Abstract: Methods and systems for modelling pipeline construction, include or implement steps of (a) obtaining ranging data of a pipeline construction location including a pipe; (b) processing the ranging data to produce a spatially organized point cloud; and (c) processing the point cloud to identify at least one geometric feature comprising a point or a two-dimensional feature representative of a pipe centreline, and associating the at least one geometric feature with the pipeline construction location. The ranging data may be data obtained from a lidar device. The pipeline construction may be underground construction, where pipe is laid in a ditch. Relevant information, such as depth-of-cover may be calculated from identified geometric features. Relevant information may be determined in real-time or near-real-time and displayed, communicated or recorded as desired.

Abstract: A wireless communicator, including a modular communicator, including a communicator controller, a modem coupled with the communicator controller for sending and receiving data under instruction of the communicator controller, and a connector coupled with the communicator controller for transmitting signals between the modular communicator and a jacket device under instruction of the communicator controller, and a plurality of jacket devices, each jacket device including a housing comprising a cavity into which the modular communicator is inserted, a jacket controller mounted in the housing, a connector coupled with the jacket controller for transmitting signals between the jacket device and the modular communicator under instruction of the jacket controller, a user interface mounted on the housing and coupled with the jacket controller for performing on-line communication functions via the modem, and for performing at least one off-line activity via the jacket controller, and a usage monitor mounted in the ho

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication device including a foreground unit, and a background unit that is physically separated from the foreground unit and in local communication with the foreground unit. The foreground unit is provided to support incoming calls independently of the background unit. Furthermore, the foreground unit and the background unit cooperate to support outgoing calls. The scope of the invention also includes a method for doing business by offering the foreground unit for sale in a packaging having a form factor selected from the group consisting of a pen, a pen cap, a wristwatch, and a necklace.

Abstract: A cellular handset, including a cellular base band modem, including a UART interface, and an SD host interface, a NAND flash memory, a NAND controller coupled with the NAND flash memory, a host device including a host controller, wherein the electronic host device supports an SD connection, and a convergence controller coupled with the cellular base band modem, the host device and the NAND controller, including a UART port for transferring data to and from the cellular base band modem via the UART interface, an SD port for transferring data to and from the cellular base band modem via the SD host interface, an SD port for transferring data to and from the NAND flash memory via the NAND controller, an SD port for transferring data to and from the host device via the host controller, a first mailbox into which the base band modem writes messages and from which the host device reads messages, and a second mailbox into which the host device writes messages and from which the cellular base band modem reads message

Abstract: An enhanced flash memory card, including a flash memory for storing a file system a wireless modem for downloading data from a remote computer to the flash memory, and a driver that controls the modem by associating designated flash card file system commands with modem actions to be performed.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication device including a foreground unit, and a background unit that is physically separated from the foreground unit and in local communication with the foreground unit. The foreground unit is provided to support incoming calls independently of the background unit. Furthermore, the foreground unit and the background unit cooperate to support outgoing calls. The scope of the invention also includes a method for doing business by offering the foreground unit for sale in a packaging having a form factor selected from the group consisting of: a pen, a pen cap, a wristwatch, and a necklace.

Abstract: A communication system, including a modular wireless communicator, including a modem for transmitting and receiving signals wirelessly, and a touch-sensitive display, and a mobile computer, including a housing with a cavity for inserting the modular wireless communicator therein such that the touch-sensitive display is exposed through the housing and accessible for user inputs, and a processor, mounted within the housing, for controlling the modem and for running an operating system that performs computer tasks in response to user inputs detected by the touch-sensitive display, when the modular wireless communicator is inserted in the housing.

Abstract: Audio apparatus, including an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the audio player and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to audio output produced by the audio player, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source

Abstract: A battery charger for an electronic device, including a cable that connects to a source of power at one end, and to an electronic device at the other end, a light emitter connected to the cable, and a sensor connected to the cable and to the light emitter, for activating the light emitter when the sensor detects one or more vicinity light requirements indicating a need for light in the environment of the sensor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An analog/digital switching circuit for connecting a primary electronic device to a peripheral electronic device, including D+ and D? signal lines connected to a primary electronic device, a first analog/digital switch connected to the D+ signal line, for multiplexing an input D+ signal to an output USB data signal or audio left or right signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into a peripheral device connector for connecting the primary device to a peripheral electronic device, a second analog/digital switch connected to the D? signal line, for multiplexing an input D? signal to an output USB data signal or audio right or left signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into the peripheral device connector, a headset left signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio left signal of the first analog/digital switch, a headset right signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio right signal of the second analog/digital switch, a first USB signal line connected to a USB conn

Abstract: A method for synchronized playback of media players, including selecting, by each of a plurality of media players, a multimedia file to be played, monitoring, by each of the plurality of media players, the environment for an external trigger, and upon detection of the external trigger, playing, by each of the plurality of media players, the selected multimedia file.

Abstract: A user interface for a mobile electronic device, including a slider bar that supports three user inputs; namely, (i) slide up, (ii) slide down, and (iii) press, wherein slide up and slide down cause respective scrolling up and scrolling down through a menu of items, and wherein press causes selection of a scrolled-to menu item.

Abstract: A method for arbitrating between a host device and a cellular base band mode for use of a shared SD storage, including requesting, by a cellular base band modem from a host device, access to an SD storage, including writing an access request message, notifying the host device of the access request message, reading, by the host device, the access request message, granting, by the host device, the access request, including writing an access grant message, notifying the cellular base band modem of the access grant message, reading, by the cellular base band mode, the access grant message, holding an SD host bus in a busy state, thereby forcing the host device to hold and not access the bus, accessing, by the cellular base band modem, the SD storage, and upon completion of the accessing, removing the busy state from the SD host bus.

Abstract: A system for bi-directional battery charging, including a first electronic device, including a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device, and a first battery charger, and a second electronic device, including a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device, a second battery charger, a voltage boost that receives an input voltage from the first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to the second battery charger, or else to passively pass the input voltage to the second battery charger; and a controller for programmatically controlling the first and the second battery chargers and the voltage boost, wherein the second electronic device attaches to the first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein the controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of the first and the second rechargeable batteries: (i) whether to supply power to the second electro

Abstract: A transceiver, including a multi-layer printed circuit board including a layer that serves as a first ground plane, and an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals, a second ground plane, and at least one ground contact for connecting the first ground plane and the second ground plane, wherein the first ground plane is too short for the antenna to resonate at a desired frequency, but the first and second ground planes, when connected, provide a combined ground plane sufficient for the antenna to resonate at the desired frequency.

Abstract: A circuit with bi-directional signal transmission, including a first signal source, for generating a first signal comprising one bit per clock cycle during a first plurality of clock cycles, a second signal source, for generating a second signal including one bit per clock cycle during a second plurality of clock cycles, a first buffer, coupled with the first signal source, that outputs the first signal when the first buffer is enabled, a second buffer, coupled with the second signal source, that outputs the second signal when the second buffer is enabled, and a plurality of logical gates, coupled with the first signal source, the second signal source, the first buffer and the second buffer, that control enablement of the first buffer and the second buffer, such that (i) at any given clock cycle at least one of the first buffer and the second buffer is disabled, and (ii) when the first buffer and said the buffer are both disabled, subsequent generation of a ‘0’ bit in the first signal or the second signal cau

Abstract: A system for locating a mobile device user, including a memory, housed within a mobile device, for storing a contact list including records for a plurality of contacts, each record including (i) a name of a contact, (ii) a phone number for the contact's mobile device, if the contact uses a mobile device, and (iii) a list of at least one location entry, each location entry comprising (iii.a) a name of a location associated with the contact, (iii.b) a phone number at the location, (iii.c) an address for the location, and (iii.

Abstract: A power management system for a mobile electronic device, including a microprocessor for continually monitoring a voltage of a battery within a mobile electronic device, wherein the device can operate in either a standalone mode powered by the battery, or in an externally powered mode, and wherein the battery is charged when the device is in external power mode, and a power manager coupled with said voltage meter, for controlling operation of the device according to the following logic: if the monitored voltage falls below an upper turn-on threshold, UTOT, during operation of the device in standalone mode, but is above a lower turn-on threshold, LTOT, then automatically turning the device off, and enabling the device to be turned on in an emergency mode, wherein at least one emergency action is enabled, and if the monitored voltage falls below LTOT during operation of the device in standalone mode, then automatically turning the device off, and preventing the device from being turned on.