Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally include a system and a method of configuring and/or controlling the transfer of information between two or more electronic devices due to the interaction of an electronic device and a host identifier signal generating system. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of distributing useful information received by or contained within a memory of the electronic device based on the receipt of a host identifier signal. The electronic device may then perform one or more desirable functions or processes based the portable electronic device's interaction with the host identifier signal generating system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally include a system and a method of configuring and/or controlling one or more electronic devices using a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with a beacon signal generating system that is disposed at a desired location. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of collecting and analyzing useful information received by the portable electronic device based on the receipt of a beacon signal. The portable electronic device may then perform one or more desirable functions or processes based the portable electronic device's interaction with the beacon signal generating system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes extracting one or more portions from a first video stream of a first physical environment; transmitting captured video data via a first communication link to one or more electronic display devices disposed within a second physical environment, wherein the captured video data includes the one or more extracted portions and the captured video data includes a preview portion that includes a first portion of a frame of the first video stream; and transmitting a second video stream of a second field of view of the first physical environment to at least one of the one or more electronic display devices disposed within the second physical environment via a second communication link, wherein the second video stream is generated in response to a selection of the preview portion of the captured video data made by a user located in the second physical environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of establishing a wireless connection between a data input device and a host computing device. More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for using a single input device (e.g., keyboard, mouse, or touchpad devices) with multiple host computing devices that may be running different operating systems, and efficiently switching the data protocols used to transmit HID data between the input device and the multiple host computing devices without requiring user interaction.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device stand has at least two interconnected elements, each element being elongated in form along a longitudinal axis. The interconnection includes at least a pair of adjacent interfacing end surfaces connected so as to be rotatable about an axis between the end surfaces from an iconic elongated configuration of the stand to a folded configuration of the stand. In the folded configuration of the stand, the elements are fixable in a setting position to resist rotation with respect to a support surface when the stand is functionally attached to a mobile electronic device and disposed in a manner to support the mobile electronic device in a selected orientation with respect to the support surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally include a system and a method of configuring and/or controlling one or more electronic devices using a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with a beacon signal generating system that is disposed at a desired location. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of collecting and analyzing useful information received by the portable electronic device based on the receipt of a beacon signal. The portable electronic device may then perform one or more desirable functions or processes based the portable electronic device's interaction with the beacon signal generating system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of establishing a wireless connection between a data input device and a host computing device. More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for using a single input device (e.g., keyboard, mouse, or touchpad devices) with multiple host computing devices that may be running different operating systems, and efficiently switching the data protocols used to transmit HID data between the input device and the multiple host computing devices without requiring user interaction.

Abstract: A case for a mobile communications device is provided that is configurable to take on at least two audio/audible configurations. The first audio/audible configuration is a handset configuration and the second audio configuration is a headphone/earphone/earbud configuration. The case has a housing and a headphone male connector. The headphone male connector forms part of a headphone male connector assembly. The headphone male connector assembly is capable of moving the headphone male connector to selectively and/or mechanically engage a mobile communications device headphone port to actuate the first audio/audible configuration in a first position, and to actuate the second audio/audible configuration in a second position. A method of switching between different modes of operation of a mobile communications device, such as an iPhone™ smartphone, using the functionality of a removable, protective case for the device is also provided herein.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device stand has at least two interconnected elements, each element being elongated in form along a longitudinal axis. The interconnection includes at least a pair of adjacent interfacing end surfaces connected so as to be rotatable about an axis between the end surfaces from an iconic elongated configuration of the stand to a folded configuration of the stand.

Abstract: A case for a mobile communications device is provided that is configurable to take on at least two audio/audible configurations. The first audio/audible configuration is a handset configuration and the second audio configuration is a headphone/earphone/earbud configuration. The case has a housing and a headphone male connector. The headphone male connector forms part of a headphone male connector assembly. The headphone male connector assembly is capable of moving the headphone male connector to selectively and/or mechanically engage a mobile communications device headphone port to actuate the first audio/audible configuration in a first position, and to actuate the second audio/audible configuration in a second position. A method of switching between different modes of operation of a mobile communications device, such as an iPhone™ smartphone, using the functionality of a removable, protective case for the device is also provided herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices, such as human interface devices, configured for use with a tablet computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and system for discriminating between the interactions of a handheld device, touch of one or more of the user's finger(s) and interaction with appendages of the user on a touch-screen tablet computer. The methods described herein may include discriminating between the interaction of the handheld device, the user's finger(s) and an appendage of the user so that the collected information can be used to control some aspect of the hardware or software running on the touch-screen tablet computer.

Abstract: A camera comprises a camera support; a camera housing rotatably disposed on the camera support for pan movement relative to the camera support; a camera lens rotatably disposed in the camera housing for tilt movement relative to the camera housing; a pan motor coupled with the camera housing to drive the camera housing in pan movement relative to the camera support; and a tilt motor coupled with the camera lens to drive the camera lens in tilt movement relative to the camera housing.

Abstract: A video camera includes a light collection array including a plurality of light collection cells configured to collect light from a scene and a processor coupled to the light collection array. The processor is configured determine a brightness of the scene based on the light collected by the light collection array from the scene. Based on the determined brightness, the processor is configured to determine if the brightness of the scene requires a light collection time of each cell to be less than a flicker on time of a light source lighting the scene so that the light collection array collects a sufficient amount of light so that a brightness of a video stream or a still image is substantially at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A system and method for mechanically panning, tilting, and/or zooming a webcam to track a user's face. In one embodiment, such movement is controlled by kernel software in a host to which the webcam sends video data. In this way, a driver in the host kernel handles the face tracking, transparent to the application programs that would access the video. In an alternate embodiment, such movement is controlled by firmware in the webcam itself The video and control signals are sent over the same standard cable, such as a USB bus. In one embodiment, the video is supplied to an instant messaging application. The use of a standard bus (e.g., USB) and the offloading of the face tracking to the webcam and driver allows easy use by the instant messaging application.

Abstract: A system and method for mechanically panning, tilting, and/or zooming a webcam to track a user's face. In one embodiment, such movement is controlled by kernel software in a host to which the webcam sends video data. In this way, a driver in the host kernel handles the face tracking, transparent to the application programs that would access the video. In an alternate embodiment, such movement is controlled by firmware in the webcam itself. The video and control signals are sent over the same standard cable, such as a USB bus. In one embodiment, the video is supplied to an instant messaging application. The use of a standard bus (e.g., USB) and the offloading of the face tracking to the webcam and driver allows easy use by the instant messaging application.