Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080274633 | REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) CONNECTOR - A reversible receptacle for coupling with a USB A-type standard connector, including a first set of four electrical contact regions and a second set of four electrical contact regions, the contact regions configured such that in a first coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug and in a second coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug. Also provided are corresponding reversible USB appliances based upon the aforementioned reversible receptacles. | 11-06-2008 |
20090042612 | MULTI-ACCESS SOLID STATE MEMORY DEVICES AND A TELEPHONE UTILIZING SUCH - A mobile telephone device, comprising, an enclosure; a plurality of hardware components that provide the functionality of a cellular telephone or a satellite telephone, at least some of said components being inside or on said enclosure; a solid state non-volatile storage system inside of said enclosure; and a directly accessible connection for said storage system, adapted to connect to an external host system. | 02-12-2009 |
20090298520 | MULTI-ACCESS SOLID STATE MEMORY DEVICES AND A TELEPHONE UTILIZING SUCH - A method of sending e-mail from a computer, including attaching a telephone to a computer, saving at least one e-mail message from the computer on the telephone, activating the telephone, and automatically sending the e-mail message after the activating. | 12-03-2009 |
20100052306 | HYBRID STORAGE OF DOCUMENTS - A hybrid storage apparatus for retaining printed content and storing digital content includes a loose-leaf binder configured to retain printed pages containing printed content, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to the loose-leaf binder. The storage device includes a socket port detachably connect to a cable, and a non-volatile memory coupled to the socket port and configured for storing digital content. The cable is separate from the hybrid storage apparatus and used for communicating with a host. Also provided is a hybrid storage apparatus for holding print media and for storing digital content that includes a plurality of pages containing printed content, a cover for retaining the pages, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to or embedded within the cover. The pages include at least one page that displays a table of contents and refers to the digital content items stored in the non-volatile memory. | 03-04-2010 |
20100147041 | TETHERING ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having an anti-theft functionality and a separate user-operable useful functionality, a method of using the portable electronic device includes operating the user-operable useful functionality; using the anti-theft functionality, wherein using the anti-theft functionality includes inserting an anchor into a socket of the portable electronic device, the anchor being connected to an object separate from the portable electronic device; locking the anchor in the socket to thereby secure the anchor to the portable electronic device; and unlocking the anchor from the socket upon verifying an unlock code that is received at the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a locking mechanism switchable between a locked position in which the anchor is secured to the socket, and an unlocked position in which the anchor is not locked in the socket. The portable electronic device has a processor that is adapted to execute the user-operable useful functionality, receive an unlock code, and to transition the locking mechanism into the unlock position upon verifying the received unlock code. | 06-17-2010 |
20100268656 | Method and Apparatus for Arranging Face-to-Face Meetings - Individuals, couples, and families subscribe to a community for facilitating the arrangement of their outings and social meetings. Subscribers fill in wish-lists to specify their level of interest in specific attractions, in getting together with specific other subscribers, and in arranging their specific schedules for outings. An encounter generator processes the subscriber wish-lists to identify matches of subscribers who are interested in the same attraction, who favor each other's company, and who are free at the same time. The system notifies the matched subscribers, optionally offering ticketing and/or reservation assistance. Partial matches are optionally referred to the respective subscribers for negotiating the unmatched schedule or attraction. The system is adaptable to serve singles who wish to identify and get to know a prospective mate through mutual visits to attractions, as well as individuals, couples, and families who want to go out with their existing friends or make new friends. | 10-21-2010 |
20100312692 | COMPACT PAYMENT TERMINAL - A compact payment terminal for operating upon a purchase made by a customer at a retail device is provided. The customer carries a mobile communication device that includes a payment module and a communication module. The compact payment terminal includes a first interface for interfacing with the retail device, a second interface for interfacing with the mobile communication device of the customer and a processing unit connected to the first and second interface. The compact payment terminal is configured to receive, via the first interface, a payment request from the retail device, cooperate, via the second interface, with the payment module of the mobile communication device for initiating a payment transaction respective to the payment request, and selectably conduct, via the second interface and the communication module of the mobile communication device, a communication session between the processing unit and at least one server. | 12-09-2010 |
20110035385 | Method and Apparatus for Managing Interpersonal Activities - An apparatus and method for managing interpersonal activities among subscribers. A processor picks two subscribers for a meeting, and assigns them matched face-to-face or virtual assignments that are either identical or complementary. Assignments are selected by a processor according to preferences previously received from the picked subscribers. A random factor may affect the assignment selection. The level of intensity and/or intimacy of assignments selected by the processor may be responsive to the number of previous meetings of the picked subscribers. | 02-10-2011 |
20110178884 | TRUSTED STORED-VALUE PAYMENT SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES UNTRUSTED MERCHANT TERMINALS - A stored-value payment system includes trusted cards and untrusted merchant terminals. Security is enhanced by the card receiving an amount of stored value only upon the card confirming that an amount that is at least equal to the received amount is paid by the card at the terminal. The card may provide to the terminal a verifiable payment record for an amount that is calculated by the card by subtracting the value received by the card from the value paid by the card. Further security features may include a terminal certificate that is updated upon settlement and includes a terminal expiration time, and a card time register that is updated upon a payment transaction with an unexpired valid terminal. | 07-21-2011 |
20110296061 | Apparatus, Methods, And Computer-Code For Handling An Impending Decoupling Between A Peripheral Device And A Host Device - Apparatus, methods and computer-code are disclosed where an impending decoupling between a peripheral device and a host is detected. In some embodiments, in response to the detected impending disconnection, a user alert signal is generated. In some embodiments, an ‘onboard detector’ that is associated with housing of the peripheral device and operative to detect the impending disconnection is provided. In some embodiments, the user alert signal is generated in accordance with inter-device data flow between the host and the peripheral device. Exemplary peripheral devices include but are not limited to transient storage devices such as a USB flash drives (UFD). | 12-01-2011 |
20120089464 | System and Method for Leisure & Entertainment Merchandising by Attraction Providers - An attraction provider, such as an attraction operator or attraction agency, is using a system for merchandising commercial attractions to a community of subscribers. The system includes an attraction provider server and an encounter generator server, both cooperating to merchandise the commercial attractions to subscribers, by presenting commercial attractions to subscriber terminals, picking ensembles of subscribers for encounters, assigning an attraction to each ensemble, and booking for the picked ensembles their assigned attractions. | 04-12-2012 |
20120166631 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING, RATING AND/OR TUNING TO AN AUDIO CONTENT CHANNEL - Devices, methods and computer-readable code for simultaneously monitoring the content of at least two streaming audio content channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, the monitored content is analyzed, and one or more features of the monitored content channels are computed, including but not limited to music classification features, content genre features, and spoken content features. These computed features may be used, for example, to compute a rating or score for each monitored audio channel, for example, a rating computed relative to user listening preferences, expressed, for example, in preference rules. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a channel selector for automatically tuning, for example, to a channel assigned a higher rating at a given time. Alternatively or additionally, content rating scores may be displayed to a user who manually selects and tunes to an audio content channel. | 06-28-2012 |
20120311050 | USER BROWSING EXPERIENCE - A method for automatically providing a computer application to a user connected to a network, based on the user's searching. A software agent embedded in the user's computer monitors message traffic between a browser and a network search server. The agent detects a search query from the browser to the search server as well as a search result from the search server. The agent reports search parameters to a designated network server, which selects an application relevant to the user's search and automatically installs the application title on the computer. The full application can also be installed for local execution. The application is launched upon installation and a popup window demonstrates the application to the user. An icon representing the application can also be automatically installed on a toolbar in the browser window, so the user can benefit from running the application even when not actively searching on the network. | 12-06-2012 |
20130166581 | Shorthand for Data Retrieval from a Database - A method and apparatus for convenient and fast entry of a search string for searching a database. A subset of the alphabet (such as the vowels) is used for entry of a search string, and database matches are determined according to the appearance of the subset characters in the search fields of the database records. The use of the alphabet subset reduces the size of the entry keypad and simplifies user entry of the search string. | 06-27-2013 |
20130304801 | User Browsing Experience - A method for automatically providing a computer application to a user connected to a network, based on the user's browsing patterns related to vertical markets. A software agent embedded in the user's computer monitors traffic between a browser and the network. The agent detects website access from the browser to the network as well as patterns related thereto. The agent reports browsing parameters to a designated network server, which selects an application relevant to the user's browsing patterns and automatically installs the application title on the computer. The full application can also be installed for local execution. The application is launched upon installation and a popup window demonstrates the application to the user. An icon representing the application can also be automatically installed on a toolbar in the browser window, so the user can benefit from running the application even when not actively browsing on the network. | 11-14-2013 |
20130331001 | Play System Representing a Character - Methods and apparatus for a play system representing a character, including multiple distinct physical play units for representing the same character simultaneously, while establishing and preserving the impression that, independent of the physical play units, the character itself has a genuine and unique existence of its own. The invention provides for this property of the play system by permitting only a single play unit to fully represent the dynamic components of the character at any given time. Enabled status can be reversibly transferred from one play unit to another by user command. | 12-12-2013 |
20140115286 | System and Method of Digital Content Manipulation - A data storage apparatus includes a primary storage device and a secondary storage device. The primary storage device includes a first non-volatile memory to store a content item. The secondary storage device includes a second non-volatile memory to store a command received from a first content appliance. The command indicates an operation to be performed with respect to the content item stored at the primary storage device. The secondary storage device is configured to send the command to a second content appliance for execution. | 04-24-2014 |
20140143650 | Coordinated Dual Display Screens - A method, system, and apparatus for coordinated presentation of web content on a handheld device having a portable display screen paired with a stationary device having a stationary display screen. If a pairing is detected, a visual channel component of web content video is automatically presented on the stationary device, while a text component is automatically presented on the handheld device. In addition, the visual channel is also blocked from presentation on the handheld device and/or the text component is also blocked from presentation on the stationary device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140163880 | Emphasizing Revisited Featured Locations - A method and apparatus for presenting to a user audio and/or multimedia descriptions of previously-visited featured locations, so that the same descriptions are not presented in repeated visits to the same locations. Description may be selected to fit between consecutive turn-by-turn navigation instructions. | 06-12-2014 |
20140189855 | Gestures for Unlocking a Mobile Device - Methods for recognition and interpretation of pinch-in and pinch-out gestures for unlocking a screen of a mobile device, which has been locked to prevent accidental activation of device functionalities while being carried, such as in pocket or purse. | 07-03-2014 |
20140223464 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING AND MANAGING MULTI PARTICIPANT SESSIONS - A method of creating a multi participant session among a plurality of viewers of media content. The method comprises automatically identifying which media content is currently presented on a plurality of client terminals of a plurality of subscribers, receiving, from a first subscriber, a first selection indicative of a template of a multi participant session object and a second selection indicative of a group from the plurality of subscribers, creating a multi participant session object adapted for simultaneous presentation with the media content according to first and second selections and establishing a multi participant session among at least one member of the group and the first subscriber using the multi participant session object. | 08-07-2014 |
20140265032 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING - Methods and apparatus for preparing a layer of an object being fabricated by a three-dimensional printing process. Embodiments of the invention combine selective deposition with selective curing to benefit from the respective advantages of both techniques. Multiple printing heads deposit a two-dimensional cross section of the object being fabricated on a substrate which is transparent to curing radiation. The multiple printing heads selectively deposit different object body materials in different regions of the cross section and also selectively deposit regions of support material as necessary. The transparent substrate is then moved into registration with the object being fabricated so that the new layer is in contact with the object body, and an ultraviolet two-dimensional image of the cross section is projected through the substrate to selectively cure the new layer. | 09-18-2014 |