Abstract: A method in a mobile communication device and a network for transmitting, receiving, and processing a user-accessible contact information data entry in a contact information storage medium (214). User-accessible contact information data, such as a telephone book entry, is transmitted by a sender's device to the mobile communication device (202) with particular restrictions on the entry that trigger a processor (212) to carry out instructions (226, 224, 222) to restrict annunciation, transmission, and/or modification of the telephone book entry and also to trigger instructions (218) to delete all or part of the telephone book entry upon fulfillment of an expiration criterion specified by the sender's device.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for automatically coupling two or more mobile communication devices (502, 541) to share content such as calls, music, documents, video and games where two or more devices automatically determine the feasibility of sharing the content and negotiate to find an efficient manner in which to do so. In this way, the pairing between devices may be transparent to the users. Moreover, a better choice in a transport may be selected without user input. Each device may include a near field communication (NFC) device that when in range of the other device may automatically initiate pairing between the devices so that the devices may share content. The users of NFC enabled devices may have little or minimal interactions except that one or more users may bring the devices within range so that the NFCs may initiate the pairing between the devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and electronic devices 102 including a display 104 that is configured to display indicia 114, 116, 118 persistently during a shipping process. The disclosed methods and electronic devices may include an indicia control 110 for dynamically determining the indicia for persistent display based on at least one of a self-diagnostic software tool 112, a selection from a table 122 of predetermined information, or downloaded data 124. In one embodiment, by self-diagnosing a condition in the device 102, repair or other similar indicia may be determined dynamically based on the self-diagnosis, and displayed persistently on the display 104 during a shipping process. In another embodiment, the persistent labeling indicia may include destination information 116 for routing based on the self-diagnosis. In yet another embodiment, product recycling indicia may be persistently displayed when the age of the device is determined in accordance with a self-diagnostic software tool 112.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electronic device (202) and method of an electronic device and a method of a network for transmitting, receiving and processing a user-accessible contact information data entry in a contact information storage medium (214). User-accessible contact information data, such as a telephone book entry, is transmitted by a sender's device to the mobile communication device (202) with particular restrictions on the entry that trigger a processor (212) to carry out instructions (226, 224, 222) to restrict annunciation, transmission, and/or modification of the telephone book entry and also to trigger instructions (218) to delete all or part of the telephone book entry upon fulfillment of an expiration criterion specified by the sender's device.

Abstract: Described are an electronic device, a camera, and a method for determining an orientation of a camera in an electronic device. The method includes measuring a position of the lens at rest within the lens cavity (680), determining a pointing direction of the camera based on the position of the lens (684), and moving the lens to a new or adjusted starting position for an auto-focus function based on the pointing direction (688). The lens is biased to a predetermined position within the lens cavity when the camera is oriented in a predetermined pointing direction. A lens position sensor can measure a position of the lens to record a measured position. By evaluating the measured lens position, the camera orientation can be determined. The auto-focus of the camera can be started at a starting position based on the camera orientation.

Abstract: A system and method which systematically diagnoses emissions test failure by applying the rules of a knowledge base to predict the cause of vehicle emissions failures. Classifiers are used to form predictions. The classifier is the data structure used in the automobile emission testing inspection lane by the lane diagnostic subsystem to provide a diagnosis for a particular vehicle. Its output is the likelihood that a vehicle suffers from a given failure based on the values of characteristics such as its emissions test results and the vehicle's description. The classifier predictions are then used to prepare a failure report that is given to the motorist for use by his or her repair technician. In another feature of this invention, the classifiers are continuously updated in a learning process based on new repair records. The learning processes periodically analyzes the data and updates the knowledge base to include new or revised classifiers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fluorescent lamp housing assembly capable of providing convection cooling to the lamp and the ballast. The lens of the present invention includes two distinct portions, a central portion and an apertured portion. The housing assembly further includes apertures so that air mass is able to freely move up through the assembly and out ventilation apertures.

Abstract: A shell form ballast has rounded corners for positioning inside a ballast housing for use with a fluorescent light bulb adapter. The ballast has rounded outer corners to meet both long-term life and power requirements, and spatial design constraints of a fluorescent lamp adapter assembly for use in an incandescent lighting fixture, and particularly for use in a recessed incandescent lighting fixture. The rounded outer corners of the ballast provide the ability for the shell form ballast to fit into a hollow housing for use in the recessed lighting fixture while simultaneously providing the shell form ballast a snug fit in the hollow housing, thereby minimizing gap growth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transmissive type display which uses ambient light for enhanced backlighting and which can be used with or without an artificial light source which is either built-in or external to the unit. The backlighting display assembly includes a light pipe with an arrangement of immediately adjacent microprisms serving as the back surface of the light pipe and a light injecting system. The backlighting system may also include a compensating plate or film which also has an immediately adjacent surface profile complementing that of the light pipe. The compensating plate, placed on top of the light pipe, is used to provide uniform illumination. Since outdoor ambient light provided by the sun usually comes from overhead, a light bending film may also be included in the backlighting system so that the display utilizes the overhead light effectively.

Abstract: A system and method for temporarily disabling a smoke detector alarm unit. The present invention includes a switch between the main assembly and the power assembly of the unit and a timer for monitoring a predetermined length of time. The switch is caused to break the circuit between the main assembly and the power assembly while the timer monitors the passage of time. Once the predetermined length of time has passed, the switch is caused to reengage the circuit between the main assembly and the power assembly.