Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a content selecting mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The content may be, for instance, text, photos, and/or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a gesture that includes a combination of contact points on the touch sensitive surface that identifies the content selecting mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a first contact point at a starting location in the content, and a second contact point at an end location in the content to be selected. Upon receiving the second contact point, the content between the first and second contact points is selected. The selection may be traverse section breaks, column breaks, and page breaks as needed, depending on the placement of the contact points. Intervening navigation gestures such as scrolling or paging swipes between the two contact points can be used to locate the desired end location.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a content selecting mode in electronic touch screen devices. The content may be, for instance, text, graphics, images, files, and/or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a combination of gestures and touch points on the touch screen. The combination may include, for example, one or two initial touch points at a desired starting location of the target content, followed by a dragging gesture with two or more touch points moving from that location to the desired end location of the target content, wherein content between the starting and end locations is highlighted or otherwise selected. In one example case, if the initial touch includes multiple touch points then selecting of the target content may commence immediately, while a single initial touch point causes selecting to commence after a brief hold or the addition of another touch point at the starting location.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a concentration mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The concentration mode can be used to highlight given textual content on a line by line basis, or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a particular gesture. Once engaged, a UI feature is displayed that assists the user in viewing the given content. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that encompasses one to three complete lines of displayed text or other content. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, a straight-edged reading guide. The initial placement of the UI feature can be set, for instance, based on the initial contact point touched by the user. As the contact point moves, the UI feature moves accordingly. Concentration mode disengages when user releases contact point.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for expanding and collapsing content in electronic touch sensitive devices. The expand/collapse function can be used to navigate through content that may be displayed on a screen. The user can engage the function with a pinch-based gesture. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that displays a sample of the previously hidden detailed data relating to the content currently displayed on the screen. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, tap-expand feature that allows the user to select one or more items that are intended to be expanded or collapsed. Such a feature can include an initial single contact, followed by an inward or outward pinch with at least one additional contact point, in some example case.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for archiving and restoring content in electronic touch sensitive devices. The archive/restore function can be used to move, delete, or restore content that may be displayed on a screen. The user can engage the function with a particular pinch-based gesture. In some cases, the archive function includes closing a document or application, saving a file to a selected location, reversibly deleting a file, permanently deleting a file, or deleting a user-selected portion of content. In some cases, the restore function includes recovering a file from the trash bin by saving it to a previous save location, or returning content view to a previous state. In some cases, the archive function includes deleting a user-selected portion of a document, deleting a file, saving a file to a selected location, or saving one or more items to a previous save location.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a circular gesture mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the mode with a particular gesture that includes a combination of contact points that uniquely identify that the circular gesture mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a press-and-hold activation contact point in conjunction with one or more additional contact points moving in a circular motion, or a multiple contact points moving circular motion. The circular gesture can be used to cause, for instance, specific functions within a given application, and/or within different applications. Clockwise movement can be used to cause one type of change, while counter-clockwise motion can be used to cause another type. Changing pages, sections, and chapters of a book, or changing volume of an audio application, or changing a tool within a given application, or from changing from one application to another are example uses.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a navigation mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The navigation mode can be used to advance forward and backward through displayed pages of content on a page-by-page or multi-page basis, such as pages of an eBook, photos, lists such as search results and files, or other consumable content that can be displayed in a page-like fashion. The user can engage the navigation mode with a particular gesture that includes a combination of contact points that uniquely and/or globally identify that the navigation mode is desired. The combination may include, for example, a press-and-hold activation contact point by one hand of the user, and one or more additional moving gesture contact points that indicate the desired navigation using the other hand of the user. Horizontal and/or vertical paging speeds correspond to the number of moving contact points, which can be effected with swiping or circular gestures.

Abstract: A transactional flow to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device.

Abstract: A registration flow to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device.

Abstract: An architecture and techniques to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device.

Abstract: An authentication scheme to facilitate lending of digital content at an authorized location to an authenticated electronic device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing product recommendations based on content clusters. The product may be, for example, goods or services. In some embodiments, the techniques are implemented in a system configured to form a product cluster based at least in part on product metadata, correlate the product cluster based at least in part on product correlation data, and calculate each product distance to a center of each correlated product cluster. In some cases, the system may be further configured to generate recommendations based on product clusters, wherein only products within a given distance to a center of each correlated product cluster are recommended. In some cases, forming a product cluster is carried out using k-means clustering so as to minimize the within-cluster sum of squares.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing product recommendations based on content clusters. The product may be, for example, goods or services. In some embodiments, the techniques include forming a product cluster based at least in part on product metadata, correlating the product cluster based at least in part on product correlation data, and calculating each product distance to a center of each correlated product cluster. In some cases, the techniques may further include generating recommendations based on product clusters, wherein only products within a given distance to a center of each correlated product cluster are recommended. In some cases, forming a product cluster is carried out using k-means clustering so as to minimize the within-cluster sum of squares, and the techniques may further include optimizing the within cluster sum of squares.

Abstract: A method for processing a search query according to one embodiment includes receiving a search query containing terms; combining at least some consecutive terms in the search query to create biwords; looking up at least some of the terms and biwords in a search index for identifying sections of documents containing the at least some of the terms and/or biwords; generating a content score for each of the identified sections based at least in part on a number of the terms and biwords found in the sections of each document, wherein the biwords are given a higher priority than matched terms, wherein the priority affects the content score; and selecting and outputting an indicator of at least one of the sections, or portion thereof, based at least in part on the content score.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection and interpretation of unique and distinctive gestures by extending the input sensor area to a perimeter area beyond the display area. In systems that have more flexible requirements, an additional gesture band can be located within the display area. The extended input sensor area allows for new gestures that are facilitated by the expanded sensor area. One gesture initiated around the corner of the device is most useful as ‘next’ and ‘previous’ navigation gestures found in traditional electronic publication reader applications, but can be overloaded or repurposed to serve different functions depending on the context. An gesture is used to initiate screen capture process. A third gesture is a corner-fold bookmark gesture and is used to bookmark a page by ‘dog earing’ the corner of the page electronically. An additional gesture, also initiated at the corner of the device launches selectable icons for the most frequently used applications.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for purchasing, accessing, and/or providing electronic content by a projection based eReader. In accordance with one embodiment invention, a projector system is provided that is configured to engage a lighting socket and can be controlled by, for example, a remote control and/or imaged user input actions. Power to the system can be received through the socket based interface. The techniques can also be used in non-socketed configurations. The system is capable of creating large images suitable for reading large publications, such as newspapers or magazines, but can generally be used for any type of content including small print. In some embodiments, the system projects an image onto a lightweight, rigid screen that can be held by an individual that is situated in the area near the projection system.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The electrical tape surrounding a battery may be cut or otherwise breached in order to expose the cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the battery cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. The electrical tape surrounding a device may be folded, cut, or otherwise altered in order to create a trough between distinct device elements. A wire or other component may then be routed within the trough. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two device elements (e.g., two battery cells) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The brackets may be placed within the cavity between device elements after cutting a section of the electrical tape. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the device elements, creating a structurally stable trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the device elements.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for lighting displays such as those associated with electrophoretic display (EPD) devices such as e-readers or any other display technologies or applications. In an embodiment, an EPD device is provided with a number of internal LEDs or other suitable light source generally disposed along at least a portion of the display perimeter. The light can be activated in situations where the available ambient light is inadequate for viewing the display. Light from the light source is distributed across the display, and in some embodiments can be adjusted to provide a desired degree of brightness. The light can be turned on or off via an existing single press-button or otherwise tactile, physical user interface that serves multiple functions. This user interface can be readily found and engaged by the user without the benefit of sight.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The electrical tape surrounding a battery may be cut or otherwise breached in order to expose the cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the battery cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells.