Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods are provided for connecting nodes based on their topological position in a line-of-sight communication network. Some embodiments may represent each node by a “backbone” and a “subnetwork” rank. The determination of a node's rank can prevent the formation of isolated “islands” of nodes, cut off from the backbone. The ranking can also provide a total ordering of nodes relative to the “fiberpop” node which can be used for healing and routing behaviors.

Abstract: The invention provides a bio-sensing nanodevice comprising: a stabilized biologically-derived G-protein coupled receptor—the olfactory receptor—on a support, a real time receptor-ligand binding detection method, an odorant delivery system and an odorant recognition program. The biologically-derived G-protein coupled receptor can be stabilized on nanotechnology using surfactant peptide. The said nanodevice provides a greater surface area for better precision and sensitivity to odorant detection. The invention further provides a microfluidic chip containing a stabilized biologically-derived G-protein coupled receptor—the olfactory receptor—immobilized on a support, and arranged in at least two dimensional microarray system. The invention also provides a method of delivering odorant comprising the step of manipulating the bubbles in complex microfluidic networks wherein the bubbles travel in a microfluidic channel carrying a variety of gas samples to a precise location on a chip.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing at least two determinations of the location of a mobile computing device, with each determined location having been determined without reference to explicit location information manually input by a user of the mobile computing device. At least one first determined location is compared with at least one second determined location, with comparisons being made between location determinations made based on different location determination input. A functionality associated with the mobile computing device is allowed if the first determined location corresponds to at least one of the second determined locations.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods are provided for connecting nodes based on their topological position in a line-of-sight communication network. Some embodiments may represent each node by a “backbone” and a “subnetwork” rank. The determination of a node's rank can prevent the formation of isolated “islands” of nodes, cut off from the backbone. The ranking can also provide a total ordering of nodes relative to the “fiberpop” node which can be used for healing and routing behaviors.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments incorporate wavelength-shifting (WLS) materials to facilitate high data rate communication. Some embodiments employ a waveguide incorporating such WLS materials to receive a wireless signal from a source. The signal may be, e.g., in the optical or ultraviolet ranges, facilitating a ˜10 Gbps data rate. Because the WLS material is sensitive in all directions, the source may be isotropic or wide-angled. The WLS material may be shaped into one or more “bands” that may cover an object, e.g., a head-mounted display. A detector may be coupled with the bands to receive the wavelength-shifted signal and to recover the original signal from the source. The WLS material may be modified to improve the waveguide retention, e.g., by incorporating layers of material having a different reflection coefficient or a Bragg reflector.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a computing device to learn user preferences of how to process digital images. The computing device can record a user image selection, associated with a user account, of at least one of digital image versions of a base digital image. The computing device can determine a context attribute to associate with the user image selection. The computing device can compute an image processing rule associated with the user account by applying machine learning or statistical analysis on multiple user image selections associated with the context attribute, the multiple user image selections including the user image selection.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type. The method also includes transmitting data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range. The data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by a first computing device associated with a first user, receiving a connection request from a second computing device associated with a second user. The method also includes confirming that the connection request is associated with the second user and sending to the second computing device an acceptance of the connection request in response to confirming that the connection request is associated with the second user. The method further includes receiving from the second computing device an acknowledgement of the acceptance and, in response to the acknowledgement, allowing information to be exchanged between the first and second computing devices.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments incorporate wavelength-shifting (WLS) materials to facilitate high data rate communication. Some embodiments employ a waveguide incorporating such WLS materials to receive a wireless signal from a source. The signal may be, e.g., in the optical or ultraviolet ranges, facilitating a ˜10 Gbps data rate. Because the WLS material is sensitive in all directions, the source may be isotropic or wide-angled. The WLS material may be shaped into one or more “bands” that may cover an object, e.g., a head-mounted display. A detector may be coupled with the bands to receive the wavelength-shifted signal and to recover the original signal from the source. The WLS material may be modified to improve the waveguide retention, e.g., by incorporating layers of material having a different reflection coefficient or a Bragg reflector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type. The method also includes transmitting data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range. The data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for enabling a user to physically acknowledge monitoring of their mobile device's network address (e.g., upon entering a store to track the user's movement through the store based upon the mobile device's MAC address). An Access Point coupled with a network system may identify the user device's MAC address, but the network system may defer retention and use of the MAC address until the user provides a physical authorization to do so. The user may provide such a physical authorization by placing their mobile device in physical proximity to a kiosk. The kiosk may emit a signal via, e.g., a magnetic field, radiation, sonification, imaging, etc. An application running on the user device may receive this signal. For example, the kiosk may emit a magnetic field to manipulate the user device's compass hardware. The application may monitor and derive a kiosk identifier from these manipulations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by a first computing device associated with a first user, receiving a connection request from a second computing device associated with a second user. The method also includes confirming that the connection request is associated with the second user and sending to the second computing device an acceptance of the connection request in response to confirming that the connection request is associated with the second user. The method further includes receiving from the second computing device an acknowledgement of the acceptance and, in response to the acknowledgement, allowing information to be exchanged between the first and second computing devices.

Abstract: A file storage system may be implemented by coordinating non-exhaustible and exhaustible storage devices. The exhaustible storage devices may be lower grade flash based storage devices. The non-exhaustible storage devices may be storage devices based on magnetic recording mechanisms or higher grade flash storage. The file storage system may store received content items on the exhaustible storage devices. The file storage system may additionally store metadata for the content items and/or the file storage system on the non-exhaustible storage devices. During operation, the file storage system may globally optimize the content items on the exhaustible storage devices such that more heavily accessed items are moved to exhaustible storage devices that have experienced relatively few data operations. The file storage system can move less frequently accessed content items to exhaustible storage devices that have experienced a relatively large number of data operations.

Abstract: Techniques for mobile device personalization are described. In an embodiment, user credentials for an online service are received at a mobile device kiosk. The user credentials may be authenticated and, upon authentication, user data associated with the user credentials may be transferred to a mobile device of the mobile device kiosk. The user data may be transferred between the mobile device kiosk and a wireless transmitter embedded on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the mobile device. Further, the user data may be transferred to the mobile device without powering on the mobile device. Once the data transfer is complete, the mobile device may be provided to a user.

Abstract: A method of choosing an object from multiple objects using a wireless device includes receiving a backscatter communication signal from each of the objects, determining one or more analog parameter of each backscatter communication signal, and, using the wireless device, selecting one object based at least in part on the analog parameter of each backscatter communication signal. Each of the objects includes an RF interface configured to communicate using backscatter communication.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) for an RFID tag includes at least two antenna ports for coupling to at least two antennas. The IC may be configured to determine the port from which it receives an input signal, and provide a first functionality if it receives the input from a first port and a second functionality if it receives the input from a second port. The IC may be configured to determine and/or offer a functionality based on the receiving port.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes by an RF transceiver of a wireless communications device associated with a first user of an online system, receiving an RF reference signal from each antenna of a plurality of antennas coupled to the RF transceiver. The method also includes, by a processor of the wireless communications device, determining, for each antenna of the plurality of antennas, at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal. The method further includes, by the processor of the wireless communications device, characterizing, based on the at least one determined characteristic, at least one aspect of an environment around the device to determine that an object is approaching the device. The method also includes, by the processor of the wireless communications device, retrieving from the online system, based on determining that the object is approaching the device, information associated with the first user.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a computing device to learn user preferences of how to process digital images. The computing device can record a user image selection, associated with a user account, of at least one of digital image versions of a base digital image. The computing device can determine a context attribute to associate with the user image selection. The computing device can compute an image processing rule associated with the user account by applying machine learning or statistical analysis on multiple user image selections associated with the context attribute, the multiple user image selections including the user image selection.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a computing device to learn user preferences of how to process digital images. The method can include: aggregating a user image selection and a context attribute associated therewith into a preference training database for a user, wherein the user image selection represents a record of the user's preference over at least one of adjusted versions of a base image when the adjusted versions are separately processed by different visual effects; determining a visual effect preference associated based on machine learning or statistical analysis of user image selections in the preference training database, the user image selections representing experimental records corresponding to the visual effects; updating a photo preference profile with the visual effect preference; and providing the photo preference profile to an image processor to adjust subsequently captured photographs provided to the image processor.

Abstract: Techniques for mobile device personalization are described. In an embodiment, user credentials for an online service are received at a mobile device kiosk. The user credentials may be authenticated and, upon authentication, user data associated with the user credentials may be transferred to a mobile device of the mobile device kiosk. The user data may be transferred between the mobile device kiosk and a wireless transmitter embedded on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the mobile device. Further, the user data may be transferred to the mobile device without powering on the mobile device. Once the data transfer is complete, the mobile device may be provided to a user.