Abstract: A system and method for data analytics includes a physical retail store having a plurality of sensors provided in various locations around the physical store. The sensors may include motion sensors, visual imaging cameras, heat sensors, or other kinds of sensors. Information about the customer's shopping behavior is collected by detecting the customer at a first sensor and monitoring the customer's motion as the customer moves out of the sensing range of the first sensor and into the sensing range of other sensors around the store. The system may track the customer anonymously. In one embodiment, the customer self-identifies in the store, for example when making a purchase. If the customer chooses to self-identify, the previously anonymous shopping behavior for that customer can be associated with the customer's unique ID. Based on the shopping behavior, the retailer can provide the customer with deals and customized content.

Abstract: A system is provided that monitors a customer's movements, locations, product interactions, and purchase behavior within a physical retail store. Emotional reactions to physical items and the virtual display are also tracked. The customer can utilize a mobile device app to request assistance from a retail store clerk. The app determines the position of the customer's mobile device within the store, such as by using Bluetooth beacons, and then transmits this position and a request for assistance to a server computer. The server gathers information about the customer, and then transmits the information along with the request for assistance and the customer location to a sales clerk. A mobile device used by the clerk receives this information and displays the information and request to the sales clerk.

Abstract: A physical retail store is provided with both physical retail products and a virtual interactive product display. The interactive display includes a display screen and a plurality of sensors, including video cameras or motion sensors. The sensors provide gesture recognition, face recognition, and other types of gesture analysis. Retail store customers can view and interact with 3D images of products for sale. A customer can perform a search for a product. The search results indicate whether the product is available as a physical product or as a 3D image that can be viewed on the interactive display. The customer may have a unique customer identifier that the retailer can use to track customer shopping behavior over multiple retail platforms. The retailer can provide special offers and customized content to the customer based on the previous shopping behavior.

Abstract: A system and method for determining customer emotional reaction to products is provided. The system may include a physical retail store with both a plurality of physical products for sale, and a virtual interactive product display allowing customers to virtually interact with three-dimensional rendered images of products. Gesture sensors such as motion sensors and video cameras are provided at various locations near the physical products and the interactive display. Emotional reaction can be analyzed based on customer facial expression, skeletal joint movement, and other physical factors. Machine learning techniques can be employed to analyze the reactions. In the system the customer emotional reactions are associated with the particular product that the customer was interacting with when the customer expressed the emotion. The information relating the emotional reaction to a particular product may be provided to a product manufacturer to improve the design of future products.

Abstract: A tablet computer interface with additional motion based sensors and tactile controls.

Abstract: A pear-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb housing is provided with a plurality of light-dispersing thickness variations in the bulb envelope. Dimples, bumps, or v-shaped grooves are provided in a middle portion of the bulb envelope in order to uniformly disperse light from LEDs as the light passes through the bulb envelope.

Abstract: A device with a touchscreen with a light modulator is disclosed herein. The device transitions from a netbook mode to a touchscreen mode. The device comprises a main unit and a touchscreen unit with a transparent display. The touchscreen unit is preferably separated from the main unit when in a netbook mode, and the touchscreen unit communicates wirelessly with the main unit. The touchscreen unit preferably has an outer screen display surface and an inner screen display surface on each side of a light modulating unit. The main unit preferably has a main unit display.

Abstract: A magnetically connected universal computer power adapter is presented. The computer power adapter provides a power supply, a power cord, a cord connector, and a charging plug. The cord connector and charging plug each contain a magnet that magnetically couple the cord connector to the charging plug. The cord connector may couple with more than one type of charging plug, allowing the universal computer power adapter to be used with many different computer models.

Abstract: The present invention is a stored value digital picture (or digital image) frame, and a method for sensing a stored value digital picture frame. It integrates the functionality of a stored value card, or a gift card, into a digital picture frame. The stored value digital picture frame may include an attachment device for attaching the frame to a keychain or keyring. The method includes sensing an account identifier from an account identifying device included in the frame, associating the identifier with an account, and taking some action involving the account. The action might be reading the account balance, initializing the balance with an amount, increasing the balance, or decreasing the balance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing and implementing dynamic and template-based web page content are described herein. One example includes a presentation layer software development kit providing a full-featured graphical user interface for the design of web page components and structures. The presentation layer software development kit may integrate with various design, development, compilation, and testing tools to generate production-ready web page output in a scalable architecture. Using the presentation layer software development kit, modifications to the web page content may be generated, tested, and deployed in a real-time basis, reducing design and implementation times.

Abstract: The present invention is a headset holder coupled with indicia of stored value. The indicia of stored value may be printed or painted on, or otherwise permanently coupled to, the holder itself, or may be included in a stored value or gift card that is attached to the holder. The headset holder and the stored value card may be constructed from a single sheet of plastic; in such embodiments, separation of the stored value card from the headset holder may be supported by a scoreline in the plastic material. The headset holder may have a spool and two grips. One grip may be configured to secure earphones and the other grip may be configured to secure a jack of the headset. The spool may be configured for winding headset wire. The holder may be configured to hold primarily an earbud headset. The grips may extend or protrude from a central portion, or body of the holder. The spool may also extend from the body. The holder may display an image, such as the image of a creature or plant.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for verifying the ability to use stored authentication information when accessing a remote media service. A media device, such as a television, is described that stores authentication information for a remote media service. Such authentication information may include a user name and a password. Because media devices may be re-sold, returned for re-sale, or refurbished, it is necessary to automatically disable the authentication information to prevent a second owner from accessing the services and accounts belonging to a first owner. The ability to use authentication information is disabled upon a long delay in accessing the service, a complete power down cycle, a change in IP address, or a change in network interfaces used to access the network.

Abstract: A tablet computer interface with additional motion based sensors and tactile controls.

Abstract: A pear-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb housing is provided with a plurality of light-dispersing thickness variations in the bulb envelope. Dimples, bumps, or v-shaped grooves are provided in a middle portion of the bulb envelope in order to uniformly disperse light from LEDs as the light passes through the bulb envelope.

Abstract: A grip-enabled touchscreen stylus for teaching a proper writing grip comprises a stylus shaft and a stylus tip for writing on a capacitive touchscreen electronic device. Three buttons situated around the stylus shaft activate the stylus tip. The stylus has a normally-off state, in which the tip is disabled and cannot interact with a touchscreen. When a thumb, index, and middle finger of a hand correctly grip the stylus by pressing all three buttons simultaneously, an actuator within the stylus causes the tip to activate in order to interact with the touchscreen. The stylus actuator may be mechanical, electronic, or electromechanical. The stylus may be supplemented by software or logic on the touchscreen-enabled device enabling the desired user experience of requiring proper grip on the stylus for touchscreen input to be validated.

Abstract: A modular LED light bulb is presented. The bulb comprises a bulb envelope and a removable screw base. A power supply within the bulb envelope connects to an electrolytic capacitor within the screw base. When the electrolytic capacitor in the screw base requires replacement, the screw base is detached from the bulb envelope, the depleted electrolytic capacitor is discarded, and a new electrolytic capacitor is connected to the power supply. The various embodiments increase the useful life of the LED light bulb. In another aspect, the screw base may be adapted to accept swappable modules to provide the light bulb with additional functionality. The swappable modules may provide the light bulb with wireless control and motion sensing.

Abstract: An integrated design for an active HDMI connector is presented. The active HDMI connector comprises an active module circuit board, a connector pin assembly, connector pins, an insulation housing, and a metal connector shell. The connector shell partially encloses and partially exposes the active module. The connector pins each have a bent segment embedded in a molding assembly to fixate the pins within the molding assembly. The molding assembly defines a recessed slot for the active module. The active module has a cutout on a side of the module that is aligned with a tab on the connector shell. The tab is bent toward the inside of the connector shell to secure the active module inside the shell. The insulation housing includes pin separators that do not fully surround the connector pins.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for validating a signature on a touchscreen using a smart stylus. Software residing on a touchscreen device disables touch input from sources other than the stylus. In one embodiment, the stylus wirelessly transmits a stylus identifier to the touchscreen device to identify the stylus to the device. The stylus may also have a stylus tip that produces an encoded voltage pulse sequence that is used to identify the stylus to the device. A stylus ID is associated with an encoded voltage pulse. The touchscreen device can look up the stylus ID in a database, determine the encoded voltage pulse associated with the stylus ID, and determine that a voltage pulse transmitted by the stylus tip is the pulse associated with the stylus ID, thus validating the source of data input on the touchscreen.

Abstract: A wall switch actuator for both remote and local actuation. Switch position is reported to network devices.

Abstract: A method for automatically updating software executed by an electronic device is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving, at the electronic device, an update indication from a server that updated software is available for the electronic device. The method further includes modifying, in response to the update indication, a boot state of the electronic device and initiating operation of the electronic device in an update mode. The updated software is received, at the electronic device, during operation in the update mode. The method further includes initiating, upon determining the updated software has been correctly received, operation of the electronic device in a normal mode.