Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retrieving local information on a user device include detecting itinerary information stored by a first application on a user device, and identifying a travel destination based on the detected itinerary information. The travel destination is communicated to a second application executable on a user device, and the travel destination is stored in association with the second application. The second application is adapted to retrieve local information based on an identified geographic location, and local information for the travel destination is provided through the second application in response to a user interaction with the second application and based on a triggering threshold associated with the itinerary information.

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: Techniques for performing various communications functionality based on detecting a bump condition and/or close proximity between wireless devices. A wireless access point may be configured to automatically initiate an authentication procedure with a User Equipment (UE) device in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity between the UE device and the wireless access point. The particular proximity may be detected based on a signal strength of a radio frequency signal. The wireless access point may also be configured to disable a security protocol. A UE device may be configured to participate in an authentication procedure and/or automatically transfer data to the wireless access point in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity.

Abstract: Techniques for performing various communications functionality based on detecting a bump condition and/or close proximity between wireless devices. A wireless access point may be configured to automatically initiate an authentication procedure with a User Equipment (UE) device in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity between the UE device and the wireless access point. The particular proximity may be detected based on a signal strength of a radio frequency signal. The wireless access point may also be configured to disable a security protocol. A UE device may be configured to participate in an authentication procedure and/or automatically transfer data to the wireless access point in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity.

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: A method for selecting an out of service (OOS) scan mode for a wireless communication device is provided. The method can include the wireless communication device detecting occurrence of an OOS condition; setting a displacement threshold in response to the OOS condition; determining a displacement magnitude indicative of a distance traveled by the wireless communication device during the OOS condition; determining whether the displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; using a first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and using a second scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold. The first scan mode can have a greater scan frequency than the second scan mode.

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: A speech output to be provided to a user of a device is received. Thereafter, it is determined if the device is currently receiving speech input from a user. Upon determining that the device is not currently receiving speech input from the user, the speech output to the user is provided. On the other hand, upon determining that the device is receiving speech input from the user it is determined if provision of the speech output is urgent. When the speech output is urgent, the speech output is provided to the user. When the speech output is not urgent, provision of the speech output to the user is stayed.

Abstract: A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) uses combinatorial logic to automatically adjust alarms, notifications, reminders, and the like based on data from device event histories, on-board sensors, user-entered data, and similar information. One particular representative embodiment comprises a process for automatically deleting an unneeded reminder. For example, a user may have a personal electronic device that is set to issue a reminder for a meeting in a certain place, on a certain date at a certain time. If location sensors detect that the user is already at the certain place on the certain date at (or reasonably before) the certain time, the now superfluous reminder is automatically cancelled.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retrieving local information on a user device include detecting itinerary information stored by a first application on a user device, and identifying a travel destination based on the detected itinerary information. The travel destination is communicated to a second application executable on a user device, and the travel destination is stored in association with the second application. The second application is adapted to retrieve local information based on an identified geographic location, and local information for the travel destination is provided through the second application in response to a user interaction with the second application and based on a triggering threshold associated with the itinerary information.

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: 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. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain data from remote sensors which may be worn by the user. A personal “scorecard” may be generated from the raw data and from data concerning other users. Personal, raw characterization data may be computed into personal statistical data by averaging over time. Then, it may be sent (anonymously) to a server that receives such data from many (or all) users. The server may return personal statistical positioning to enable comparison of the user to other participants. In certain embodiments, the generation of a personal scorecard from the personal position in the group statistics may be performed in the user's device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining updated navigation information are presented. A first computing device can receive routing information from a second computing device, where the routing information is indicative of a route determined by the second computing device to a destination. Subsequently, navigation instructions can be provided at the first computing device based upon the routing information received from the second computing device. The first computing device then can receive, from the second computing device, a change to the routing information. Thereafter, and responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, the first computing device can provide modified navigation instructions.

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: Disclosed herein is a technique for preventing words from spanning across message blocks of a short message service (SMS) message. An SMS message is generated at a source wireless device, and an SMS manager, executing on the source wireless device, determines whether any words in the SMS message span across two or more message blocks of the SMS message. When so determined, the SMS manager attempts to shift characters of the SMS message across the message blocks to eliminate any word spanning. When the attempt to shift the characters between message blocks requires at least one additional message block to transmit the complete SMS message, the SMS manager gathers information about the destination wireless device to determine whether it is necessary to carry out the aforementioned shifting prior to sending the message blocks. The SMS manager then transmits the message blocks either unmodified or modified (i.e., shifted).

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: 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: 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. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the device—such as motion sensors, location sensors, and the like—may also be used to deduce the user's current activity. In one embodiment, an extended period of inactivity triggers a reminder to the user to get up, stretch and move about. In other embodiments, transitions in a user's activity level may be used to trigger reminders and/or set the state of the device (such as a Do Not Disturb state wherein notifications and alarms are suppressed).

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.