewed by a user in a digital publication. This data is fed back to a central server. Collecting the same data from multiple users reading the same digital publication, the system is able to statistically determine the last interesting page for that digital publication. The determined last interesting page is then fed back to the users for inclusion in the metadata of the digital publication and the device can insert the functional element at that page in the publication. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029218 | APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT WIRE ROUTING IN A DEVICE - Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The electrical tape surrounding a battery may be cut or otherwise breached in order to expose the cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the battery cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028735 | LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLAY DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed for lighting displays such as those associated with electrophoretic display (EPD) devices such as e-readers or any other display technologies or applications. In an embodiment, an EPD device is provided with a number of internal LEDs or other suitable light source generally disposed along at least a portion of the display perimeter. The light can be activated in situations where the available ambient light is inadequate for viewing the display. Light from the light source is distributed across the display, and in some embodiments can be adjusted to provide a desired degree of brightness. The light can be turned on or off via an existing single press-button or otherwise tactile, physical user interface that serves multiple functions. This user interface can be readily found and engaged by the user without the benefit of sight. | 01-30-2014 |
20140027166 | TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENT WIRE ROUTING IN ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. The electrical tape surrounding a device may be folded, cut, or otherwise altered in order to create a trough between distinct device elements. A wire or other component may then be routed within the trough. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two device elements (e.g., two battery cells) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The brackets may be placed within the cavity between device elements after cutting a section of the electrical tape. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the device elements, creating a structurally stable trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the device elements. | 01-30-2014 |
20140026411 | TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENT WIRE ROUTING IN A DEVICE - Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The electrical tape surrounding a battery may be cut or otherwise breached in order to expose the cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the battery cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells. | 01-30-2014 |
20140026101 | Accessible Menu Navigation Techniques For Electronic Devices - Techniques are disclosed for providing an accessible menu navigation mode in electronic computing devices. The user can engage a manual reading mode, using a manual reading mode activation gesture, wherein the user may navigate through content, share content, or change reading rate, font, volume, or other device settings. The user may navigate through a menu structure using menu navigation gestures and the menu and sub-menu options may be read aloud to the user as they are navigated through. A selection gesture may allow the user to enable or adjust various menu and sub-menu options, and an earcon or sound effect may guide the navigation process and/or confirm a menu selection. The user may configure the navigation gestures and option selection gestures. The menu options may be structured to allow a user to access content navigation options with upward swipe gestures and access device settings using downward swipe gestures. | 01-23-2014 |
20140026055 | Accessible Reading Mode Techniques For Electronic Devices - Techniques are disclosed for providing accessible reading modes in electronic computing devices. The user can transition between a manual reading mode and an automatic reading mode using a transition gesture. The manual reading mode may allow the user to navigate through content, share content with others, aurally sample and select content, adjust the reading rate, font, volume, or configure other reading and/or device settings. The automatic reading mode facilitates an electronic device reading automatically and continuously from a predetermined point with a selected voice font, volume, and rate, and only responds to a limited number of command gestures that may include scrolling to the next or previous sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, section or other content boundary. For each reading mode, earcons may guide the selection and/or navigation techniques, indicate content boundaries, confirm user actions or selections, or to otherwise provide an intuitive and accessible user experience. | 01-23-2014 |
20130166406 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING USER RECOMMENDATIONS - The present invention creates a new taxonomy called Reader Categories that incorporates a bookseller's bookselling knowledge to generate more accurate and compelling recommendations to users. An initial “seeding” of the Reader Categories with content is performed by an editorial staff. A recommendation engine is then executed with respect to the initial seeds to generate recommendation of additional content for the Categories. A tool is provided that the editorial staff can use for the seeding and for providing feedback on the quality of algorithmically generated results. This helps the present invention extend the power of its recommendation algorithms by facilitating editorial ranking and seeding. | 06-27-2013 |
20130162684 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCKING THE ORIENTATION OF A DISPLAY ON A MOBILE - An orientation sensor in a mobile electronic device senses a change in the orientation of the device, e.g., from a landscape orientation to a portrait orientation. The system and method of the present invention takes advantage of the time required for reformatting to display an orientation lock icon on the screen while reflow processing is taking place. The lock icon is a virtual button the user can tap to allow or disallow the information on the display to change orientation as the user rotates the device from landscape to portrait orientation or vice versa. Once the reflow processing is complete and the information has been redrawn in the new orientation, the lock icon is removed. | 06-27-2013 |
20130159850 | ENHANCED RAPID SERIAL VISUAL PRESENTATION SPEED-READING FOR ELECTRONIC READING DEVICES - A system and method for controlling the presentation of words on an electronic reading device to assist in speed reading. A portion of the display screen on the device is reserved for the serial presentation of the words in accordance with the speed reading method. The remainder of the screen contains the current text of the content being read, but is shaded, darkened, so as to not distract the reader. The presentation of words is momentarily paused at sentence and chapter transitions. This momentary pause allows the user to maintain perspective as to the user's location in an electronic text (e.g., a book) and enhances the reading experience and ultimately enhances the speed of the reading exercise and the retention of content. | 06-20-2013 |
20130152011 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING IN AN ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION - A system and method for navigating electronic using controls on a touch screen of a reading device. The controls allow the user to quickly skim, scan, and scroll through all the sections of the publication with short slides of a thumb or finger. The controls preferably take the form of a strip displayed along an edge, e.g., the bottom, of the touch screen device used for reading the publication. A second control can be formed along another edge of the touch screen, e.g., right or left edge, to enable the user to rapidly skim through all of the articles contained in a selected section. | 06-13-2013 |
20130134213 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRODUCT INFORMATION - A system and method of associating an NFC tag to a product and transmitting information about the product are described. An electronic device is used to scan a generic NFC tag affixed to a product to obtain a unique ID code as well as other indicia identifying the product itself, such as a bar code. The unique ID and bar code are then transmitted to a central server, where they are associated with one another and stored in a database. Once associated, a customer may use a separate electronic device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, to scan a product of interest, transmit the unique ID code to the central server, and retrieve from the central server information about the product. | 05-30-2013 |
20130133081 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ELECTRONIC READER THAT ALLOWS ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND TOOLS - A method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium are provided for controlling display of content on an electronic device with a touch screen display, which content may, in response to detection of a squeeze gesture, be reduced on the display screen to reveal additional content, tools and features associated with the one or more pages of the content. | 05-23-2013 |
20130132237 | SYSTEM AND METHOD DETERMINING AND DISPLAYING ACTIONS TAKEN ON DIGITAL CONTENT - A method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium are provided for determining and displaying actions taken on content displayed on one or more maps provided on a display screen of an electronic device. The actions taken with respect to the content include actions performed by users in the system. The one or more maps include geographic maps and social maps. | 05-23-2013 |
20130125016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING CONTENT BETWEEN DEVICES - A system and a method for transferring content between devices are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, users lay their electronic devices (such as content reading devices, mobile tablets or smart phones) side by side and use a touch screen to “slide” or “swipe” digital content (e.g., via finger swiping of a book cover) from one device to the other. The devices automatically pair with one another based on certain pairing criteria detected contemporaneously with slide or swipe of digital content. If the pairing criteria are satisfied, the digital content is transferred. | 05-16-2013 |
20130117670 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING RECORDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION - A system and method that allows recording and playback of audio in association with an electronic publication such as an electronic book. Many applications that are used to view electronic publications are based on technologies that do not have audio capabilities that allow a user to record audio in connection with the electronic publication. The system and method of the present invention overcomes this deficiency by using the audio capabilities that are native in the operating system running on the electronic device used to display the electronic publication. A socket is established between the user interface application and the operating system. Audio commands are transmitted from the user interface application to the operating system via the socket. The audio commands are executed by the operating system using native operating system commands. A message regarding the execution of the audio commands by operating system are sent to the user interface application via the socket. | 05-09-2013 |
20130117667 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IN CONTENT DISCUSSIONS - Systems and methods for permitting in-content discussions regarding electronic content are described. The present invention allow users of digital publication readers to share comments regarding specific parts of an electronic publication with other users that are concurrently reading or have previously read those parts. In this manner, the invention provides users the ability to share their feelings or thoughts about electronic publications and, in so doing, significantly enhance their knowledge and reading experience. | 05-09-2013 |
20130117410 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAPPING CONCURRENT READERS OF AN ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION - A system and method for use in connection with a reader for digital publication, such as electronic books, eBooks, or electronic magazines or newspapers. The system and method determines readers that are currently reading a specific section of a specific electronic publication and determines the location of those readers, The system and method then generates a. map, such as an image of the United States of America, or a globe, or even a simple text listing, that illustrates everyone else in a given geographic region (possibly the whole world) that is currently reading, or has recently finished reading, the specific part of the digital publication. | 05-09-2013 |
20130100160 | INFRARED REFLECTION BASED COVER DETECTION - A system and method for improving power consumption by providing the ability to detect whether a cover is placed on top of Infrared, IR, touch device. While the cover is in the open state, a certain amount of the light transmitted by the IR transmitters is directed upward and away from the IR receivers in the device. When the cover is closed, this light is reflected off of the cover and is incident on the IR receivers. The system of the present invention recognizes this increased level of received IR light and determines that the cover is in a closed position. Having made such a determination that the cover is placed on the device, the device's power savings system can switch to an appropriate power saving mode. | 04-25-2013 |
20130100074 | PEN INTERFACE FOR A TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE - A system and method that allows pen input and touch input to better co-exist during writing on a touch screen device, such as a tablet device. If the pen/stylus is detected as present and is pointed at the surface, inputs initiated by a user's finger (or other) touch are rejected and pen inputs are allowed. If the pen is detected as present, but is pointed away from the writing surface of the touch screen, stylus/pen inputs are rejected and touch inputs are allowed. If pen is not detected as present, the system ignores all pen inputs. Erasing functions are also provided. The size of the eraser can be made proportional to the pressure level, contact size or signal level of the pen or the user's finger performing the erasing. | 04-25-2013 |
20130091467 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING MENU OPTIONS - A system and a method for performing an action with respect to an item selected by a user on a display screen of an electronic device. In a preferred embodiment, the display screen is a touchscreen and the user selects an item, e.g., a portion of text or a file by touching a thumb or finger down on the item. The user pauses very briefly before dragging the item. After the pause, a small icon representing the selected item appears and a first row of options appears just above or below the item. This first row of options contains the various functions that can be performed with the item. The user then drags the item to the option which she would like to perform. As the icon of the item being dragged by the user reaches the desired option, a second set of sub options, if any, associated with the first option appears. This process can be repeated for as many levels of sub options that exist for the particular action to be performed on the selected item. | 04-11-2013 |
20130081133 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNLOCKING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A system and a method facilitating the unlocking of a locked touch screen device. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an e-reader device. The system and method provides a device unlock screen that simulates turning a page in a book rather than sliding a dead bolt lock or moving some other object from one place to another on the locked screen. | 03-28-2013 |
20130063969 | PLANAR FRONT ILLUMINATION SYSTEM HAVING A LIGHT GUIDE WITH MICRO LENSES FORMED THEREON AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A system for illuminating a reflective display or other material from a planar front device and a method of manufacture thereof. The system includes a light guide plate that conducts light from an edge light source across the face of a reflective display. Micro lenses are formed on the inner or outer surface of the light guide and direct the light conducted in the light guide toward the display. A stepped index layer is formed on the surface of light guide plate containing the micro lenses. The stepped index layer has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light guide plate to assist in the total internal reflection of light injected into the light guide plate. A top layer protective coat or touch screen can be laminated to the outside of the light guide plate. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063968 | PLANAR FRONT ILLUMINATION SYSTEM HAVING A LIGHT GUIDE WITH MICRO SCATTERING FEATURES FORMED THEREON AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A system for illuminating a reflective display or other material from a planar front device and a method of manufacture thereof. The system includes a light guide plate that conducts light from an edge light source across the face of a reflective display. Micro scattering features are formed on an outer surface of the light guide, farthest from the reflective display or material. A stepped index layer is formed on the surface of light guide plate containing the micro scattering features. The stepped index layer has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light guide plate to assist in the total internal reflection of light injected into the light guide plate. The micro scattering features, light reflecting areas, redirect luminous flux toward the display. In one embodiment, the micro scattering features are formed as white dots on the light guide plate. A black absorbing layer can be added to each white scattering dot in order to improve the apparent contrast when the front light is deactivated. | 03-14-2013 |
20120330944 | INDEXING AND SEARCH QUERY PROCESSING - A method for processing a search query according to one embodiment includes receiving a search query containing terms; combining at least some consecutive terms in the search query to create biwords; looking up at least some of the terms and biwords in a search index for identifying sections of documents containing the at least some of the terms and/or biwords; generating a content score for each of the identified sections based at least in part on a number of the terms and biwords found in the sections of each document, wherein the biwords are given a higher priority than matched terms, wherein the priority affects the content score; and selecting and outputting an indicator of at least one of the sections, or portion thereof, based at least in part on the content score. | 12-27-2012 |