Abstract: A method and system are provided for selecting and presenting a route to a user. An exemplary embodiment includes storing a plurality of associations, each association between a route taken by a user and at least one safety characteristic of the route. Received from a particular user is a request for at least one recommended route to a destination point. A query is formulated based on user specified parameters, including an origination point, the destination point, and a safety characteristic, to obtain the at least one recommended route. A plurality of routes, including routes from the stored associations, based on a safety characteristic of the routes and related to at least one of the origination point and the destination point is retrieved. At least one recommended route is recommended to the user based on at least one of the retrieved routes that most closely matches the specified parameters.

Abstract: A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, that the route segment is an unfamiliar segment. The method includes determining an alternative route from the starting point to the destination point that includes a familiar road identified based on the user's travel history instead of the unfamiliar segment. The method further includes providing the computed route and the alternative route for presentation in a format that distinguishes the computed route from the alternative route.

Abstract: A method for processing data entered using a keyboard and a keyboard capable of implementing the method is described. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes keys associated with at least one input data value and at least one multi-value key associated with at least two input data values. Each key includes a unit and each multi-value key includes a plurality of units and each input data value corresponds to at least one unit. The keyboard also includes an eye-tracking system that determines an area where a user is gazing by monitoring eye movements of the user, and an input value selection module coupled to units and to the eye-tracking system. The input value selection module determines probabilistically which input data value was entered based on a value received from at least one unit and on the area where the user is gazing.

Abstract: Providing for using presence information for an object in a digital image is provided. An association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image is indicated. Whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object is determined. In association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured is provided to perform an action using the identified presence information if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information.

Abstract: A method for registering an electronic device includes receiving purchaser information including at least one of a name and an address associated with a purchaser. A transaction code associated with a purchase of an electronic device is received, wherein the transaction code does not uniquely identify the electronic device. Information identifying the electronic device is retrieved based on the transaction code. The electronic device is registered by associating the purchaser information with the information identifying the electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for collecting contemporaneous information relating to an event. The method includes, in response to receiving an indication of an event, identifying a plurality of mobile devices located in a specified area related to the event based on global positioning system (GPS) information associated with each of the mobile devices. The method also includes selecting, from the plurality of mobile devices, at least one mobile device to which a request for supplemental information is to be transmitted. The method further includes transmitting, via at least one communication network, the request to the selected at least one mobile device. The method still further includes receiving the supplemental information over the at least one communication network from the selected at least one mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for selecting and presenting a route to a user. An exemplary embodiment includes storing a plurality of associations, each association between a route taken by a user and at least one safety characteristic of the route. Received from a particular user is a request for at least one recommended route to a destination point. A query is formulated based on user specified parameters, including an origination point, the destination point, and a safety characteristic, to obtain routes taken by other users. A plurality of routes taken by other users based on a safety characteristic of the routes and related to at least one of the origination point and the destination point is retrieved from the associations. At least one recommended route is recommended to the user based on at least one of the retrieved routes that most closely matches the specified parameters.

Abstract: A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, whether the route segment is an unfamiliar segment, and identifying, based on the user's travel history, a road that is familiar to the user. The method includes providing, in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, the computed route and the familiar road relative to the unfamiliar segment for presentation of the familiar road within a scaled range of the unfamiliar segment.

Abstract: A method for processing data entered using an electronic device and an electronic device capable of implementing the method is described. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes at least one multi-value key associated with at least two input data values. Each multi-value key includes a plurality of units and each input data value corresponds to at least one unit. The electronic device also includes an eye-tracking system that determines an area where a user is gazing by monitoring eye movements of the user, and an input value selection module coupled to the plurality of units and to the eye-tracking system. The input value selection module determines probabilistically which input data value was entered based on a value received from at least one unit and on the area where the user is gazing.

Abstract: A method for registering an electronic device includes receiving a transaction code and purchaser information associated with a purchase of an electronic device. While the transaction code is associated with the purchase of the electronic device, it does not uniquely identify the electronic device purchased. The method also includes receiving from the electronic device the transaction code and a device identifier that uniquely identifies the electronic device. The device is registered by associating the purchaser information and the device identifier via the transaction code.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for calendar-based coverage monitoring are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a coverage rule defining at least one covering entity for performing an activity for a covered entity and at least one period of time during which the multiple covering entities is to perform the activity. Individual calendars for the at least one covering entity are monitored and a change in one of the calendars is detected. It is then determined whether the change causes a threshold criteria to be met, and in response to determining that the change causes the coverage rule to be violated, a coverage warning notification indicating a potential for violation of the coverage rule is automatically generated.

Abstract: Background blurring is provided when capturing an image using an image capture device. Input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image at an image capture device, the image including at least a subject and a background. The image capture device is automatically focused closer than the subject for capturing the image with the background blurred responsive to receiving the input for initiating the image capture process.

Abstract: Presence information for an object in a digital image is determined. An identifier associated with at least one object depicted in the image is sufficient to determine presence information from at least one of a presence application and a presence roster list is used to subscribe to presence information associated with the at least one object via a presence service. Presence information for the at least one object is determined based on the identifier from the at least one of a presence application and a presence roster list. An action related to the object is performed using the determined presence information.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing wireless communication with a device is provided. Aspects of an exemplary embodiment include detecting, at a first device, a physical interaction involving the first device and a second device. Further, the first device identifies a network address usable for establishing communication between the first device and the second device, the network address identified based on information associated with the detected physical interaction. Further, a role of the first device is determined, wherein the role of the first device is an initiator device. Further, based on the role of the first device as the initiator device, the network address is wirelessly provided to the second device. Further, content is wirelessly transferred between the first device and the second device using the network address.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining availability of presentable content are disclosed. According to one aspect, an identification of first presentable content is received during presentation of the first presentable content in a first content format. Further, a request for second presentable content corresponding to the first presentable content is transmitted, the request including information identifying the first presentable content. Further, in response to the request, results from a search are received. The results including an identification of second presentable content available in a second content format, wherein the search is based on the information associated with the first presentable content included in the request. Further, an indication is presented that the second presentable content is available in the second content format.

Abstract: Organizing messages received and transmitted over a network is described. In one aspect, a method includes tracking where a user is gazing as the user is composing an outgoing message on a first computer system. During a composition time period in which the user is composing the message, a relevance rating for one or more of a plurality of gaze areas is determined. The relevance rating of a gaze area is based on a number of times the user's gaze dwells on the displayed message associated with the gaze area after the user's gaze is directed away from the displayed message. The method further includes identifying at least one displayed message that is related to the outgoing message based on at least one of the relevance ratings, and associating an identifier for at least one of the at least one related message with the outgoing message.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a display manager configured to provide a plurality of objects for display at a plurality of display mechanisms, where at least two of the plurality of display mechanisms display at least one common object, and a control filter having preconfigured filter criteria configured to automatically determine, based on a type of an object, to which of the plurality of display mechanisms the display manager provides the object.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing communication with a device is provided. Aspects of an exemplary embodiment include detecting, at a first device, a physical interaction involving the first device and a second device; requesting assignment of a network address usable for establishing communication between the first device and the second device, wherein the network address is based on information associated with the detected physical interaction; and automatically transferring content between the first device and the second device using the network address based on information associated with the detected physical interaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining availability of presentable content via a subscription service are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving an indication of first presentable content associated with a first subscription service. Metadata associated with the selected first presentable content is received. Based on the received metadata, it is determined whether second presentable content corresponding to the first presentable content is available from a second subscription service. Further, and indication is provided that the second presentable content is available.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for displaying input items on a display. In one embodiment, a first activation of a button representing a displayable input item is detected. Responsive to the first activation of the button, the displayable input item is displayed on a display at an initial display size without accepting selection of the displayable input item. The displayable input item is incrementally enlarged on the display over time until detecting a second activation of the button. Selection of the displayable input item is accepted responsive to the second activation of the button. The initial display size is set for the displayable input item based on a display size of the displayable input item when the second activation of the button is detected.