Abstract: An electrical device includes a screen with an aperture formed therein. The device includes a light source, a light sensor and a light conduit. The light conduit is operatively positioned between the aperture on one side and the light source and light sensor on the other. When the light source is activated, some of the light energy emitted therefrom is received in the light conduit. This light energy can travel through the light conduit to the aperture, through which the light energy can exit the device, thereby providing notice to a user of some condition. Light energy received in the aperture from outside the device can enter the light conduit and pass therethrough to the light sensor. The brightness of the screen can be adjusted based on the amount of light energy received by the light sensor.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a protected mode in which the device automatically locks itself after a period of inactivity. In the protected mode, the device can determine whether it is in a trusted location. If the device is not in a trusted location, the device continues in the protected mode. If the device is within a trusted location, the device can alter the protected mode, such as by disabling the protected mode. Alternatively, a parameter associated with the protected mode can be changed. For instance, the period of inactivity before the device automatically self locks can be increased. The trusted location can be defined by a specific network, specific wireless access point, specific geographic coordinates or an express user indication. Such a device can avoid the frustration of repeatedly locking and unlocking the device if the user is located in an environment in which privacy and security concerns are minimized.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and managing a network of electrical devices includes a central device operatively connected to a plurality of end devices by a network, such as a ZigBee network. The central device can monitor the status of the first plurality of end devices and display the status of the end devices. The central device can also be configured to command an aspect of at least one of the first plurality of end devices. Thus, the user can remotely monitor and adjust an aspect of one or more of the end devices by the central device. All end devices connected to the network can be monitored and managed from the central device, thereby improving monitoring of the devices and providing a convenient way to adjust the devices to desired conditions.

Abstract: A method of translating raw formatted IR codes to discrete formatted IR codes. A raw formatted IR message representing an IR code can be detected. The IR message can include a raw formatted device ID including a first series of IR pulses and a raw formatted command ID including a second series of IR pulses. The IR message can be encoded into a definition that defines the first and second series of pulses contained in the IR message. Encoded data corresponding to the device ID and the command ID can be identified. The encoded data corresponding to the device ID can be matched to a particular device to identify a discrete formatted device ID. The encoded data corresponding to the command ID can be matched to a particular command to identify a discrete formatted command ID. The discrete formatted device ID and the discrete formatted command ID can be stored.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a base station of a local wireless telephony system routes data between a handset on a first link and a data network-connected device on a second link of a local wireless telephony interface to provide data service to the handset.

Abstract: A method of selecting an access point to provide communication network presence to a communication device. The method can include detecting a plurality of access points and performing scans of the detected access points over each of a plurality of period windows to detect short-term attributes and long-term attributes associated with each detected access point. When a new scan of the detected access points is performed over a new period window, an oldest set of short-term attributes can be purged from a prior period window. The short-term attributes, the long-term attributes and a time-invariant attribute can be processed for each of the access points to rank the access points in terms of priority. An access point having the highest priority can be selected to be the access point to provide the communication network presence to the communication device.

Abstract: A multi-media device and accompanying method of use are described herein. The device includes a housing, a display that is integrated within the housing and a processor. The processor can be operable to cause a user interface for multiple users to be displayed on the display. The user interface can include a user indicator that selectively displays a representation of each user associated with the multi-media device and provides a selection mechanism that provides a way for a user to select a particular representation. The user interface can also include a scrolling mechanism. When activated, the scrolling mechanism can cause the user indicator to selectively display the representations of the users based on a manner in which the scrolling mechanism is activated.

Abstract: In a load monitoring unit capable of monitoring power usage of an electrical device, a method of detecting a possible security breach is described herein. In one arrangement, the method can include the steps of setting a power threshold in the load monitoring unit in which the power threshold corresponds to the electrical device and monitoring power usage of the electrical device through the load monitoring unit. The method can also include the step of generating a security breach signal if the power usage of the electrical device reaches the power threshold.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a first heat sink and a second heat sink. The printed circuit board is disposed internal to the housing and supports at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip. The first heat sink is also disposed internal to the housing and is thermally connected to the at least one IC chip. The second heat sink is connected to the housing such that at least a portion thereof is externally disposed to the housing. The second heat sink is thermally connected to the first heat sink via an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: An integrated VoIP phone that seamlessly integrates POTS phones and IP phones is provided. In an embodiment, the integrated VoIP phone includes a Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”) registrar, a SIP session border control (“SBC”), a SIP proxy, a SIP feature server, a SIP-PSTN gateway, a user interface and VoIP telephony functionality found in traditional VoIP phones. In an embodiment, the integrated VoIP phone includes one or more analog telephone adaptors. Other VoIP entities, such as FXS adaptors, register themselves with the integrated VoIP phone through the SIP SBC. These other entities appear as extensions on the integrated VoIP phone and the outside network will only directly communicated with the integrated VoIP phone.

Abstract: A method and a processing system for creating distinct user spaces. In a platform originally intended to be a single user platform, for each of a plurality of users, at least one mountable element can be uniquely assigned to the user and data associated with the user can be stored to the assigned mountable element to create a multi-user platform.

Abstract: A method of, and a processing system for, creating distinct user spaces. In a platform originally intended to be a single user platform, for each of a plurality of users, a first application used by the user can be assigned a user identifier (UID) unique to the user and the first application. The first UID can be associated with user data exclusively associated with the user and the first application to create a multi-user platform.

Abstract: A method and computing device for creating distinct user spaces are described. Concerning the method, in a platform originally designed as a single user platform, user data associated with a plurality of users can be stored and segmented. In addition, links to point to user data that is associated with a current user can be generated in which the link creation can exploit a predefined path associated with storing data in the single user platform. The method can also include the step of preventing the current user from accessing user data associated with non-active users.

Abstract: A communication system is described that includes a mobile communication device and a docking station with which the mobile communication device can be selectively engaged and disengaged. The mobile communication device includes telephony logic that enables a user to conduct a voice call using a first speaker/microphone and/or a first network interface provided by the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is disengaged from the docking station and that enables the user to conduct a voice call using a second speaker/microphone and/or a second network interface provided by the docking station when the mobile communication device is engaged with the docking station. The telephony logic is also capable of dynamically switching between the use of the first and second speakers/microphones and/or the first and second network interfaces in response to detecting engagement or disengagement of the docking station during a voice call.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.

Abstract: A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.

Abstract: A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.

Abstract: A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.