Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product that may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic device) to perform a process according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The machine-readable medium (i.e., non-transitory machine-readable medium) may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory. There are other types of media suitable for storing instructions.

Abstract: A method for configuring a mobile computer based on location. The method including determining a change in location of the mobile computer, scoring a current location signature for the mobile computer against previously stored location profiles having location signatures to obtain a highest scoring location profile, and determining whether the highest scoring location profile exceeds a threshold. If the highest scoring location profile exceeds the threshold, then the computer settings for the highest scoring location profile are activated on the mobile computer. If the highest scoring location profile does not exceed the threshold, a new location profile is generated and stored for the current location signature. The new location profile is then activated on the mobile computer.

Abstract: A system includes a camera that may be used for multiple applications including an application to measure the ambient light. The camera may include an automatically set a gain or an aperture as well as a shutter speed. The shutter speed and the gain or aperture from the camera may be used to determine the ambient light. Brightness of a display may be adjusted based on the ambient light.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software share an output of a video capture device, such as a video camera, amongst more than one application. Some embodiments comprise writing video frames to a shared memory buffer that is accessible by one or more applications. Some applications are virtual device drivers that appear as actual device drivers of the video capture device producing the video data. Some embodiments comprise acquiring exclusive control of a video capture device driver, allocating a shared memory buffer, receiving a video frame from the video capture device driver, and writing the video frame to the shared memory buffer. In some embodiments, the shared memory buffer comprises two shared memory buffers that are written to and read from in an alternating fashion.

Abstract: A method for configuring a mobile computer based on location. The method including determining a change in location of the mobile computer, scoring a current location signature for the mobile computer against previously stored location profiles having location signatures to obtain a highest scoring location profile, and determining whether the highest scoring location profile exceeds a threshold. If the highest scoring location profile exceeds the threshold, then the computer settings for the highest scoring location profile are activated on the mobile computer. If the highest scoring location profile does not exceed the threshold, a new location profile is generated and stored for the current location signature. The new location profile is then activated on the mobile computer.

Abstract: An LCD display provides language-independent icons for identifying state and/or activity information about a processor-based system. The LCD display includes a distinct portion for connoting different functional aspects of the system. Icons identifying the power-on state, disk activity, LAN activity, WAN activity, and sensor conditions are supplied.

Abstract: An approach for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information associated with a computer system. For one aspect, a request is received from a requestor for a location property associated with a location of a computer system. It is then determined whether a privacy preference associated with the requestor has been specified. If not, a user may be prompted to supply privacy preferences associated with the requester. The privacy preferences are then applied to determine whether or not to provide the requested information. A user setting, such as a basic input-output system memory location setting, may also be implemented to enable and/or disable location-aware computing.

Abstract: Instant messaging clients provide location information in conjunction with registering their presence with an instant messaging server. The location information may be propagated to other instant messaging clients as well as to other commercial services, such as advertisers, and non-commercial services, so that actions can be taken with respect to locations of the instant messaging clients.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for estimating the location of a network client. In one embodiment, the present invention includes the network client establishing communication with a Local Area Network (LAN), the LAN including a plurality of infrastructure nodes each having a globally unique media access control (MAC) address. The network client then estimates the location of a network client using the MAC address of at least one of the plurality of infrastructure nodes or the MAC address of the network client.

Abstract: A battery backup unit can be used to supply backup power to a computer. The battery backup unit includes a charge circuit that is connected to the computer's power supply unit. The charge circuit is also connected to a battery pack that includes a battery. The charge circuit converts an input high DC voltage signal supplied by the power supply unit to a charging signal. The charging signal can be used to charge the battery in the battery pack. The battery backup unit also includes a discharge circuit that is connected to the power supply unit and the battery pack. The discharge circuit converts a battery signal received from the battery pack to an output high DC voltage signal. The output high DC voltage signal can be fed into the power supply unit in order to drive the power supply unit if there is an indication that the AC power input to the power supply unit is inadequate to drive the computer.