Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a display for displaying results of a search for data records, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications and, for each application of the plurality of applications, respective associated metadata identifying a location of the data records associated with the application, a mapping for associating data in the data records with a unified format utilized by a search client, and an identification of filterable fields and the filtering method. The portable electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the display and to the memory to utilize the metadata stored in association with the plurality of applications to perform a search of the data records and identify a plurality of the data records that accord with the search query to provide search results, and provide the search results in a unified format on the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a display for displaying results of a search for data records, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications and, for each application of the plurality of applications, respective associated metadata identifying a location of the data records associated with the application, a mapping for associating data in the data records with a unified format utilized by a search client, and an identification of filterable fields and the filtering method. The portable electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the display and to the memory to utilize the metadata stored in association with the plurality of applications to perform a search of the data records and identify a plurality of the data records that accord with the search query to provide search results, and provide the search results in a unified format on the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a computing device entails displaying a user-rotatable three-dimensionally rendered object on a display of the computing device, the object presenting a plurality of user-selectable visual indicia such that only a subset of the indicia are visible at any one angle of rotation and providing access to the computing device based on user input received in relation to at least one of the visual indicia. The object may be spherical or polyhedral or it may be composed of a plurality of independently rotatable rings that together form a generally spherical shape. The visual indicia may be letters, numbers, symbols, colours, photographs or any other visually distinctive indication.

Abstract: Personalization of a mobile device, including receiving at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of personalization policies stored on the mobile device a personalization policy that corresponds to the unique code; and storing the selected personalization policy in a persistent protected storage element of the mobile device. Customizing a mobile device, including determining at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of customized data sets stored on the mobile device a data set that corresponds to the unique code; and activating the selected data set on the mobile device.

Abstract: Personalization of a mobile device, including receiving at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of personalization policies stored on the mobile device a personalization policy that corresponds to the unique code; and storing the selected personalization policy in a persistent protected storage element of the mobile device. Customizing a mobile device, including determining at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of customized data sets stored on the mobile device a data set that corresponds to the unique code; and activating the selected data set on the mobile device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a computing device entails displaying a user-rotatable three-dimensionally rendered object on a display of the computing device, the object presenting a plurality of user-selectable visual indicia such that only a subset of the indicia are visible at any one angle of rotation and providing access to the computing device based on user input received in relation to at least one of the visual indicia. The object may be spherical or polyhedral or it may be composed of a plurality of independently rotatable rings that together form a generally spherical shape. The visual indicia may be letters, numbers, symbols, colours, photographs or any other visually distinctive indication.

Abstract: Personalization of a mobile device, including receiving at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of personalization policies stored on the mobile device a personalization policy that corresponds to the unique code; and storing the selected personalization policy in a persistent protected storage element of the mobile device. Customizing a mobile device, including determining at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of customized data sets stored on the mobile device a data set that corresponds to the unique code; and activating the selected data set on the mobile device.