Abstract: A method is provided for alerting a user of scheduled tasks prior to falling asleep. The method includes associating an alarm device with a user's body by securing a wearable device to the user's wrist, placing the device in a pocket, integrating the device into the user's clothing such as a belt, or otherwise placing the device in contact with or adjacent to the user. The device includes one or more sensors for detecting physiological and/or environmental parameters such as heart, respiration, or pulse rate, body movements, eye movements, ambient light, and the like. Upon detecting a pre-sleep state, the device gathers information about tasks which the user desires to perform or attend to prior to going to sleep, and alerts the user before falling asleep.

Abstract: A mobile device or a method performed by a mobile device for interacting with a stylus, wherein the stylus has at least one sensor (e.g., a thermocouple junction), and wherein the mobile device has at least one signal source (e.g., an analog heat source) that produces at least one signal (e.g., at least one analog heat signal), wherein the at least one signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one sensor of the stylus. The mobile device also has at least one signal adjustment mechanism for changing the at least one signal and also has at least one transmitter (e.g., thermal active touch screen display) configured to transmit the at least one signal for receipt by the at least one sensor of the stylus.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods in which ontologies are automatically (i.e., with little or no human interaction) constructed from data. The constructed ontology may be provided for use by an application or device. An ontology may be constructed as follows. Firstly, a lexical graph is constructed. Secondly, a concept-detection process is performed on the lexical graph to detect concepts (prominent terms) in the lexical graph. Thirdly, a clustering method is performed on the lexical graph to form groups of concepts. Fourthly, relationships between the concepts are determined based on the interconnections of the concepts in the groups. Lastly, the concepts and detected relationships therebetween are structured using a formal ontology specification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus store media data on a portable electronic device. The method can include monitoring media data storage activity regarding user media data storage activity usage patterns that store media data in a memory in a portable electronic device. The method can include storing the media data storage activity data in the portable electronic device. The method can include triggering a full memory prediction algorithm based on a user action event that affects media data storage in the memory and can include running the full memory prediction algorithm in response to the trigger. The full memory prediction algorithm can predict when the memory will be substantially full based on past user media data storage behavior according to the media data storage activity data. The method can include outputting a potential upcoming full memory indication.

Abstract: A system and methods of managing privacy settings of a user are presented here. The system obtains context information that is indicative of a contextual scenario associated with operation of a user device and determines, with a first analytics system, a first set of privacy settings predictions that is influenced at least in part by the context information. A second analytics system is used to determine a second set of privacy settings predictions that is influenced at least in part by the context information. When the first set of privacy settings predictions differ from the second set of privacy settings predictions by at least a threshold amount, the system issues a query for user-specified privacy settings for the contextual scenario.

Abstract: A method in a wearable electronic device of detecting clothing includes: detecting whether the wearable electronic device is coupled to a user, determining whether the wearable electronic device is covered, and adjusting one or more device settings of the wearable electronic device. A secondary check can perform an additional determination of whether the wearable electronic device is covered with clothing. One or more sensors, such as a skin sensor, a tension sensor, an infrared sensor, or microphones, can be used to execute the steps in the wearable electronic device.

Abstract: Comparing usage of items at a location associated with a sensor network to attributes of a selected item is disclosed. A client device captures an item descriptor associated with a selected item. An item identifier is extracted from the item descriptor and transmitted from the client device to an item information server to retrieve data describing attributes of the selected item. The client device transmits an account identifier to an account server, which uses the account identifier to retrieve data from a sensor network describing usage of items at a location associated with the sensor network. The account server transmits to the client device a comparison of one or more attributes of the selected device with usage of items at the location associated with the sensor network.

Abstract: A method and wireless communication device are provided that establish data connectivity between the wireless communication device and a core network over an IP access network. The wireless communication device receives a request to establish data connectivity over an IP access network and provides required connectivity parameters for establishing the data connectivity requested. The wireless communication device then sends a message to initiate an authentication procedure with the core network over the IP access network, receives an authentication request message and sends a response to the authentication request message, the response including the required connectivity parameters when the IP access network is determined to be a trusted IP access network.

Abstract: A display system includes a display and a control circuit operable with the display. The display is configured to provide visual output having a presentation orientation. When user input is received, the control circuit can alter the presentation orientation from an initial orientation in response to user input. When non-user events or device events are detected, the control circuit can revert the presentation orientation to the initial orientation in response to the non-user event or device event. Where the presentation orientation has a user input configuration associated therewith, the user input configuration can either be altered with the presentation orientation or retained in an initial disposition.

Abstract: A display system includes a display and a control circuit operable with the display. The display is configured to provide visual output having a presentation orientation. When user input is received, the control circuit can alter the presentation orientation from an initial orientation in response to user input. When non-user events or device events are detected, the control circuit can revert the presentation orientation to the initial orientation in response to the non-user event or device event. Where the presentation orientation has a user input configuration associated therewith, the user input configuration can either be altered with the presentation orientation or retained in an initial disposition.

Abstract: A group of “servant” devices each downloads a media presentation and renders the presentation to a local user. However, a “master” device directs the servants as to which chunks to download and when to render the presentation. In this way, the master keeps the presentations on the separate servants in synchrony. The master uses status information from the servants to coordinate the downloads. If, for example, one servant is having a difficult time keeping up with the presentation, then the master may choose to direct that servant to download a reduced-resolution version of the presentation (which requires less bandwidth to download). If the user of one of the servant devices enters a playback command, then that command is not executed locally but is instead sent to the master device which in turn sends the command to all of the servants so that they may execute the playback command in synchrony.

Abstract: A communication system provides for adaptive rank determination, for example, a rank 2 transmission in instances where a rank 1 transmission may be indicated under supported feedback modes in current standards where no explicit power adaptation can be assumed, for example, where a user equipment (UE) is limited to reporting a rank 1 channel due to a large dynamic range of a signal or due to a signal received by the UE from one base station (BS) antenna port drowning out a signal received by the UE from another BS antenna port. The communication system provides for the UE to implement rank 2 transmission in such instances by using per-antenna port power control at a BS serving the UE. In one embodiment, the BS controls the rank determination at the UE by signaling transmit power or power offset related parameters to use for rank and transmission parameters determination and feedback.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for distributing updates to portable computing device are disclosed. A number of portable computing devices to receive update data is determined and a first number of invitations to update are transmitted to a subset of the portable computing devices to receive update data during a first event. Data describing network usage during the first event is received and the available network bandwidth is determined Based on the available network bandwidth, the size of the update data and network speed, a second number of invitations to update for transmission during a second event is determined In one embodiment, the available network bandwidth accounts for a threshold bandwidth and the bandwidth being used. This allows dynamic modification of the number of invitations based on available network bandwidth while allowing bandwidth usage to remain below the threshold bandwidth.

Abstract: A method in a portable electronic device (100) of authenticating enhanced wide area network data usage capabilities is provided. Data communication between the portable electronic device and a wide area network (104) is detected, along with commencement a dual-operating system hybrid environment (111). The dual-operating system hybrid environment can include a first operating system environment (114) operable to communicate with the wide area network at a restricted data rate and a second operating system environment (116) operable to communicate with the wide area network at either the restricted data rate or an enhanced data rate. A verification whether the portable electronic device is authorized to communicate with the wide area network at the enhanced data rate is then performed. Where true, the second operating system environment can be configured to communicate with the wide area network at the enhanced data rate.

Abstract: Methods and small touch screen devices configured to perform the methods, wherein the methods include: detecting at least one tactile user input within a range of force and/or a duration of time at a central region of a touch screen; displaying at least one set of icons at one or more peripheral regions of the touch screen, due to the detecting of the at least one user input at the central region; and after detecting an other tactile user input at an icon of the at least one set of icons, executing, by a processing device, processing device readable instructions stored in a first memory device and linked to the icon of the at least one set of icons.

Abstract: A system utilized by a user, a server, and a content output device; the server being operable to provide a stream of input content. The content output device can output content based on the stream of input content. The stream of input content includes a chunk of content data. The system includes a receiver, an interactive playback controller portion, a playback indicator, a storage portion and an output portion. The receiver can receive the stream of input content as downloaded data. The playback indicator can indicate a location of the chunk within the stream of input content. The storage portion can store the downloaded data. The output portion can output an output signal, based on the downloaded data, to the content output device. The interactive playback controller portion can enable the user to instruct the output portion to output the chunk of content data as the output signal.

Abstract: An improved water sealing side key system for use in electronic device 24, such as but not limited to a mobile phone, and which provides for the construction of the seal assembly 21 as a rigid frame 29 and an elastomeric sealing material that allows for both a compressive and circumferential (perimeter) seal 28 as well as the overall non-binding movement of a side key 20 within the seal and the ability to closely control the thickness, tolerance spacing and tactile feel of the side key 20.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (200) and method (300) for improving a browsing experience. The method (300) can include: determining (310) an expected time to a next charge; providing (320) a program that correlates typical user usage and determined time to the next charge, to calculate if an energy storage device of a wireless communication device will last to the next charge; and prompting (330) a user with options to minimize power drain based on the calculation. The method (300) can increase the useful life of a battery. Users will embrace this feature because charging can be delayed.

Abstract: An electronic device 28 with an effective water sealing button system 26 comprising a special compression gasket seal with compressive faces 30 and 32 and deformable annular seal portions 34 and 36 to dynamically seal a moveable side key 20 providing a button 22 against a housing 40 of the electronic device and accommodate non-binding sliding movement of the side key while controlling the spacing and tactile feel of the side key.

Abstract: There is described a portable electronic device capable of detecting wake conditions comprising a motion sensor, a touch sensor and a processor. The motion sensor is configured to detect tap data associated with user input within a predetermined time period. The touch sensor is configured to detect touch data associated with the user input within the predetermined time period. The touch sensor is activated in response to detecting the tap data at the motion sensor. The processor is configured to determine whether the touch data corresponds to at least one touch criterion, and activate a function of the portable electronic device in response to determining that the touch data corresponds to the at least one touch criterion.