Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for using drone imaging to capture images. Capture instructions are provided to a drone device to aid in image capture related to events. Events may be defined by characteristics such as geographical boundary information, temporal boundary information, and participant information. In one aspect, capture instructions are determined based on subject faces appearing in images associated with a sharing pool associated with an event. In another aspect, capture instructions are determined based on factor-of-interest information and remuneration policy information. The factor-of-interest information identifies subjects of interest gathered from different user devices with corresponding weights In another aspect, a drone may be assigned to one of a plurality of events based on event opportunity scores. The event opportunity scores may be determined from users associated with events, and the factors and weights associated with those users.

Abstract: Methods are described for receiving from a device at a server device resource dispensing system usage information and settings and sending from the server device ecorank information, wherein the ecorank information is derived from a comparison of usage of resource dispensing systems controlled by the device in comparison to a comparison group, the comparison group comprising other resource dispensing systems controlled by other devices. The comparison group is determined based on profile information describing the dwelling, dwelling size, dwelling location, dwelling occupants, resource dispensing system technology, and related information. In some embodiments, the ecorank information may be one or more of a numerical score, percentage, graphic, icon, color, letter, and an audio item. In some embodiments, the energy consumed by the resource dispensing systems may be reported by an associated energy measurement device or estimated by heating and cooling usage hours.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for identifying images which may be of interest to a user based on their current geographic location. In some embodiments, a check is first performed to determine if the current geographic location is a location-of-interest. Images are searched that are in geographical proximity to the current geographic location of the user to identify images-of-interest. The images-of-interest may be designated in part based on actions taken by subjects having had interactions with the images. The user is notified based on the discovery of one or more images-of-interest. The one or more images-of-interest may be presented to the user through the use of map overlays and/or augmented reality techniques.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium are described for operating servers and mobile devices. A mobile device may send a template request including a geographic location to a server device. Based on the received geographic location, the server device may match the template request with a template tagged with a usage location matching the received geographic location. The server device may provide the mobile device with the template wherein the mobile device may combine the template with an image captured at the geographic location. The mobile device may provide the server device with the modified image for distribution to other mobile devices.

Abstract: Methods, devices, computer readable medium, and systems are described for capturing images at venues. Venues are organized around one or more shotspots. Shotspots are geographic locations which may have one or more subspots and one or more venue operated camera devices. Subspots identify positions to be occupied by subjects within a shotspot. Shotspots are installed, registered, and operated by venue operators. Images are captured based on triggers which may include one or more conditions under which images will be stored. Conditions may also include negative limitations. Users wishing to use a shotspot do so through a mobile device. Interacting through the mobile device, a user may discover, receive directions to, navigate to, and arrange sessions during which they may use a shotspot. Users may also receive sample images, define triggers, initiate triggers, preview framing, and receive images through the mobile application.

Abstract: Methods, Systems, and Devices are disclosed for using drone imaging to capture images. Capture instructions are provided to a drone device to aid in image capture. The capture instructions may include factors-of-interest. The factors-of-interest may include subject faces derived from a collection of images stored at a user device such as a cell phone. The factors-of-interest may also include information derived from images associated with an event, geographical and temporal information associated with the event and social graph information received from a social network and used to determine subject faces to target for image capture by the drone device. The factors-of-interest may also include current geographical location information of one or more friends identified in the social graph. This information may also be used to locate subjects for image capture. The social graph information may also be used to distribute any images captured to subjects appearing in those images.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a first device to send a second device a face template of the user of the first device. When the second device captures an image, the second device may compare the face template to a second face template derived from the captured image. If a match is determined to exist, the second device may send the captured image to the first device. The face template may be transferred over a first communication interface, while the captured image may be sent over a second communication interface. The first communication interface may be Bluetooth and the second communication interface may be WIFI Direct. As such, the system may function in environments without cellular coverage and/or infrastructure WIFI networks. Additionally, the user of the first device does not need to be identified, only matched to the second face template.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for identifying images which may be of interest to a user based on their current geographic location. In some embodiments, a check is first performed to determine if the current geographic location is a location-of-interest. Images are searched that are in geographical proximity to the current geographic location of the user to identify images-of-interest. The images-of-interest may be designated in part based on actions taken by subjects having had interactions with the images. The user is notified based on the discovery of one or more images-of-interest. The one or more images-of-interest may be presented to the user through the use of map overlays and/or augmented reality techniques.

Abstract: Methods, devices, computer readable medium, and systems are described for capturing images at venues. Venues are organized around one or more shotspots. Shotspots are geographic locations which may have one or more subspots and one or more venue operated camera devices. Subspots identify positions to be occupied by subjects within a shotspot. Shotspots are installed, registered, and operated by venue operators. Images are captured based on triggers which may include one or more conditions under which images will be stored. Conditions may also include negative limitations. Users wishing to use a shotspot do so through a mobile device. Interacting through the mobile device, a user may discover, receive directions to, navigate to, and arrange sessions during which they may use a shotspot. Users may also receive sample images, define triggers, initiate triggers, preview framing, and receive images through the mobile application.

Abstract: An architecture is presented for one or more climate systems controlled by one or more thermostat devices located in one or more dwellings associated with one or more users. Depending on the combination of the above factors, ecorank information is determined and presented. In some cases, the thermostats operate independently and settings are not propagated. In other cases, the thermostats operate dependently and settings are mirrored. One thermostat may be used to control another. Setting changes in at one thermostat may be presented at another thermostat. In some cases, the setting changes may require confirmation. In some instances, a hub device may be used to interconnect a thermostat device and server device.

Abstract: In the present disclosure methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable medium are described for determining when a proposed event will overlap with an existing event. Events, which are associated with sharing pools, are defined by temporal and geographical boundaries, and are determined to overlap when both the temporal boundaries and geographical boundaries overlap. In some embodiments, the proposed event will be aborted, and the initiator will be provided with an invitation to join the existing event. In some embodiments, the initiator of the proposed event is provided with a notification of the overlap, but the second event is initiated. In some embodiments, the geographical boundaries of an event are tied to a reference device, wherein the reference device may change geographical location over time.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for presenting a graphical user interface on a display for the purpose of receiving inputs from a reference person indicating a subject affinity between the reference person and a subject. Images for presentation are determined by scoring images based on the subjects that appear in the images and the subject affinity scores for the subjects. In some embodiments, the subject affinity is is sent from a display device to a server device and the server device scores the images and returns the designated images back to the display device for presentation. In some embodiments, the images are displayed sequentially on the display device. In some embodiments, the subject information is displayed with the images as they are presented on the display.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for identifying images which may be of interest to a user based on their current geographic location. In some embodiments, a check is first performed to determine if the current geographic location is a location-of-interest. Images are searched that are in geographical proximity to the current geographic location of the user to identify images-of-interest. The images-of-interest may be designated in part based on actions taken by subjects having had interactions with the images. The user is notified based on the discovery of one or more images-of-interest. The one or more images-of-interest may be presented to the user through the use of map overlays and/or augmented reality techniques.

Abstract: An architecture is presented for one or more climate systems controlled by one or more thermostat devices located in one or more dwellings associated with one or more users. Depending on the combination of the above factors, ecorank information is determined and presented. In some cases, the thermostats operate independently and settings are not propagated. In other cases, the thermostats operate dependently and settings are mirrored. One thermostat may be used to control another. Setting changes in at one thermostat may be presented at another thermostat. In some cases, the setting changes may require confirmation. In some instances, a hub device may be used to interconnect a thermostat device and server device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable medium are described for forming an image sharing pool at a server device. The event associated with the sharing pool may be proposed by a moderator or detected by the server device based on examination of the metadata included in images received at the server device. Users who have uploaded images associated with the event or who are at the event may be invited to join the event. In another aspect of the present disclosure, provisional rights may be granted based on a user accepting an invitation to the event and permanent rights may be granted based on a user contributing an image to the sharing pool.

Abstract: Methods, devices, computer readable medium, and systems are described for sending from a thermostat device to a server device climate system usage information and settings, and receiving from the server device ecorank information wherein the ecorank information is derived from a comparison of energy consumed by the climate system controlled by the thermostat device in comparison to energy consumed by a comparison group, the comparison group comprising other climate systems controlled by other thermostat devices. The comparison group is determined based on profile information comprising information describing the dwelling, dwelling size, dwelling location, occupants, and climate system technology. The ecorank information is one or more of a numerical score, percentage, graphic, icon, color, letter, trend indicator, audio item, and a video item. The energy consumed by the climate systems may be reported by an associated energy measurement device or inferred by heating and cooling hours.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer readable medium are described for receiving from a thermostat device at a server device climate system usage information and settings and sending from the server device ecorank information, wherein the ecorank information is derived from a comparison of usage of climate systems controlled by the thermostat device in comparison to a comparison group, the comparison group comprising other climate systems controlled by other thermostat devices. The comparison group is determined based on profile information describing the dwelling, dwelling size, dwelling location, dwelling occupants, climate system technology, and related information. In some embodiments, the ecorank information may be one or more of a numerical score, percentage, graphic, icon, color, letter, and an audio item. In some embodiments, the energy consumed by the climate systems may be reported by an associated energy measurement device or estimated by heating and cooling usage hours.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable medium are described whereby images are obtained at a server or another suitable computing device. The images may contain metadata indicating the time, date, and geographic location of capture. In one aspect of the present disclosure, this metadata may be used to determine that the images were captured at an event that is still occurring (in-process event). Users who have uploaded images that are captured at the event may be invited to join an image sharing pool. In response to accepting the invitation, the images provided by the user may be contributed to the image sharing pool, and other users having also joined the image sharing pool will be able to access the newly contributed images. The event associated with the sharing pool may be detected by the system or proposed by a moderator.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for passively tracking and selectively sharing user experiences with communication devices, including computers, web-enabled telephones, and PDAs. User rating or comments on their experiences can be captured. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for passively tracking and selectively sharing user experiences with communication devices, including computers, web-enabled telephones, and PDAs. User rating or comments on their experiences can be captured. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.