Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Abstract: A pair of glasses includes a clock that is at least partially embedded in the glasses. The clock can be in one of the temples of the glasses. In one implementation, the clock can be positioned at a region close to a hinge of the corresponding temple, with the clock facing inward towards the user. The clock can also be in a temple arrangement. Instead of or in addition to a clock, other types of electrical components can be at least partially embedded into a pair of glasses or a temple arrangement of a pair of glasses. For example, the other electrical components can pertain to a RFID tag, a temperature sensor or an eyewear finder.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating delivery and adjustments of customer orders at a customer delivery site. A delivery courier is assigned a mobile field computing device for facilitating delivery and order adjustments of customer orders associated with that courier's delivery route. The mobile field computing device includes memory for storing customer order history data and delivery route data downloaded from a server system. The delivery route data stored in the mobile field computing device may be used by the delivery courier to facilitate delivery of the customer orders. Further, the delivery courier may use the mobile field computing device to process a variety of different order adjustment transactions at a customer delivery site.

Abstract: A management system for a computer system is disclosed. The computer system operates or includes various products (e.g., software products) that can be managed in a management system or collectively by a group of management systems. Typically, the management system operates on a computer separate from the computer system being managed. The management system can make use of a knowledge base of causing symptoms for previously observed problems at other sites or computer systems. In other words, the knowledge base can built from and shared by different users across different products to leverage knowledge that is otherwise disparate. The knowledge base typically grows over time. The management system can use its ability to request information from the computer system being managed together with the knowledge base to infer a problem root cause in the computer system being managed.

Abstract: Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and management of location information are disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodiment includes at least a plurality of mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, and a web server coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing devices are associated with and proximate to an object whose location is being monitored. The web server stores the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users to obtain access the locations via the wired network.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Abstract: A wireless communication system based on a directional speaker is disclosed. The system can include an interface unit and a base unit. The audio signals from the speaker can be generated by transforming ultrasonic signals in air. This allows the production of directional audio signals even when the aperture of the speaker has dimensions in the order of a few centimeters. The audio signals from the speaker can be heard hands-free. Further, privacy protection is enhanced. In one embodiment, the interface unit can be attached or integrated to a piece of clothing at the shoulder of the user, with the audio signals from the speaker directed towards one of the user's ears. The wireless communication system can be applied to a number of different areas, including a communication device, such as a cell phone; a hearing aid; an entertainment system; and a computation system, such as a personal digital assistant or a computer.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Abstract: A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.

Abstract: Order allocation techniques that reduce the number of stops that a container makes in the process of fulfilling a customer order is disclosed. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by first identifying a pod that stocks the largest number of different items in a customer order. Then, a second pod is identified that stocks the largest number of remaining items in the customer order. Ultimately, all items in the customer order are assigned a pod. The collection of pods defines a container path through the distribution center.

Abstract: A moisture sensor for skin is disclosed. With the moisture sensor, a user can determine that her skin is too dry, and can conveniently apply a skin-care product. In addition, in one embodiment, the sensor can assist in identifying different types of skin-care products to apply. As one example, a skin-care product is a type of lotion. As another example, a skin-care product is a type of shampoo.

Abstract: A medical monitoring system that facilitates end-users in obtaining medical information concerning their health or wellness is disclosed. In one embodiment, an end-user is provided with a medical monitoring appliance. In another embodiment, an end-user acquires an appropriate medical monitoring appliance. The end-user can utilize the medical monitoring appliance to capture health data concerning the end-user. The health data can be electronically stored at a central repository and be available for electronic access by medical personnel and/or the end-user. The invention also facilitates remote evaluation of an end-user's health data by another person, such as a medical specialist.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for automatically implementing item substitutions for unavailable items in a customer order. According to one embodiment, line item orders from selected customer orders may be aggregated and processed for substitution analysis. Substitutions for unavailable items of selected customer orders may then be automatically implemented based upon substitution instructions, business rules, and/or other predefined criteria.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for implementing electronic commerce transactions via a data network. A regulated item selected by a customer is identified. The regulated item may correspond to an item which satisfies predetermined criteria, indicating that the regulated item is prohibited from being purchased by the customer. Action is then taken to prohibit the purchase of the selected item, via the data network, by the customer. According to one embodiment, the action taken to prohibit the purchase of the regulated item is automatically implemented at a server system configured to implement electronic commerce transactions between an on-line merchant and the customer. According to a specific implementation, the predetermined criteria correspond to regulations which restrict sales of the regulated items to persons in a particular jurisdiction based upon certain criteria such as, for example, time of day, day of week, age of the customer, type of product being sold, etc.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.