Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector that includes jaws configured to transition between an opened condition and a closed condition, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a control circuit, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal, determine a position of the detected media based on the received signals, and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to mobile widgets. In particular, apparatus and methods for integrating network services and/or network resources with widget capabilities, managing mobile widgets, providing portability to mobile widgets, and generating content with respect to a mobile widget. In one aspect, a method for integration of network services and/or resources with widget capabilities is provided. The method may include providing for an interface between a widget management component and at least one of a network resource or a network service. The method may also include accessing, at the widget management component via the interface, at least one of a network resource or network service. Further, the method may include integrating the network resource or the network service with a widget functionality.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for presenting marketing information to a customer based on proximity to marketing areas. A wireless identity transmitter associated with the customer may periodically transmit wireless broadcast messages that include obscured identifiers. A proximity broadcast receiver within a retail store, such as near a product display or aisle, may receive and relay the broadcast messages to a server which may process the included information. Based on proximity information and other conditions, the server may transmit marketing information relevant to the customer and a proximate marketing area, such as coupons and offers. In an embodiment, the server may store data based on broadcast messages that may indicate foot traffic and other information valuable to merchants. The server may also transmit messages based on stored permissions that indicate whether the customer desires to receive marketing information and whether the server is authorized to provide the customer's identity to merchants.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for changing operational modes of a widget and changing content feed to a widget based on operational mode changes and/or memory availability on the wireless device are provided. Apparatus and methods for managing the runtime memory usage of mobile widgets on a wireless device by changing widget states based on widget usage data are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system of providing custom background-downloads, where content is selected for background downloading to a subscriber based on an analysis of the current time, the subscriber's current location, and online transaction history records regarding a plurality of subscribers over time, each record indicating content that was a subject of the transaction. A custom content server may determine the subscriber's current location and the current time, and the server may then select transaction history records reflecting transactions that occurred in the past at a similar location and time (possibly just records for transactions involving the subscriber currently at issue). The server may then select one or more pieces of available content based on their similarity to the content indicated by the selected transaction records. And the server may background-download the selected content to the subscriber. The invention can be used to provide custom-channel definitions or custom content-catalogs, for instance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scheduling a content update of a mobile widget are provided. The method may include receiving a widget update consideration. The method may also include generating a content update schedule for a mobile widget based on the update consideration. Further, the method may include storing the generated content update schedule for use in updating a content of the mobile widget.

Abstract: An adaptive media distribution system provides an on demand user experience across a limited throughput wireless network by selectively utilizing available storage on a handheld communication device, taking advantage of increased availability of extended memory solutions. Creation of an adaptable user interface (UI) widget (e.g., Trig) serves as a near real-time mechanism for delivery of media content, overcoming the over-the-air latency and difficulties with streaming interoperability. Yet, for handheld communication devices with limited storage, the adaptive media distribution system further allows legacy devices to receive on demand services via streaming, albeit with the requisite relatively long latency associated with cellular multimedia services.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transport optimization for widget content delivery includes obtaining updated content corresponding to a mobile widget having a plurality of informational hierarchical depths, and obtaining user navigation pattern historical data corresponding to the mobile widget, wherein the user navigation pattern historical data corresponds to the plurality of informational hierarchical depths. The aspects also include obtaining a first informational hierarchical depth range for inclusion in a first content update message for delivery to a device, wherein the first informational hierarchical depth range is based on the user navigation pattern historical data. Further, the aspects include generating a content update message with a first portion of the updated content corresponding to the first informational hierarchical depth range.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to mobile widgets. In particular, apparatus and methods for integrating network services and/or network resources with widget capabilities, managing mobile widgets, providing portability to mobile widgets, and generating content with respect to a mobile widget. In one aspect, a method for integration of network services and/or resources with widget capabilities is provided. The method may include providing for an interface between a widget management component and at least one of a network resource or a network service. The method may also include accessing, at the widget management component via the interface, at least one of a network resource or network service. Further, the method may include integrating the network resource or the network service with a widget functionality.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for changing operational modes of a widget and changing content feed to a widget based on operational mode changes and/or memory availability on the wireless device are provided. Apparatus and methods for managing the runtime memory usage of mobile widgets on a wireless device by changing widget states based on widget usage data are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to mobile widgets. In particular, apparatus and methods for integrating network services and/or network resources with widget capabilities, managing mobile widgets, providing portability to mobile widgets, and generating content with respect to a mobile widget. In one aspect, a method for integration of network services and/or resources with widget capabilities is provided. The method may include providing for an interface between a widget management component and at least one of a network resource or a network service. The method may also include accessing, at the widget management component via the interface, at least one of a network resource or network service. Further, the method may include integrating the network resource or the network service with a widget functionality.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for changing operational modes of a widget and changing content feed to a widget based on operational mode changes and/or memory availability on the wireless device are provided. Apparatus and methods for managing the runtime memory usage of mobile widgets on a wireless device by changing widget states based on widget usage data are also provided.

Abstract: While a mobile node is engaged in a communication session via a first air interface channel, the user of the mobile node requests a vertical handoff. In response to the user's handoff request, the mobile node goes into a dormant mode to release the first air interface channel. The mobile node then acquires a second air interface channel, which may have a higher data rate than the first air interface channel, and continues the communication session via the second air interface channel. The mobile node may also determine that a vertical handoff may be available, e.g., by checking a preferred roaming list (PRL), and then indicate to the user that a vertical handoff may be available.

Abstract: A method of customizing a device in accordance with the company for whom the device-user works and in accordance with the job held by the user at the company. A provisioning system receives a request to provision (e.g., activate) a device and responsively determines the company at which the device-user works and the job held by the user at the company. The provisioning system then establishes customization-data usable by the device to become customized in a manner corresponding with the company and job, and the provisioning system sends the customization-data to the device to cause the device to become customized accordingly. This process can be applied to automatically customize a device so as to adopt a base user-interface, functionality, and reference data that is all related to the company at which the device-user works and that is tailored in a manner appropriate to the user's job at the company.

Abstract: A proxy for SMS-based wireless instant messaging (IM) is located on a network server. The proxy provides an on-line IM presence for a mobile device user and facilitates multiple cross-platform IM services without requiring protocol specific functionality locally installed on the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the proxy is configured with information about the user such as userID and login information. In operation, the proxy may log into a plurality of IM systems and provide an indication of the user's presence. Upon receiving IM messages directed to the user, the proxy may 1) automatically reply; 2) forward a converted message to the user's current presence; 3) forward a converted message to the user's on-line message repository; and/or 4) store the message for future delivery. The proxy may also provide presence information of contacts for the mobile device user.

Abstract: A method and system of providing custom background-downloads, where content is selected for background downloading to a subscriber based on an analysis of the current time, the subscriber's current location, and online transaction history records regarding a plurality of subscribers over time, each record indicating content that was a subject of the transaction. A custom content server may determine the subscriber's current location and the current time, and the server may then select transaction history records reflecting transactions that occurred in the past at a similar location and time (possibly just records for transactions involving the subscriber currently at issue). The server may then select one or more pieces of available content based on their similarity to the content indicated by the selected transaction records. And the server may background-download the selected content to the subscriber. The invention can be used to provide custom-channel definitions or custom content-catalogs, for instance.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for providing relevant user information to devices within proximity of a user. A wireless identity transmitter associated with the user periodically broadcasts messages that include obscured identifiers. A proximate proximity broadcast receiver may receive and relay the broadcast messages to a central server which may process the included information. Based on categories related to the proximity broadcast receiver and the user, the central server may identify subsets of stored profile information about the user that are relevant to the proximity broadcast receiver. The central server may transmit relevant profile information to devices to assist in activities associated with the proximity broadcast receiver. In an embodiment, the central server may only transit relevant profile information that is authorized by the user via permissions associated with the profile.

Abstract: An intermediary such as a gateway will intercept a markup document being sent in a response message from a web server to a client station and will determine that the client station does not have stored locally the set of objects necessary to render the markup document. The intermediary will then modify the response message to include both the markup document and the necessary set of objects. Upon receipt of the response, the client station will extract and store the objects as non-cached objects, to be used when rendering the markup document. Preferably the client station is a cell phone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the frequency of content background-downloading. An apparatus such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or computer, will be set to perform background-downloads of content at a particular frequency. The apparatus will then determine the frequency with which a user accesses background-downloaded content on the device, and the apparatus will use the determined frequency as a basis to automatically adjust the background-download frequency. For instance, if the user-access frequency is greater than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may increase the background-download frequency, whereas, if the user-access frequency is less than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may decrease the background-download frequency.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dynamically varying a content download depending on whether the download is a foreground-download or a background-download. When a server receives a content-request from a device, the server determines whether the content-request is foreground-generated or background-generated and accordingly selects a set of content to transmit in response to the device. If the content-request is background-generated, for instance, the server may select a smaller quantity of content, since the device user might not be actively involved with the download. On the other hand, if the content-request is foreground-generated, the server may select a larger quantity of content, since the user is involved at the time. Alternatively, the device itself may select a location from which to request content, based on whether the download is a foreground-download or a background-download.