Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, an electronic olfactor determines whether a scent being tested matches the scent of a positive control. The electronic olfactor can perform this scent matching even in a changing olfactory environment, and even if the positive control scent is a combination of hundreds or thousands of different odorants. No prior training is needed, and no attempt is made to identify a single odorant that is unambiguously responsible for a scent. Instead, a computer compares the total scent pattern of a positive control sample with the total scent pattern of a test sample, across a sweep of many permutations of electrical inputs to scent sensors, to try to find any condition under which the total scent patterns do not match. If such a condition cannot be found, then the computer declares a match between the test and target scents.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a second user of a social-networking system authorized to receive data of a first data type from a first wireless device, the identifying based on one or more attributes of one or more edges between nodes in a social graph of the social-networking system, one of the nodes corresponding to a first user and another of the nodes corresponding to the second user. The method also includes determining a distance between the second user and the first wireless device. The method further includes sending the data of the first data type when the distance is less than a specific distance.

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, transmitting an RF reference signal to each antenna of multiple antennas coupled to the transceiver. The method also includes, by a processor of the wireless communications device, determining, for each antenna of the multiple antennas, at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from the antenna. 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: 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 relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods for determining where to place and how to configure nodes in an optically connected network across a geographic region are provided. Various factors concerning the region may be collected, including, e.g.,: building locations and height, building types, population densities, backbone connection locations, recurring weather factors, geographic elevation, etc. The algorithm may iteratively place nodes based upon the accessible range of a preceding contemplated node position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more servers providing an on-line service send a token to a first client computing device associated with a first user of the on-line service, the token being generated by the servers based at least in part on a user identifier of the first user; the serves receive the token from a second client computing device associated with a second user of the on-line service, the token being sent to the second client computing device from the first client computing device through a wireless connection; the servers verify the token based at least in part on the user identifier of the first user; the servers determine data accessible to the second user if the token is verified; the servers also send to the second client computing device at least some of the data accessible to the second user.

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: Some embodiments include a method of operating a calibration server for a camera module. The method can include: receiving, by the computing server, a first training image taken by the camera module in a mobile device and a corresponding image-context attribute from the mobile device; aggregating, by the computing device, the first training image into a set of contextually similar images based on the image-context attribute; computing a calibration parameter model based on the set of contextually similar images utilizing dimension reduction statistical analysis; and scheduling to update the calibration parameter model to configure an image processor to adjust a raw photograph of the camera module according to the calibration parameter model.

Abstract: A power measurement device in accordance with aspects of the invention comprises a power harvesting unit that extracts a fraction of current flowing through an electric power supply unit to an electronic appliance; a power determination circuit that generates power measurement data indicative of at least one of the extracted current or a power consumed by the electronic appliance determined based on the extracted current; and an output device that outputs the power measurement data. The power measurement device can be used with plugs or sockets as an external component or integrated therein as an internal component.

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, transmitting an RF reference signal to each antenna of multiple antennas coupled to the transceiver. The method also includes, by a processor of the wireless communications device, determining, for each antenna of the multiple antennas, at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from the antenna. 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: 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 embodiments implement protocols and algorithms for selectively transitioning peers in a P2P group, e.g., less than all the peers in the group, from a first channel to a second channel. The group owner may consider: which peers are in communication; the quality of an existing channel link with the peers; and the quality of an alternative channel. The alternative channel may have been identified actively or passively during the search and scan processes used to establish the group. When a transition is to occur, a modified channel switch announcement message identifying individual MAC addresses for transition may be used to effect the transition. Measurement of the peer-to-peer link quality may be accomplished using standard 802.11 measurement request primitives.

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 exemplary implementations of this invention, an electronic olfactor determines whether a scent being tested matches the scent of a positive control. The electronic olfactor can perform this scent matching even in a changing olfactory environment, and even if the positive control scent is a combination of hundreds or thousands of different odorants. No prior training is needed, and no attempt is made to identify a single odorant that is unambiguously responsible for a scent. Instead, a computer compares the total scent pattern of a positive control sample with the total scent pattern of a test sample, across a sweep of many permutations of electrical inputs to scent sensors, to try to find any condition under which the total scent patterns do not match. If such a condition cannot be found, then the computer declares a match between the test and target scents.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a wireless communications device includes an RF transceiver, a plurality of antennas coupled to the transceiver, and processing circuitry. The device may transmit an RF reference signal using the RF transceiver. When the RF reference signal is reflected back from each of the plurality of antennas, the device may determine at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal (e.g., amplitude, phase, dispersion, waveform shape, or distortion). The device may then characterize at least one aspect of the environment around the device based on the characteristic and control a function of the device based on the at least one aspect. For example, the device may detect that an object (e.g., a hand or other body part) is approaching the device but not yet in contact with the device and activate a first feature of the device based on the characterization.

Abstract: A wireless communications device includes a battery, a processing section coupled to the battery, and an RF interface. The battery is configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation. The processing section is configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation. The RF interface is configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communication device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation. The wireless communications device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, an electronic olfactor determines whether a scent being tested matches the scent of a positive control. The electronic olfactor can perform this scent matching even in a changing olfactory environment, and even if the positive control scent is a combination of hundreds or thousands of different odorants. No prior training is needed, and no attempt is made to identify a single odorant that is unambiguously responsible for a scent. Instead, a computer compares the total scent pattern of a positive control sample with the total scent pattern of a test sample, across a sweep of many permutations of electrical inputs to scent sensors, to try to find any condition under which the total scent patterns do not match. If such a condition cannot be found, then the computer declares a match between the test and target scents.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) for an RFID tag includes two electrically isolated antenna ports for connecting to two antennas, with each antenna port configured to operate at a different frequency range and/or with a different communications protocol. In some embodiments a rectifier coupled to one of the antenna ports is operable to extract energy from an electromagnetic field in a first frequency range, and a demodulator coupled to the other antenna port is operable to demodulate symbols according to an RFID protocol in a second frequency range. In some embodiments the frequency ranges are disjoint, intersecting, or one is a proper subset of the other. In some embodiments each port is coupled to its own rectifier and/or its own modulator and/or its own demodulator. In some embodiments an RFID tag includes the IC and two antennas, each operable in one of the two frequency ranges.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a second user of a social-networking system authorized to receive data of a first data type from a first wireless device, the identifying based on one or more attributes of one or more edges between nodes in a social graph of the social-networking system, one of the nodes corresponding to a first user and another of the nodes corresponding to the second user. The method also includes determining a distance between the second user and the first wireless device. The method further includes sending the data of the first data type when the distance is less than a specific distance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, by a first wireless device associated with a first user, first data such that the first data are only available to one or more second wireless devices respectively associated with one or more second users and within a first distance from the first wireless device. The method further includes sending, by the first wireless device associated with the first user, second data such that the second data are only available to one or more third wireless devices respectively associated with one or more third users and within a second distance from the first wireless device.