Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for controlling wireless scans used to determine the location of a portable electronic device. In described embodiments, the portable electronic device determines if user notifications are currently suppressed (i.e., if the device is operating in a “do not disturb” mode). In the case that user notifications are currently suppressed on the portable electronic device, the interval between the wireless scans used to determine the location of the portable electronic device is increased. Furthermore, in described embodiments, the portable electronic device determines its location. Then based on its location, it determines a travel time to a boundary (e.g., a geo-fence) and adjusts the frequency of wireless scans used to determine the location of the portable electronic device based on the travel time.

Abstract: A system and methods for improved streaming of content. After streaming of a content item from a wireless device (e.g., a smart phone, a table computer) commences to a presentation device (e.g., a media receiver, a television), the presentation device determines that it can stream the content item from an alternative source, such as a web server, data server or other content repository residing on the Internet or other network. The presentation device initiates the alternative streaming and notifies the wireless device that it may stop streaming. The wireless device may continue to provide control inputs to allow a user to pause, play, fast forward or otherwise control the presentation, and may or may not present the content item locally. If the presentation device must cease streaming of the content item from the alternative source, it notifies the wireless device, which resumes streaming.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a mobile device en route to a destination. A user of a monitored device specifies geo-fence regions along a route to the destination. Entry and exit of regions triggers the sending of event notifications to a monitoring device. Event notifications may be sent if an estimated time of arrival changes due to delay. Event notifications may be sent if the monitored device deviates from a planned route by a threshold distance. Event notifications may be sent through a direct communication link between the monitored device and monitoring device or through a location-based service.

Abstract: Electronic equipment in vehicles may transmit and receive wireless messages. Each wireless message that is transmitted by a transmitter may include information on the vehicle from which it is being transmitted, information on the location of the transmitter within the vehicle, and other vehicle status information. Receiving equipment in vehicles may be used to receive the transmitted messages. Received signal strength indicator information may be associated with the transmitted messages. Using the received signal strength indicator information and information on the locations of the transmitters within the vehicles in which the transmitters are installed, equipment in a receiving vehicle may determine locations for nearby vehicles. Alerts may be presented to a driver of a vehicle and other suitable actions may be taken based on the locations of nearby vehicles, vehicle type information, and other information regarding traffic in the vicinity of the driver.

Abstract: In some implementations, wireless transceivers (“nodes”) can be located throughout a building. In some implementations, an originating mobile device can request the current location of a target mobile device. In some implementation, if a direct connection cannot be established between the originating mobile device and the target mobile device, the originating mobile device can send the location request to one or more nodes in the building. The nodes can relay the location request to the target mobile device. The target mobile device can determine the target mobile device's current location and send the current location of the target mobile device back to the originating mobile device through the nodes.

Abstract: A mobile device can obtain wireless network signal strength map data that indicates, for various nearby geographical regions, the wireless network signal strength in each such region. A mobile device can transmit that data to a vehicular navigation system responsible for automatically selecting a high-quality route of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination. The system can take the wireless network signal map data into account when selecting that route. When selecting from among multiple different routes of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination, the system may employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes, in addition to the other factors. Consequently, the system can select a longer route having better signal strength over a shorter route having worse signal strength. The system can present the selected route within a set of suggested routes, potentially along with reasons for each route's suggestion.

Abstract: Electronic equipment in a system may transmit and receive wireless advertisement messages. Each wireless message may include location information and may have an associated received signal strength indicator when received from transmitting equipment by receiving equipment. The transmitting equipment may be associated with stationary equipment such as equipment installed at a building, adjacent to a road, or in traffic control equipment or other traffic structures. The receiving electronic equipment may be mobile equipment such as a vehicle or mobile computing equipment such as a cellular telephone or portable computer. Satellite navigation system signals may be received by the receiving electronic equipment in addition to the wireless messages. The receiving electronic information can present alerts to a user based on a location determined using the wireless messages and the satellite navigation system signals.

Abstract: An event analysis engine on a user device may be configured to receive information representative of a user event and to determine a type of the event according to the received information. One or more tasks associated with the determined type of event may be identified. Each of the identified tasks may be associated with a reminder having a trigger condition that is a function of information specific to the task. The task-specific information may be retrieved and the reminders associated with the tasks may be displayed when a device condition matches a calculated trigger condition for the reminder. Each task may be identified as completed when a completion condition associated with the task is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for adaptive data connection retry by a wireless communication device is provided. The method can include detecting a failed attempt by the wireless communication device to establish a data connection for an application. The method can further include selecting a data retry pattern having a predefined association with the application from a set of predefined data retry patterns. The set of predefined data retry patterns can be defined based at least in part on application usage data collected by a network entity from wireless communication devices. The method can additionally include retrying data connection establishment in accordance with the selected data retry pattern.

Abstract: A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. When one or more alarms on the device are temporarily disabled or ignored, they may be automatically restored when sensor data indicates a change in the user's activity. The restoration of alarm functionality may be accompanied by a repeat of notifications missed or not responded to during a certain period prior to the sensed change in user activity.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a first device such as a mobile phone can establish a wireless connection with second device, and the second device can act as a bridge between the first device and a peripheral device, such as a printer, so that the first device need not establish a secure pairing or other type of direct connection with the peripheral device. The second device provides a profile of the peripheral to the first device. The first device can then use the profile to access the peripheral device via the second device, with the second device passing data between the first device and the peripheral identified by the profile. This bridging feature simplifies the process of using the peripheral devices, since no secure pairing or other configuration procedure is needed to enable the first device to access the peripheral.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data from a user. During operation, the system obtains, at a cloud computing system, a set of data-sharing preferences for the user. Next, the system creates a set of virtual storage partitions for the user with the cloud computing system based on the data-sharing preferences. Upon receiving data from the user to the cloud computing system, the system associates the data with a virtual storage partition from the set of virtual storage partitions based on the data-sharing preferences and a set of data attributes for the data. Finally, the system manages access to the virtual storage partition by one or more other users based on the data-sharing preferences.

Abstract: Sensor-assisted location technology is disclosed. Primary location technologies, such as GPS, can be used to determine the current location (e.g., a location fix) of a location-enabled device. In some instances, the primary location technology may be unreliable and/or consume more power than an alternative location technology. Sensors, such as accelerometers, compasses, gyrometers, and the like, can be used to supplement and/or increase the accuracy of location data. For example, a location-enabled device can identify an area with unreliable GPS location data and use sensors to calculate a more accurate location. Areas identified may be crowd-sourced. Sensors can be used to identify errors in the location data provided by primary location technology. Sensors can be used to modify a sampling interval of the primary location technology. Sensor can be used to smooth motion on a user interface between sampling intervals of the primary location technology.

Abstract: A telephone number corresponding to an incoming telephone call may be utilized to obtain information associated with the incoming call. If it is determined that the telephone number does not match records stored on the device on which the call is received, a request may be sent from the receiving device to an external device to obtain information associated with the incoming call. The request may be directed to a remote contacts application, another device listed in a data store of the receiving device, or to the calling device itself. When a response is received, the information may be displayed or otherwise utilized by the receiving device.

Abstract: Electronic equipment in vehicles may transmit and receive wireless messages. Each wireless message that is transmitted by a transmitter may include information on the vehicle from which it is being transmitted, information on the location of the transmitter within the vehicle, and other vehicle status information. Receiving equipment in vehicles may be used to receive the transmitted messages. Received signal strength indicator information may be associated with the transmitted messages. Using the received signal strength indicator information and information on the locations of the transmitters within the vehicles in which the transmitters are installed, equipment in a receiving vehicle may determine locations for nearby vehicles. Alerts may be presented to a driver of a vehicle and other suitable actions may be taken based on the locations of nearby vehicles, vehicle type information, and other information regarding traffic in the vicinity of the driver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for sending transfer requests, receiving approvals, and carrying out transfers in a digital wallet application. A mobile payment engine receives a request from a client application associated with a first digital card to apply assets from at least one additional digital card to the first digital card, receives receiving approval to transfer assets from the at least one additional digital card to the first digital card, and transfers the assets to the first digital card. Transfers can be made between digital cards in the same client's digital wallet application and transfers can be made between multiple client device accounts.

Abstract: A method for management of multiple radio links for a wireless peer-to-peer (P2P) session is disclosed. The method can include a wireless communication device providing interface address information for a first radio interface and a second radio interface implemented on the wireless communication device to a peer device when establishing a wireless P2P session with the peer device; establishing a threshold for transitioning between the first radio interface and the second radio interface during the wireless P2P session; determining during the wireless P2P session that the threshold has been met; and in response to the threshold being met, signaling to the peer device to transition to the second radio interface, and using the second radio interface to continue the wireless P2P session.

Abstract: Electronic equipment in a system may transmit and receive wireless advertisement messages. Each wireless message may include location information and may have an associated received signal strength indicator when received from transmitting equipment by receiving equipment. The transmitting equipment may be associated with stationary equipment such as equipment installed at a building, adjacent to a road, or in traffic control equipment or other traffic structures. The receiving electronic equipment may be mobile equipment such as a vehicle or mobile computing equipment such as a cellular telephone or portable computer. Satellite navigation system signals may be received by the receiving electronic equipment in addition to the wireless messages. The receiving electronic information can present alerts to a user based on a location determined using the wireless messages and the satellite navigation system signals.

Abstract: A device includes a touch sensitive surface for receiving touch input or gestures associated with two or more markers representing two or more locations defining a route on a map display. Based on the touch input or gesture, information associated with the route is provided to the user including, for example, the travel distance between the two or more locations and an estimated travel time. In some implementations, a gesture associated with two or more markers representing locations on a map display opens a user interface for providing travel directions for a route associated with the two or more locations.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for providing a plurality of devices the same media content. A plurality of requests for media content may be received where each of the plurality of requests is received from a respective device. It may be determined whether the plurality of requests for media content are for the same media content. In response to determining that the plurality of requests are for the same media content, a single request for the media content may be generated. The media content may be received in response to the single request and the media content may be stored in a memory medium. The media content may be provided to each of the respective devices in response to the plurality of requests.