Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing images including emulation techniques using multiple processors. The system provides for emulation of graphics processing resources such that a central processing unit may provide graphics support. Disclosed embodiments include emulation of selected graphics calls as well as emulation of a programmable graphics processor for compatibility with systems having no compatible GPU. Embodiments also include optimization of graphics code for a particular kind of processor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for harnessing external light to illuminate a display screen of an electronic device are provided. The display screen may be illuminated using a light harness, a reflector, a translucent surface, or any combination thereof. The light harness may be cylindrical or hexahedral. The light harness may be coupled to an external light input or a collector. The reflector may be repositioned toward or away from the display screen to reflect external light toward the display screen. The translucent surface may allow external light to pass through it to illuminate the display screen. The translucent surface may protect the rear face of the display screen, or the rear face of the display screen may itself be translucent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotator, a mask generator, and circuitry configured to mask the rotated operand output by the rotator with the output mask generated by the mask generator perform a shift operation. The rotator is configured to rotate the input operand by the shift count. The mask generator is configured to generate an output mask by decoding a most significant bit (MSB) field of the shift count to generate a first mask, decoding a least significant bit (LSB) field of the shift count to generate a second mask, logically ANDing the bits of the second mask with the corresponding bit of the first mask and logically ORing the result with an adjacent bit of the first mask that is selected responsive to the shift direction.

Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for assessing a musical performance of a chord, a chord series, or a chord progression. The performance can include a user's performance of a musical instrument. MIDI or audio notes are input and compared to the notes of music track. An indication can be provided to assess the performance. The assessment can be on the basis of timing and/or pitch errors. A new chord can be displayed to a user based on the assessment of the user's performance of the previous chord.

Abstract: An improved image tagging system that tags images in a mobile handheld communications device, based on the user's contacts list stored therein. The image tagging system compares a face in a given picture (that the user has just taken using the built-in camera) to faces in the user's contacts list images. A matching contact is found in the contacts list. The picture is then tagged with information from the matching contact. The picture is tagged by inserting identification information into a header of the picture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encryption and key management. The method includes encrypting each file on a computing device with a unique file encryption key, encrypting each unique file encryption key with a corresponding class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key. Further disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encrypting a credential key chain. The method includes encrypting each credential on a computing device with a unique credential encryption key, encrypting each unique credential encryption key with a corresponding credential class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key.

Abstract: To substantially prevent debris from entering the internal volume of a dome switch, the dome switch can be configured to include limited or no external vents. However, to ensure that the air can be displaced and to avoid an excessively high pressure underneath the dome with the dome is inverted, the dome switch can include one or more internal regions for receiving the displaced air. In particular, the dome switch may include one or more integrated reservoirs. For example, the integrated reservoirs can be placed in a layer between a film placed over the dome and a circuit board on which the dome is placed. As another example, the integrated reservoirs can be constructed out of the plane of the circuit board.

Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described including receiving input specifying an image frame from among a series of image frames, and automatically detecting one or more points in the specified image frame that would be suitable for tracking a point in the series of image frames. In addition, a computer-implemented method is described including choosing a first position of a point on a first image frame of a plurality of image frames, and displaying in a bounded region on the first image frame content relating to a second image frame of the plurality of image frames, wherein the content displayed in the bounded region includes a second position of the point at a different time than the first position of the point.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for erasing user data stored in a file system. The method includes destroying all key bags containing encryption keys on a device having a file system encrypted on a per file and per class basis, erasing and rebuilding at least part of the file system associated with user data, and creating a new default key bag containing encryption keys. Also disclosed herein is a method of erasing user data stored in a remote file system encrypted on a per file and per class basis. The method includes transmitting obliteration instructions to a remote device, which cause the remote device to destroy all key bags containing encryption keys on the remote device, erase and rebuild at least part of the file system associated with user data, and create on the remote device a new default key bag containing encryption keys.

Abstract: Services for a personal electronic device are provided through which a form of background processing or multitasking is supported. The disclosed services permit user applications to take advantage of background processing without significant negative consequences to a user's experience of the foreground process or the personal electronic device's power resources. To effect the disclosed multitasking, one or more of a number of operational restrictions may be enforced. By way of example, an application that may normally be placed into the background state may instead be terminated if it controls a lock on a shared system resource.

Abstract: A request to decode media data is received from an application running on a computing device. A decoder decision module in media processing software also running on the computing device receives the request and intelligently determines which of a plurality of media decoders to route the media data to for decompression. The plurality of media decoders may include a hardware media decoder and a software media decoder. The decoder decision module may consider a number of factors that may affect the efficiency of the decompression. These factors include the file format of the media data, limitations of the hardware decoder(s), the size of the media data, a state of the requesting application, load balancing considerations, and other factors.

Abstract: Services for a personal electronic device are provided through which a form of background processing or multitasking is supported. The disclosed services permit user applications to take advantage of background processing without significant negative consequences to a user's experience of the foreground process or the personal electronic device's power resources. To effect the disclosed multitasking, one or more of a number of operational restrictions may be enforced. By way of example, inactive network applications (e.g., VOIP applications) may be placed in a suspended state until a message is received targeting the application (e.g., an incoming phone call or a heartbeat needed message). The user application may be placed into the background state to respond to the message and then returned to the non-active state (e.g., if the message was a heartbeat needed) message or to the foreground state if appropriate (e.g., the user elects to answer the incoming call).

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for expanding a memory card-compatible receptacle for use with a multitude of other connections are provided. In an embodiment, a memory card-compatible receptacle having two sets of contact points communicates with a port expansion device to provide an interface with more commonly used ports.

Abstract: A video coding system includes a coding engine operable to code source video according to motion compensated prediction techniques, a reference picture cache to store decoded picture data of previously-coded reference pictures, and a programmable filter to apply selected filtering operation(s) to picture data retrieved from the reference picture cache and provided to the coding engine. A video decoding system includes a decoding engine operable to decode coded video data, a reference picture cache to store decoded picture data of previously-decoded reference pictures, and a programmable filter to apply a filtering operation to picture data retrieved from the reference picture cache and provided to the decoding engine as determined by the coded video data.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for selective location determination are described. A mobile device can determine a location of the mobile device using various techniques. When there is a conflict between the locations determined using different techniques, the mobile device can select a most trustworthy location from the locations, and designate the most trustworthy location as a current location of the mobile device. The mobile device can determine a first location of the mobile device (e.g., a coarse location) using a cell identifier (cell ID) of a cellular network. The mobile device can determine a second location of the mobile device (e.g., a fine location) using one or more media access control (MAC) addresses of a WLAN. The first location and second location can be associated with confidence values that can indicate trustworthiness of the first location and second location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating customized color schemes for user interfaces are disclosed. An avatar editing environment associated with a user is provided and user input specifying colors for the avatar is received. A color profile of the avatar can be created based on the colors associated with the avatar. Customized color schemes associated with a software application can be created based on the color profile of the user's avatar. An application selection interface can present a respective user interface element for each application available for selection. The application selection interface and user interface element for each available application can be rendered in a respective color scheme selected based on the color profile of the user's avatar and one or more characteristic colors extracted from an icon of the application.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing the amount of time a camera device requires to automatically adjust focus and/or exposure settings prior to image capture are described. As disclosed, sensor data is used to identify the camera device's orientation. Once known, face detection operations are performed for only that orientation thereby dramatically reducing the amount of processing time required to perform the face detection. The result of the face detection operations may be used to automatically adjust the image capture device's focus and/or exposure.