Abstract: An improved electronic audio receptacle connector employs contacts that have multiple points of contact with a mating audio plug. The contacts each have multiple segments, each segment having a plurality of transverse fingers that interface with a conductive portion of the audio plug. The multiple points of contact improve the reliability of the receptacle connector. The housing of the receptacle connector may be made of two portions mated along an interface. The two portions may have features along the interface to impede moisture ingression and to interlock them together.

Abstract: An improved retention mechanism having corresponding retention features is provided herein. The mechanism may include a pair of spring arm retention features in a connector receptacle engageable with a corresponding pair of recessed retention features in a connector tab and backup spring members for reducing stress within the spring arms during insertion of the tab and/or lubricating members for lubricating the retention mechanism. The backup spring is positioned adjacent an outer-facing surface or extends laterally outward from the spring arms so that deflection of the spring arms displaces the backup spring reducing stresses within each arm and/or increasing the retention force on the. The backup spring may include any or all of a bent portion of an bracket or arm, a wire, a loop, a complementary spring arm, dual backup springs, elastomeric members, compression springs and lubricating members. Methods of use and assembly such retention mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: This is directed to a preview application for displaying several documents simultaneously in a single window, where the several documents are displayed as books. To view the pages of a document, the preview application can open the book and display the pages of the document (e.g., in a one or two-dimensional array). A user can also search for particular terms within the several documents. In response to a search, the preview application can filter the pages of the several documents and only display those pages that include the search terms. The displayed pages can be ordered in any suitable manner, including for example by search rank.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing data requests from multiple requestors. According to one implementation, when a new data request is received, a determination is made as to whether a companion relationship should be established between the new data request and an existing data request. Such a companion relationship may be appropriate under certain conditions. If a companion relationship is established between the new data request and an existing data request, then when data is returned for one request, it is used to satisfy the other request as well. This helps to reduce the number of data accesses that need to be made to a data storage, which in turn enables system efficiency to be improved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dynamic adjustments of video streams sent from a server to a client is provided. Using both short term and long term thinning mechanisms, the server reduces its data transfer rate when bandwidth is reduced and increases its data transfer rate when bandwidth is available. In the short term mechanism, the server will dynamically adjust the transmission rate of the video or the quality of the video based on parameters returned by the client. These parameters include currently-buffered data-size, buffered-data duration, and packet loss rate. In the long term mechanism, the server will adjust the current maximum quality level allowed depending upon the round trip times of data packets transmitted. This invention decreases client rebuffering and packet loss and increases the efficiency of available bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dynamic adjustments of video streams sent from a server to a client is provided. Using both short term and long term thinning mechanisms, the server reduces its data transfer rate when bandwidth is reduced and increases its data transfer rate when bandwidth is available. In the short term mechanism, the server will dynamically adjust the transmission rate of the video or the quality of the video based on parameters returned by the client. These parameters include currently-buffered data-size, buffered-data duration, and packet loss rate. In the long term mechanism, the server will adjust the current maximum quality level allowed depending upon the round trip times of data packets transmitted. This invention decreases client rebuffering and packet loss and increases the efficiency of available bandwidth.

Abstract: Audio files and video files are selected for playback. One or more unassociated video items are selected for presentation during a playback of a selected audio file and presented during the playback of the selected audio file.

Abstract: A power adapter for a peripheral device such as portable electronics device is disclosed. The power adapter includes a housing that contains electrical components associated with the power adapter. The power adapter also includes a data port provided at a surface of the housing. The data port is configured to provide external power to the peripheral device.

Abstract: An indication is received from a user to initiate installation of an operating system onto a storage device of a computer. The storage device is partitioned into an original partition and a new partition. Installation software for the operating system is loaded onto the new partition. The computer is booted into the installation software on the new partition. The operating system is installed onto the original partition via the installation software on the new partition. The computer is then re-booted into the operating system on the original partition and the new partition is removed from the storage device.

Abstract: A merge method includes determining whether a source item in a source file directory is a file or a subdirectory. If the source item is a file, any conflicting items in a destination file directory are deleted and the file is moved from the source file directory to the destination file directory without copying the file. If the source item is a subdirectory that has no corresponding destination subdirectory in the destination file directory, the subdirectory is moved from the source file directory to the destination file directory without copying the subdirectory. If the source item is a subdirectory that does have a corresponding destination subdirectory, the merge method is repeated for each item of the source subdirectory.

Abstract: A method for a portable media player to control power provided an accessory is disclosed. The method includes requesting information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the portable media player. The method further includes providing information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the accessory to the portable media player, and utilizing the information to set the power of the accessory. A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a system that allows a portable media player to obtain information from an accessory concerning its power requirements. A portable media player can then utilize the power requirements information to allow for the powering of the accessory when connected to the portable media player.

Abstract: An original content item and a first derivative content item are stored in a storage, the derivative content item being associated with the original content item. A request is received from a remote device, the request including information about the remote device and an identifier associated with the original content item. The first derivative content item is provided to the remote device upon determining that the remote device has a property that does not match a corresponding property of the original content item, and a second derivative content item that is a derivative of the original content item is generated, the second derivative content item having a property that matches a corresponding property of the remote device. The second derivative content item is provided to the remote device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing an index are described. Searches are scope checked more efficiently using a forward lookup process based on the size of the requested search scope. In addition, an index is partitioned into separate stores based on a search scope that is learned based on where the user commonly conducts searches. As an example, a separate store may be created for a user's home directory should the user be conducting most of his or her searches in that directory. In addition to limiting the size of the index, during retrieval, intelligent index partitioning avoids the need to scope check a common search location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and an acoustic source that is integrated with the frame for emitting sound from the media device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to prevent hacking of encrypted audio or video content during playback. Hackers, using a debugging attachment or other tools, can illicitly access encrypted data in memory in a playback device when the data is decrypted during playback and momentarily stored in digital form. This hacking is defeated here by methodically “poisoning” the encrypted data so that it is no longer playable by a standard decoder. The poisoning involves deliberate alteration of certain bit values. On playback, the player invokes a special secure routine that provides correction of the poisoned bit values, for successful playback.

Abstract: A wireless communication headset having both wired and wireless modes is provided. The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone. When the wireless headset is coupled to the telephone, it can advantageously be operable to exchange audio information with the telephone through the cable, receive electrical power from the telephone through the cable, or both. In addition, the cable connector can advantageously be coupled to the wireless headset without obstructing airflow to a microphone that is located in the headset connector assembly, through use of apparatus of the invention located on the cable connector, such as an acoustic tunnel, a microphone-speaker pair, or a microphone that is coupled to control circuitry operable to disable the microphone of the headset.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media that can facilitate the transfer of power between at least two electrical devices. At least one of the electrical devices is preferably a battery operated device. The present invention may also be used to facilitate the transfer of information among electrical devices. For example, the present invention may be used to automatically pair two Bluetooth devices together.

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with one or more electrical components that may be coupled to one or more circuit boards by flexible circuits that can have reduced ground lengths. Each flexible circuit can include at least one ground conductor that may run along its length and that may have at least one portion exposed for coupling to a grounding element that may also be coupled to a ground plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, a support panel that is integrated with the frame, and a flexible circuit that is disposed adjacent to the support panel such that the support panel provides support for the flexible circuit.