Abstract: A method for obtaining an improved plasticized material results from two differentiated steps: an esterification reaction for synthesizing a polycarboxylic acid ester oligomer in the presence of excess polyol and a catalyst, and a second step of gelatinization and plasticization at temperatures above 90° C. involving a starch mixed with water and with the polycarboxylic acid ester oligomer with excess polyol obtained in the previous step, and a coadjuvant. The catalyst used in the esterification reaction is the same as the coadjuvant used in the gelatinization and plasticization reaction. The plasticized material obtained with this method has a higher stability and a lower migration rate than known plasticized materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for inhibiting corrosion of metallic surfaces and dissolving iron sulfide deposits in aqueous systems. A method may include adding a composition to the aqueous medium. The composition may include malic acid or a salt thereof. The composition may optionally include an organic solvent and/or a corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for constructing and deconstructing encoded messages. A method for constructing an encoded message comprising: providing an unencoded message having one or more unencoded characters; identifying one or more suitable human-readable phrases indexed from one or more codebooks wherein characters from extended character sets are mapped to standard characters having similar appearances to the characters from the extended character sets to create one or more human-readable phrases; selecting a suitable human-readable phrase from the one or more codebooks; and generating an encoded message by mapping the unique and repeating characters of the unencoded messages to the extended character set provided by the selected human-readable phrase. Corresponding systems, and computer system products may be provided.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, a geo-position determining device, and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver and the geo-position determining device. The controller may be configured to receive a tag geo-position from an NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, determine the geo-position of the mobile wireless communications device using the geo-position determining device, and perform at least one device unlock operation when the tag geo-position is within a threshold distance from the mobile wireless communications device geo-position.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for constructing and deconstructing encoded messages. A method for constructing an encoded message comprising: providing an unencoded message having one or more unencoded characters; identifying one or more suitable human-readable phrases indexed from one or more codebooks wherein characters from extended character sets are mapped to standard characters having similar appearances to the characters from the extended character sets to create one or more human-readable phrases; selecting a suitable human-readable phrase from the one or more codebooks; and generating an encoded message by mapping the unique and repeating characters of the unencoded messages to the extended character set provided by the selected human-readable phrase. Corresponding systems, and computer system products may be provided.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, a geo-position determining device, and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver and the geo-position determining device. The controller may be configured to receive a tag geo-position from an NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, determine the geo-position of the mobile wireless communications device using the geo-position determining device, and perform at least one device unlock operation when the tag geo-position is within a threshold distance from the mobile wireless communications device geo-position.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, a geo-position determining device, and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver and the geo-position determining device. The controller may be configured to receive a tag geo-position from an NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, determine the geo-position of the mobile wireless communications device using the geo-position determining device, and perform at least one device unlock operation when the tag geo-position is within a threshold distance from the mobile wireless communications device geo-position.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver. The controller may be configured to receive tag data from at least one NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, verify the tag data, and when the tag data is successfully verified, perform at least one device unlock operation. The controller may be further configured to determine whether the tag data should be changed based on a predetermined schedule, and if it is determined that the tag data should be changed, communicate with the at least one NFC tag to change the tag data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time-based mediation of wireless communications is provided to a user of a wireless communications device. The method involves determining local time information associated with the recipient communication device in response to a user-initiated contact function; determining a mediation condition based at least in part on said local time information; and if the mediation condition satisfies a predetermined criterion: providing, to a user of the wireless communication device, an indication of said mediation condition; presenting, to said user, a menu of two or more options for contacting the recipient communication device using the wireless communication device; and initiating communication in accordance with an option selected from said menu. The method can be implemented on an apparatus such as a wireless communication device.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for creating a transcription of a conference call. The system joins an audio conference call with a device associated with a participant, of a plurality of participants joined to the conference through one or more associated devices. The system then creates a speech audio file corresponding to a portion of the participant's speech during the conference and converting contemporaneously, at the device, the speech audio file to a local partial transcript. The system then acquires a plurality of partial transcripts from at least one of the associated devices, so that the device can provide a complete transcript.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, a geo-position determining device, and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver and the geo-position determining device. The controller may be configured to receive a tag geo-position from an NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, determine the geo-position of the mobile wireless communications device using the geo-position determining device, and perform at least one device unlock operation when the tag geo-position is within a threshold distance from the mobile wireless communications device geo-position.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver. The controller may be configured to receive tag data from at least one NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, verify the tag data, and when the tag data is successfully verified, perform at least one device unlock operation. The controller may be further configured to determine whether the tag data should be changed based on a predetermined schedule, and if it is determined that the tag data should be changed, communicate with the at least one NFC tag to change the tag data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time-based mediation of wireless communications is provided to a user of a wireless communications device. The method involves determining local time information associated with the recipient communication device in response to a user-initiated contact function; determining a mediation condition based at least in part on said local time information; and if the mediation condition satisfies a predetermined criterion: providing, to a user of the wireless communication device, an indication of said mediation condition; presenting, to said user, a menu of two or more options for contacting the recipient communication device using the wireless communication device; and initiating communication in accordance with an option selected from said menu. The method can be implemented on an apparatus such as a wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time-based mediation of wireless communications is provided to a user of a wireless communications device. The method involves determining local time information associated with the recipient communication device in response to a user-initiated contact function; determining a mediation condition based at least in part on said local time information; and if the mediation condition satisfies a predetermined criterion: providing, to a user of the wireless communication device, an indication of said mediation condition; presenting, to said user, a menu of two or more options for contacting the recipient communication device using the wireless communication device; and initiating communication in accordance with an option selected from said menu. The method can be implemented on an apparatus such as a wireless communication device.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for creating a transcription of a conference call. The system joins an audio conference call with a device associated with a participant, of a plurality of participants joined to the conference through one or more associated devices. The system them creates a speech audio file corresponding to a portion of the participant's speech during the conference and converting contemporaneously, at the device, the speech audio file to a local partial transcript. The system then acquires a plurality of partial transcripts from at least one of the associated devices, so that the device can provide a complete transcript.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time-based mediation of wireless communications is provided to a user of a wireless communications device. The method involves determining local time information associated with the recipient communication device in response to a user-initiated contact function; determining a mediation condition based at least in part on said local time information; and if the mediation condition satisfies a predetermined criterion: providing, to a user of the wireless communication device, an indication of said mediation condition; presenting, to said user, a menu of two or more options for contacting the recipient communication device using the wireless communication device; and initiating communication in accordance with an option selected from said menu. The method can be implemented on an apparatus such as a wireless communication device.