Patents Assigned to Varia Holdings LLC
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Patent number: 10959040Abstract: A method and system for generating by a server, a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest proximally located to an inferred current location of a user of a portable media player device. In an embodiment, a server may determine one or more media preferences for a user based at least in part on media stored on or accessed using the portable media player device of the user. The server may generate information related to the current location or a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest to the user based at least in part on the one or more media preferences and the inferred current location of the user. Once generated, the server then may communicate the recommendation (or the information) to the user, e.g. the portable media player device. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: VARIA HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Evan Feldman, Jonathan Nelson
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Patent number: 10869169Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for sending hotlinks to a device are provided. The device may be on a wireless network, a wired network, or directly coupled to the device sending the hot link. The hot link contains an associated action that is performed by the device receiving the hot link. The associated action may be performed when a user interface is activated or automatically when the hot link is received by the device. The action can be a broadcast action, Internet action, call action, download action, or upload action. The broadcast action instructs the device to tune to a particular broadcast in response to the selection of the user interface. The internet action instructs the device to access an Internet site in response to the selection of the user interface. The call action instructs the device to call a telephone number in response to the selection of use interface.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal, Tyrol Graham
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Patent number: 10251021Abstract: A method and system for generating by a server, a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest proximally located to an inferred current location of a user of a portable media player device. In an embodiment, a server may determine one or more media preferences for a user based at least in part on media stored on or accessed using the portable media player device of the user. The server may generate information related to the current location or a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest to the user based at least in part on the one or more media preferences and the inferred current location of the user. Once generated, the server then may communicate the recommendation (or the information) to the user, e.g. the portable media player device. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: VARIA HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Evan Feldman, Jonathan Nelson
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Patent number: 10025552Abstract: A portable media player configured to selectively enable or disable one or more input controls, such as volume controls, is described herein. In some examples, the player contains a physical button or switch that provides for the selective enabling or disabling of input controls. In some examples, the player is configured to dynamically determine when to enable or disable input controls based on information received about the player or characteristics of the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventor: Jonathan Nelson
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Patent number: 9621699Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with at least a first and second audio resources and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate various audio signals in a more context sensitive manner, while multi-media resources are being utilized. The instructions/circuitry cause the mobile client device to determine a first audio volume level at which the mobile client device is being utilized by a user for a first audio signal. Once the first audio volume level is determined, instructions/circuitry cause a second audio signal to be provided at a second audio volume level to the user. The second audio volume level being based at least in part on the first audio volume level initially.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Peter Zatloukal, G. Eric Engstrom
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Patent number: 9585003Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses associated with the serving of data from a wireless mobile phone, including a wireless mobile phone, are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal, Guy David-Byron Shefner, Paul R. Nash
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Patent number: 9405947Abstract: A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Peter Zatloukal, G. Eric Engstrom, Cindy M. Smith
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Patent number: 9392101Abstract: Non-verbal communications between users of wireless mobile devices are facilitated using image messages. An image message may e.g. convey information about the sender user, in particular, current information about the sender user. In one aspect, a user may select an image message category, and select an image message among the image messages of the selected image message category for transmission, to quickly, efficiently and graphically convey (current) information about the user. The process may be performed to form a mixed media message. Received image message to convey current information may be aged via time and/or color displays.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: VARIA HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Tyrol R. Graham, Eric J. Hull, Jonathan O. Nelson
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Patent number: 9141960Abstract: A method and system for generating by a server, a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest proximally located to an inferred current location of a user of a portable media player devise. In an embodiment, a server may determine one or more media preferences for a user based at least in part on media stored on or accessed using the portable media player devise of the user. The server may generate information related to the current location or a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest to the user based at least in part on the one or more media preferences and the inferred current location of the user. Once generated, the server then may communicate the recommendation (or the information) to the user, e.g. the portable media player devise. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Evan Feldman, Jonathan Nelson
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Patent number: 9030415Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating input of data to an electronic device using overlaid inputs is disclosed. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of terminating hand members is being used to activate a key. A first character value is assigned to an activation of the key, based at least upon the determination.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Majeed D. Salman, G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal
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Patent number: 8934872Abstract: A mobile electronic communication device includes a processor unit, a transceiver, a keypad and a light unit. Each key of the keypad is associated with a contact of a contact list. The light unit can perform light functions to notify a user of the reception and/or status of messages received via the transceiver. The light functions include providing an indication of the age of a received message that was sent by a contact in the contacts list. The age of the message is indicated by a modulation of the illuminating light. In one embodiment, the age of a message is indicated as one of a set of predetermined age ranges, with each age range being represented by a unique color.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Eric J. Hull, Jonathan O. Nelson, Gary N. Mager
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Patent number: 8890719Abstract: An apparatus (625) with a first plurality of input keys (635). Some of the first input keys may be associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout. The apparatus (625) is further provided with a second plurality of input keys (645), positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys (635), and being associated with at least one alphabetic value. Some of the input keys of the second plurality of input keys (645) may be arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the first alphabetic keypad layout. Further, in various embodiments, at least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys (635) have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout. Additionally, in various embodiments, at least some of the alphabetic values of the second keyboard layout are arranged at least partially based on a frequency of use of such alphabetic values.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Majeed D. Salman, G. Eric Engstrom
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Patent number: 8843121Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses associated with the serving of data from a wireless mobile phone, including a wireless mobile phone, are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal, Guy David-Byron Shefner, Paul R. Nash
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Patent number: 8843222Abstract: A portable media player configured to selectively enable or disable one or more input controls, such as volume controls, is described herein. In some examples, the player contains a physical button or switch that provides for the selective enabling or disabling of input controls. In some examples, the player is configured to dynamically determine when to enable or disable input controls based on information received about the player or characteristics of the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2008Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventor: Jonathan Nelson
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Patent number: 8838183Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with at least a first and second audio resources and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate various audio signals in a more context sensitive manner, while multi-media resources are being utilized. The instructions/circuitry cause the mobile client device to determine a first audio volume level at which the mobile client device is being utilized by a user for a first audio signal. Once the first audio volume level is determined, instructions/circuitry cause a second audio signal to be provided at a second audio volume level to the user. The second audio volume level being based at least in part on the first audio volume level initially.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Peter Zatloukal, G. Eric Engstrom
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Publication number: 20140228006Abstract: The invention sends a hot link to a device. The device may be on a wireless network, a wired network, or directly coupled to the device sending the hot link. The hot link contains an associated action that is performed by the device receiving the hot link. The associated action may be performed when a user interface is activated or automatically when the hot link is received by the device. The action can be a broadcast action, Internet action, call action, download action, or upload action. The broadcast action instructs the device to tune to a particular broadcast in response to the selection of the user interface. The internet action instructs the device to access an Internet site in response to the selection of the user interface. The call action instructs the device to call a telephone number in response to the selection of use interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal, Tyrol Graham
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Publication number: 20140167914Abstract: A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Peter Zatloukal, G. Eric Engstrom, Cindy M. Smith
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Publication number: 20140162721Abstract: A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Peter Zatloukal, G. Eric Engstrom, Cindy M. Smith
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Patent number: 8717298Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and articles for receiving one or more input factors associated with scrolling behavior of a user are described herein. Based on the received one or more input factors, at least one of (1) a tunable scrolling algorithm and (2) one or more non-linear scrolling algorithms of a plurality of non-linear scrolling algorithms may be selected for use in evaluating the scrolling behavior of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: Paul R. Nash, Peter Zatloukal
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Patent number: 8635311Abstract: The invention sends a hot link to a device. The device may be on a wireless network, a wired network, or directly coupled to the device sending the hot link. The hot link contains an associated action that is performed by the device receiving the hot link. The associated action may be performed when a user interface is activated or automatically when the hot link is received by the device. The action can be a broadcast action, Internet action, call action, download action, or upload action. The broadcast action instructs the device to tune to a particular broadcast in response to the selection of the user interface. The internet action instructs the device to access an Internet site in response to the selection of the user interface. The call action instructs the device to call a telephone number in response to the selection of use interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Varia Holdings LLCInventors: G. Eric Engstrom, Peter Zatloukal, Tyrol R. Graham