Abstract: An automated suggestion moderation system is provided that enables a group of users of portable computing devices to collaboratively pose suggestions and make decisions with the support of a software-moderated process. In one embodiment a user of a first portable computing device enters a suggestion into a user interface of the device. A representation of the suggestion is conveyed over a communication link to one or more other portable computing devices. A representation of the suggestion is displayed to a user of each respective portable computing device. A response to the suggestion is accepted from a user of each respective portable computing devices, the response indicating a level of acceptance or rejection of the posed suggestion. A software process receives the responses, tallies the responses, and generates a resulting decision; an indication of the decision is sent to and displayed on one or more of the portable computing devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing peer-to-peer force feedback over a computer network. A network force feedback system includes a network, a first computer coupled to the network, and a second computer coupled to the network. The first and second computers each include a visual display and a force feedback interface device. Each computer provides a force feedback signal to its force feedback device based on information received from the other, remote computer and in some cases also based on input from the local force feedback device. Positional information of each force feedback device and/or feel sensation information can be transmitted between the computers over the network. A graphical environment can be displayed to enhance the interaction between users. The present invention therefore permits two computer users to interact using force feedback provided over a network on a peer-to-peer basis.

Abstract: An establishment-based server is configured to receive electronic attendance messages from each of a plurality of portable computing devices wherein each electronic attendance message indicates that a user associated with the portable computing device is in attendance within an identified physical establishment. In response to the receipt of an electronic attendance message, the server automatically performs a process of chance to determine if a user associated with the portable computing device wins a free or discounted product or service of the identified physical establishment. If so, the server automatically sends an award message to the portable computing device, informing that a free or discounted product or service has been won. The award message may be redeemed by the user within the identified establishment for the free or discounted product or service. The award message may be time-limited such that it may only be redeemed within a limited time period.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatus that enable a user of a portable computing device to selectively communicate with other users of portable computing devices while those devices are engaged in an ad-hoc network. More specifically, the present invention enables a first user of a first portable computing device to gain information about and/or send a message to a second user of a second portable computing device by pointing a portion of the first portable computing device at the then current physical location of the second user. In this way a first user of a first portable computing device may naturally and conveniently select a second user of a second portable computing device from among a plurality of users of other portable computing devices engaged in an ad-hoc network and selectively gain information about the second user and/or send a message to the second user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically selecting a media file for play to a user from a plurality of available media files is disclosed, the selecting being performed with consideration of the age and/or gender of the user. In some embodiments the selecting is performed, at least in part, using an identified age of the user and age-specific popularity data for each of a plurality of media files. In some embodiments the selecting is performed using an identified gender of the user and gender-specific popularity data associated with a plurality of media files. In some embodiments both age and gender are used in combination. In some embodiments an age and/or gender of the user is predicted based upon a history of media file selections and/or preferences of the user.

Abstract: A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Abstract: A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for selecting musical media files from a plurality of available musical media files for play to a user based at least in part upon a current location of the user. In an embodiment, a spatial media server stores a set of geospatial playlists, each of which is associated with at least one designated location or area within the physical world. A processor implements a spatial media selection application configured to select a particular geospatial playlist from the set of geospatial playlists based on a current location of a portable electronic device of the user. In an embodiment, the spatial media selection application selects the particular geospatial playlist from the set of geospatial playlists based also on a current environmental condition proximal to the electronic device. An automated selection process is then used to select and play a particular media file from the selected geospatial playlist. The automated selection process may include a weighted random selection routine.

Abstract: A system, computer implemented method, and computer readable storage medium is provided which enables customers of an establishment to collaboratively reject a media file that is currently playing and/or pending to be played within that establishment by entering data into a personal wireless portable computing device on their person, for example a cellular telephone. Upon entering a rejection request, and where necessary an establishment identifier, a message is sent over a wireless link to a media server which performs a series of logical tests to determine if the media file is actually terminated prior to full completion of play. In this way, a plurality of separate customers may use their portable computing devices to collaboratively reject specific musical media file selections that are currently playing or currently pending for play within a particular physical establishment.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for enabling a collective emotional experience among a plurality of separately located media viewers. The system incorporates an interactive broadcast media controller operative to transmit a first portion of media content to a plurality of local media devices; dynamically receive a plurality of emotional response data from a plurality of local emotional response collectors; dynamically integrate audience sounds into a subsequent portion of the common media content and transmit the subsequent portion of the common media content to the plurality of local media devices. The plurality of local emotional response collectors are associated with the plurality of separately located users and operative to detect emotional responses elicited by the associated users and dynamically transmit emotional response data representations of the detected emotional responses to the interactive broadcast media controller.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus for enabling groups of patrons of localized physical establishments, such as restaurants and retail stores, to collaboratively select the sequence of musical media for public play. Some embodiments comprise receiving, at a centralized media server, a plurality of media request over a network from a plurality of separate personal portable computing devices, such as mobile phones. Each media request may comprise a media identifier, an establishment identifier and a customer identifier. In response to receiving such media requests, the centralized media server updates a listing of media files pending for play within a localized physical establishment associated with the establishment identifier. The centralized server also provides messaging functions, returning information to the portable computing devices of participating patrons, the information including for example, textual song dedications, song title and artist information, playlist lengths, and song popularity information.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for implementing a portable media player that enables rhythmic exercise games to be performed by the user. In one embodiment a user may bob and/or jump along with a playing musical media file and be awarded points based upon the number, rate, magnitude, frequency of the bobbing and/or jumping. In another embodiment a user may bob and/or jump along with a playing musical media file and be awarded points based upon a level of rhythmic synchronicity with the playing musical media file. In this way a user may listen to music, while bobbing and/or jumping along with the music, and have an aerobic exercise gaming experience.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising capturing an ambient audio signal; processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and reducing an output of a media player from a first volume to a second volume if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal. The characteristic forms may be, for example, a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player, the voice of a user of the media player, or an alarm or siren.

Abstract: A method of providing a mobile gaming experience to a group of users of portable computing devices within a predefined spatial area. Positional data and orientational data from each of the portable computing devices is received and stored in a tracking database. Position and orientation sensors local for a first portable computing device are read to determine a current location and a current targeting vector for the first portable computing device. A targeting area within a real physical world is determined based on the current location and the current targeting vector. A determination is made regarding whether the first portable computing device scores a hit on a second portable computing device within the targeting area.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for outdoor computer gaming is disclosed in which an actual physical football, equipped with a motion sensor, is used as the user manipulatable object by which users provide gaming input. Some embodiments provide a computer moderated catch game comprising a tossable gaming object including a sensor for detecting motion imparted upon the tossable gaming object by a user; and one or more processors adapted to receive a representation of sensor data from the sensor, determine from the representation of sensor data when the tossable gaming object has been thrown by a user and when the tossable gaming object has been caught by a user, and run a scoring routine that determines a gaming score based at least in part upon a plurality of determined throw events and a plurality of determined catch events.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing the movement of a shaft with a computer includes a support, a gimbal mechanism having two degrees of freedom, and three electromechanical transducers. When a shaft is engaged with the gimbal mechanism, it can move with three degrees of freedom in a spherical coordinate space, where each degree of freedom is sensed by one of the three transducers. A fourth transducer can be used to sense rotation of the shaft around an axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided which enables a media player to automatically select and play one or more media files from among a plurality of available media files to a group of users such that each of the members of the group are likely to be partial towards the automatically selected media file. In an exemplary embodiment, the media player may be configured to automatically select the media file from the plurality of available media files in dependence on media exposure history data and/or media taste preference data of associated with each of the users in the group of users. In another exemplary embodiment, the media exposure history data and/or the media taste preference data associated with each user may be retrievably stored in a portable information device on the person of the user.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for a shake responsive portable computing device used in simulating a randomization object for playing a game of chance. The portable computing device includes a processor, a motion sensor functionally coupled to the processor and configured to detect shaking motions imparted on the portable computing device by a user, a display coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor and a simulation program operatively loaded into the memory. The simulation program includes instructions executable by the processor to identify deliberately imparted characteristic shaking motions from the detected shaking motions, generate a randomized gaming result in dependence on the identified characteristic shaking motion signals and output the randomized gaming result to the display as a graphical representation of a randomization object.

Abstract: A system is provided for wirelessly transferring at least one data file in response to a detection of a flick gesture performed by a user. An electronic device to receive at least one data file from a handheld computing device. The handheld computing device includes (a) a display to display an icon corresponding to the at least one data file; (b) a touch screen to detect that an area of the display associated with the icon corresponding to the at least one data file is touched by a finger of a user; (c) a processor to determine whether the flick gesture is performed by the user; and (d) a communication element to transfer the at least one data file from the handheld computing device to the electronic device in response to the detected flick gesture. The flick gesture comprises the user touching the icon with a finger and then sliding the finger quickly across the display in a motion that feels to the user as if he or she is flicking the icon off the screen and to the electronic device.