Abstract: An approach for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information associated with a computer system. For one aspect, a request is received from a requestor for a location property associated with a location of a computer system. It is then determined whether a privacy preference associated with the requestor has been specified. If not, a user may be prompted to supply privacy preferences associated with the requestor. The privacy preferences are then applied to determine whether or not to provide the requested information. A user setting, such as a basic input-output system memory location setting, may also be implemented to enable and/or disable location-aware computing.

Abstract: An approach for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information associated with a computer system. For one aspect, a request is received from a requestor for a location property associated with a location of a computer system. It is then determined whether a privacy preference associated with the requestor has been specified. If not, a user may be prompted to supply privacy preferences associated with the requestor. The privacy preferences are then applied to determine whether or not to provide the requested information. A user setting, such as a basic input-output system memory location setting, may also be implemented to enable and/or disable location-aware computing.

Abstract: An approach for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information associated with a computer system. For one aspect, a request is received from a requestor for a location property associated with a location of a computer system. It is then determined whether a privacy preference associated with the requestor has been specified. If not, a user may be prompted to supply privacy preferences associated with the requester. The privacy preferences are then applied to determine whether or not to provide the requested information. A user setting, such as a basic input-output system memory location setting, may also be implemented to enable and/or disable location-aware computing.

Abstract: A method, machine readable medium, and system is disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises establishing a connection between a wireless electronic device and one or more supervisory devices associated with a local area of wireless coverage, negotiating an associated environment protocol between the wireless device and the one or more local area supervisory devices, and determining which functions are available for use on the wireless device in the local area based on the outcome of the negotiation.

Abstract: Mobile devices may utilize various sensors to gather context information pertaining to the user's surroundings. These devices may also include and/or access other types of information pertaining to the user, such as the user's calendar data. In one embodiment, mobile devices may utilize some or all the gathered information to determine the appropriate behavior of the mobile device, in conjunction with the user's preferences.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a scanned command mark written with a conventional writing implement onto a conventional medium, and recognizing the scanned command mark as a command that may be executed by a processor. The method may further include recognizing a command mark that comprises a notational, transformational and operational mark.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to index and retrieve pixel data. Pixel data is received, and connected pixel components are identified. The connected pixel components are associated with segments. Spatial invariant features are extracted for each of the segments, and keys are acquired for each segment. The features and keys are associated with one another and indexed in a data store for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: A technique for automatically finding and organizing items similar to example items includes providing related, not related, and suggestions group areas for one organization instance, each in these areas to contain items which may consist of documents. At least one example item for the one organization instance is provided by a user and placed in the related group area of the one organization instance. A database is searched using a relevance algorithm to try to locate at least one item which is related to the at least one item in the related group area based on a predetermined criterion and the located at least one item is placed in the suggestions group area of the one organization instance. The predetermined criterion is modified based on at least one of the user providing at least one additional example item and the user moving an item from one of the group areas to another of the group areas.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a memory storage unit to store an electronic version of a page and a processor coupled to the memory storage unit. The processor is configured to receive data associated with a handwritten notation applied to a printed page and an electronic image of an area of the printed version of the page near the notation, to identify a corresponding passage in the electronic version of the page and to create an electronic notation based on the received data and associated with the corresponding passage.

Abstract: Mobile devices may utilize various sensors to gather context information pertaining to the user's surroundings. These devices may also include and/or access other types of information pertaining to the user, such as the user's calendar data. In one embodiment, mobile devices may utilize some or all the gathered information to determine the appropriate behavior of the mobile device, in conjunction with the user's preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic relevance-base sharing information between handheld devices are provided. A centralized location stores interest profiles of a plurality of users of handheld devices. A profile agent and a sharing agent in a computing device obtain, from the centralized location, a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of a user operating the computing device and mark sharable items of such user with users to whom the item is relevant. The synchronizer synchronizes the list and the marked sharable items to the handheld device of the user operating the computing device. The logic embedded in the handheld device allows automatic relevance-based sharing of items between the handheld device and other handheld devices.

Abstract: A system and method for finding items related to an example item or a set of example items in a low processing power device with limited storage are provided. The system comprises relationship agents, an item relationship database, a synchronizer, and logic for finding related items. The relationship agents are embedded in a computing device separated from the low processing power device. The relationship agents automatically build relationship information between different items based on certain criteria, including temporal relevance, content relevance and people relevance. The item relationship database is formed by the relationship agents and stores the relationship information between different items. The synchronizer transfers the item relationship database, or a portion thereof, from the computing device to the low processing power device. Using queries to the transferred item relationship database, logic embedded in the low processing power device finds items related to the example item.

Abstract: A system and method for finding items related to an example item or a set of example items in a low processing power device with limited storage are provided. The system comprises relationship agents, an item relationship database, a synchronizer, and logic for finding related items. The relationship agents are embedded in a computing device separated from the low processing power device. The relationship agents automatically build relationship information between different items based on certain criteria, including temporal relevance, content relevance and people relevance. The item relationship database is formed by the relationship agents and stores the relationship information between different items. The synchronizer transfers the item relationship database, or a portion thereof, from the computing device to the low processing power device. Using queries to the transferred item relationship database, logic embedded in the low processing power device finds items related to the example item.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a list of people relevant to a task includes receiving content associated with a task, automatically generating a query for a list of people based on terms obtained from the content, generating the list of people in response to the query, and presenting the list of people to a user

Abstract: A system that the tracks a likely object within the user's field of view. This is done by taking a picture of the field of view, and processing that picture to determine likely objects within the picture being viewed. Those likely objects are than correlated against a database, and information about the objects are returned. The information can be either raw information that is sent over an information link, or an address to local information. The information sent back can indicate, for example, more information about a painting being viewed, or more information about a theme park attraction.

Abstract: A system and method for browsing on behalf of others. A browsing device sends a content request to a content server. The content request includes a request for content and/or resources suitable for execution on the target device, a target device profile and a browser profile. The browser profile is for enabling the server to return information regarding the requested content and/or resources for display by a browsing device. The target device profile is for enabling the server to return downloadable content to the browsing device corresponding to the information regarding the requested content and/or resources in a format suitable for execution on the target device. The browsing device receives the information regarding the requested content and/or resources in the form of Web pages, the Web pages comprising one or more of titles, information regarding the titles, video clips, media shots, screen shots, etc. The browsing device enables a user to select the desired content presented on the Web pages.

Abstract: Methods and systems index and retrieve pixel data. Pixel data is received, and connected pixel components are identified. The connected pixel components are associated with segments. Spatial invariant features are extracted for each of the segments, and keys are acquired for each segment. The features and keys are associated with one another in a data store. In one embodiment, a scan of a portion of printed media is received as pixel data and associated with segments having spatial invariant features and keys. The invariant features and keys are searched in a data store for a match, and a pointer to an electronic image of the entire printed media is returned along with links to additional electronic data associated with the electronic image.

Abstract: A method of automatically associating data items residing in diverse applications, including, but not limited to: file system explorer, outlook, email and Web Browser applications that are executable in a host computer system with a data item selected by a user from one of the diverse application, said method comprising: monitoring incoming data items from the diverse applications; creating and maintaining meta-data which stores data items in a compact form, by associating incoming data items from the diverse applications with previously created meta-data of related data items and creating new meta-data for incoming data items not related to items contained in previously created meta-data; locating and displaying data items related to a data item selected by a user upon a command by said user; and updating the meta-data for the displayed data items in response to a user command.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a scanned command mark written with a conventional writing implement onto a conventional medium, and recognizing the scanned command mark as a command that may be executed by a processor. The method may further include recognizing a command mark that comprises a notational, transformational and operational mark.

Abstract: An ambient-aware headset is described. A mixer coupled to an external audio source receives an external audio signal. The mixer is also coupled to an ambient audio source to receive an ambient audio signal. The mixer mixes the external audio signal and the ambient audio signal according to a specified relationship. A speaker coupled to the mixer emits the external audio signal and the ambient audio signal into an ear canal of a user after the external audio signal and the ambient audio signal have been mixed by the mixer.