Abstract: A connection hub includes a housing coupled to a universal serial bus (USB) cable that includes a plug for electronic devices. A housing of the connection hub includes a number (N) of ports and switches. The connection hub includes 1-to-N connections between the USB cable and the N ports, where each of the N ports includes a data line and/or a power line. The switches each include a mechanical component that is movable between a first position that activates a private mode and a second position that deactivates the private mode. A data line of a particular port is disabled when the private mode is activated, and a particular power line of the particular port is enabled when either the private mode is activated and when the private mode is deactivated.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to using a blockchain to manage files and ownership thereof for a file sharing and storage service. The blockchain can also record and track edits to the files. The file sharing and storage service can automatically analyze the files to identify various visual features and subjects, and record metadata thereof to the blockchain.

Abstract: The system obtains a first digital image and a hash associated with the first digital image, where the hash associated with the first digital image is a hash of analog values recorded by a sensor involved in generating the first digital image. Based on the hash, the system retrieves the analog values from a database. Based on the analog values, the system reconstructs a second digital image. The system determines whether the first digital image and the second digital image are substantially the same. Upon determining that the first digital image and the second digital image are substantially the same, the system provides a first notification that the first digital image is the same as the second digital image, otherwise the system provides a second notification that the first digital image is different from the second digital image.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to methods and systems for validating digital images (e.g., originality of digital images, source of digital images) by validating non-fungible tokens. The methods and systems enable a device to obtain analog values using an imaging sensor, such as on a camera of the device. A first identification code and digital image can be generated using the analog values and can be used to mint a first non-fungible token (NFT). When a request is made to validate a second NFT containing the same digital image, e.g., claiming to be the original digital image, the analog values can be used to generate another hash, and compared against the identification (ID) value of the second NFT.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for operating an electronic device as a web camera are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments relate to features that enable a user to operate a mobile device as a webcam. A smartphone case can hold a smartphone and be attached to a display, such as a laptop monitor or a flatscreen monitor, with a camera of the smartphone pointed at the user. The smartphone case can include a magnet, which triggers a Hall effect sensor inside the laptop or flatscreen monitor. The sensor can be used to trigger software that enables the smartphone and laptop or computer to pair with each other, e.g., by a Bluetooth handshake. The laptop or computer can accept a Wi-Fi or physical signal, such as via USB, from the smartphone and treat that input as a video stream into the laptop or computer.

Abstract: The system obtains a first digital image and a hash associated with the first digital image, where the hash associated with the first digital image is a hash of analog values recorded by a sensor involved in generating the first digital image. Based on the hash, the system retrieves the analog values from a database. Based on the analog values, the system reconstructs a second digital image. The system determines whether the first digital image and the second digital image are substantially the same. Upon determining that the first digital image and the second digital image are substantially the same, the system provides a first notification that the first digital image is the same as the second digital image, otherwise the system provides a second notification that the first digital image is different from the second digital image.

Abstract: A connection hub includes a housing coupled to a universal serial bus (USB) cable that includes a plug for electronic devices. A housing of the connection hub includes a number (N) of ports and switches. The connection hub includes 1-to-N connections between the USB cable and the N ports, where each of the N ports includes a data line and/or a power line. The switches each include a mechanical component that is movable between a first position that activates a private mode and a second position that deactivates the private mode. A data line of a particular port is disabled when the private mode is activated, and a particular power line of the particular port is enabled when either the private mode is activated and when the private mode is deactivated.

Abstract: The system obtains information to send to the first user device and converts the information into a sequence of images, where one or more images in the sequence of images include the information, and a remainder of images in the sequence include a visual unrelated to the information. The number of the one or more images and the number of the remainder of images indicate a display frequency. The number of the remainder of images is greater than the number of the one or more images. The display frequency causes an observer to form a perception of the one or more images. The system sends the sequence to the first user device and causes the first user device to present on the display screen the sequence at the display frequency, which causes a garbling of a recording of the display screen associated with the first user device.

Abstract: A mobile device can detect an idle state and, in response, initiate an access monitoring function to covertly monitor activity involving a human interaction with the mobile device. The covert monitoring is undetectable by a user of the mobile device. The mobile device can then detect a human interaction with the mobile device and, in response, cause the mobile device to covertly capture and log one or more human interactions with the mobile device. An authorized user of the mobile device is enabled to review the log of human interactions with the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile device includes non-private memory that can store software programs and a private memory that can store copies of the software programs as well as exclusively store trusted programs that are not stored in the non-private memory. The mobile device includes a processor configured to execute the software programs of the non-private memory when the mobile device is in a non-private mode, execute a trusted program only when the mobile device is in a private mode, and enable switching between the non-private mode and the private mode in response to a reboot of the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for operating an electronic device as a web camera are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments relate to features that enable a user to operate a mobile device as a webcam. A smartphone case can hold a smartphone and be attached to a display, such as a laptop monitor or a flatscreen monitor, with a camera of the smartphone pointed at the user. The smartphone case can include a magnet, which triggers a Hall effect sensor inside the laptop or flatscreen monitor. The sensor can be used to trigger software that enables the smartphone and laptop or computer to pair with each other, e.g., by a Bluetooth handshake. The laptop or computer can accept a Wi-Fi or physical signal, such as via USB, from the smartphone and treat that input as a video stream into the laptop or computer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for operating an electronic device as a web camera are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments relate to features that enable a user to operate a mobile device as a webcam. A smartphone case can hold a smartphone and be attached to a display, such as a laptop monitor or a flatscreen monitor, with a camera of the smartphone pointed at the user. The smartphone case can include a magnet, which triggers a Hall effect sensor inside the laptop or flatscreen monitor. The sensor can be used to trigger software that enables the smartphone and laptop or computer to pair with each other, e.g., by a Bluetooth handshake. The laptop or computer can accept a Wi-Fi or physical signal, such as via USB, from the smartphone and treat that input as a video stream into the laptop or computer.

Abstract: A mobile device can detect an idle state and, in response, initiate an access monitoring function to covertly monitor activity involving a human interaction with the mobile device. The covert monitoring is undetectable by a user of the mobile device. The mobile device can then detect a human interaction with the mobile device and, in response, cause the mobile device to covertly capture and log one or more human interactions with the mobile device. An authorized user of the mobile device is enabled to review the log of human interactions with the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for operating an electronic device as a web camera are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments relate to features that enable a user to operate a mobile device as a webcam. A smartphone case can hold a smartphone and be attached to a display, such as a laptop monitor or a flatscreen monitor, with a camera of the smartphone pointed at the user. The smartphone case can include a magnet, which triggers a Hall effect sensor inside the laptop or flatscreen monitor. The sensor can be used to trigger software that enables the smartphone and laptop or computer to pair with each other, e.g., by a Bluetooth handshake. The laptop or computer can accept a Wi-Fi or physical signal, such as via USB, from the smartphone and treat that input as a video stream into the laptop or computer.

Abstract: A mobile device has a private memory that stores multiple software programs including a trusted software program. A non-private memory stores copies of the software programs except the trusted software program. The mobile device can be set in a full non-private mode, a modified non-private mode, or a private mode. In the full non-private mode, the full non-private memory is restored with copies of the software programs stored at the private memory. In the modified non-private mode, only selected software programs are restored at the non-private memory with a copy from the private memory. In the private mode, the trusted software program at the private memory can be executed.

Abstract: A mobile device includes non-private memory that can store software programs and a private memory that can store copies of the software programs as well as exclusively store trusted programs that are not stored in the non-private memory. The mobile device includes a processor configured to execute the software programs of the non-private memory when the mobile device is in a non-private mode, execute a trusted program only when the mobile device is in a private mode, and enable switching between the non-private mode and the private mode in response to a reboot of the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile device has a private memory that stores multiple software programs including a trusted software program. A non-private memory stores copies of the software programs except the trusted software program. The mobile device can be set in a full non-private mode, a modified non-private mode, or a private mode. In the full non-private mode, the full non-private memory is restored with copies of the software programs stored at the private memory. In the modified non-private mode, only selected software programs are restored at the non-private memory with a copy from the private memory. In the private mode, the trusted software program at the private memory can be executed.

Abstract: Method for producing stable sodium chlorite by pelletization of granular sodium chlorite with metal salt or salts forming hydrates with water of hydration in the pellets being more than 5% of the anhydrous weight of the sodium chlorite. Pelletized sodium chlorite can be used to produce chlorine dioxide gas by passing a dilute mixture of chlorine gas and an inert gas through a bed of the pellets.

Abstract: Method for producing stable sodium chlorite by pelletization of granular sodium chlorite with metal salt or salts forming hydrates with water of hydration in the pellets being more than 5% of the anhydrous weight of the sodium chlorite. Pelletized sodium chlorite can be used to produce chlorine dioxide gas by passing a dilute mixture of chlorine gas and an inert gas through a bed of the pellets.

Abstract: Method for producing stable sodium chlorite by pelletization of granular sodium chlorite with metal salt or salts forming hydrates with water of hydration in the pellets being more than 5% of the anhydrous weight of the sodium chlorite. Pelletized sodium chlorite can be used to produce chlorine dioxide gas by passing a dilute mixture of chlorine gas and an inert gas through a bed of the pellets.