Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for preventing tipping of a walking aid including a sensor configured to detect an angle of tilt in a forward direction of a walking aid, an actuator configured to determine whether the angle of tilt crosses a pre-set threshold, and a retractable support that prevents tipping of the walking aid, wherein the actuator causes the retractable support to extend from the walking aid in the forward direction to limit the tilt of the walking aid when the actuator determines that the angle of tilt crosses the pre-set threshold.

Abstract: An online system transmits a notification including a reference to an application to a client device associated with a user. Upon receiving an interaction with the reference to the application, the online system may transmit instructions for retrieving the application to an additional client device associated with the user. For example, if the client device used to interact with the reference has a device type different than a device type associated with the application, the online system selects an additional client device having a device type matching the device type associated with the application to receive the instruction for retrieving the application.

Abstract: According to the invention, one embodiment of a method and program of synchronizing an end device with a data repository is disclosed. In another embodiment, a method for synchronizing data, both multimedia and non-multimedia, with a repository is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for synchronizing data with multiple repositories is provided. In another embodiment a software program to implement said methods is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing social interaction opportunities for people watching television is presented. The system includes: a television data source which transmits television data streams for reception by end devices, each end device being represented by an equipment code; a plurality of end devices, including a first user's end device and a second user's end device, each end device configured to receive a television data streams, and each user represented by an identifier code; and an interactive-information server configured to: store, at the first user's behest, the identifier code of the second user; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the first end device; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the second end device; and notify the first user when the first end device and the second end device are receiving the same television data stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing social interaction opportunities for people watching television is presented. The system includes: a television data source which transmits television data streams for reception by end devices, each end device being represented by an equipment code; a plurality of end devices, including a first user's end device and a second user's end device, each end device configured to receive a television data streams, and each user represented by an identifier code; and an interactive-information server configured to: store, at the first user's behest, the identifier code of the second user; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the first end device; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the second end device; and notify the first user when the first end device and the second end device are receiving the same television data stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing social interaction opportunities for people watching television is presented. The system includes: a television data source which transmits television data streams for reception by end devices, each end device being represented by an equipment code; a plurality of end devices, including a first user's end device and a second user's end device, each end device configured to receive a television data streams, and each user represented by an identifier code; and an interactive-information server configured to: store, at the first user's behest, the identifier code of the second user; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the first end device; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the second end device; and notify the first user when the first end device and the second end device are receiving the same television data stream.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide cross-platform support for a variety of media types. In one embodiment, a method of providing cross-platform support for a variety of media types can comprise translating content provided by one or more servers from one or more media types to one or more common language messages. Each common language message can be one of a plurality of message types. Each message type can represent a different user-facing service provided by the server. The one or more common language messages can be sent to one or more end devices of one or more different device types. The common language messages can be translated to a format specific to one or more of the end devices based on the device type.

Abstract: An online system transmits a notification including a reference to an application to a client device associated with a user. Upon receiving an interaction with the reference to the application, the online system may transmit instructions for retrieving the application to an additional client device associated with the user. For example, if the client device used to interact with the reference has a device type different than a device type associated with the application, the online system selects an additional client device having a device type matching the device type associated with the application to receive the instruction for retrieving the application.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide selectable greetings or responses to a request to initiate a communication. In one embodiment, a method of providing selectable greetings in response to a request to initiate a communication can comprise receiving the request to initiate a communication from an initiating device. The request can identify an intended recipient device. A greeting can be selected from a set of pre-determined greetings in user profile information from a user of the recipient device. A response message to the initiating device can be generated where the response message indicates the selected greeting. The response message can be sent to the initiating device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide common perspectives across multiple end devices of potentially diverse types. In one embodiment, a method of providing common perspectives to multiple end devices can comprise reading one or more common perspectives from a central repository. The one or more common perspectives can define a manner in which the end devices will present data of one or more types. The one or more common perspectives can be applied to selected data and which can then be presented consistent with the one or more common perspectives.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide a search of contents of a webpage, where the search feature is provided as part of the webpage. In one embodiment, a method of providing such an in-page search of contents of a webpage can comprise reading a user's search criteria through an element of the webpage. The contents of the webpage can be searched to identify text matching the search criteria. Formatting instructions can be inserted into the webpage to change the appearance of the identified text relative to other text on the webpage. The webpage can be redisplayed with the inserted formatting instructions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide notification of receipt of a communication across multiple platforms of potential diverse types. Cross-platform message notification can comprise receiving a request to initiate a communication from an initiating end device. The request may identify a single intended recipient device. A plurality of possible recipient devices can be identified for the request to initiate a communication based on user profile information from a user of the initiating end device. The request to initiate a communication can be forwarded to each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially a same time. The initiating end device can be connected to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media to provide notification of calendar events across multiple platforms of potentially diverse types. In one embodiment, a method of cross-platform calendar notification can comprise detecting an occurrence of a previously set calendar event. Profile information for a user associated with the calendar event can be read and one or more end devices to which to provide notification of the occurrence of the calendar event can be determined based on the profile information. A notification message can be generated indicating occurrence of the calendar event. The notification message can be sent to each of the one or more end devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of providing propagation of user preferences to multiple end devices can comprise receiving a request for user preference information, the request originating from a requesting end device. One or more sewers storing preference information for a user associated with the requesting end device can be identified. The preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device can be read from the one or more servers and a response message can be generated. The response message can include the preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device from the one or more servers. The response message can be sent to one or more recipient end devices.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide content of various media types to various platforms or devices. In one embodiment, providing content of a first media type to a recipient end device can comprise receiving from an initiating end device a request for a communication with the recipient end device. The first media type can be determined from the request and a second media type appropriate for use by the recipient end device can be determined. A service to convert the content of the first media type to content of the second media type can be determined. The indication of the content of the first media type can be submitted to the service and an indication of the content of the second media type can be received from the service. The content of the second media type can then be provided to the recipient end device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing social interaction opportunities for people watching television is presented. The system includes: a television data source which transmits television data streams for reception by end devices, each end device being represented by an equipment code; a plurality of end devices, including a first user's end device and a second user's end device, each end device configured to receive a television data streams, and each user represented by an identifier code; and an interactive-information server configured to: store, at the first user's behest, the identifier code of the second user; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the first end device; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the second end device; and notify the first user when the first end device and the second end device are receiving the same television data stream.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide selectable greetings or responses to a request to initiate a communication. In one embodiment, a method of providing selectable greetings in response to a request to initiate a communication can comprise receiving the request to initiate a communication from an initiating device. The request can identify an intended recipient device. A greeting can be selected from a set of pre-determined greetings in user profile information from a user of the recipient device. A response message to the initiating device can be generated where the response message indicates the selected greeting. The response message can be sent to the initiating device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide notification of calendar events across multiple platforms of potentially diverse types. In one embodiment, a method of cross-platform calendar notification can comprise detecting an occurrence of a previously set calendar event. Profile information for a user associated with the calendar event can be read and one or more end devices to which to provide notification of the occurrence of the calendar event can be determined based on the profile information. A notification message can be generated indicating occurrence of the calendar event. The notification message can be sent to each of the one or more end devices.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide device specific notification of incoming communications. In one embodiment, a method of providing device specific notification of incoming communications can comprise receiving a request to initiate a communication from an initiating end device. The request can identify an intended recipient device. A format for a notification to the recipient device can be determined based on user profile information for the recipient device. The notification to inform a user of the recipient device of the communication can be generated based on the format. The notification can then be sent to the recipient device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide content of various media types to various types of platforms or devices. In one embodiment, providing content of a first media type to a recipient end device not normally associated with the first media type can comprise receiving from an initiating end device a request for a communication with the recipient end device. The communication can include an indication of the content of the first media type. A service to convert the content of the first media type to content of a second media type compatible with the recipient end device can be determined. The indication of the content of the first media type can be submitted to the service which returns an indication of the content of the second media. A communication with the recipient end device can be initiated to deliver the content of the second media type.