Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100088653 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes rendering a graphical user interface including a plurality of selectable features, detecting a first touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, detecting a second touch event at a second location on the touch screen display during the first touch event, and selecting ones of the plurality of selectable features located in an area having boundaries defined by the first location and the second location to define a group of selected features. | 04-08-2010 |
20100137031 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface on a touch screen display, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, providing a navigation indicator in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, and in response to detecting movement of the touch event from the first location to a second location while touch contact is maintained on the touch screen display, changing the position of the navigation indicator in the graphical user interface by a distance that is greater than a distance of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display, a direction of change of position of the navigation indicator is based on a direction of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display. | 06-03-2010 |
20100273542 | MOBILE DEVICE SLIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A slide system for a mobile device including a base portion and a slide portion configured to slide in relation to the base portion, the system including: at least one base magnet provided to the base portion; a plurality of slide magnets provided to the slide portion and configured such that the plurality of slide magnets are aligned to the at least one base magnet at predetermined positions during movement of the slide portion relative to the base portion; and a magnetically active element provided to the slide portion in spatial relation to at least one of the plurality of slide magnets such that magnetic forces between the at least one of the plurality of slide magnets and the at least one base magnet are affected. In particular, the magnetic forces can be altered to provide an altered “feel” to the sliding movement by lowering repulsive forces and increasing attractive forces. | 10-28-2010 |
20100304799 | SLIDE FLIP MECHANISM AND CONFIGURATION FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device comprising a first component, a second component and a slider flip mechanism configured to operatively couple the first and second components. The first component may be configured with keys and the second component may be configured with a display. According to an embodiment, the slider flip mechanism comprises a hinge and a slide member, and is configured for sliding the second component relative to the first component from a slide-in position to a slide-out position, for example, to expose one or more of the keys. The slider flip mechanism is configured to also allow flipping of the second component relative to the first component from a flipped-closed position to a flipped-open position, for example, to expose the display. According to an embodiment, the slide member includes a camera component and is configured to protect and/or deactivate the camera component when the slide member is in the slide-in position. | 12-02-2010 |
20110070834 | SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED NFC TAG USING PLURALITY OF NFC TAGS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATION OR DEVICES TO COMMUNICATE WITH COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A Near Field Communications (NFC) tag includes a housing and a magnet carried by the housing and configured to be magnetically sensed by a magnetic sensor carried by a communications device to activate an NFC circuit within the communications device to communicate using an NFC communications protocol. A data store stores data regarding a function of the communications device to be magnetically coupled by the magnet. The data store is configured to be read by the communications device using an NFC communications protocol after the NFC circuit had been activated. | 03-24-2011 |
20110103631 | SHAPE-ADAPTABLE SURFACE FOR AN AUDIO PORT - A method and apparatus for providing a shape-adaptable surface for an audio port of a device includes an audio port, a shape-adaptable surface having a plurality of portions, a plurality of sensors coupled to the shape-adaptable surface, wherein the plurality of sensors are operative to sense a plurality of distances between the object and the shape-adaptable surface, and a processor operatively coupled to the shape-adaptable surface and the plurality of sensors, said processor configured to control some of the plurality of portions of the shape-adaptable surface to adjust the plurality of distances and to provide a channel between a sound receiver of the object and the audio port. An improved audio coupling is formed by adjusting the distances between the shape-adaptable surface and the object, thereby transmitting sounds directly from the audio port of the device to a sound receiver of the object. | 05-05-2011 |
20110148768 | CUSTOMIZABLE KEYBOARD - A customizable keyboard for a handheld electronic device is provided. The keys of the keyboard are rotatable, either individually or in groups, either under manual control of a user of the device or by means of one or more micro-motors or solenoids controlled by a microprocessor running software on the device. The keyboard may be integrated in the device or may be detachable therefrom. | 06-23-2011 |
20110205370 | METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGE CAPTURE, PROCESSING AND STORAGE - A method for image data capture and storage is provided, where a reference and an image are optically captured and then processed. The reference is used to assist in determining a normalization operation that can be performed in order to correct for skew, rotation, and other events that can occur during capture of an image. The reference is also used to determine a data schema which is used for storing the normalized image. | 08-25-2011 |
20110205700 | KEYPADS FOR MOBILE DEVICES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A keypad is described herein in which the keypad can have a keypad sheet and a keymat layer molded onto the back side of the keypad sheet. The keypad sheet can include a plurality of keys formed on a front side of the keypad sheet and a plurality of actuators formed on a back side of the keypad sheet and protruding from the back side of the keypad sheet. Slits are cut around at least some of the keys to provide the keys with flexibility. The slits do not pierce the keymat layer. | 08-25-2011 |
20110210922 | DUAL-SCREEN MOBILE DEVICE - A dual-screen mobile device has a first display screen and a second display screen. Only the second display screen is touch-sensitive. The first display screen may be used for displaying content while the second (touch-sensitive) display screen may be used for displaying functional controls (such as back and forward arrows, scroll bar, zoom control, etc.). Displaying the functional control on the second display screen instead of on the same screen as the application content improves the overall ergonomics of the mobile device. The application content appears less constrained and cluttered when the functional controls are displayed on a separate screen. | 09-01-2011 |
20110216093 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING COMPONENTS ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING ORIENTATION DATA - The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing an orientation of a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: monitoring data from a first sensor for the device; determining an orientation of the device by analyzing at least the data from the first sensor; and activating a first component on the device in view of the orientation of the device. The method may further comprise deactivating a second component on the device in view of the orientation of the device. | 09-08-2011 |
20110231789 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch-sensitive display includes displaying information on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, scrolling through the information in a first scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a first area of the touch-sensitive display, and scrolling through the information in a second scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a second area of the touch-sensitive display. | 09-22-2011 |
20110241909 | KEYPAD AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY OF SAME - A keypad is described herein in which the keypad can have a base surface and a plurality of keys positioned on the base surface. The plurality of keys can be made up of a first group that that is an arrangement of number keys for initiating a voice-based communication and a second group that is an arrangement of letter keys. In addition, the number keys of the first group and the letter keys of the second group are independent of one another. As an example, the number keys of the first group can be positioned on the base surface in a number of columns, and the letter keys of the second group can be positioned in areas between the number keys. | 10-06-2011 |
20110248916 | TACTILE FEEDBACK METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method includes displaying on a display at least one selection option comprising a first selection option and detecting a touch or cursor on the display. Tactile feedback having a first characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is at a first location associated with the first selection option. Tactile feedback having a second characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is detected at a second location not associated with the first selection option. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248933 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - A handheld electronic communication device includes a body that has an input device, and a display assembly that includes a display. The display assembly is connected to the body and rotatable relative to the body, between a first position in which a first portion of the display is covered by the body and a second portion of the display extends from the body, and a second position in which the display is displaced generally linearly relative to the first position such that the first portion and the second portion of the display are exposed. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248948 | TOUCH-SENSITIVE DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROL - A method includes identifying a value of at least one parameter of a portable electronic device. A touch threshold is modified based on the value of the at least one parameter, yielding a modified touch threshold. A touch is detected on a touch-sensitive device and a first function is performed when the touch meets the modified touch threshold. | 10-13-2011 |
20110269439 | METHOD, DEVICES AND SYSTEM HAVING OUT OF OFFICE BASED PRESENCE - A communication device receives an out-of-office message regarding a first contact. An application executing on the communication device displays a name of the first contact and an out-of-office indication regarding the first contact without displaying said out-of-office message. | 11-03-2011 |
20110273381 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A handheld electronic communication device including a body including an input device facing a first direction, and a display device coupled to the body. The display device has a first display screen and a second display screen. The second display screen faces an opposite direction as the first display screen. The display device is rotatable between a first position in which the first display screen faces the first direction, and a second position in which the second display screen faces the first direction. | 11-10-2011 |
20110275413 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - A handheld electronic communication device includes a body including an input device and a display assembly including a display. The display assembly is connected to the body and moveable relative to the body, between a first position in which a first portion of the display is covered by the body and a second portion of the display is exposed, and a second position in which the display assembly is displaced such that the first portion of the display and the second portion of the display are exposed and the display assembly is generally flush with the body. | 11-10-2011 |
20110285290 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises a display and a display surround member located adjacent to a peripheral edge of the display and extending at least partially along the peripheral edge of the display. The display surround member comprises a colour change mechanism enabled to change the colour of the display surround member between a first colour and a second colour in response to an application being run on the portable electronic device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110302491 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying a selectable feature on a display of an electronic device, detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the touch is associated with the selectable feature, and displaying a preview of information from an application associated with the selectable feature. | 12-08-2011 |
20120008300 | MOBILE DEVICE CASE - A removable case for a mobile device is provided, the mobile device having a front face and a side edge, and an input button located on the side edge. The case includes a main body defining a region in which the mobile device can be removably received, and an actuator on the main body having a user interface and a button interface, wherein the actuator translates an input force received on the user interface into a button activating force applied by the button interface in a different direction than the input force. | 01-12-2012 |
20120009905 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO A CALLER IN RESPONSE TO THE MODULATION OF AN INCOMING VOICE COMMUNICATION - In order to facilitate the modulation of speech delivery to a participant that is driving or otherwise performing a parallel task, a feedback mechanism is incorporated in order to inform the remote participant of the progress of the delivery of his/her speech at their end of the conversation. In this way, the remote participant is both aware of the modulation occurring at the other end and can adjust their speech to adapt to the current conditions, using the feedback as a guide. | 01-12-2012 |
20120026098 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING TABLETOP MODE - A portable electronic device for facilitating user input, the portable electronic device having a display screen on a front face thereof, a side edge substantially orthogonal to the front face, and a side input button located on the side edge having an associated input function. When a predetermined trigger condition is detected, a user input interface accessible on the front face of the device is enabled to provide the input function associated with the side input button. | 02-02-2012 |
20120034867 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING CONTEXT-BASED MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT AND RELATED METHODS - A communication system may include a plurality of near-field communication (NFC) sensors each associated with a respective location, and a mobile wireless communications device(s) switchable among a plurality of different power consumption modes. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may include a portable housing, an NFC circuit carried by the housing and configured to establish NFC communications with at least one of the NFC sensors when in proximity therewith, and a plurality of different wireless communications circuits carried by the housing. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may further include a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and the different wireless communications circuits which may be configured to switch to a given power consumption mode based upon the at least one NFC sensor. In particular, some of the different power consumption modes may be associated with selectively powering respective ones of the wireless communications circuits. | 02-09-2012 |
20120040608 | NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) SYSTEM PROVIDING LOW POWER PEER-TO-PEER RECOGNITION MODE AND RELATED METHODS - A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plurality of NFC devices each including an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol, and a processor coupled to the NFC circuit. The processor may be configured to synchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal, cycle power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal, and initiate peer-to-peer NFC communications with another one of the plurality of NFC devices when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith. | 02-16-2012 |
20120040609 | NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) SYSTEM PROVIDING PLUG-IN DEVICE CONNECTION ASSISTANCE FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plug-in device(s) including a first NFC sensor, and a mobile wireless communications device. The mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing defining a plug-in device port(s), a light source(s) carried by the portable housing and positioned to illuminate the plug-in device port(s), an optical sensor carried by the portable housing configured to determine an ambient light level, and a second NFC sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to establish NFC communications with the first NFC sensor when in close proximity therewith. A controller may be carried by the portable housing and coupled to the light source(s), the optical sensor, and the second NFC sensor and configured to cause the light source(s) to illuminate the plug-in device port(s) based upon NFC communications between the first and second NFC sensors and the ambient light level. | 02-16-2012 |
20120040611 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDED ENHANCED SWITCHING BETWEEN ACTIVE AND POWER SAVING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) MODES AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a near-field communication (NFC) circuit carried by the portable housing and being switchable between first NFC mode and a second NFC mode. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a processor carried by the portable housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and configured to switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a first frequency based upon a first triggering event, and switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a second frequency lower than the first frequency based upon a second triggering event different than the first triggering event. | 02-16-2012 |
20120042363 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING WIRELESS AUTHENTICATION FOR PRIVATE DATA ACCESS AND RELATED METHODS - A communication system may include a server configured to provide data access based upon an authenticated logon, and a computer configured to access the server to receive a temporary authenticated logon identification (ID) for the server. The communication system may further include a mobile wireless communications device including a housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, a sensor carried by the housing, and a controller carried by the housing, the controller being coupled to the wireless transceiver and the sensor. The controller may be configured to cause the sensor to wirelessly retrieve the temporary authenticated logon ID from the computer, and cause the wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate logon data to the server for providing data access via the computer based upon the temporary authenticated logon ID. | 02-16-2012 |
20120046075 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OUTPUT DEVICES - According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and apparatus for controlling output devices is provided. The method comprises maintaining, in a memory of the mobile electronic device, a plurality of applications; providing, on a first display of the mobile electronic device, an input interface comprising at least one icon associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of applications; and providing, on a second display of the mobile electronic device, a preview interface comprising a first preview of a first one of the applications. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046076 | MOBILE PHONE - A mobile device includes a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing and enabling movement of the device between an open configuration and a closed configuration. When the device is in the open configuration, the first housing is planar with the second housing. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046862 | Tagging A Location By Pairing Devices - A method of tagging a location using a mobile device entails obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device, detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface, and automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device. The proximity detector may comprise a near field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth® transceiver or another short-range wireless technology that may be employed to detect the proximity of another device. This technology enables two devices to store a current location to facilitate a subsequent rendezvous back at that same location. | 02-23-2012 |
20120056817 | LOCATION OF A TOUCH-SENSITIVE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display at a location not associated with a control, displaying, in association with the location, a displayed control, and activating the displayed control. | 03-08-2012 |
20120062466 | REDUCED QWERTY KEYBOARD SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES BETTER ACCURACY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided. The handheld electronic device includes a keyboard assembly, a display positioned adjacent the keyboard assembly, a processor structured to receive inputs from the keyboard assembly and to output to the display as a function of the inputs, the processor further structured to run a disambiguation routine. The keyboard assembly includes a printed circuit board, a primary conductor portion, a secondary conductor portion, and a keyboard assembly. The printed circuit board has a plurality of electrical contacts. The conductor assembly has a plurality of primary conductors and a plurality of secondary conductors, each the primary conductor and secondary conductor structured to correspond to, and engage and close, at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts. The keyboard assembly has a plurality of keys each having one or more indicia thereon. | 03-15-2012 |
20120068932 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to a Touch Typing-Friendly Grid-Patterned Keyboard - A keyboard can be comprised of a plurality of alphabetic keys that are disposed in an evenly-spaced grid pattern with respect to one another. In any event, these keys have keycaps configured to comport with touch typing as with a keyboard having a plurality of alphabetic keys that are disposed in an offset pattern (such as the classic QWERTY offset-pattern typewriter-styled keyboard). By one approach, these keycaps can have keycaps having bilaterally-nonsymmetrical tactile features that at least substantially match standard touch-typing finger positions. By one approach these tactile features can comprise an indentation. If desired, these keycaps can share a same form factor. In such a case, some of the keycaps for the alphabetic keys can be disposed on the keyboard at a 180 degree rotation as compared to others of the alphabetic character keycaps. | 03-22-2012 |
20120071087 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE INCLUDING WIRELESS-BASED AVAILABILITY DETECTOR AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wireless communications system includes a wireless communications network and a plurality of wireless communications devices. The wireless communications devices are each configured to communicate via the wireless communications network. At least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices has a portable housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a wireless-based, availability detector carried by the portable housing. A processor is carried by the portable housing and is configured to determine a first availability status based upon the NFC device at a first time. The processor is further configured to activate the wireless-based, availability detector based upon the NFC device to thereby determine a second availability status based upon the wireless-based, availability detector at a second time after the first time. The processor is additionally configured to communicate the first and second availability status to the wireless communications network via the wireless transceiver. | 03-22-2012 |
20120075057 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075059 | SECURITY SYSTEM PROVIDING TEMPORARY PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include a plurality of electronic devices, each having a unique identification (ID) associated therewith and configured to generate a temporary security code based upon the unique ID. The system may further include at least one mobile wireless communications device including a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) circuit, and a mobile controller configured to receive the temporary security code from a given electronic device from among the plurality of electronic devices. The system may also include an access control device associated with a personnel access position and including a second NFC sensor and a security controller. The security controller may be configured to receive the temporary security code from the first NFC sensor via NFC communications, selectively grant personnel access based upon the received temporary security code, and determine the unique ID associated with the given electronic device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075068 | RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) SYSTEM PROVIDING MEETING ROOM RESERVATION AND SCHEDULING FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A meeting room reservation system may include at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor to be positioned adjacent a meeting room, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each configured for RFID communication with the at least one RFID sensor. The system may further include a reservation server configured to schedule reserved starting and ending times for the meeting room, track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with the at least one RFID sensor, and send at least one reservation expiration notification based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075398 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO OUTPUT INFORMATION - A portable electronic device includes a device configured to detect an event, a marker configured to mark a surface that is separate from the portable electronic device, and at least one actuator arranged to configure the marker to apply the mark in response to the event. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077431 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 03-29-2012 |
20120092245 | MOBILE DEVICE WITH ROTATABLE PORTION FOR INPUT MECHANISM - Disclosed herein is a mobile device comprising a base providing a display and a rotatable portion providing an input mechanism. The rotatable portion is rotatable about a coupling between at least a first position in which the rotatable portion covers a part of the display and a second position in which the rotatable portion exposes more of the display while leaving the input mechanism accessible to a user. In at least one variant embodiment, the rotatable portion may be rotatable to a third position “behind” the base with the input mechanism remaining accessible to the user. | 04-19-2012 |
20120115542 | Mobile Communication Device with Subscriber Identity Module - In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call signal at the mobile communication device from a short-range enabled communication device operably connected with the mobile communication device, accessing subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, preparing an outgoing call signal using the accessed subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, establishing a communication session between the short-range enabled communication device and a network, and transmitting the outgoing call signal to the network. | 05-10-2012 |
20120133484 | MULTIPLE-INPUT DEVICE LOCK AND UNLOCK - A device, such as a communication device or data processing device, is configured to transition between a locked and unlocked state in response to a detected action that is interpreted as a continuous or single action. In an embodiment a first input is detected at a first input mechanism of the device when the device is locked, then a second input is detected at the second input. If the inputs are determined to be continuous, for example if the second input is detected within a predetermined period after completion of the first input, the device is unlocked. The input may also be combined or interpreted as a password or security code. Conversely, if a detected action is interpreted as a continuous or single action by an unlocked device, the device may enter the locked state in response to the detected action. Methods for implementing this transition between locked and unlocked states are also provided. | 05-31-2012 |
20120146790 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SUBLIMINAL ALERT - A method and apparatus for generating a subliminal alert at a computing device is provided. A first audio file comprising a subliminal alert is selected, the first audio file enabled for processing by a processing unit to control a speaker at the computing device. The first audio file is at least one of: a subliminally audible length; a subliminally audible volume; and chosen based on previous conditioning of a user to the first audio file. The first audio file is associated with at least one alert condition, such that when the alert condition is met, the processing unit controls the speaker to play the first audio file thereby providing the subliminal alert. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146910 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - A portable electronic device includes a body having a front face, a touch-sensitive display exposed at the front face of the body, a keyboard at the front face and having keys associated with a first plurality of characters excluding numerical characters such that keys of the keyboard are associated with a respective one of a function and a plurality of the alphabetical characters, a memory, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the keyboard, and the memory to display a second plurality of characters utilizing the touch-sensitive display in response to receipt of an input to display the second plurality of characters. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146911 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - According to one aspect, a portable electronic device includes a body having a front face, a touch-sensitive display exposed at the front face of the body, a keyboard at the front face, the keyboard associated with a first plurality of characters excluding numerical characters, such that keys of the keyboard are each associated with a respective single one of the first plurality of characters, a memory, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the keyboard, and the memory to execute a program stored in the memory to cause the portable electronic device to display a second plurality of characters utilizing the touch-sensitive display in response to receipt of an input to display the second plurality of characters. | 06-14-2012 |
20120156901 | Portable Electronic Device Having a Concealed Jack Socket - The present disclosure provides a portable electronic device having a concealed jack socket. In accordance with one example embodiment, the portable electronic device comprises: a housing including a main body and a hatch movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; a jack socket received within the housing, the jack socket defining a cavity for receiving a jack plug; wherein the hatch is pivotably connected to the main body to move from the fully closed position to the fully open position in response to insertion of the jack plug, wherein the jack socket is hidden in the fully closed position and exposed in the fully open position. | 06-21-2012 |
20120156907 | TWO-PART JACK SOCKET FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The present disclosure provides a two-part jack socket for a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device having the same. In accordance with one example embodiment, the jack socket comprises: a first part having a contact surface; a second part having a contact surface and being moveable with respect to the first part between a first position and a second position, the contact surfaces of the first part and second part defining a cavity, the cavity having a retracted state when the second part is in the first position and an expanded state for receiving a jack plug when the second part is in the second position; and one or more contacts located in the contact surface of the first part or second part. | 06-21-2012 |
20120156992 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE INCLUDING RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SIGNAL BLOCKING LAYER FOR NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device. | 06-21-2012 |
20120162092 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling an electronic device, including a touch-sensitive display, includes detecting a gesture associated with a gesture character entry mode and determining a direction of the gesture on the touch-sensitive display, determining ones of a plurality of characters associated with the gesture based on the direction, and adding the ones of the plurality of characters to candidate character strings. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162263 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SLIDING DISPLAY AND POSITION CONFIGURABLE CAMERA - A handheld electronic device having a movable display screen is used to capture image data. The movable display screen is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position a first portion of the display screen is hidden from view and a second portion of the display screen is viewable, and in the second position the first portion and the second portion of the display screen are viewable, the handheld electronic device having an image sensor, an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the handheld electronic device, and at least one position sensor for sensing a position of the display screen. Device orientation information is received from the orientation sensor, display screen position information is received from the position sensor and image data is received from the image sensor representing an image. An image orientation for the image is determined in dependence on both the display screen position information and the device orientation information. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165072 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SLIDING DISPLAY PROVIDING EVENT NOTIFICATION - A handheld electronic device comprises a housing having a keyboard support member on a front thereof and a base defining a cavity therebetween, wherein light generated within the cavity can be viewed from a front of the housing; a display assembly slidably mounted to the housing and comprising a display screen on a front face thereof, the display assembly being slidable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position a lower portion of the display screen is received within the cavity underlying the keyboard support member and an upper portion of the display screen is viewable outside of the cavity, and in the extended position the lower portion and the upper portion of the display screen are viewable outside of the cavity, wherein the display screen is a light emitting diode display screen comprising a plurality of pixels that are selectively illuminatable to display an image; a processor configured to control operation of the display screen; and a position sensor for indicating to the processor when the display assembly is in the retracted position. When the position sensor indicates the display assembly is in the retracted position, and upon an occurrence of one or more predetermined events, the processor is configured to generate an event notification by illuminating pixels in the lower portion of the display screen. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165073 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING AN AGE COMPENSATING DISPLAY - A method and handheld electronic device for compensating for differential aging of display screen on a handheld electronic device wherein in a first position a first portion of the display screen is hidden from view while a second portion of the display screen is viewable, and in a second position the first portion and the second portion of the display screen are viewable. Over time, relative illumination durations of the first and second portions are tracked and based on the relative illumination durations, a relative degree of illumination of one or both of the first portion and the second portion are adjusted when the display screen is in the second position to compensate for differential aging between the first and second portion. | 06-28-2012 |
20120170243 | MAGNETIC HINGE ELECTRONIC MOBILE DEVICE - An electronic mobile device includes a base supporting an input panel. A cover pivotally connects to the base and is pivotable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base. In the closed position the cover covers the input panel, and in the open position the cover is disposed away from the base. A base magnet is supported within the base and has a first magnetic axis. A cover magnet is supported within the cover so as to move with the cover relative to the base. The cover magnet has a second magnetic axis that tends to align with the first magnetic axis to thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position. | 07-05-2012 |
20120177428 | Keyboard with Rotatable Portion - A keyboard may include a base portion, a first keyboard portion, a second keyboard portion, and a connection component that couples the second keyboard portion with the base portion. The connection component allows a movement of the second keyboard portion, relative to the base portion and the first keyboard portion, between a first orientation and a second orientation. In some implementations, the keyboard has a longer length dimension when the second keyboard portion is positioned in the second orientation than when the second keyboard portion is positioned in the first orientation. | 07-12-2012 |
20120180001 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes detecting a gesture associated with an edge of a display, determining an element associated with the edge, and opening the element. | 07-12-2012 |
20120206367 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR TEXT INPUT - A handheld electronic device for generation of text in a language is provided. The handheld electronic device comprises a memory for storing a plurality of linguistic objects of the language, and a set of input members consisting of no more than two input members that, when actuated, initiate input of characters of the language. Every alphabet character in the language is assigned to one actuation of one of the input members. Further, the handheld electronic device includes a processor for detecting a set of actuations of at least one of the input members and for determining a set of linguistic objects that correspond to the actuations, wherein each determined linguistic object includes a set of alphabet characters assigned to the set of actuations. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206375 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes: detecting a first touch at a first location on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a second touch at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and displaying a navigation indicator on the touch-sensitive display in response to detecting the second touch while first touch contact is maintained. | 08-16-2012 |
20120219172 | Shape-Adaptable Surface for an Audio Port - A method and apparatus for providing a shape-adaptable surface for an audio port of a device includes an audio port, a shape-adaptable surface having a plurality of portions, a plurality of sensors coupled to the shape-adaptable surface, wherein the plurality of sensors are operative to sense a plurality of distances between the object and the shape-adaptable surface, and a processor operatively coupled to the shape-adaptable surface and the plurality of sensors, said processor configured to control some of the plurality of portions of the shape-adaptable surface to adjust the plurality of distances and to provide a channel between a sound receiver of the object and the audio port. An improved audio coupling is formed by adjusting the distances between the shape-adaptable surface and the object, thereby transmitting sounds directly from the audio port of the device to a sound receiver of the object. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221695 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO INTEGRATE LOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL - Methods and apparatus to control access are described. One example method includes allowing physical access and logic access based on a credential associated with a mobile device, monitoring logical access by the mobile device, and revoking a physical access privilege based on termination of logical access by the mobile device. Other implementations are possible. | 08-30-2012 |
20120235930 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A GESTURE - A method includes displaying information associated with a first application on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device. A gesture is detected on the touch-sensitive display, which gesture indicates a request to display information associated with a second application. At least part of the information associated with the second application is displayed without opening the second application. | 09-20-2012 |
20120259717 | PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM INCLUDING MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE TO SEND A PAYMENT CONFIRMATION TO A TRANSACTION TERMINAL AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A payment processing system includes a transaction terminal having a merchant account associated therewith and including a first wireless device. The payment processing system also includes a payment server, and a mobile wireless communications device having a purchaser account associated therewith and including a second wireless device and a processor coupled thereto and configured to send transaction information to the payment server. The payment server is configured to cause a transfer of funds from the purchaser account to the merchant account based upon the transaction information, and to send payment confirmation to the mobile wireless communications device based upon the transfer of funds. The processor is configured to send the payment confirmation to the transaction terminal via the first and second wireless devices. | 10-11-2012 |
20120260220 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING GESTURE RECOGNITION AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present disclosure provides a portable electronic device having gesture recognition and a method for controlling the same. In accordance with one example embodiment, the method comprises: sensing distortion of the portable electronic device from a neutral state; determining an action associated with a sensed distortion; and causing the determined action to be performed. | 10-11-2012 |
20120262369 | HAND-MOUNTABLE DEVICE FOR PROVIDING USER INPUT - According to some aspects of the disclosure there is provided a device for providing input to a computer that is mountable to a user's hand. The device comprises a sensing module that senses interactions between a digit of the hand and a surface of the hand. The sensing module determines one of a plurality of regions of the surface of the hand in which the sensed interaction occurs. The device further generates an input to a computer as a function of the determined region. | 10-18-2012 |
20120275086 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF PROVIDING TACTILE FEEDBACK - A portable electronic device comprising a display, an actuator actuatable to impart a force on the display, an input device moveable from a first position in which the input device is disengaged from the display to a second position in which the input device is engaged with the display, wherein when the input device is moved to the second position, the actuator is actuated to provide tactile feedback to the input device through the display. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281015 | METHODS FOR ADJUSTING A PRESENTATION OF GRAPHICAL DATA DISPLAYED ON A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - Methods and systems for adjusting graphical data displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device are disclosed. The method may include monitoring movement of the electronic device and identifying a predetermined movement of the electronic device. The method may further include overlaying new graphical data to existing graphical data displayed on the GUI in response to the predetermined movement. | 11-08-2012 |
20120291120 | TOUCHSCREEN PASSWORD ENTRY - A method of user authentication on a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display and movement of either the modified base image or modified overlay image is responsive to receiving an input starting outside a display area of a touchscreen. Positive authentication is indicated in response to the base image reference point on the modified base image being aligned with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image. | 11-15-2012 |
20120306762 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING KEYPAD - According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306903 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device includes displaying a portion of information on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a touch on the touch-sensitive display at a touch location associated with the information; detecting a tilt of the portable electronic device; and in response to detecting the tilt, scrolling the information. | 12-06-2012 |
20120315897 | Mobile Communication Device with Subscriber Identity Module - In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call at the mobile communication device; determining that the received call is directed to subscriber identity information associated with a short-range enabled communication device; selecting on which of the mobile communication device and the short-range enabled device to answer the call; and directing the call to the selected device. | 12-13-2012 |
20120315898 | Mobile Communication Device with Subscriber Identity Module - In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call signal at the mobile communication device from a short-range enabled communication device operably connected with the mobile communication device, accessing subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, preparing an outgoing call signal using the accessed subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, establishing a communication session between the short-range enabled communication device and a network, and transmitting the outgoing call signal to the network. | 12-13-2012 |
20130002556 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEAMLESS SWITCHING AMONG DIFFERENT TEXT ENTRY SYSTEMS ON AN AMBIGUOUS KEYBOARD - An electronic text-generating device for generation of a text is disclosed. The device comprises an input member for which a set of selections in a first text entry mode corresponds to a first set of characters and the set of selections in a second text entry mode corresponds to a second set of characters, the first text entry mode and the second text entry mode being two different modes of entering text. The device further comprises a processor for generating the text in a mixed text entry mode, wherein the processor generates one of the first set of characters in response to detecting the set of selections of the input member in the first text entry mode and generates one of the second set of characters in response to detecting the set of selections of the input member in the second text entry mode. | 01-03-2013 |
20130009901 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface on a touch screen display, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, providing a navigation indicator in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, and in response to detecting movement of the touch event from the first location to a second location while touch contact is maintained on the touch screen display, changing the position of the navigation indicator in the graphical user interface by a distance that is greater than a distance of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display, a direction of change of position of the navigation indicator is based on a direction of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display. | 01-10-2013 |
20130017780 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) TO PROVIDE ENHANCED TELECONFERENCE FEATURES AND RELATED METHODSAANM Rose; Scott DouglasAACI WaterlooAACO CAAAGP Rose; Scott Douglas Waterloo CAAANM Griffin; Jason TylerAACI KitchenerAACO CAAAGP Griffin; Jason Tyler Kitchener CAAANM Lazaridis; MihalAACI WaterlooAACO CAAAGP Lazaridis; Mihal Waterloo CA - A communication system may include a plurality of conferencing endpoints at different locations and capable of being coupled to a telecommunication network, a respective near field communication (NFC) device associated with each conferencing endpoint, and a plurality of electronic devices. Each electronic device may be configured to register at one of the conferencing endpoints for a teleconference between the plurality of conferencing endpoints based upon communication with a respective NFC device associated with the one of the conferencing endpoints. At least one of the electronic devices may be further configured to provide a notification based upon a security level associated with another electronic device being registered for the teleconference. | 01-17-2013 |
20130027311 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis providing input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and other aspects of the device. The roller ball input can be configured to additionally be translatable to provide an input, and additionally and/or alternatively the roller ball input can provide a tactile or other feedback to a user. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033430 | REDUCED QWERTY KEYBOARD SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES BETTER ACCURACY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An electronic device having a keyboard, display, and a processor is presented. The keyboard includes a plurality keys with at least a subset of the plurality of keys having a plurality of indicia, each key in the subset having a primary and secondary conductor. The primary conductor can be associated with a first set of indicia. The first set of indicia can include one or more indicia. The secondary conductor can be associated with a second set of indicia. The second set of indicia can include the one or more indicia that are not in the first set. The processor can be communicatively coupled to the keyboard and the display. The processor receives an input based on the secondary conductor associated with the given key, and outputs data to the display to display a list of characters corresponding to the plurality of indicia of the given key. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033431 | HANDHELD DEVICE HAVING PIVOTALLY RETRACTABLE KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - A handheld device includes a housing and a keypad assembly configured within the housing. The keypad assembly includes one or more groups of keys configured for movable positioning between a first orientation in which a top surface of an individual key is exposed to a user, and a second orientation in which the top surface of the key pivotally retracts into the housing so as to expose an edge surface of the key. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033432 | HANDHELD DEVICE HAVING RETRACTABLE KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - A exemplary key assembly for a handheld device includes one or more L-shaped key structures each having a first member configured to receive an input keystroke and a second member substantially orthogonal to the first member; and a frame configured to receive the one or more L-shaped key structures, the frame having a wall aligned with the second member of the key structure, with the wall further comprising a switch for each of the one or more L-shaped key structures associated with an inner surface of the wall, wherein each switch is associated with an actuator associated with the second member of the corresponding key structure such that depression of a given key structure causes the actuator of the second member of the key structure to engage the switch of the wall. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033844 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY - A handheld electronic device includes a housing, a flexible display associated with the housing, and an input portion linked to the flexible display. The input portion is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. The flexible display has a first viewing area when the input portion is in the first position and a second viewing area when the input portion is in the second position. The second viewing area is smaller than the first viewing area. | 02-07-2013 |
20130036846 | MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING MEMBER ROTATABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS - According to some embodiments, a mobile electronic device is provided with a linkage mechanism that couples first and second members of the device such that the device may be moved between a first position and a second position. The linkage mechanism includes a linkage intermediate the first and second members, the linkage having a fixed length. The linkage mechanism further includes a motion constraint mechanism that constrains movement of the first member with respect to the second member to a controlled motion. The linkage mechanism described herein may further provide that the top member rotates without increasing the length or width of the device. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038996 | Mobile Electronic Device Having At Least Three Operating Configurations - According to some embodiments, a mobile electronic device is provided with a linkage mechanism that couples first and second members of the device such that the first and second members may be moved between a first position, a second position and a third position. The second member of the device includes a body and an input member. The input member includes an input device and is coupled to the body by a lateral displacement mechanism that allows the input member to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The linkage mechanism and the lateral displacement mechanism may thereby provide at least three operating configurations for the device. An assembly for use with an electronic device is also provided. The assembly may be attachable to, and possibly detachable from, the device. | 02-14-2013 |
20130057479 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAYS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying first information on a first touch-sensitive display of an electronic device and displaying second information on a second touch-sensitive display of the electronic device, detecting a first touch on the first touch-sensitive display and detecting a second touch on the second touch-sensitive display, performing a function associated with the single gesture when the first touch and the second touch are single-gesture associated; and associating the first touch with the first information and the second touch with the second information when the first touch and the second touch are not single-gesture associated. | 03-07-2013 |
20130069882 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CHARACTER SELECTION - A portable electronic device includes a plurality of physical keys, a touch-sensitive input device configured to detect a touch, and a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, and the keys, and configured to, when no touch is detected on the touch-sensitive input device while a first key of the plurality of physical keys is selected, identify a first character associated with the first key, and when a touch is detected on the touch-sensitive input device while the first key is selected, identify a second character associated with the first key. | 03-21-2013 |
20130078922 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE USING ELECTROMAGNET AND ACTIVATED COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUIT - A communications device includes a processor and Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry that includes a communications module. An electromagnet is connected to the communications module and the processor. The electromagnet is configured to couple magnetically to a second communications device having a magnetic sensor and to transmit from the electromagnet to the magnetic sensor electromagnet pulses containing data regarding a wireless communications protocol. The processor and communications module are configured to establish a wireless communications connection with the second communications device. | 03-28-2013 |
20130082840 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Automatically Moving a Component that Comprises a Part of a Portable Electronic Device - A portable electronic device detects a trigger event and responds by automatically moving a component that comprises a part of the portable electronic device. Examples of trigger events include but are not limited to receiving a communication (such as a wireless communication), receiving an input from a user interface, the occurrence of a time-based event, and so forth. The movement can comprise articulation-based movement (including but not limited to pivoting, rotating, sliding, bending, telescoping, elongating, realigning, or separating, to note but a few examples in these regards). These teachings will accommodate determining a present suitability of so moving the component, and not moving the component when such movement is not suitable at a time of determining the suitability. Such a determination can precede the movement and/or can occur during the course of the movement as desired. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082918 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO RESPONSIVELY CHANGING APPLICATION FUNCTIONALITY OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Detection of a change in physical configuration of a discrete device with respect to an electronic device leads to responsively changing application functionality of the electronic device as a function, at least in part, of information provided by the discrete device. By one approach the detected change can pertain to movement of the discrete device with respect to the electronic device or orientation of a coupling of the discrete device to the electronic device. This information can comprise at least a unique identification code. In such a case these teachings will accommodate using the unique identification code to access a corresponding profile for the discrete device where the profile specifies at least one application to be presently made available using the discrete device. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082919 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO AUTOMATED FUNCTIONALITY BASED UPON DETECTED INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVICES - Detection of a physical interaction between a first device that is logically coupled to a second device, wherein the physical interaction comprises one of a plurality of physical interactions that involve movement of one of the first device and the second device, results in automatically performing a function that corresponds to the physical interaction. The detected physical interaction can comprise one or more of a physical reorientation of the first device, a pivoting movement between the first device and the second device, a sliding movement between the first device and the second device, and a momentary change in physical proximity of the first device with respect to the second device. This activity can also include determining whether the physical interaction occurs within a predetermined period of time, and when the physical interaction does not occur within the predetermined period of time, prohibiting the automatic performing of the function. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082924 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Automated Configuration of a Deployable-Component's Interface - Detection of a deployment position for an electronic device's first moveable component having a first user interface, wherein the first moveable component is selectively deployable between at least a non-deployed position and a fully-deployed position and wherein the first user interface is at least partially hidden from view when in the non-deployed position, prompts configuring that first user interface based, at least in part, on an ergonomic circumstance of deployment of the first moveable component. This ergonomic circumstance can comprise, for example, a request, need, or situation to maintain or increase the user's comfort or to maintain or reduce the user's fatigue while using the electronic device. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085705 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO AUTOMATICALLY PERFORMING AN APPLICATION FUNCTION OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE BASED UPON DETECTING A CHANGE IN PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION OF THE DEVICE - An electronic device detects a change in its physical configuration and automatically performs an application function in response to such detection. By one approach this can comprise detecting a change in configuration as regards a native component of the electronic device (such as, for example, whether the component is configured in a deployed position or a non-deployed position). The nature of the performed application function can vary with the application setting. As one example, this activity can comprise moving at least a portion of the application's user interface to the aforementioned component. As another example, this activity can comprise accessing preferences information (by, for example, accessing stored information that maps particular application functions to corresponding physical configurations of the electronic device). | 04-04-2013 |
20130093576 | TACTILE INDICATOR FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method includes determining a status associated with a function of a portable electronic device; and actuating a tactile status indicator to change a texture at a surface of the portable electronic device for a period of time to indicate the status. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096919 | APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR MODIFYING MEDIA DATA ENTERED PURSUANT TO A MEDIA FUNCTION - A white board function, and an associated method, for a wireless, or other, device. Entry of graphical and audio media pursuant to the white board function is detected and correlated. A search is performed to locate substitute graphical media amenable for substitution for the entered graphical media. If located, the substitute graphical media is substituted for the entered graphical media. | 04-18-2013 |
20130100601 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING INCLUDING HINGE - A portable electronic device includes a hinge assembly comprising an axle, the hinge assembly coupling a first mating end of a first housing to a second mating end of a second housing, the second housing being movable relative to the first housing from an open position in which the axle is in a first position near to the first mating end and the second mating end and a folded position in which the axle is in a second position spaced from the first mating end and the second mating end such that the first mating end and the second mating end are movable toward one another to move the portable electronic device to a partially open position for clipping to an object; and a processor in electrical communication with electrical components in one of the first housing and the second housing. | 04-25-2013 |
20130111369 | METHODS AND DEVICES TO PROVIDE COMMON USER INTERFACE MODE BASED ON IMAGES | 05-02-2013 |
20130111370 | METHODS AND DEVICES TO ALLOW COMMON USER INTERFACE MODE BASED ON ORIENTATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130111390 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CHARACTER ENTRY | 05-02-2013 |
20130111581 | COMBINED PASSCODE AND ACTIVITY LAUNCH MODIFIER | 05-02-2013 |
20130113719 | TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY METHOD AND APPARATUS - An example method includes detecting a hold touch and a release touch on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, wherein the hold touch and the release touch overlap at least partially in time, detecting release of the release touch, and in response to detecting the release of the release touch, displaying an editing control while the hold touch is detected. The editing control may include a virtual trackpad. | 05-09-2013 |
20130117718 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A GESTURE - A method includes displaying information associated with a first application on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device. A gesture is detected on the touch-sensitive display, which gesture indicates a request to display information associated with a second application. At least part of the information associated with the second application is displayed without opening the second application. | 05-09-2013 |
20130120266 | IN-LETTER WORD PREDICTION FOR VIRTUAL KEYBOARD - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location associated with a key of the virtual keyboard of the display which corresponds to a subsequent candidate input character. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to perform the method. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120268 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PREDICTIVE DISPLAY AND GENERATION OF A SET OF CHARACTERS - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120912 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY - A handheld electronic device includes a housing, a flexible display associated with the housing, and an input portion linked to the housing. The flexible display has a folded arrangement in which the flexible display defines a first portion and a second portion. The device is configured to sandwich the input portion in-between the first portion of the flexible display and the second portion of the flexible display when the flexible display is in the folded arrangement. | 05-16-2013 |
20130125034 | Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. | 05-16-2013 |
20130125035 | VIRTUAL KEYBOARD CONFIGURATION - A keyboard rendered on a display of an electronic device, the keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein the plurality of keys are arranged in two or more rows, wherein at least one row includes two edge keys which are located towards the respective edges of the display, wherein the at least one row further includes inner keys located between the edge keys which are larger than the edge keys. | 05-16-2013 |
20130125036 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PREDICTIVE DISPLAY AND GENERATION OF A SET OF CHARACTERS - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127592 | COMBINING NAVIGATION AND FINGERPRINT SENSING - A method and system are disclosed whereby fingerprint data is attempted to be captured from a touch sensitive input device during normal operation of an electronic device. If fingerprint data matching a stored fingerprint data is not captured within a threshold time period, security action is taken. | 05-23-2013 |
20130142558 | EXPANDABLE KEYBOARD - A keyboard includes a housing, a frame surrounding the housing, and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. The keyboard is movable between a closed configuration and an expanded configuration, and the keys are accessible in both the closed and expanded configurations. | 06-06-2013 |
20130150067 | CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING NON-REAL TIME SUBSCRIPTION DATA AND RELATED METHODS - A cellular communications system may include a plurality of mobile cellular communications devices each associated with a respective user, and at least one cellular base station for wirelessly communicating with the mobile cellular communications devices. The at least one cellular base station may have a capacity associated therewith. The system may also include a central station for determining available capacity of the at least one cellular base station based upon active wireless communications with the mobile cellular communications devices. Moreover, the system may also include a subscription server for cooperating with the central station to provide non-real time subscription data to users on respective mobile cellular communications devices via the at least one cellular base station when the determined available capacity thereof is greater than a threshold. | 06-13-2013 |
20130163765 | EVENT NOTIFICATION ON A MOBILE DEVICE USING BINAURAL SOUNDS - In one example, information is presented to a user through an electronic device in a non-visual manner. In this example, an informational event is received. Next, a determination is made if the informational event has been previously associated with a binaural sound sequence, the binaural sound sequence includes a user's nominal ear spacing for sound localization in a 3D space. The binaural sound sequence is presented to a multimedia port, in response to a binaural sound sequence being previously associated with the event. The localization in the 3D space using a binaural sound can be associated with importance, future times, source of information associated with the event, a person associated with the event, or a combination thereof. | 06-27-2013 |
20130176228 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PREDICTIVE DISPLAY AND GENERATION OF A SET OF CHARACTERS - A communication device includes a display with a layout including key locations with associated characters. The communication device detects an input gesture and determines one or more committed characters based at least in part on a change in the input gesture. The device presents one or more strings on the layout in association with key locations that are selected based at least in part on a relationship between each presented string and non-committed characters of each presented string. | 07-11-2013 |
20130187857 | NEXT LETTER PREDICTION FOR VIRTUAL KEYBOARD - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, generating one or more sets of predicted input characters based on the input character, wherein each set of predicted input characters corresponds to a subsequent candidate input character, and displaying a visual indication of at least some of the one or more sets of predicted input characters, wherein the visual indication is displayed at keys of the virtual keyboard associated with subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the sets of predicted input characters. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187858 | VIRTUAL KEYBOARD PROVIDING AN INDICATION OF RECEIVED INPUT - A virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input and method of controlling the same is provided. The method comprises receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, and highlighting a key in the virtual keyboard which corresponds to the input character when the input character belongs to a current set of characters which is incomplete. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187868 | VIRTUAL KEYBOARD DISPLAY HAVING A TICKER PROXIMATE TO THE VIRTUAL KEYBOARD - A method comprising receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, and displaying the input character left of a cursor located within a ticker rendered on the display proximate to the virtual keyboard, wherein the cursor has a set position located towards a centre of the ticker. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187894 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF FACILITATING INPUT AT THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device includes a first housing component coupled to a second housing component, a first touch-sensitive display mounted in the first housing component, the first touch-sensitive display in electrical communication with a processor, and a second touch-sensitive display mounted in the second housing component, the second touch-sensitive display in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the second housing component is movable to a second position in which the second housing component is stacked above the first housing component and a gap is provided between the first touch-sensitive display and the second touch-sensitive display. | 07-25-2013 |
20130199908 | MOBILE DEVICE CASE - A removable case for a mobile device is provided, the mobile device having a front face and a side edge, and an input button located on the side edge. The case includes a main body defining a region in which the mobile device can be removably received, and an actuator on the main body having a user interface and a button interface, wherein the actuator translates an input force received on the user interface into a button activating force applied by the button interface in a different direction than the input force. | 08-08-2013 |
20130201097 | METHODS AND DEVICES TO PROVIDE COMMON USER INTERFACE MODE BASED ON SOUND - A method and electronic devices to provide a common user interface mode on a first electronic device and a second electronic device are described. In one aspect, the method comprises: participating in audio based communications between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; determining an orientation of the first electronic device relative to the second electronic device based on the audio based communications; and entering a common user interface mode in which a display associated with the first electronic device and a display associated with the second electronic device operate cooperatively and in which the orientation of a common user interface displayed on the displays is determined in accordance with the determined relative orientation. | 08-08-2013 |
20130217446 | System and Method for Providing Feedback to a Caller in Response to The Modulation of an Incoming Voice Communication - In order to facilitate the modulation of speech delivery to a participant that is driving or otherwise performing a parallel task, a feedback mechanism is incorporated in order to inform the remote participant of the progress of the delivery of his/her speech at their end of the conversation. In this way, the remote participant is both aware of the modulation occurring at the other end and can adjust their speech to adapt to the current conditions, using the feedback as a guide. | 08-22-2013 |
20130222231 | HANDHELD DEVICE WITH NOTIFICATION MESSAGE VIEWING - Displaying information related to a message on a display screen of a handheld electronic device. In response to a movement of the handheld electronic device from an initial position to a first orientation, displaying on the display screen a first notice related to the message. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222236 | HANDHELD DEVICE WITH NOTIFICATION MESSAGE VIEWING - Displaying information related to a message on a display screen of a handheld electronic device. In response to a movement of the handheld electronic device from an initial position to a first orientation, displaying on the display screen a first notice related to the message. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222249 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PROVIDING WORD PREDICTIONS IN PARTITIONS OF THE TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD IN PROXIMATE ASSOCIATION WITH CANDIDATE LETTERS - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, generating a set of predicted input characters based on the input character, and displaying the generated set of characters in partitions of the virtual keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters is disclosed. An electronic device and a keyboard configured to perform the method are also disclosed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222255 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying a first keyboard on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting a touch on the first keyboard, and when the touch is associated with a keyboard transformation function, changing the first keyboard into a second keyboard by moving keys of the first keyboard relative to other keys of the first keyboard, from first locations, along respective key paths, to second locations on the touch-sensitive display. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222256 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying a first keyboard on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting a moving touch on the first keyboard, and, as the touch moves, changing the first keyboard into a second keyboard by moving keys of the first keyboard relative to other keys of the first keyboard, from first locations, along respective key paths, to second locations on the touch-sensitive display. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222981 | Storable Keyboard Having Variable Angular Orientations - A keyboard moves between a stored position in a housing and a deployed position. The keyboard automatically has a first angular orientation with respect to the housing when in the stored position and a second, different angular orientation with respect to the housing when in the deployed position. The first angular orientation can comprise a substantially parallel orientation between the stored keyboard and the housing. The second angular orientation can be an angle from about five degrees to about forty-five degrees between the deployed keyboard and the housing's longitudinal axis. The apparatus can further include a tray. This tray slides in and out of the housing in order to move the keyboard between the stored position and the deployed position. One end of the keyboard can hingeably couple to the tray. The housing can include at least one slot to receive a keyboard post and guide movement of the tray. | 08-29-2013 |
20130230345 | Ramped-Key Keyboard for a Handheld Mobile Communication Device - Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible keys has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible keys is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes. | 09-05-2013 |
20130241839 | DEVICE COVER WITH DRAWING PAD INPUT DEVICE - A cover for an electronic device and associated method. A case body has an outer and an inner surface, the inner surface defines at least part of a case compartment that receives an electronic device. A drawing pad is attached to the case body and has a touch sensitive input region, which senses drawing gestures thereon, and a detachable data communications interface that detachably connects a communications link to the electronic device. The communications link conveys indication data corresponding to sensed drawing gestures to the electronic device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241861 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface on a touch screen display, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, providing a navigation indicator in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, and in response to detecting movement of the touch event from the first location to a second location while touch contact is maintained on the touch screen display, changing the position of the navigation indicator in the graphical user interface by a distance that is greater than a distance of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display, a direction of change of position of the navigation indicator is based on a direction of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242492 | FOLDABLE KEYBOARD - A foldable keyboard including an upper housing having a plurality of keys, a lower housing having a plurality of keys, a spine member configured for pivotally connecting the upper and lower housings along a horizontal axis defined by the upper and lower housings, and a hinge mechanism provided in the spine member and configured for enabling movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing to move the keyboard between a closed configuration and an open configuration. | 09-19-2013 |
20130246329 | IN-CONTEXT WORD PREDICTION AND WORD CORRECTION - Methods and systems for predicting user input on a keyboard. Methods include enabling user input on a display comprising at least three fields. The first field displays an input string that is based on input selections such as keyboard entries. The second field displays a candidate prediction generated based on other input selections, consisting at least in part of a proposed completion to the input selection, and partially based on the input string in the first field. The third field displays another candidate prediction generated based on the input string in the first field as well as the candidate prediction in the second field. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249803 | METHOD OF FACILITATING USER INPUT IN HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE EMPLOYING A TEXT DISAMBIGUATION FUNCTION - Methods of facilitating input into a handheld electronic device based on the intent of the user wherein possible intended inputs generated by the text disambiguation function of the handheld electronic device are grouped and displayed in particular directional orientations. A multi-directional navigation mechanism may then be used to select a particular one of the possible intended inputs by providing a direction input that corresponds to the direction of the group that includes the desired possible intended input. | 09-26-2013 |
20130263038 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PREDICTIVE DISPLAY AND GENERATION OF A SET OF CHARACTERS - A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. | 10-03-2013 |
20130271375 | METHOD AND DEVICE HAVING TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD WITH VISUAL CUES - A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display is provided. The method comprises: detecting a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display; determining an input direction of the touch input; and displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position based on the input direction of the touch input. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271385 | Method of Changing Input States - A method of changing input states on an electronic device is disclosed. The method includes displaying a virtual keyboard on a touch-sensitive display, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a first input character set when the device is in a first input state; and transitioning the device to a second input state when touch input corresponding to a predefined gesture is detected when the device is in the first input state, wherein in the second input state, the virtual keyboard includes a second input character set. | 10-17-2013 |
20130273785 | TWO-PART JACK SOCKET FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The present disclosure provides a two-part jack socket for a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device having the same. In accordance with one example embodiment, the jack socket includes a first part having a contact surface; a second part having a contact surface and being moveable with respect to the first part between a first position and a second position, the contact surfaces of the first part and second part defining a cavity, the cavity having a retracted state when the second part is in the first position and an expanded state for receiving a jack plug when the second part is in the second position; and one or more contacts located in the contact surface of the first part or second part. | 10-17-2013 |
20130273966 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING COMPONENTS ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING ORIENTATION DATA - The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing an orientation of a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: monitoring data from a first sensor in a handheld electronic device; determining an orientation of the handheld electronic device by analyzing the data from the first sensor; and when the orientation indicates that the handheld electronic device is face down, activating a first component on the handheld electronic device. | 10-17-2013 |
20130275923 | Method and Device Having Touchscreen Keyboard with Visual Cues - A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display is provided. The method comprises: detecting a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display; determining an input direction of the touch input; and displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position based on the input direction of the touch input. | 10-17-2013 |
20130281153 | INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH DETACHABLE INFORMATION MODULE - A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module. | 10-24-2013 |
20130285913 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PROVIDING WORD PREDICTIONS AT LOCATIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CANDIDATE LETTERS - A method for providing a virtual keyboard displayed on a display with visual cues is provided. The method includes: receiving an input of a character from the virtual keyboard; displaying one or more sets of predicted input characters in a prediction bar displayed on the display, wherein each set of predicted input characters is located within the prediction bar at a position corresponding to a key of subsequent candidate input character in the set of predicted input characters. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285914 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD WITH CORRECTION OF PREVIOUSLY INPUT TEXT - The present disclosure provides a touchscreen keyboard with correction of previously input text. A method for correcting text input on an electronic device is described. The method comprises: displaying a virtual keyboard on a touchscreen, the virtual keyboard including a plurality of keys; receiving input from the virtual keyboard; displaying received input in an input field displayed on the touchscreen; and deleting a previous set of characters in the input field when a delete touch gesture is detected in association with a designated key in the virtual keyboard. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285916 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PROVIDING WORD PREDICTIONS AT LOCATIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CANDIDATE LETTERS - A method for providing a virtual keyboard displayed on a display with visual cues is provided. The method includes: receiving an input of a character from the virtual keyboard; displaying one or more sets of predicted input characters in a prediction bar displayed on the display, wherein each set of predicted input characters is located within the prediction bar at a position corresponding to a key of subsequent candidate input character in the set of predicted input characters. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285924 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to the Interpretation of Touch-Based Actions - A control circuit can be configured to, in a shared mode of operation, interpret a first touch-based action as a cursor-control instruction while also interpreting a second touch-based action as a multi-touch gesture. Such a device can supplement a native cursor-free user-interface approach with a cursor-based selection-and-movement capability that is also responsive to touch-based interactions. That first touch-based action can comprise simultaneously touching the touch-screen display with two fingers that are spaced only within a predetermined range of each other. In such a case a cursor can be displayed between those two fingers. The user can then move that cursor by moving at least one of those fingers. By another approach the device can effect a cursor-based selection action upon detecting a momentary touch on the touch-screen display. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285926 | Configurable Touchscreen Keyboard - A method for configuring a virtual keyboard on a display, comprising: detecting a touch input associated with a location in the virtual keyboard on the display; adjusting, when the touch input is a designated touch gesture, a position of the virtual keyboard within a user interface screen in which the virtual keyboard is located in accordance with a direction of the touch input. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285927 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD WITH CORRECTION OF PREVIOUSLY INPUT TEXT - The present disclosure provides a touchscreen keyboard with correction of previously input text. A method for correcting text input on an electronic device is described. The method comprises: displaying a virtual keyboard on a touchscreen, the virtual keyboard including a plurality of keys; receiving input from the virtual keyboard; displaying received input in an input field displayed on the touchscreen; and deleting a previous set of characters in the input field when a delete touch gesture is detected in association with a designated key in the virtual keyboard. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289975 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR A BIDIRECTIONAL CONTEXT-BASED TEXT DISAMBIGUATION - A system and method for a bidirectional context-based text disambiguation is provided. | 10-31-2013 |
20130293474 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A SLIDABLE KEYBOARD - A handheld electronic device may include a housing and a display supported by the housing. The handheld electronic device may further include a slider element slidably mounted to housing. The slider element may be configured to move relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. A keyboard may be coupled to slider element, and may move between a stowed position behind the display and a fully deployed position. | 11-07-2013 |
20130295842 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDED ENHANCED SWITCHING BETWEEN ACTIVE AND POWER SAVING NEARFIELD COMMUNICATIONS (NFC) MODES AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a near-field communication (NFC) circuit carried by the portable housing and being switchable between first NFC mode and a second NFC mode. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a processor carried by the portable housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and configured to switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a first frequency based upon a first triggering event, and switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a second frequency lower than the first frequency based upon a second triggering event different than the first triggering event. | 11-07-2013 |
20130298080 | MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR SELECTING ELEMENTS FROM A LIST - A mobile electronic device for selecting elements from a list is provided. The mobile electronic device comprises a communication interface enabled to communicate with an output device, the output device enabled to provide feedback for selecting elements from a list; a first input element which, when actuated, causes the communication interface to transmit a coarse selection of the elements of the list, the coarse selection provided at the output device; and a second input element which, when actuated, causes the communication interface to transmit a fine selection of the elements of the list, the fine selection provided at the output device. | 11-07-2013 |
20130300672 | TOUCH SCREEN PALM INPUT REJECTION - Palm input rejection on a touch screen of an electronic device is provided by selecting a rejection region of the touch screen dependent upon the orientation of a pointing device. A predicted palm position relative to the touch screen is predicted and touch-input functionality of a rejection region of the touch screen is disabled, with the rejection region selected dependent upon the predicted palm position and the predicted palm position based on an orientation of a pointing device. The orientation of the pointing device may be determined, for example, from the handedness of a user or from an orientation detector of a stylus pointing device. | 11-14-2013 |
20130303191 | NON-VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF A CURRENT GAUGE VALUE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE ON A CONTINUUM - A quantity that falls within a defined continuum defined by first and second end points of a gauge is communicated. Non-visual notifications indicate where on the continuum a current gauge value associated with a function of an electronic device resides relative to at least one end point of the first and second end points of the continuum. The non-visual notifications include a non-visual notification of the at least one end point of the continuum and a non-visual notification of the current gauge value. | 11-14-2013 |
20130305179 | DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INFORMING USERS OF FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERS ASSOCIATED WITH TELEPHONE KEYS - System and method for informing a user of functions or characters associated with keys on a mobile communications device includes a keyboard operable to input dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) codes and a display screen operable to display information. The display screen is also operable to display a virtual representation of at least a portion of the keyboard. The virtual representation includes help information on one or more virtually represented keys of the keyboard. This help information informs a user of an associated telephone function or character of one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display. | 11-14-2013 |
20130318474 | LOCATION OF A TOUCH-SENSITIVE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display at a location not associated with a control, displaying, in association with the location, a displayed control, and activating the displayed control. | 11-28-2013 |
20130325438 | Touchscreen Keyboard with Corrective Word Prediction - The present disclosure provides a touchscreen keyboard with corrective word prediction. A method for correcting text input on an electronic device is described. The method comprises: displaying a virtual keyboard on a touchscreen, the virtual keyboard including a plurality of keys; receiving input from the virtual keyboard; generating one or more predicted sets of characters in accordance with the received input; and displaying a predicted set of characters at a designated location when the received input does not match one of the predicted sets of characters. | 12-05-2013 |
20130335380 | STYLUS WITH CONTROL RING USER INTERFACE - Control rings are mounted on a stylus body. A controller within the stylus body generates a control signal dependent upon the control rings. The control signal is transmitted to a host electronic device where information contained in the control signal is used to control properties of a drawing tool in a computer drawing application. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335890 | Storable Keyboard Having a Pivoting Cover - A keyboard portion is configured to move (with respect to a housing) between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. A cover pivotally couples to the housing and is configured to at least partially cover the keyboard portion when the keyboard portion is in the non-deployed position and to reveal the keyboard portion when the keyboard portion is in the deployed position. By one approach the cover is configured to move the keyboard portion between the deployed position and the non-deployed position as the cover pivots with respect to the housing. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335904 | COVER FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A cover for a portable electronic device includes a keyboard for electrically communicating with the portable electronic device. The cover includes a back cover body for coupling to a back side of the portable electronic device, and a front cover body coupled to the back cover body and foldable relative thereto. The back cover body is movable relative to the portable electronic device such that a first portion of the back cover body slides away from a back side of the portable electronic device. The front cover body is foldable to stack a keyboard portion, on which the keyboard is disposed, and a support portion of the front cover body. The first portion of the back cover body, the support portion, and the keyboard portion are stacked when the keyboard is exposed for use. | 12-19-2013 |
20130342972 | Apparatus Pertaining to a Deployable Keyboard and Corresponding Bottom Surface - A housing has a front surface and a back surface. A keyboard and a corresponding bottom surface move between a non-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration. A tray slides in and out of the housing along one or more slots that are formed internal to the housing. This tray can include an internal surface having a first side that contacts the keyboard and an opposing second side that contacts the aforementioned bottom surface when the latter components are non-deployed. When moving to the deployed configuration the keyboard and bottom surface first move substantially parallel to the housing and then move substantially perpendicular to the housing. Projections on these components can interact with corresponding tracks formed in the housing to direct at the least this perpendicular movement. | 12-26-2013 |
20140002363 | TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD PROVIDING SELECTION OF WORD PREDICTIONS IN PARTITIONS OF THE TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD | 01-02-2014 |
20140013271 | PRIORITIZATION OF MULTITASKING APPLICATIONS IN A MOBILE DEVICE INTERFACE - An activity screen or multitasking screen for a mobile device includes a plurality of tiles, each of which corresponds to a different multitasking application on the mobile device. Each of the tiles is allocated to a distinct region on the activity screen, according to a specified layout. The layout may vary according to the number of tiles allocated in the activity screen, and in some examples a region of the activity screen is automatically subdivided to provide additional regions. The content displayed for each tile is selected, at least in part, based on the size of the allocated region, and consequently, of the tile. Content for each possible size of the tile can be pre-defined. Each of the tiles operates as an application entry point for its corresponding application, thus providing a means of access for applications concurrently executing on the device. | 01-09-2014 |
20140022178 | FLIPPING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A mobile electronic device including a first auxiliary section, a main screen section having a display screen, a second auxiliary section having a user input device, and a back section having a microprocessor and a battery. In a first state, the mobile electronic device includes the first auxiliary section and the main screen section on a first side of the device, and the second auxiliary section and the back section on a second side of the device, the first side and the second side being disposed on opposite sides of the mobile electronic device. In a second state, the mobile electronic device includes the second auxiliary section and the main screen section on the first side, and the first auxiliary section and the back section on the second side. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022709 | Apparatus Pertaining to Hinged Rows of Keycaps - A keyboard comprises a plurality of physically-discrete keycap rows, wherein each of these rows is hingeably coupled to at least one adjacent row. These physically-discrete keycap rows can be stored in a manner somewhat akin to a rolled-up state (such that, for example, at least two of the physically-discrete keycap rows are disposed substantially back-to-back when in a collapsed and stored state). Such a keyboard can be disposed, at least in part, within a sliding tray that moves these rows between a collapsed state and a deployed state. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022710 | Apparatus Pertaining to a Keyboard Comprised of Physically-Discrete Hinged Segments - A keyboard comprises a plurality of keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments that are hingeably coupled to one another. When in a non-deployed configuration, the keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments are disposed on a back side of a corresponding housing such that the keys face outwardly away from that back side of the housing. When in a deployed configuration, the keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments are disposed substantially planar with respect to that same housing and face outwardly away from a front side of the apparatus. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024308 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT HAS A KEYPAD WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration. | 01-23-2014 |
20140035819 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to an Augmented-Reality Keyboard - An augmented-reality component associates augmented-reality keycaps with corresponding physical keycaps of a physical keyboard. The augmented-reality component can comprise, at least in part, augmented-reality glasses. By one approach the augmented-reality component associates the augmented-reality keycaps with the physical keycaps by visually overlaying, at least in part, the augmented-reality keycaps with corresponding ones of the physical keycaps. By one approach the keycaps of the physical keyboard can themselves selectively display informational content but can also selectively display one or more of the physical keycaps as being informationally blank to thereby present a substantially uniform blank screen upon which the augmented-reality keycap content can be presented. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040756 | SELECTIVE INBOX ACCESS IN HOMESCREEN MODE ON A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, and a method are provided for selective access to certain homescreen panels displayable by the device. The device is provided with a homescreen display, which includes a plurality of panels. The panels include at least one panel that is a fullscreen view of a first application executing on the device. This first application can be a messaging application, and the fullscreen view can be a unified inbox view for a plurality of different message types. The panels also include at least one launch panel having a number of graphical user interface elements, such as icons, representing access points to a corresponding application on the device. When navigating from one of the launch panels to the fullscreen view, an intermediate lock interface for receiving an unlocking input is displayed. The unlocking input is received before the fullscreen view is displayed. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040768 | MULTIPE-STAGE INTERFACE CONTROL OF A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, and a method are provided for multiple-stage interface control of the device. The device is provided with a homescreen display, which includes a plurality of panels. The panels include at least one panel that is a fullscreen view of a first application executing on the device. This first application can be a messaging application, and the fullscreen view can be a unified inbox view for a plurality of different message types. The panels also include at least one launch panel having a number of graphical user interface elements, such as icons, representing access points to a corresponding application on the device. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040769 | MULTIPLE-STAGE INTERFACE CONTROL OF A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, and a method are provided for multiple-stage interface control of the device. The device is provided with a homescreen display, which includes a plurality of panels. The panels include at least one panel that is a fullscreen view of a first application executing on the device. This first application can be a messaging application, and the fullscreen view can be a unified inbox view for a plurality of different message types. The panels also include at least one launch panel having a number of graphical user interface elements, such as icons, representing access points to a corresponding application on the device. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046943 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR STORING CONTENT BASED ON CLASSIFICATION OPTIONS - Methods and devices for storing content are described. In one example embodiment, a method includes: displaying, on a display of an electronic device, a plurality of selectable content classification options for classifying a content item, the selectable content classification options including a selectable option to classify the content item as an action item and a selectable option to classify the content item as an archive; receiving, via an input interface associated with the electronic device, a selection of one of the content classification options; and storing the content item in accordance with the selected content classification option. | 02-13-2014 |
20140062886 | RANKING PREDICTIONS BASED ON TYPING SPEED AND TYPING CONFIDENCE - A method that includes receiving an input string, ranking, by the processor, a predicted string associated with the input string, wherein the ranking depends on whether the input string is a substring of the predicted string and at least on one of a typing speed and a typing confidence, and displaying the ranked predicted string. | 03-06-2014 |
20140065955 | WIRELESS DEVICE FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A wireless device for providing notifications associated with a mobile electronic device is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a body enabled to mate with a mobile electronic device, the body comprising the indicator such that when the body is mated to the mobile electronic device, the indicator is not obscured by the body; an induction device for wirelessly receiving signals from the mobile electronic device to control the indicator; and, a circuit connecting the induction device to the indicator, the circuit enabled to receive the signals and control the indicator in response thereto. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067372 | SCORING PREDICTIONS BASED ON PREDICTION LENGTH AND TYPING SPEED - A method that includes receiving an input, determining, by the processor, a likelihood that a predicted string associated with the received input matches an intended input string, where the determination is a function of at least one of a length of the predicted string and a typing speed associated with the received input, and displaying the predicted string. | 03-06-2014 |
20140078092 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes: detecting a first touch at a first location on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a second touch at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and displaying a navigation indicator on the touch-sensitive display in response to detecting the second touch while first touch contact is maintained. | 03-20-2014 |
20140104306 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CAPTURING HIGH RESOLUTION CONTENT FROM APPLICATIONS - A method of capturing information from an application at a portable electronic device includes receiving an OS-level screen-capture trigger from a user interface of the portable electronic device, and in response to the OS-level screen-capture trigger, reporting to an active application running on the portable electronic device a virtual resolution higher than a native resolution available on a display of the portable electronic device receiving high-resolution content from the active application formatted by the active application based on the virtual resolution, storing the high-resolution content at the portable electronic device, and, reporting the native resolution to the active application. | 04-17-2014 |
20140118404 | REFERENCE-POINT-BASED STATIC-SCALE MAPPING APPLICATION - A computer-implemented mapping method comprises determining a fixed reference point, displaying a static-scale map on a display screen of a computing device such that the map always includes the fixed reference point, and displaying a graphical discontinuity indicator on the map to represent a discontinuity in the map, the graphical discontinuity indicator dividing the map into a first map area surrounding the fixed reference point and a second map area that is geographically spaced apart from the first map area. | 05-01-2014 |
20140120831 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE INCLUDING RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SIGNAL BLOCKING LAYER FOR NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device. | 05-01-2014 |
20140123436 | SUPPORT FOR A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY - A support for a flexible display of a portable electronic device includes: a first hinge element coupled to a second hinge element in a side-by-side arrangement, the first hinge element having: a display-receiving surface extending at least partway along a length of the first hinge element, the display-receiving surface for coupling to the flexible display; and a guide coupling the first hinge element to the second hinge element and guiding movement of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element along a path between a first stop and a second stop, the first stop for limiting movement in a first direction and the second stop for limiting movement in a second direction; a neutral plane associated with movement of the first hinge element relative to the second hinge element is external to the support and located adjacent to the display-receiving surface. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126121 | SUPPORT FOR A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY - A device includes: a first component and a second component coupled to one another by a pivot member and being movable relative to one another between an open position in which the first component and the second component are in the same plane and a folded position; a first slider coupled to the first component and a second slider coupled to the second component; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first slider and the second slider, the flexible membrane being exposed in the folded position; wherein the first component and the second component are coupled to one another to maintain the flexible membrane at a constant length when the flexible membrane is moved between the open position and the folded position. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126133 | SUPPORT FOR A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY - A device includes: a housing having a first component and a second component coupled to one another by a pivot member and movable relative to one another between an open position in which the first component and the second component are in the same plane and a folded position; a first slider slidably received in the first component and a second slider slidably received in the second component, the first slider and the second slider being movable toward the pivot member when the first component and the second component move from the open position to the folded position; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first slider, the second slider and the pivot member; wherein, in the folded position, the flexible membrane is located between the first component and the second component. | 05-08-2014 |
20140181220 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MIGRATING DATA - A system, method and device for migrating data are provided. An attachment type of an attachment received with a message at a device is determined, the message associated with a network address of the device dedicated to data migration. The attachment is stored in a portion of the memory associated with the attachment type | 06-26-2014 |
20140194148 | Tagging A Location By Pairing Devices - A method of tagging a location using a mobile device entails obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device, detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface, and automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device. The proximity detector may comprise a near field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth® transceiver or another short-range wireless technology that may be employed to detect the proximity of another device. This technology enables two devices to store a current location to facilitate a subsequent rendezvous back at that same location. | 07-10-2014 |
20140203904 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 07-24-2014 |
20140218287 | System and Method for Controlling a Display of a Mobile Device - A method and system are provided for controlling the display of an mobile device by: capturing an image using a camera device of the mobile device, the camera device being directed in a same direction as a display of the mobile device, the image comprising one or more subjects (e.g. users or other humans seen in the image); determining a point of regard in the image for at least one of the one or more subjects, the point of regard being indicative of an area on the display at which a gaze of the corresponding subject is directed; determining, based on the point of regard, an instruction for controlling the display; and controlling the display according to the instruction, wherein controlling the display includes reducing visibility of at least one portion of what is displayed on the display. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218620 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE - There is disclosed one or more methods, devices, systems and components therefor to remotely control a media system. A second electronic device may be configured, with remote control codes for at least one component of the media system, by a first electronic device connected to the media system. The first electronic device is connected to the media system via a media interface and is configured to determine the remote control codes from an identification of at least one component of the system. The media interface may be a high definition media interface (HDMI) to identify the connected components. The first and second electronic devices are configured to communicate the codes to configure the second electronic device. The automatic code communication may be responsive to a Bluetooth connection. The first electronic device and second electronic device may each comprise a tablet or a smartphone. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220899 | Mobile Communication Device with Subscriber Identity Module - In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call at the mobile communication device; determining that the received call is directed to subscriber identity information associated with a short-range enabled communication device; selecting on which of the mobile communication device and the short-range enabled device to answer the call; and directing the call to the selected device. | 08-07-2014 |
20140245220 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch-sensitive display includes displaying information on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, scrolling through the information in a first scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a first area of the touch-sensitive display, and scrolling through the information in a second scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a second area of the touch-sensitive display. | 08-28-2014 |
20140253456 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING KEYPAD WITH KEYS HAVING A RIDGED SURFACE PROFILE - According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key. | 09-11-2014 |
20140254077 | Magnetic Connector - An apparatus has a first housing and a second housing. By one approach at least the second housing has at least one exterior edge configured as a pivot surface. The first housing includes at least a first magnet and the second housing includes at least a second magnet that is disposed proximal to the aforementioned pivot surface. So configured, the first and second magnet interact with one another and thereby serve as a magnetic connector such that the first housing pivots with respect to the second housing about the pivot surface. By one approach, the first and second housing do not pivotally connect to one another via a mechanical connector. | 09-11-2014 |
20140282201 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WORD PREDICTION SELECTION - Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving word prediction candidate selection in an electronic device. Input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard. A word prediction process generates a set of word prediction candidates, determines a unique character in each word prediction candidate, and displays the word prediction candidates along with visual indicia to indicate the unique character. A second input is then received comprising a tap input of a single character on the keyboard. The electronic device determines whether the second input corresponds to a unique character associated with any of the word prediction candidates, and if so, displays the selected word in an input field on the display. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282203 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTIVE TEXT INPUT - A method for an electronic device having a display, including, displaying, on the display, a first virtual keyboard including a set of keys, wherein each key of the set of keys is associated with one or more characters, receiving an input reflecting selection of one or more keys of the set of keys, determining, based on the selection, one or more subsequent candidate input characters and one or more word predictions corresponding to the one or more subsequent candidate input characters, displaying, on the display, a second virtual keyboard including a second set of keys, wherein the second set of keys comprises one or more keys associated with the one or more word predictions positioned based, at least in part, on the one or more subsequent candidate input characters. An electronic device including a display, a memory, and a processor, the processor being configured to execute the method. | 09-18-2014 |
20140287685 | PORTABLE BRIDGE DEVICE - A portable bridge device and methods for transmitting application data from the portable bridge device to one or more local devices of varying types, platforms and operating systems are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing communication channels between the portable bridge device and first and second local devices, determining a platform or operating system of the local devices, and formatting, based on the determined platform or operating system, application data and transmitting the formatted application data to a portable bridge device interface module of the local devices via the communication channels. The portable bridge device may also establish a long-range communication channel to a remote computing device, and may operate as a gateway to a remote source of applications or resources. Operation of locally connected devices with the portable bridge device is not impacted by a temporary loss of connectivity between the portable bridge device and remote sources. | 09-25-2014 |
20140300498 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to a Touch Typing-Friendly Grid-Patterned Keyboard - A keyboard can be comprised of a plurality of alphabetic keys that are disposed in an evenly-spaced grid pattern with respect to one another. In any event, these keys have keycaps configured to comport with touch typing as with a keyboard having a plurality of alphabetic keys that are disposed in an offset pattern (such as the classic QWERTY offset-pattern typewriter-styled keyboard). By one approach, these keycaps can have keycaps having bilaterally-nonsymmetrical tactile features that at least substantially match standard touch-typing finger positions. By one approach these tactile features can comprise an indentation. If desired, these keycaps can share a same form factor. In such a case, some of the keycaps for the alphabetic keys can be disposed on the keyboard at a 180 degree rotation as compared to others of the alphabetic character keycaps. | 10-09-2014 |
20140312856 | ADJUSTABLE OUTPUT POWER SUPPLY - An adjustable output power supply with a data communications connector that at least partially complies with physical specifications of a defined data interface standard connector, such as a USB connector. The data communications connector has a number of data contacts and power contacts coupled to and providing output electrical power from a programmable power supply. A controller receives an indication of a detection of a feature of a mating connector coupled to the data communications connector, determines, based on receiving the detection, at least one resistance value between a data contact and at least one power contact, and adjusts an output voltage of the programmable power supply based on the at least one resistance value. | 10-23-2014 |
20140321040 | ACCESSORY CONNECTOR FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device includes at least one connector, such as for physically coupling the electronic device to a device accessory. The connector includes a coupling element movable between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a magnetic force that exceeds a biasing force applied to the coupling element by a biasing element. | 10-30-2014 |
20140325382 | Device, System And Method For Processing Character Data - A method is described. The method comprising: receiving character data from the remote device in response to a user applying the character data to a displayed target; and supplying the character data to one of a plurality of components executable on a processor of a device based on one or more characters in the character data. A device is also described. | 10-30-2014 |
20140325383 | Device, System And Method For Processing Character Data - A method is described. The method comprising the steps of receiving character data from the remote device following a selection of character data for application to a target; and determining, based on one or more characters in the character data, one or more components executable on the processor for supplying the character data thereto. A device is also described. | 10-30-2014 |
20140354406 | COMBINING NAVIGATION AND FINGERPRINT SENSING - A method, device and machine readable medium are provided. The method comprises: activating a fingerprint sensor while performing a function other than authentication; and performing a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation. | 12-04-2014 |
20140361993 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVIEWING CHARACTERS BASED ON FINGER POSITION ON KEYBOARD - Systems and methods are provided for detecting a touch of a first key associated with a first character on the keyboard, detecting a touch of a second key corresponding to a second character on the keyboard, determining an order for previewing the first and second characters in response to the detecting, and previewing the first and second characters in the determined order in an information entry field of the electronic device. | 12-11-2014 |
20140362508 | COVER FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A cover for a portable electronic device includes a keyboard for electrically communicating with the portable electronic device. The cover includes a back cover body for coupling to a back side of the portable electronic device, and a front cover body coupled to the back cover body and foldable relative thereto. The back cover body is movable relative to the portable electronic device such that a first portion of the back cover body slides away from a back side of the portable electronic device. The front cover body is foldable to stack a keyboard portion, on which the keyboard is disposed, and a support portion of the front cover body. The first portion of the back cover body, the support portion, and the keyboard portion are stacked when the keyboard is exposed for use. | 12-11-2014 |
20150033329 | PASSWORD ENTRY USING 3D IMAGE WITH SPATIAL ALIGNMENT - A method of controlling access to an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises: generating a modified first image from a first image, wherein the first image and the modified first image include a first image reference point; generating a modified second image from a second image, wherein the second image and the modified second image include a second image reference point; displaying a three dimensional representation of the modified first image overlaid by the modified second image; authenticating access to the electronic device in response to substantial alignment of the first image reference point in the modified first image with the second image reference point in the modified second image. | 01-29-2015 |
20150046258 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE ADVERTISMENTS BASED UPON ACTIVITY HISTORY AND RELATED METHODS - A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device and an advertising server cooperating with the at least one mobile wireless communications device via a wireless communications network. The advertising server may be for generating an activity history for the at least one wireless communications device including geographical positions at corresponding times of day, and selectively sending advertisements to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the activity history and a given time of day. | 02-12-2015 |
20150254518 | TEXT RECOGNITION THROUGH IMAGES AND VIDEO - The display of text by a first device, that is extracted and used by a second communication device, based upon a determined context of the text, is provided. The image displayed for the first device is captured by an image capture element of a second communication device, which also has a recognition module and an extraction module. The image includes the text and a context element representing a context of the text. | 09-10-2015 |
20150268855 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREVIEWING CONTENT ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPLICATION - A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a memory configured to store instructions, a plurality of keys configured to receive respective key inputs, and a screen. The portable electronic device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to detect a first key input at one of the plurality of keys, enable a preview mode based on the detected first key input. While the preview mode is enabled, the processor is also configured to a second key input at one of the plurality of keys, at least one of the first or second key input being associated with a content preview for one of a plurality of applications, and display on the screen the content preview for the associated one of the plurality of applications. | 09-24-2015 |