Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110124283 | BROADCAST RECEIVER METADATA AUGMENTATION WITH MOBILE TRANSCEIVER - A mobile transceiver device can communicate with a separate broadcast radio receiver, to receive metadata concerning a main program being received by the broadcast radio receiver. The mobile transceiver device uses the metadata to formulate a request or search query, send the request or search query over a WLAN or cellular data network transceiver, to one or more sources of additional information, which respond with additional information. The additional information can comprise more detailed metadata about the main program as well as content and programming that facilitate a commerce transaction. For example, more detailed metadata can include song lyrics and album art when the main program is a song, while if the main program is an advertisement, the additional information can comprise information for furthering completion of a transaction. | 05-26-2011 |
20110191024 | PORTABLE MOBILE TRANSCEIVER FOR GPS NAVIGATION AND VEHICLE DATA INPUT FOR DEAD RECKONING MODE - A mobile transceiver device comprises a GPS receiver module to receive GPS signals and calculate current positions. The current positions are used in a navigation module. The mobile transceiver device comprises one or more local interface technologies, such as Bluetooth and USB. These local interface technologies can be used to communicate with an automobile data system. In situations where there is sporadic GPS coverage, the mobile transceiver device receives inputs from the automobile data system, such as speed or velocity information, and heading information, such as output from a compass, as available. These inputs are used in the navigation module of the mobile transceiver device to navigate by dead reckoning until an updated position fix based on received GPS signals can be calculated. | 08-04-2011 |
20110207489 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPPORTUNISTIC COMMUNICATION SCHEDULING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK USING MOTION INFORMATION - A method, wireless communication device, and computer program product are provided for scheduling wireless communication between a base station and one or more mobile wireless communication devices. Signals indicative of motion are obtained and utilized to facilitate scheduling operations. In some embodiments, signals indicative of motion are used in estimation or prediction of variable conditions of the common radio medium, and scheduling, such as opportunistic scheduling, is performed based at least in part on the estimates or predictions. Signals indicative of motion may be obtained from GPS data, accelerometer data or other data generated at a mobile wireless communication device. | 08-25-2011 |
20110280403 | AUTOMATIC APPLICATION MANAGEMENT IN A SHORT-RANGE WIRELESS SYSTEM - Method, device and computer readable storage medium for managing applications on a wireless device by providing applications on the wireless device. The wireless device is used in a short-range wireless system with an effective range. The wireless device and a client device are brought into proximity and thereby into the effective range of the short-range wireless system. The wireless device and the client device are connected and associated. The application is associated with the client device. The application is then automatically launched on the wireless device. | 11-17-2011 |
20120038555 | Method and Electronic Device With Motion Compensation - A method and electronic device with motion compensation are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for operating an electronic device, comprising: detecting motion of the electronic device; receiving an input signal from an input device of the electronic device; selectively ignoring the input signal received from the input device in response to the detecting. | 02-16-2012 |
20120038557 | Method and Electronic Device With Motion Compensation - A method and electronic device with motion compensation are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for operating an electronic device, comprising: determining a velocity of the electronic device; changing a duration of actuation for registering an input for an input device of the portable electronic device in response to the determining. | 02-16-2012 |
20120077480 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROTATING A USER INTERFACE FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method for determining the orientation of a mobile device for displaying a graphical user interface and for activating an audio user interface in response to an incoming call or outgoing call. For the graphical user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, the graphical user interface can be displayed in a first vertical orientation, a second vertical orientation, a first horizontal orientation, and a second horizontal orientation. For the audio user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, a speaker and a microphone can be activated based on the detected vertical orientation so that the activated speaker is near the top of the mobile device and the activated microphone is near the bottom of mobile device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120092140 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUNCTIONS ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A system and method are provided that adapt or configure an electronic device to be capable of detecting movement of the plug of a headset relative to a socket therefore (i.e. be capable of detecting relative movement of the coupling between the headset and the device). The plug can then be used to control functions on the electronic device, including those associated with audio programming. The resultant auxiliary controls can also be used for other applications, even those where the device is actively being used, e.g. a video game, to provide further control inputs for the electronic device. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092397 | DISPLAY SCREEN HAVING REGIONS OF DIFFERING PIXEL DENSITY - A display device including: a display screen having first region and second region, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density, the second pixel density being higher than the first pixel density, an input for receiving image data, a power source; and wherein the display screen is operable in a full screen mode in which an image is displayed in both the first region and the second region and a reduced screen mode in which power to the first region is turned off and the image is displayed in the second region. | 04-19-2012 |
20120119110 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR DETECTING CONTAMINATION OF AN OBJECT - An apparatus, and an associated method, for a portable electronic device, such as a wireless device, to determine luminescence of an object of interest. Ultraviolet A (UVA), or other appropriate, light energy is cause to be generated at a flicker rate. Images of the object of interest are recorded both when the UVA light energy is incident on the object of interest and in the absence of incidence of the UVA light energy on the object of interest. The images are compared, and a determination is made of the luminescence of the object of interest. | 05-17-2012 |
20120135680 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING DATA TRANSFER DIRECTION DETERMINATION BASED UPON MOTION AND RELATED METHODS - A communication system may include at least one electronic device configured to wirelessly communicate via a short-range communications format, and at least one mobile communications device. The at least one mobile communications device may include a short-range communications device configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one electronic device via the short-range communications format, and a controller coupled to the short-range communications device. The controller may be configured to determine a state of movement of the at least mobile communications device, and determine a direction of communication with respect to the at least one electronic device based upon the determined state of movement. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141104 | DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL IN HYBRID CAMERA - PROJECTOR DEVICE - A method and portable device for capturing a still image is described. The portable device comprises both an image projector for projecting images and a sensor for capturing images. A first image is captured and a flash image is generated based on the captured first image to adjust lighting of the image subject. The generated flash image is projected onto the image subject using the projector and a second image is captured while the flash image is projected onto the image subject. | 06-07-2012 |
20120192067 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL, MULTI-DEPTH PRESENTATION OF ICONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIFFERING INPUT COMPONENTS OF A USER INTERFACE - A three-dimensional display presents a plurality of icons that are associated with a user interface of an electronic device. The plurality of icons include at least a first icon presented at a first depth of presentation and a second icon presented at a second, different depth of presentation. The first icon is associated with a first input component of the user interface, such that the first input component provides for interaction with the first icon. The second icon is associated with a second input component of the user interface, such that the second input component provides for interaction with the second icon. The aforementioned depths of presentation may substantially coincide with various surfaces of the electronic device (such as a first touch-sensitive surface and a second touch-sensitive surface). This approach can serve to facilitate three-dimensional presentation of icons for interaction by touch-sensitive surfaces on the front and back of the electronic device. | 07-26-2012 |
20120192114 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL, MULTI-DEPTH PRESENTATION OF ICONS ASSOCIATED WITH A USER INTERFACE - A three-dimensional display presents a plurality of icons that are associated with a user interface. These icons include at least a first icon presented at a first depth of presentation and at least a second icon presented at a second, different depth of presentation. By one approach this first icon is available for interaction by an input component of the user interface while the second icon is unavailable for interaction by the input component of the user interface. The aforementioned first depth of presentation may be substantially coincide with a surface, for example, a touch-sensitive display, of the corresponding electronic device. So configured, the first icon (which is presently available for selection) appears at a depth that coincides with that surface. This approach can serve to facilitate three-dimensional presentation of an icon based on whether it is available for interaction via an input component of a user interface. | 07-26-2012 |
20120194432 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR - An electronic device includes an object sensor for detecting motion of an object, such as a stylus or finger, relative to device and during a period of contactless object movement. A motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, detects device motion during the period of contactless object movement. A processor determines a gesture that corresponds to the movement of the object and to movement of the device. This device, and the associated method, results in a more accurate determination of an intended gesture, such as a three-dimensional gesture. For example, the processor, or gesture determinator, can compensate for movement of the device when determining the gesture corresponding to detected contactless movement of the object. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194483 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR - An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, and a plurality of piezoelectric patch transducers disposed beneath the display. A controller is configured to switch each of the transducers between a tactile feedback mode to provide tactile feedback via the touch-sensitive display, and an object detection mode to provide acoustic detection of a contactless position of an object relative to the device. The object is free of contact with the device at the contactless object position. Using the same transducers to provide tactile feedback and object detection provides these features without additional costs associated with adding further components. A microphone of the device can receive ultrasonic signals, emitted from the transducers and via associated acoustic ports, and the device can process the received signals to determine a contactless three-dimensional gesture that is performed, for example above the display. | 08-02-2012 |
20120198005 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AND PROCESSING CONTACT PROFILES - The present specification provides communication device for determining and processing contact profiles. The contact profiles can be used in the composition of messages in order to reduce the likelihood of multiple clarification messages being sent and to thereby reduce processing and bandwidth resources in management of the communications. | 08-02-2012 |
20120217971 | NFC SYSTEM PROVIDING BATTERY POWER LEVEL MEASUREMENT FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A Near Field Communication (NFC) system may include a battery including a battery casing, at least one battery cell carried by the battery casing, at least one power measurement circuit carried by the battery casing and configured to measure a power level of the at least one battery cell, and a first NFC circuit carried by the battery casing and configured to communicate the power level measurement via NFC communication. The NFC system may further include a mobile wireless communications device including a portable housing, a second NFC circuit carried by the portable housing, and a controller carried by the portable housing and configured to cause the second NFC circuit to receive the power level measurement from the first NFC circuit based upon proximity therewith. | 08-30-2012 |
20120218082 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM INCLUDING DISPLAY WITH NFC DEVICE ASSOCIATED THEREWITH AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system includes a display configured to display at least one time variable image, at least one passive near field communications (NFC) device associated with the display, and a media device. An identifier is associated with the at least one passive NFC device. A mobile wireless communications device includes a second NFC device, a wireless transceiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, via communication between the at least one passive NFC device and the second NFC device, an identifier for the at least one passive NFC device. The processor is also configured to send, via the wireless transceiver and to the media device, the identifier and the identifier time, and receive, from and media device and via the wireless transceiver, data relating to the at least one time variable image based upon the identifier and an identifier time based upon the identifier. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220219 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDING SELECTIVE IMAGE DISPLAY BASED UPON NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the portable housing, and a first display carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a processor carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry and the first display, and a second display carried by the portable housing. The second display may include an array of pixels. Each pixel may retain a given state between refreshes and without electrical power supplied thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a near-field communications (NFC) device carried by the portable housing and cooperating with the second display to display an image thereon based upon NFC communications. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220220 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING DEVICE STATUS INFORMATION BASED UPON NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) AND RELATED METHODS - A communications system may include a first electronic device that may include a display having an array of pixels, each pixel retaining a given state between refreshes and without electrical power supplied thereto, a first near-field communications (NFC) device, and a first controller coupled to the first NFC device and the display. The communications system may also include a second electronic device to be removably coupled with the first electronic device and comprising a second NFC device and a second controller coupled thereto. The second controller may be configured to determine status information related to the first electronic device and communicate the status information to the first controller via the first and second NFC devices. The first controller may be configured to display on the display the status information. | 08-30-2012 |
20120230507 | SYNTHETIC STEREO ON A MONO HEADSET WITH MOTION SENSING - A system, processor implemented method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for playing a synthetic stereo on a mono headset with motion sensing. The method comprises a processor receiving movement data from an accelerometer detecting movement of the mono headset. In response to receiving movement data, the processor mixing an output audio signal comprising a left channel signal and a right channel signal and providing the output audio signal comprising a combination of the left channel signal and right channel signal based at least in part on detected movement of the mono headset. The output audio signal having either a substantially equal or unequal combination of the left channel signal and right channel signal based at least in part on detected movement of the mono headset. | 09-13-2012 |
20120262381 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method comprises: detecting a three-dimensional motion relative to an electronic device and determining a corresponding three-dimensional gesture; determining a context of the electronic device; and performing a function based on the corresponding three-dimensional gesture and the context. | 10-18-2012 |
20120274154 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER - This document discusses, among other things, a method for providing wireless power from a power providing device to a portable electronic device. The method includes generating a wireless power signal as a beam having a propagation path directed toward the portable electronic device. The beam can be generated based on parameters for an incoming signal received from the portable electronic device. The wireless power signal can be received by a portable electronic device and converted into operating power for the portable electronic device. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274545 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying a projected image from a display of a portable electronic device, detecting an object near the portable electronic device, and when the object is associated with the projected image, actuating an actuator to provide tactile feedback. | 11-01-2012 |
20130012123 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETECT MOBILE DEVICES - Example methods and apparatus to detect mobile devices are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a processor and a memory in communication with the processor having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to determine whether a first wireless transceiver is in communication range of a vehicle. The first wireless transceiver is to provide an identifier associated with a person. When the first wireless transceiver is not in communication range of the vehicle, a second wireless transceiver in the vehicle is transitioned from a first power transmission mode to a relatively lower power transmission mode. | 01-10-2013 |
20130027521 | STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM - A portable electronic device includes a first image capturing device that is configured to capture a first image in substantially a first direction at a first position and a second image in at least substantially a second direction at a second position. A second image capturing device is configured to capture a third image in substantially the first direction at a third position. A processor is coupled to the first and second image capturing devices for generating a representation of a stereoscopic image based on the first and third images. | 01-31-2013 |
20130072265 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROTATING A USER INTERFACE FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method for determining the orientation of a mobile device for displaying a graphical user interface and for activating an audio user interface in response to an incoming call or outgoing call. For the graphical user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, the graphical user interface can be displayed in a first vertical orientation, a second vertical orientation, a first horizontal orientation, and a second horizontal orientation. For the audio user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, a speaker and a microphone can be activated based on the detected vertical orientation so that the activated speaker is near the top of the mobile device and the activated microphone is near the bottom of mobile device. | 03-21-2013 |
20130091223 | SELECTIVE DELIVERY OF SOCIAL NETWORK MESSAGES WITHIN A SOCIAL NETWORK - The present disclosure provides for selective delivery of social network messages within a social network. When it is determined that one or more new messages to be communicated to members of a social group of the social network have content substantially similar to a given content of a plurality of messages previously communicated to the social group, notification of the one or more new messages to the one or more members of the social group can be selectively adjusted. | 04-11-2013 |
20130093660 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONTROL A PROCESS WITH BEND MOVEMENTS - Various embodiments include devices, methods, circuits, data structures, and software that allow for control of a process through detecting of movements in bends in a flexible display device. In an example, a method for controlling a process through bend movements can include detecting movement of a bend in a deformable display panel and modifying a process running on a computing device response to detecting the movement of the bend. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103943 | DISPLAYING PRIVATE INFORMATION USING ALTERNATE FRAME SEQUENCING - Private information can be displayed using alternate frame sequencing to prevent unauthorized viewing. The private information can be ascertained by an authorized user using an active shutter viewing device synchronized to the alternate frame sequencing display. Private information can be displayed on a portion of the display, while public information, including a basic user interface, can be displayed on a second portion visible to authorized and unauthorized users. For enhanced security, alternate frame sequencing synchronization parameters can be encrypted and exchanged between a display device and the viewing device. When and where to display private information using alternate frame sequencing can be determined using environmental sensors. A single display screen can be configured to simultaneously present private information to multiple users, each user permitted to view a portion of the private information according to the unique synchronization parameters employed by a user's viewing device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130134923 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING CHARGING ENERGY TO RECHARGE A PORTABLE POWER SUPPLY - An apparatus, and an associated method, for providing charging energy to a portable power supply, sourced at the portable power supply of another portable electronic device. The portable electronic devices are arranged in a charging configuration in which the portable electronic device from which energy is to be sourced is coupled to the portable electronic device to which the charging energy is to be applied. A controller controls the charging operations to ensure that energy of a host portable power supply is not depleted beyond a minimum level, and the application of the charging energy is terminated when a recipient portable power supply is charged to a desired level or the host portable power supply is depleted to the minimum level. | 05-30-2013 |
20130181950 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR - An electronic device includes an object sensor for detecting motion of an object, such as a stylus or finger, relative to device and during a period of contactless object movement. A motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, detects device motion during the period of contactless object movement. A processor determines a gesture that corresponds to the movement of the object and to movement of the device. This device, and the associated method, results in a more accurate determination of an intended gesture, such as a three-dimensional gesture. For example, the processor, or gesture determinator, can compensate for movement of the device when determining the gesture corresponding to detected contactless movement of the object. | 07-18-2013 |
20130269026 | RESTRICTED ACCESS MEMORY DEVICE PROVIDING SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATION-BASED SECURITY FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A memory device may include a memory, a host interface connector, a short range communication transceiver, and a processor coupled with the memory and the short range communication transceiver. The processor may be capable of storing data in the memory, and reading the data from the memory to the host device via the host interface connector based upon at least one of receiving first authentication data including a password, via the host interface connector, from a memory access application installed on the host device, or receiving second authentication data via the short range communication transceiver without use of the memory access application. | 10-10-2013 |
20130282903 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A method, system and apparatus for accessing a communications network are provided. A device determines that an access point to a first communications network is accessible via a first communications interface of the device. The device transmits a message to a second device connected via a second communications interface of the device that is different from the first communications interface, the message for causing the second device to access the first communications network via the access point. | 10-24-2013 |
20130290132 | SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNTING - A software product server, such as an application server or application store, can receive a purchase request for an application from a remote device. In response to a received request, the software product server is configured to provide an application to a remote device. The remote device receives the application and determines whether the received application is compatible with the remote device. The remote device is configured to generate a verification signal about the compatibility and provide the verification signal to a verification module coupled to the software product server. The verification signal is used to update a user account debit status. For example, a user account is debited when the verification signal indicates the received application is compatible with the remote device. | 10-31-2013 |
20140019743 | COMPUTING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR RESETTING INACTIVITY TIMERS ON COMPUTING DEVICES - Computing devices and methods for resetting an inactivity timer of each of a first and second computing device are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a communication channel between the first computing device and the second computing device, receiving activity input responsive to a user interaction at the first computing device, resetting the inactivity timer of the first computing device, and transmitting a notification via the communication channel to the second computing device that the activity input was received at the first computing device, the inactivity timer of the second computing device being reset in response to receipt of the notification. | 01-16-2014 |
20140145969 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GRAPHIC OBJECT MANAGEMENT IN A LARGE-DISPLAY AREA COMPUTING DEVICE - A system and method of graphic object management for a large-display area computing device having a large-display area is provided. A touch-sensitive small-display provides a representation of the large-display area including a representation of at least one graphic object displayed on the large-display area such as a desktop of an operating system. Input is received from the touch-sensitive small-display in relation to the representation of the at least one graphic object, such as a window or application. An instruction is provided to the large-display area computing device in response to the received input to the graphic object corresponding to the representation the graphic object. | 05-29-2014 |
20140232722 | DISPLAY SCREEN HAVING REGIONS OF DIFFERING PIXEL DENSITY - A display device including: a display screen having first region and second region, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density, the second pixel density being higher than the first pixel density, an input for receiving image data, a power source; and wherein the display screen is operable in a full screen mode in which an image is displayed in both the first region and the second region and a reduced screen mode in which power to the first region is turned off and the image is displayed in the second region. | 08-21-2014 |