Abstract: A method includes receiving an incoming biometric identification request on a first device from a user. First location data for the first device is determined. Second location data associated with at least one previous biometric identification request associated with the user is retrieved. A second level identification request is selectively initiated on the first device based on at least the first and second location data. A device includes a location module to determine first location data for the device, a biometric sensor to generate an incoming biometric identification request from a user, and a processor to retrieve second location data associated with at least one previous biometric identification request associated with the user and selectively initiate a second level identification request on the device based on at least the first and second location data.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a cleaning machine automatically identifies cleaning instructions associated with a load of textile articles, e.g., wearable and/or non-wearable textile articles, using an RFID reader. At least some of the wearable textile articles in the load include a respective RFID tag that provides information to the cleaning machine. In turn, the cleaning machine can configure various cleaning settings based upon the information. Some embodiments identify incompatibilities between the various cleaning settings, and provide a notification of this incompatibility. When the various cleaning settings are compatible, some embodiments automatically start a cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a communication device monitoring for an indication of presence with respect to the communication device. The method involves transmitting, when detecting the indication of presence, a first series of neighborhood awareness networking discovery beacon frames having a first interframe time interval. The method further involves transmitting, when not detecting the indication of presence, a second series of neighborhood awareness networking discovery beacon frames having a second interframe time interval that is longer than the first interframe time interval.

Abstract: A method is performed by a first communication device for directing an antenna beam based on a location of a second communication device. The method includes receiving first location data that indicates the location of the second communication device. The first location data is received over a first communication channel. The method further includes determining, based on the first location data, first antenna beam parameters for directing an antenna beam in order to communicate with the second communication device over a second communication channel.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a wearable, stretchable article comprising stretchable material. The wearable, stretchable article is selected from a group comprising: clothing, a hat, a headband, a wristband, socks, footwear, handwear, shorts, or an undergarment. At least one RFID tag is mounted on the wearable, stretchable article and includes a stretch-activated switch on the at least one RFID tag. The stretch-activated switch has a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is associated with a first RFID tag state and the second mode is associated with a second RFID tag state. The stretch-activated switch comprises a ground contact, an RFID enable contact and a contact to slidably engage the ground contact and the RFID enable contact to transition between the first RFID tag state and the second RFID tag state.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple-input and multiple-output operation in a communication device includes communicating data using multiple-input and multiple-output operation, determining a set of parameters that indicate quality of service associated with communicating the data to another device, and comparing the set of parameters to a set of thresholds. When one or more parameters in the set of parameters exceed one or more thresholds in the set of thresholds, the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a wearable, stretchable article comprising stretchable material. The wearable, stretchable article is selected from a group comprising: clothing, a hat, a headband, a wristband, socks, footwear, handwear, shorts, or an undergarment. At least one RFID tag is mounted on the wearable, stretchable article and includes a stretch-activated switch on the at least one RFID tag. The stretch-activated switch has a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is associated with a first RFID tag state and the second mode is associated with a second RFID tag state. The stretch-activated switch comprises a ground contact, an RFID enable contact and a contact to slidably engage the ground contact and the RFID enable contact to transition between the first RFID tag state and the second RFID tag state.

Abstract: A first communication device performs a method that includes detecting a common network connection with a second communication device. The method further includes determining to perform neighborhood awareness networking scanning on behalf of the second communication device. When the first communication device detects a neighborhood awareness networking transmission while performing the neighborhood awareness networking scanning, it notifies the second communication device and discontinues the scanning on behalf of the second communication device.

Abstract: A device and method for determining a master device in a neighborhood aware network (NAN). The method includes identifying a number of peer devices located within communication range of a first device and that are capable of communicating via the NAN. A master rank value associated with a corresponding peer device is retrieved from each received response. A first master rank value is calculated for the first device, at least partially based on the number of responding peer devices. The first master rank value is compared with the received master rank values of the responding peer devices. In response to the first master rank value being greater than each of the received master rank values, the first device assumes a role of a master device within a NAN cluster that includes the first device and the responding peer devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autopairing a base portable electronic device and a dockable mod device in a modular device system includes detecting at the base device that the mod device has been docked to the base device, wherein such docking forms a wired connection between the base device and the mod device. Wireless communication parameters are received from the mod device at the base device over the wired connection, and the base device detects that the mod device has been undocked from the base device. The received wireless communication parameters are used thereafter at the base device to communicate wirelessly with the mod device.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a wearable, stretchable synthetic or natural textile article. At least one RFID tag is mounted on the wearable, stretchable synthetic or natural textile article. A stretch-activated switch on the at least one RFID tag has a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is associated with a first RFID tag state and the second mode is associated with a second RFID tag state. The stretch-activated switch comprises a ground contact, an RFID enable contact and a contact to slidably engage the ground contact and the RFID enable contact to transition between the first RFID tag state and the second RFID tag state.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a wearable, stretchable synthetic or natural textile article. At least one RFID tag is mounted on the wearable, stretchable synthetic or natural textile article. A stretch-activated switch on the at least one RFID tag has a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is associated with a first RFID tag state and the second mode is associated with a second RFID tag state. The stretch-activated switch comprises a ground contact, an RFID enable contact and a contact to slidably engage the ground contact and the RFID enable contact to transition between the first RFID tag state and the second RFID tag state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle location and orientation use initial location and orientation data in combination with one or more past calculated vehicle speeds and steering angles. A near field radio frequency (RF) transmission is periodically emitted and is receivable by one or more antennas embedded in one or more tires of the vehicle. One or more responsive RF transmissions are periodically received from respective ones of the one or more antennas embedded in the tires, and the vehicle speed and steering angle are periodically calculated based on the received RF transmissions. The current vehicle location and orientation are periodically calculated based on the initial location and orientation data and one or more past calculated vehicle speeds and steering angles.

Abstract: A stretch-activated switch is incorporated in an RFID tag that can be mounted on a stretchable, wearable textile article. The stretch-activated switch can receive a stretch input to place the RFID tag in either an activated or an un-activated state. The stretch input can correspond to a user donning or doffing the stretchable, wearable textile article.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle location and orientation use initial location and orientation data in combination with one or more past calculated vehicle speeds and steering angles. A near field radio frequency (RF) transmission is periodically emitted and is receivable by one or more antennas embedded in one or more tires of the vehicle. One or more responsive RF transmissions are periodically received from respective ones of the one or more antennas embedded in the tires, and the vehicle speed and steering angle are periodically calculated based on the received RF transmissions. The current vehicle location and orientation are periodically calculated based on the initial location and orientation data and one or more past calculated vehicle speeds and steering angles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autopairing a base portable electronic device and a dockable mod device in a modular device system includes detecting at the base device that the mod device has been docked to the base device, wherein such docking forms a wired connection between the base device and the mod device. Wireless communication parameters are received from the mod device at the base device over the wired connection, and the base device detects that the mod device has been undocked from the base device. The received wireless communication parameters are used thereafter at the base device to communicate wirelessly with the mod device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a NAN communication device suppressing NAN scanning and scanning using an alternate scanning protocol while suppressing NAN scanning. The method additionally includes detecting a transmission from another communication device while scanning using the alternate scanning protocol and determining the detected transmission is a NAN transmission. The method further includes discontinuing suppressing NAN scanning in response to detecting the NAN transmission.

Abstract: A method is performed by a first communication device for directing an antenna beam based on motion. The method includes directing an antenna beam in a first direction. The method further includes receiving motion data that indicates movement of the first communication device or a second communication device. Moreover, the method includes determining, based on the motion data, a change in direction of the antenna beam from the first direction to a second direction toward the second communication device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first media access control (MAC) device with a first radio transceiver and having a first MAC address, and a second MAC device with a second radio transceiver and having a second MAC address. The first MAC device is operative to communicate with a first wireless access point using an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The second MAC device is operatively coupled to the first MAC device, and is operative to communicate with a second wireless access point using the same IP address.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first media access control (MAC) device comprising a first radio transceiver and having a first MAC address and a second MAC device comprising a second radio transceiver and having a second MAC address. The second MAC device is operatively coupled to the first MAC device. The first MAC device is operative to receive first MAC layer data for the first MAC device and receive second MAC layer data for the second MAC device, and transmit the first MAC layer data and the second MAC layer data to an access point (AP) using the first radio transceiver of the first MAC device.