Abstract: A chain of establishments provides an online ordering system that allows a customer to order virtual items or services from an online menu. When an order is placed, the customer receives an order code that may then be verified at one of many establishment locations at one of many times to initiate order fulfillment. When the order code is verified at a particular restaurant, a point-of-service (POS) system maps the virtual items associated with the order to actual, in-stock items or services that are available at the particular establishment. The order may then be fulfilled and provided to the customer. One advantage of the disclosed technique is that the customer may pickup the order from any desired establishment location, and is not required to select a particular location when the order is placed. Consequently, the customer is provided with streamlined and flexible order placement and fulfillment experience.

Abstract: Information such as navigation information is delivered to a mobile device user in a cellular communications network via a device other than the mobile device. A small cell telecommunications base station receives from the mobile device an identification of the mobile device, and determines a location of the user within the small cell. Based on the identification of the mobile device and the location of the user of the mobile device, the information is delivered to the user via a device other than the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods for processing a media content are disclosed. For example, a method captures the media content, determines a direction from which the media content is captured, encrypts the media content, and sends the media content that is encrypted toward a receiving device in the direction from which the media content was captured. Another method captures the media content, determines a direction from which the media content is captured, encrypts the media content and uploads the media content that is encrypted to a data store. The method then sends a notification toward a receiving device in the direction from which the media content was captured. The notification identifies that the media content that is encrypted has been uploaded to the data store.

Abstract: A method that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, providing a first digital assistant to engage in a first communication exchange with a user of the first communication device where the first digital assistant has a first digital assistant persona that controls information provided by the first digital assistant during communication exchanges, analyzing user input during the first communication exchange, and adjusting the first digital assistant persona based on one or more of the user persona, user deficiency, or promotional offers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for utilizing bone conduction to detect gestures. According to one aspect, a device can generate a signal and send the signal to a sensor network that is connected to a user. The device can receive a modified signal from the sensor network. The modified signal can include the signal as modified by a body of the user. The device can compare the modified signal to the signal to determine a difference in a feature between the signal and the modified signal. The device can determine a gesture performed by the user based upon the difference in the feature between the signal and the modified signal.

Abstract: The location of a container and the location of a storage device that stores a particular item are determined. A determination is made that the particular item is placed in the container. The locations of the particular item and the container are tracked as the container moves through a premises. For a purchase-related transaction, a determination is made whether the location of the particular item corresponds to the location of the container. If the location of the particular item corresponds to the location of the container, a cost for the particular item is included in the purchase-related transaction. If not, the cost for the particular item is not included in the purchase-related transaction, and the location of the particular item is accounted for.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for detecting body language via bone conduction. According to one aspect, a device can detect body language of a user. The device can generate a signal and send the signal to a sensor network connected to a user. The device can receive a modified signal from the sensor network and compare the modified signal to a body language reference model. The device can determine the body language of the user based upon comparing the modified signal to the body language reference model.

Abstract: Tracking intrinsic and extrinsic vehicle parameters for optimizing vehicle performance is presented herein. A method can include consolidating sets of data associated with a vehicle to generate a model; generating, using the model, recommendation data representing a recommendation associated with an operation of the vehicle; and in response to receiving a request from a device of the vehicle corresponding to the operation of the vehicle, sending, based on the request, a message comprising the recommendation directed to the device of the vehicle. In an example, the method can further include determining, based on crowdsourced data representing the characteristic of the element of the vehicle, whether the characteristic satisfies a defined condition with respect to the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may obtain presence information associated with a plurality of communication devices of a user, obtain operational capability information and usage profiles for the plurality of communication devices, obtain state information for each of the plurality of communication devices, and adjust a first device persona of a first communication device based on the presence information, the operational capability information, the usage profiles, and the state information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Tracking remaining storage capacity of a vehicle using sensors via a wireless system of the vehicle is presented herein. A method can include receiving, by a system comprising a processor, first data representing an object; receiving, by the system, second data representing a storage space of a vehicle; and determining, by the system using the first data and the second data, whether the object is capable of placement within the storage space of the vehicle. In an example, the method can further include displaying, by the system, information representing an order of placements of a set of objects comprising the object, a proposed location for the object, and/or a proposed orientation for the object within the storage space of the vehicle in response to the object being determined to be capable of placement within the storage space of the vehicle.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a remotely activated monitoring service. The monitoring service can be executed by a server computer. The server computer can detect an event associated with a user device. The server computer can determine that monitoring of a proximity of the user device is to be initiated based upon the event. The server computer can determine a geographic location of the user device and identify monitoring hardware that is to monitor the proximity of the user device. The server device also can issue a command to the monitoring hardware to initiate monitoring of the proximity of the user device by the monitoring hardware.

Abstract: Methods for forwarding media content are disclosed. For example, a method identifies a known participant captured in the media content, detects an unknown participant captured in the media content and sends a request to a device of the known participant to identify the unknown participant and to provide contact information for the unknown participant. The method then receives from the device of the known participant, the contact information for the unknown participant and sends the media content to a device of the unknown participant using the contact information.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a housing; a flexible display positioned in the housing; an actuator coupled to the flexible display; an energy generation device coupled to the flexible display; a battery to receive current from the energy generation device in a charging mode; a processor; and a computer readable medium with computer-executable instruction stored thereon, that when executed by the processor cause the processor to initiate operations including: determining that charging mode has been entered; and generating a command signal to the actuator to create a protrusion on the flexible display in response to determining that charging mode has been entered.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a housing; a flexible display mounted in the housing; an actuator coupled to the flexible display; a processor; and a computer readable medium with computer-executable instruction stored thereon, that when executed by the processor cause the processor to initiate operations including: generating a vibratory notification by sending a command signal to the actuator to alter a position of the flexible display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide both a network-based, e.g., cloud-based, and apparatus based in-call command control for dynamically performing user commands such as voice commands or gesture commands. The result allows for hands free operation of a calling system including one where the user is located separate from a base station. The systems and methods provide for recognizing both voice and gestural commands. The systems and methods further provide for dynamically filtering commands so that commands are not perceived by those participating in the call. Further, the systems and methods provide for notifying the user, who has given the command, regarding the performance of the requested command.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide both a network-based, e.g., cloud-based, and apparatus based in-call command control for dynamically performing user commands such as voice commands or gesture commands. The result allows for hands free operation of a calling system including one where the user is located separate from a base station. The systems and methods provide for recognizing both voice and gestural commands. The systems and methods further provide for dynamically filtering commands so that commands are not perceived by those participating in the call. Further, the systems and methods provide for notifying the user, who has given the command, regarding the performance of the requested command.

Abstract: Message delivery is controlled based on the context of the recipient and the content of the message. A message is received from a sender device, the message containing dynamic content. Contextual requirement data is received from the sender device indicating a dynamic contextual requirement to be met for the message to be made available to a user of a recipient device. Context data is received, indicating a context of the user of the recipient device. The dynamic content and the dynamic contextual requirement are modifiable, depending on the context data. The context data is evaluated to determine whether the dynamic contextual requirement is met. Responsive to the dynamic contextual requirement being met, the message is made available to the user of the recipient device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a group of facial objects detected from an image captured by a camera coupled with a media device where the facial objects correspond to a plurality of users, determining authentication information for each of the plurality of users based on the facial objects, and providing the authentication information to a group of content service systems for enabling the media device to access aggregated media services from the group of content service systems. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving, at a customer premises equipment (CPE) device, a request to send media content to a media device. The method includes retrieving the media content to the CPE device from a data source in response to the request. The method includes establishing two or more concurrent communication connections between the CPE device and the media device. The method also includes sending the media content as data packets via data packet streams to the media device from the CPE device. A data packet stream of the data packet streams is sent via each communication connection of the two or more concurrent communication connections, and each data packet stream includes less than all data packets of the media content. The media device processes the data packets received via the data packet streams to output of the media content for one or more devices.

Abstract: Disclosed example methods to distribute communication of a data stream include, in response to a request received from a first device, assigning a number of communication ports to a stream splitting session via which communication of the data stream is to be distributed among a plurality of devices. Such example methods also include determining a type of the request from among a plurality of possible types. Such example methods further include, when the request corresponds to a first type, providing information to the first device for distribution among the plurality of devices, the information to be used to establish respective data connections via which respective portions of the data stream are to be received by the plurality of devices during the stream splitting session.