Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon.

Abstract: A content device may select associated content, such as adverts, for a user selected content item based on textual characterizing data for the associated content and the user selected content item. A term set characterizing the user selected content item is expanded using semantic graphs and similarity values between the expanded term set and term sets describing associated content is calculated. A specific associated content item is then selected based on the similarity values. The semantic graph based term set expansion may allow improved accuracy in selecting appropriate associated content while providing a process that is suitable for resource constrained scenarios. In particular, communication resource, memory resource, and computational resource usage may be kept low.

Abstract: A mobile station (201) receives (301) a transmission from a remote source (such as, but not limited to, a reference server (206)) comprising information regarding downloadable content. This information can comprise, in a preferred approach, addresses that can be used to download corresponding selections of downloadable content. This information can further comprise, in a preferred approach, characterizing information regarding at least some of the downloadable content selections identified via such addresses. In a preferred approach, such a mobile station can then also access (302) locally developed information regarding downloading constraints of interest and then make determinations (303) regarding when to automatically download at least a portion of at least one of the selections of downloadable content as a function, at least in part, of both the characterizing information as was received via the aforementioned transmission and the locally developed information regarding relevant downloading constraints.

Abstract: A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence. The method includes providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of the digital images among a plurality of designated users in the first image sequence; providing a list of list of electronic addresses for the designated users; forwarding an invitation to the designated users for gaining access to the plurality of images over a communication network by the controlling computer; forwarding user software to the designated users that accept the invitation; and automatically forwarding the plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence to the designated users that accepted the invitation.

Abstract: An electronic handset device includes a panel pivotally coupled to a base housing portion wherein the panel is pivotal between closed and opened configurations relative to the base housing portion. A movable housing portion is slidably coupled to the panel and is pivotal in unison with the panel. A user interface on the panel is concealed by the movable housing portion when the movable housing portion slides to a closed configuration relative to the panel, and the user interface is exposed when the movable housing portion slides to an opened configuration relative to the panel.

Abstract: A visual interface having a plurality of picture elements disposed on a substrate wherein a viewable display area of the visual interface may be configured by expanding or contracting the substrate in at least one dimension, and a characteristic of the visual interface is controlled based on the configuration of the viewable display area.

Abstract: A server includes a communications adapter; a controller and a datastore. The controller receives a first user input via a user interface to associate at least one image attribute with a contact. Thereby, responsive to receiving an image from an electronic apparatus, the controller automatically processes the image to identify at least one feature of the image that corresponds to the image attribute, and associates the image with the contact based on the image attribute; and communicates the image to the contact via the communications adapter. The datastore is suitable for storing digital information, and is communicatively coupled to the controller.

Abstract: A system for establishing multi-party wireless game sessions includes a game session broker and at least two wireless units. Each wireless unit includes a first wireless device having relatively low power consumption and a second wireless device having relatively high power consumption. The game session broker is configured to receive a session ready message that includes location information for a first player and search for a second player having location information matching the location information for the first player. Upon finding a matching player, the game session broker sends session available messages to the wireless units associated with the first and second players. Session ready messages are sent and session available message are received using the first wireless devices. Upon receiving the session available message, the first and second players can establish a wireless game session using their respective second wireless devices.

Abstract: A method and system for managing an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting (404) a change in orientation of a first electronic device, which is performed by the first electronic device. The method also includes communicating (406) the change in the orientation from the first electronic device to a second electronic device associated with the first electronic device, via a wireless link. Further, the method includes modifying (408) a first set of services available at the second electronic device, based on the change of orientation of the first electronic device.

Abstract: A method and system for retry of a packet data call. The method can include the steps of attempting (210) an IP registration with a mobile unit (110) to make a packet data call using a first protocol on a network (120) that employs both the first protocol and a second protocol for packet data calls and detecting (212) a failure in the IP registration using the first protocol due to a failure in a data link layer of the first protocol. A physical layer of the first protocol is unaffected by the failure in the data link layer of the first protocol such that communications may still be performed over the physical layer. The method can also include the steps of—at the mobile unit—ceasing (214) the attempted IP registration using the first protocol on the network and attempting (216) an IP registration with the mobile unit using the second protocol of the network. As an example, the first protocol can be EVDO, and the second protocol can be 1X.

Abstract: An external acoustic chamber (220) for attachment to a mobile device (200) is provided. The external acoustic chamber (220) optimizes the audio performance of the mobile device (200) thus reducing the need for signal equalization and/or hardware to amplify the sound signal. The mobile device (200) includes a loudspeaker (205) and a first acoustic chamber (207) acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker (205). The external acoustic chamber (220) comprises at feast a second acoustic chamber (222) which penetrates the first acoustic chamber (207) adding volume to the first acoustic chamber (207). The combined greater volume reduces the dampening of loudspeaker (205) caused by the pressure in the first acoustic chamber (207). The result is an improvement in the frequency response of loudspeaker (205) approaching the natural frequency response of loudspeaker (205).

Abstract: A method and system for managing a communication session is provided. The communication session is associated with multiple communication devices. The method includes learning (304) a set of derived acoustic features of an audio communication signal that is associated substantially only with one user of a communication device. The method also includes receiving (306) a communication session signal. The communication session signal is an audio signal that includes a combination of audio communication signals. Each audio communication signal of the audio communication signals is associated with a user of a communication device of the multiple communication devices. The method includes modifying (308) the communication session signal based on the set of derived acoustic features.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for providing two sensing operations within a thermal printer includes a densitometer with at least one light source that discriminates color and that is positioned in a first position for sensing donor patches within the thermal printer; the densitometer while in a second position provides signals from printed receiver media for internal color calibration of the thermal printer. At least one reflector directs light from the light source to the densitometer through a donor web when the densitometer is in the first position; and a switchable device repositions the densitometer from either the first position or the second position.

Abstract: A printing system includes a movable tray for holding recording media. The movable tray includes spaced-apart reference marks for determining distance traveled by the tray. A reference-mark optical detector is positioned to provide a field of view through which the reference marks pass. An identifying-mark optical detector provides a field of view through which media-type identifying marks on a piece of recording medium pass. A signal processor provides an output relative to: a) amount of reference marks passing through the field of view of the reference-mark optical detector, and b) signal variation in a signal provided by the identifying-mark optical detector. A look-up table includes media identification signal patterns that are correlated to corresponding media types. Finally, a comparator compares the output of the signal processor to the media identification signal patterns in the look-up table in order to identify type of recording medium.

Abstract: A method for filling an ink tank to one of several selectable ink fill volumes, by providing an ink tank including an ink reservoir having a maximum fill volume V and selecting an ink fill volume Vi to store in the ink reservoir. One subsequently determines a quantity of pellets to add to the ink reservoir, wherein the total pellet volume Vp>(V?Vi?2) cubic centimeters. Upon adding the determined quantity of pellets to the ink reservoir, the ink reservoir is sealed with a lid. Whereupon, ink, in the amount Vi, is added to the ink reservoir.

Abstract: A method for measuring dimensions of a stack of medium in a media input location of an imaging system, includes emitting light along a direction that is at a predetermined angle with respect to the normal of the planar surface of the media input location. An array of photosensors are disposed along an array direction that lies in a plane defined by the direction of the light and the normal of the planar surface. The photosensors receive a spatially-varying pattern of light reflected from a surface that is substantially parallel to the planar surface of the media input location to provide corresponding electronic signal data from the photosensor array for subsequent transmission to a printing system controller. The varying electronic signal data is used to provide a measurement of the one or more dimensions corresponding to the stack of medium.

Abstract: An adapter for a spool includes a body having a first body portion and a second body portion that are slidably joined together. The first and second body portions are slidably adjustable to each other. The first body portion includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface comprising at least one projection adaptable for joining to the spool.

Abstract: A method for delivering digital cinema concurrently to a retail exhibitor and a remote theater that includes forming a digital cinema right-to-distribute contract between a content owner and a retail exhibitor. In addition, a digital cinema movie rental contract is formed between the retail exhibitor and a remote theater user. Newly released digital cinema content is delivered both to the remote theater and to the retail exhibitor. Display of the newly released digital cinema content occurs at the remote theater as early as the display of the newly released digital cinema content at the retail exhibitor.

Abstract: A method of detecting and correcting camera rotation in a digital camera, that includes the steps of: capturing a digital image to provide a captured digital image; and analyzing the captured digital image to detect a set of lines. The set of lines are used to determine a rotation angle of the captured digital image; and the captured digital image is modified based on the rotation angle, before storing the modified digital image.

Abstract: A method that provides a motion picture promotional item using digital data at an exhibition site. The method includes receiving motion picture digital data at the exhibition site; and receiving supplemental data transmitted along with the motion picture digital data, the supplemental data to be used for forming the promotional item. Additionally the method stores the supplemental data in a memory accessible from the exhibition site, and forms the promotional item according to the supplemental data in response to a user command.