Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a fixed format viewing mode in electronic computing devices. The fixed format viewing mode may be engaged upon receiving virtual ink annotations at the touch screen of the electronic device. The annotations may be input using an active stylus. Upon receiving virtual ink annotations, the current page of digital content may be converted into a fixed format page wherein the formatting characteristics are held constant and the annotations remain in the same location with respect to the underlying digital content. Formatting characteristics for other pages of the digital content may be altered, however the fixed format page maintains the same format as when the annotations were added. The user may hide and/or edit virtual ink annotations, and when the annotations are hidden the content of the fixed format page may flow normally and match the formatting characteristics of the rest of the digital content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for programmatically causing a machine to classify and extract the meaning of text are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a system including circuitry configured to identify topics associated with a block of text and one or more categories for each of the topics. Each unique category across the one or more categories may be further associated with one or more levels of parent and/or child categories to form an expanded category set of category nodes having parent-child relationships. Based on a number of category nodes connected to each unique category, the circuitry may be configured to determine one or more filtered categories from the unique categories and one or more filtered topics. Filtered topics or categories may be used to programmatically classify text with a more relevant data set than may be possible without the filtering.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.

Abstract: Techniques for updating an electrophoretic display or other integrating display are provided. A first image data representing the current optical state of the display is combined with a second image data representing the desired next optical state of the display along with a third data representing the charge history of the display to form a compact intermediate representation of the electrical drive signals required to transition the display. Such compact intermediate representations can be provided for each pixel of the display and stored in flash memory. Once determined, these representations of the drive signals can be rapidly replayed from flash memory and further processed to drive the display and affect the desired optical transition from current image to next image while correcting for DC imbalances.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing electronic comic book reading by dynamically expanding text bubbles (“bubbles”) to make them easier to read, especially on a small mobile device. The methods include skimming a sequence of expanded bubbles, flinging through a sequence of expanded bubbles and positioning expanded bubbles so as not to hide the comic character(s) uttering the phrase. The methods are performed with irregular bubble outlines (like curly, bumpy, or jagged text bubbles commonly found in comics). Further the method includes pre-processing the content in an automated fashion to enable skimming and flinging through the sequences of expanded bubbles.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a zoom view mode for use with digital content including multiple regions of interest. Regions of interest may include portions of viewable digital content (e.g., panels of a comic book). In some cases, the mode may be invoked using a zoom command (e.g., double tap) to zoom in on a region of interest. After the mode has been invoked, the user may shift from one region of interest to another using a shift command (e.g., swipe), along a shift path of motion. The shift path of motion may have a non-constant speed and/or non-linear shape (e.g., arc-shaped). In some cases, the shift path of motion speed may be defined by a non-linear easing function curve. In some cases, the mode may be configured to present an entire page when first shifting to a region of interest on that page, to provide overall context to the user.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for purchasing, accessing, and/or providing electronic content by a projection based eReader. In accordance with one embodiment, 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 are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.

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 are disclosed for aiding in charging an electronic device using a charging case. The charging case includes a conductive contact and may connect to a conductive contact of the electronic device while still allowing user access to the main connector port of the electronic device. The charging case includes a power module that may receive power from an external power source. The power module may include an inductive coupling coil, photovoltaic cells, or a power cable port. Circuitry within the charging case may control and transmit power from the power module to the electronic device through the conductive contacts. The charging case may include a battery. The charging case may also include a data module for receiving data from an external data source, and the case circuitry may process and transmit data from the data module to the electronic device through the conductive contacts.

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: A system for illuminating a reflective display or other material from a planar front device and a method of manufacture thereof. The system includes a light guide plate that conducts light from an edge light source across the face of a reflective display. Micro lenses are formed on the inner or outer surface of the light guide and direct the light conducted in the light guide toward the display. A stepped index layer is formed on the surface of light guide plate containing the micro lenses. The stepped index layer has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light guide plate to assist in the total internal reflection of light injected into the light guide plate. A top layer protective coat or touch screen can be laminated to the outside of the light guide plate.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for enhancing the audio component of streamed media provided by an application on a computing device, referred to collectively herein as an enhance audio mode. The mode may be configured to enhance audio by adjusting the volume gain during playback of streamed media from a specific application (e.g., Netflix or Pandora). In some cases, detection of playback from a specific media streaming application may be based on detection of a system file update, which may occur, for example, in a user space level. In some cases, the volume gain adjustment may be applied by an audio codec included with the computing device, which may occur, for example, in a kernel space level. The volume gain adjustment may be determined by analyzing the amplitude of the audio component of media streamed from a specific application relative to the speaker(s) included with the computing device.

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 screen protector is provided with tactile aids for vision-impaired users. The screen protector can be placed on the display screen of a computing device to enhance the out-of-box experience for vision-impaired users and/or guide the user during subsequent use of the device. For example, the screen protector can be configured to be tactilely-informative about how to activate accessibility features of the device and/or how to proceed with initial set-up and configuration of the device. The screen protector may include, for example, braille instructions for activating the accessibility mode and/or a raised or embossed tactile aid that identifies the location of a UI control feature that can be engaged to initiate the accessibility mode or other desired function. Once the user has engaged the accessibility mode, the user may receive verbal instructions and cues going forward so as to allow the user to successfully use the device.

Abstract: A system and method for improving power consumption by providing the ability to detect whether a cover is placed on top of Infrared, IR, touch device. While the cover is in the open state, a certain amount of the light transmitted by the IR transmitters is directed upward and away from the IR receivers in the device. When the cover is closed, this light is reflected off of the cover and is incident on the IR receivers. The system of the present invention recognizes this increased level of received IR light and determines that the cover is in a closed position. Having made such a determination that the cover is placed on the device, the device's power savings system can switch to an appropriate power saving mode.

Abstract: A system and method for providing digital data content to a wireless device. Although a fee is typically charged for access to the digital data content, e.g., electronic books, the system and the method provides controlled access to this content for free while the wireless device is accessing the content in a specified location, e.g., a retail location. A content control server receives a request from the wireless device requesting access to the digital data content. The request is received over a secure connection, preferably a virtual private network (VPN). The content control server monitors how much of the digital data content has been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. This content control server uses this monitored data to control, throttle, the provision of the digital data content to the wireless device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a drag and drop discovery mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In response to a user dragging and dropping a content icon into a search box, the content discovery mode may perform a search for content similar to that deposited into the search box. The search box may increase in size or change appearance while receiving the content icon. The results of such a search may be displayed to the user with a content discovery animation that shows similar content icons emerging from the search box and populating the device screen. The animation may be accompanied by sound effects. The newly discovered content may be randomly scattered over a portion of the screen, or they may be bundled into groups based on similar characteristics, and each group may be accompanied by a header notifying the user of the characteristics of the group.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a cavity of a device are disclosed. A wire or group of wires can be routed in a split wire configuration, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures). One example embodiment includes exposing a cavity between at least two electrical parts within an electrical device, and routing a first electrical component through the cavity and routing a second electrical component in a divergent path to the first electrical component, wherein the first and second electrical component have a common start and end point. In some cases, the first and second electrical components are wires. Numerous such split wire configurations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

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.