Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices that employ wireless network to control the lighting of a target image scene or subject. As described, connected environments enable control of lighting devices within the environment through the use of a network. Some embodiments of the imaging devices described herein may employ the network to control lighting devices for the purpose of illuminating a target scene or subject. Certain embodiments may employ data regarding camera location, subject location, light bulb location, and the parameters of each light bulb in a room to calculate desired lighting parameters for capturing an image of the subject, and may further be able to wirelessly adjust the light bulb parameters to match the calculated parameters.

Abstract: Various arrangements for customizing a configuration of a mobile device are presented. The mobile device may collect proximity data. The mobile device may determine that a user has gripped the mobile device based on the proximity data. A finger length of the user may be determined using the proximity data. Configuration of the mobile device may be customized at least partially based on the determined finger length of the user.

Abstract: Various arrangements for controlling a head-mounted display of an augmented reality display are presented. A head-mounted display may be provided and may be configured to present a virtual field of view comprising a virtual object superimposed on a real-world scene. A controller may be provided and configured to modify display of the virtual object by the head-mounted display based on a first color of a real-world object in the real-world scene. The virtual object in the virtual field of view may be superimposed over the real-world object. A lumen output of the head-mounted display for displaying the virtual object may be decreased.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide a tactile output surface that can communicate information to users via their sense of touch. The tactile output surface may include a plurality of tactile elements which may be activated to represent various information in a manner that can be understood by touching the device. A mobile device may present tactile output surfaces on one or multiple surfaces, and the user may touch the device after of tactile feedback functionality to obtain information from the one or more tactile output surfaces. In an embodiment, a mobile device may be configured to obtain information from an information source and present the information on a tactile output surface so that the user can perceive the information without having to look at the device. A variety of technologies may be used to create actuatable tactile elements.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide tools that enable users to manage electronic messages by obtaining additional information about senders, receivers or entities mentioned in messages. A computing device may identify a sender or recipient of an electronic message and search a database to obtain additional data about the sender or recipient. The additional data may be displayed with the electronic message. The additional data may also be used to calculate importance values that the computing device can use to highlight, preferentially display, or sort the electronic messages. The importance values may be calculated by applying sorting algorithms to the retrieved additional data based on user defined criteria. Importance values may also be based upon information obtained from messages. A graphical user interface may be implemented to enable users to specify criteria and weighting factors to apply in sorting electronic messages.

Abstract: Embodiment methods and systems enable personal navigation devices to warn drivers during turn-by-turn navigation directions when they are approaching a difficult turn. Personal navigation devices may report to a server when a turn is missed during turn-by-turn directions, including identifying the turn and situation information. The server may aggregate missed turn reports from many personal navigation devices to generate a difficult turn database. Personal navigation devices may access the difficult turn database when generating turn-by-turn directions to identify turns requiring enhanced directions. The difficult turn database may be stored on personal navigation devices, and/or may be maintained on the server. Personal navigation devices may be configured to recognize when turns are intentionally missed, and only report missed turns when they determined that the turn was missed unintentionally.

Abstract: Various arrangements for using an augmented reality device are presented. Speech spoken by a person in a real-world scene may be captured by an augmented reality (AR) device. It may be determined that a second AR device is to receive data on the speech. The second AR device may not have been present for the speech when initially spoken. Data corresponding to the speech may be transmitted to the second augmented reality device.

Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for positioning virtual objects displayed by a head-mounted display. A location of a person within a real-world scene may be determined. A virtual object may be displayed to a user such that the virtual object is superimposed over the face of the person.

Abstract: A particular method includes determining a battery charge value of a battery at a particular time and comparing the battery charge value at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, where the threshold battery charge value varies over time (e.g., a dynamic threshold). When the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value, the method includes prompting a user to select a power save mode. For example, the power save mode may include activating a different backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a display device in response to a motion sensor of a portable electronic device detecting movement of the portable electronic device from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems enable prioritizing mobile device access to a communication network during periods of reduced network availability, such as during emergency situations. The mobile device may be configured to detect the existence of an emergency situation locally, on the mobile device. Upon recognizing an emergency situation the mobile device may collect information from various components and/or sensors of the mobile device. Using the collected information, the mobile device may compute a priority for accessing the communication network. Using the computed priority, the mobile device may attempt to access the communication network in a manner that staggers access attempts among all mobile devices to reduce network congestion.

Abstract: Methods and devices enable displaying selected portions of one or more webpages in user defined view windows presented on a computing device display desktop. A selected webpage may be rendered into a full-sized render buffer in order for a rendering engine to render all the elements properly. One or more view windows are created on the display desktop that show user selected portions of the render buffer. In this manner users can select portions of one or more websites for presentation on their computing device desktop, position the selected portions at their preferred locations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for recommending a navigation destination based upon recent updates are provided. The apparatus and methods include, in one or more aspects, receiving a request from a user communication device for a desired item, and associating a user location of the user communication device with a destination location of a provider of the desired item. Further, the one or more aspects include identifying a destination communication device at the destination location, and querying the destination communication device for a human-originating response to obtain a current accessibility status of the desired item. Additionally, the one or more aspects include reporting the destination location of the provider and the current accessibility status to the user communication device.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, systems and computer-readable media for using proximity inputs on or near a touch screen lens to select objects within a field of view are presented. In some embodiments, a viewing apparatus (e.g. head mounted display, augmented reality goggles) may include at least one lens, wherein the lens can sense touches or near-touches and output data indicative of a location of the proximity input by the user. A processor may receive the data and may select an object within the field of view of the user corresponding to the data, wherein the object and the location of the proximity input on or near the lens by the user are on a common line of sight. In some embodiments, the viewing apparatus may include at least one camera that is configured to record at least one image representative of the user's field of view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering content may include receiving a direction of travel for a wireless device and selecting a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the given direction to maximize an amount of contact with one or more access terminals capable of providing data connectivity. In addition, the methods and apparatus may include providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the one or more access terminals along the selected route of travel.

Abstract: A mobile platform includes a microphone array and is capable of implementing beamforming to amplify or suppress audio information from a sound source. The sound source is indicated through a user input, such as pointing the mobile platform in the direction of the sound source or through a touch screen display interface. The mobile platform further includes orientation sensors capable of detecting movement of the mobile platform. When the mobile platform moves with respect to the sound source, the beamforming is adjusted based on the data from the orientation sensors so that beamforming is continuously implemented in the direction of the sound source. The audio information from the sound source may be included or suppressed from a telephone or video-telephony conversation. Images or video from a camera may be likewise controlled based on the data from the orientation sensors.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting a grip event on a touchscreen display and adjusting the displayed content based on the location of the grip event. The content that is covered by a grip event is identified and moved out from under the grip event by adjusting the displayed content layout. The area of the grip event may be determined to allow for adjusting the layout of the displayed. Alerts may be implemented to alert a user when there is a change in a content that is covered by a grip event. The grip event outline may be estimated and menu icons or icons may be positioned and displayed in close contour profile to estimated outline of the grip event. A grip event location may be suggested based on a user's touch habits or display content layout.

Abstract: Various arrangements for selecting a function to be executed on a mobile device are presented. A processor may receive proximity data that indicates the mobile device is proximate to a user. The processor may receive acceleration data that indicates a direction of acceleration. In response to receiving the proximity data indicating that the mobile device is proximate to the user, the processor may identify a position of the mobile device in relation to the user using the acceleration data. In response to identifying the position of the mobile device in relation to the user using the acceleration data, the processor may select a function to be executed.

Abstract: Embodiment methods and systems enable personal navigation devices to warn drivers during turn-by-turn navigation directions when they are approaching a difficult turn. Personal navigation devices may report to a server when a turn is missed during turn-by-turn directions, including identifying the turn and situation information. The server may aggregate missed turn reports from many personal navigation devices to generate a difficult turn database. Personal navigation devices may access the difficult turn database when generating turn-by-turn directions to identify turns requiring enhanced directions. The difficult turn database may be stored on personal navigation devices, and/or may be maintained on the server. Personal navigation devices may be configured to recognize when turns are intentionally missed, and only report missed turns when they determined that the turn was missed unintentionally.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique for inhibiting unintended outgoing communication. A cost calculator calculates a cost value of an outgoing communication as a function of a plurality of parameters related to at least one of a voice parameter, an ambient parameter, a proximity parameter, a speech pattern parameter, a call parameter, and a noise parameter. A call suppressor suppresses the outgoing communication when the cost value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward controlling electronic devices based on hand gestures detected by detecting the topography of a portion of a user's body. For example, pressure data indicative of a user's bone and tissue position corresponding to a certain movement, position, and/or pose of a user's hand may be detected. An electromyographic (EMG) sensor coupled to the user's skin can also be used to determine gestures made by the user. These sensors can be coupled to a camera that can be used to capture images, based on recognized gestures, of a device. The device can then be identified and controlled.