Abstract: A electronic device is disclosed in which substantially all of the electronic components of the device reside within a connector suitable for coupling to a port on a computing device. The device, referred to as a “dongle,” may therefore have an overall volume that is less than that of other devices for performing the same function. The dongle may, for example, perform the function of an encryption key to protect the computing device against unauthorized use. The dongle may be mated with the computing device port, thereby enveloping substantially all of the dongle within the port. The dongle does not extend appreciably from the port to which it is mated, thereby not adding appreciably to the volume of the computing device, and thereby making it easier to transport the computing device while the dongle is coupled to it.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a user-operated directional controller for an electronic device. One embodiment provides an apparatus that includes a pointing device which receives raw signal data in an electronic device, one or more processors, and logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to: determine a first coordinate value for a cursor position by reading x, y coordinate values from a directional controller; determine a remainder value associated with the first coordinate value; store the remainder value; determine a second coordinate value for a second cursor position by reading x, y coordinates from the directional controller; compute the second coordinate value by using a residual value, wherein the residual value is derived from the stored remainder value from a previous calibration operation; and store the subsequent remainder value.

Abstract: A electronic device is disclosed in which substantially all of the electronic components of the device reside within a connector suitable for coupling to a port on a computing device. The device, referred to as a “dongle,” may therefore have an overall volume that is less than that of other devices for performing the same function. The dongle may, for example, perform the function of an encryption key to protect the computing device against unauthorized use. The dongle may be mated with the computing device port, thereby enveloping substantially all of the dongle within the port. The dongle does not extend appreciably from the port to which it is mated, thereby not adding appreciably to the volume of the computing device, and thereby making it easier to transport the computing device while the dongle is coupled to it.

Abstract: A method enables power savings in an OLED display by shortening the duty cycle of selected OLEDs of the OLED display. The selected OLEDs may include, for example, OLEDs used to generate particular objects that appear to be inactive such as inactive windows. Shortening the duty cycles of the selected OLEDs results in overall power savings when operating the OLED display.

Abstract: A method enables power savings in an OLED display by reducing the size of the screen in an OLED display when the screen is not in use. For example, if the OLED display receives no input from the user for a predefined time period, the size of the screen is reduced in order to decrease the power consumption of the OLED display.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for updating the physical coordinates of logical keys of a virtual keyboard on a touch input system as a result of detecting and determining the drift of the user's fingers that make touch contact with a touch-sensitive member of the touch input system to operate the logical keys. The logical keys are given coordinates at the moment fingers are placed on the virtual keyboard in a home-row position. As the user types on the virtual keyboard, the device detects any drift of the fingers from the home-row position and determines the distance and direction of the drift. The device recalibrates the touch-sensitive member by updating the physical coordinates of some or all of the other logical keys to reflect the drift of the fingers.

Abstract: A method enables power savings in an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display by dimming selected areas of the OLED display pixel by pixel. The selected areas may include, for example, particular displayed objects such as an active window, particular colors, etc. Dimming selected areas of the OLED display results in overall power savings when operating the OLED display.

Abstract: An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a dielectric material including a plurality of layers defined a first set of electrodes of a first polarity and a second set of electrodes of a second polarity, wherein the first set of electrodes and second set of electrodes alternate in position to form the plurality of layers; a first interconnect coupled to the first set of electrodes, the first interconnect coupled to a ground; a second interconnect coupled to the second set of electrodes, the second interconnect coupled to a voltage source, wherein a voltage is applied to the second interconnect to generate an electric field.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling allocation of one or more computing resources for a process. The method includes providing a user option to execute a process using local or remote computing resources and then executing the process using a selected option. A more specific method includes predetermining two or more allocation options; displaying a plurality of the predetermined allocation options, wherein each option indicates a different allocation of resources between at least one resource on a local computing system and at least one resource on a remote computing system, wherein the resources; determining, by using the local computing system, a function to be performed; accepting a signal from a user-input device to select one of the plurality of options in association with performing the function; allocating the resources in accordance with the selected option; and then using the selected resource allocation to accomplish a task.

Abstract: A user can configure and purchase virtual computing resources in much the same way buyers now configure and purchase physical computers. One embodiment allows a user to select various performance parameters that are commonly known and used by the average user of a personal computer. For example, a baseline computer system can be selected and then customized by choosing performance parameter such as a processor brand name, processor clock speed, random-access memory (RAM) capacity, hard disk drive capacity, etc. The performance parameters can then be used to configure virtual computing resources to achieve a virtual computer that substantially meets the performance parameters.

Abstract: A method for automatically selecting resources to be used by a given computing process. The method includes determining resources that will be required for execution of the process and then ascertaining availability at and capabilities of local and remote resources at a desired processing time. An appropriate combination of resources is then selected from local and remote resources that will satisfy one or more predetermined criteria. A second method represents a method for allocating local and/or remote computing resources. Local computing resources include local processing power and local storage. Remote computing resources include remote processing power and remote storage. The method includes receiving an indication of a function to be performed at a future time; then determining a local resource limitation of performing the function at the future time; and then automatically allocating one or more of the remote computing resources for performance of the function.

Abstract: An external display configuration approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include: using an interface of a portable computing device to define preferred settings, where the preferred settings designate preferences for a display that is external to the portable computing device; detecting in the portable computing device, a connection of an external display to the portable computing device; loading the preferred settings when capabilities of the external display support the preferred settings; and adjusting settings of the external display to match the preferred settings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing device for providing navigation on a display is provided. The computing device includes a first input device that provides navigation on the display screen in two dimensions. For example, the first input device may be a trackstick or track ball that can be mechanically actuated by a user. When actuated, the first input device may cause a pointing device to move in two dimensions, such as in the X-Y directions. Also, a second input device is provided that is configured to provide navigation on the display screen in one dimension. For example, the second input device may be a scrollwheel that provides movement in the vertical or horizontal direction. The second input device is situated around the first input device and is configured to be physically turned around the first input device.

Abstract: An approach involving light use for multiple purposes in a portable computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include: programming a visual state information indicator in a portable computing device; mapping the visual state information indicator to a light source and a parameter of a device module; receiving a monitoring signal from the device module, where the monitoring signal conveys a state of the parameter in real-time; and adjusting the light source in response to a comparison of the monitoring signal against the programmed visual state information indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that may be a portable device, such as a portable personal computer, cellular phone, or other computing device. The apparatus includes an input device. The input device may include a first input area and a second input area. The first and second input areas may occupy the same area of the computing device, such as the second input area may be underneath the first input area. A controller is provided that includes a first control area and a second control area. The first and second control areas may also occupy the same area where second control area may be underneath first control area. In one embodiment, first control area may be responsive to a mechanical input and a second control may be responsive to a non-mechanical input. The second control area is configured to enable and disable the second input area of the input device.

Abstract: A method for processing blocks of data in a file is provided. The method includes determining a plurality of blocks of data in the file for a compression process used for compressing data in the file. This process is iterated over all the plurality of blocks of data in the file. A block of data is read into memory, and the offset from which it is read is also stored. A strong collision-resistant cryptographic hash representation, such as a strong collision-resistant cryptographic hash, of the block is determined. The cryptographic hash representation (CHR) of the block of data as well as the data itself, is added to a table with the CHR as a unique index. The offset of the block of data in the source file, as well as the CHR for that block are appended to a separate table.

Abstract: An approach involving light use for multiple purposes in a portable computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include: accessing a user interface in a portable computing device; programming a visual state information indicator via the user interface; programming a monitoring signal that conveys a real-time state of a parameter associated with a device module; and linking the visual state information indicator to a light source and the parameter via the user interface, where the visual state information indicator is adjusted using the light source in response to a comparison of the monitoring signal against the programmed visual state information indicator.

Abstract: Intention data is used to determine an intent of a sender of a message, or other participant, in an electronic communication system such as an email system. For example, a message that is designated for sending can be compared to the sender's intention data and if a discrepancy or deficiency is detected between the sender's determined intent and the actual message then an action is taken such as providing an alert to the sender or to another person, process or device; requiring an action by the sender such as confirming the message, making an edit, checking information, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video signal is displayed on a display screen in two or more resolutions. The video signal may be of a first resolution and the display screen may be set to a second resolution. In one embodiment, the video signal resolution is of a size that is greater than the size of the display screen resolution. The method includes displaying a first portion of the video signal in a first resolution in a first region of the display. A second portion of the video signal is then displayed in a second resolution in a second region of the display. The second resolution is a resolution that displays at least a portion of the video signal that would be off screen if the video signal is displayed in the first resolution. Accordingly, more of the signal can be displayed on the screen.