Abstract: A display-based device includes a display assembly having a first viewing portion and a second viewing portion within the first viewing portion and a docking station that removably docks a portable device having an imaging apparatus that includes a display apparatus and/or an image capture apparatus. When docked, the portable device's imaging apparatus is positioned facing a rear side of the second viewing portion. The display-based device operates in a first mode, where data from the display-based device is displayed in the second viewing portion and backlighting for the second viewing portion is provided by the portable device, and operates in a second mode, where the second viewing portion is substantially transparent so that the display apparatus of the portable device can display data through the second viewing portion and/or the image capture apparatus can capture images through the second viewing portion.

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 allowed to be stored as image metadata. The identifier is sufficient to determine presence information from at least one of a presence application and a presence roster list. 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: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling presentation and selection of objects that are digital images depicting subjects. According to one aspect, a plurality of objects arranged in a plurality of vectors is presented via a presentation device. Each object in a second vector is associated with an object in a first vector. Each of the objects is a digital image depicting a subject. A first object presented in a first vector is selected in response to a first selection event associated with the first object. A second object non-adjacent to the first object is determined based on a predefined relationship associating the first object with the second object. The second object in the second vector adjacent to the first object in the first vector is presented via the presentation device in response to the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for changing a communication quality of a communication session based on a meaning of speech data. Speech data exchanged between clients participating in a communication session is parsed. A meaning of the parsed speech data is determined for identifying a service quality indicator for the communication session. An action is performed to change a communication quality of the communication session based on the identified service quality indicator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for collecting contemporaneous information relating to a critical event. The method includes receiving a call requesting an emergency response to a critical event and in response to the call, using at least one communication network to transmit a request for supplemental information from reporting devices located in a specified area related to the critical event. The supplemental information is received over the at least one communication network.

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 and that is within a scaled range of the unfamiliar segment. The computed route and the familiar road are then provided for presentation in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, and the familiar road is represented relative to the unfamiliar segment.

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 user characteristics. 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 characteristics of other users, to obtain routes taken by other users. A plurality of routes taken by other users having at least some of the characteristics of other users and related to at least one of the origination point and the destination point is retrieved from the stored plurality of associations. At least one recommended route is recommended to the particular user based on at least one of the retrieved routes that most closely matches the user specified parameters.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing electronic subscriptions are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes monitoring, at an electronic subscription client, receipt of one or more subscription messages associated with an electronic subscription. Interaction with the electronic subscription client by a client may be monitored to determine a viewing frequency of the one or more received subscription messages. Further, a prompt with a control configured for unsubscribing the user from receiving a future subscription message associated with the electronic subscription may be presented based on the determined viewing frequency.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing electronic subscriptions are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes monitoring, at an electronic subscription client, receipt of one or more subscription messages associated with an electronic subscription. Interaction with the electronic subscription client by a client may be monitored to determine a viewing frequency of the one or more received subscription messages. Further, a prompt with a control configured for unsubscribing the user from receiving a future subscription message associated with the electronic subscription may be presented based on the determined viewing frequency.

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 a selection 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, it is indicated whether the second presentable content is available for presentation via the second subscription service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a message on a display based on video frame types presented on the display are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a message having one of a plurality of priority levels for presentation on a display. Further, it is determined whether a type of a video frame for presentation on the display has a predetermined relationship to the priority level of the message. The received message is presented on the display based on the video frame type determination.

Abstract: A method and system are described for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device. According to one aspect, input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image of a subject at an image capture device. A depth of field for capturing the image of the subject in a half of the depth of field furthest from the image capture device is automatically determined. The image is captured using the automatically adjusted depth of field to provide background blurring in the captured image.

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 multiple covering entities 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 multiple covering entities are monitored and a change in one of the calendars is detected. It is then determined whether the change causes the coverage rule to be violated, and in response to determining that the change causes the coverage rule to be violated, a notification indicating violation of the coverage rule is generated.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying sensitive data from a user-entered input sequence based on user-defined criteria. According to one method, user-defined criteria for identifying sensitive data within user-entered input sequences that include sensitive data and padding data are received. A request for sensitive data from a requesting agent is presented. A user-entered input sequence that includes sensitive data and padding data is received in response to the request for sensitive data. Sensitive data is identified within the user-entered input sequence using the user-defined criteria. The identified sensitive data is provided to the requesting agent in response to the request for sensitive data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for associating an originator of a network packet with the network packet using biometric information are disclosed. According to one method, biometric identification information is identified for a network user. The identified biometric identification information is associated with a header or a trailer of a network packet originated by the network user. The network packet may be sent over a network.

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 between the first device and a second device; determining a network address usable for establishing communication between the first and second devices based on information derived from the detected physical interaction; and providing for at least one of sending a message directed to the network address from the first device to the second device and assigning the network address to the first device for receiving a message directed to the network address.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention provide parental and corporate control for a camera-phone. An administration authority web site is provided that enables an owner of a camera-phone to log into a server and establish a set of control policies that specify what actions on the phone are authorized for what user. The control policies that affect behavior of the camera-phone are downloaded to the camera-phone, and the camera-phone is then operated such that a user of the camera-phone is only able to perform actions authorized by the control policies. In a further embodiment, a control policy is provided that requires the camera-phone to upload captured images to the server for review by the camera-phone owner. In addition, the images may be quarantined until the camera-phone owner authorizes their release to the user.

Abstract: A home relationship is established between a device and a network by storing an ownership record in the device that identifies the network, and storing in the network a device identifier that identifies the device. Thereafter, communication is established between the device and the network. The ownership record is then transmitted from the network to the device, and automatic access to the device is granted to the network once the device verifies the transmitted ownership record against the ownership record stored in the device. In addition, the device identifier is transmitted from the device to the network, and automatic access to the network is granted to the device once the network verifies the transmitted device identifier against the device identifier stored in the network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing electronic subscriptions are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes monitoring, at an electronic subscription client, receipt of one or more subscription messages associated with an electronic subscription. Interaction with the electronic subscription client by a client may be monitored to determine a viewing frequency of the one or more received subscription messages. Further, a prompt with a control configured for unsubscribing the user from receiving a future subscription message associated with the electronic subscription may be presented based on the determined viewing frequency.

Abstract: A communication device for interconnecting a digital camera to a communication network for downloading data to a remote computer. The device has a network communication port for establishing communication with a network via a pre-defined protocol and communication mode, and has a camera communication port such as a serial, parallel, SCSI, USB or Irda-port that imitates the back end application of a PC, for connection to a digital camera for sending and receiving data to and from the camera. The camera communication port is also used for input of programming and setup data to the communication device from a PC. The device can be programmed to operate on the data directly, such as in the case of data for storage or operational direction, and/or direct the data to the camera. The device may also have a Smart card socket into which a user can insert a card to input data, such as user and camera I.D., user authorization, image marking, camera operational parameters, remote computer/destination address, etc.