Abstract: An architecture that provides ubiquitous access to a home automation system utilizes both a home database and a configuration database maintained by remote cloud services. In one example embodiment, a system configuration of the home automation system is generated and maintained in a home database accessible on an in-home LAN. The home database is synchronized with a configuration database of cloud services over the Internet. User input is received in a home automation control UI indicating a change to one or more services or scenes provided by hardware elements of the home automation system. When there is connectivity between a device providing the home automation control UI and the in-home LAN, the system configuration in the home database is utilized to effect the indicated change. When there is no connectivity between the device providing the home automation control UI and the in-home LAN, the system configuration in the configuration database of cloud services is utilized to effect the indicated change.

Abstract: An architecture that provides ubiquitous access to a home automation system utilizes both a home database and a configuration database maintained by remote cloud services. In one example embodiment, a system configuration of the home automation system is generated and maintained in a home database accessible on an in-home LAN. The home database is synchronized with a configuration database of cloud services over the Internet. User input is received in a home automation control UI indicating a change to one or more services or scenes provided by hardware elements of the home automation system. When there is connectivity between a device providing the home automation control UI and the in-home LAN, the system configuration in the home database is utilized to effect the indicated change. When there is no connectivity between the device providing the home automation control UI and the in-home LAN, the system configuration in the configuration database of cloud services is utilized to effect the indicated change.

Abstract: An architecture for a home automation system is provided that utilizes a home database stored in an in-home host controller that is synchronized with a configuration database maintained by remote cloud services. In one example embodiment, the home database of the host controller is synchronized over the Internet with the configuration database of cloud services. When there is connectivity between a mobile app used to configure and/or control the home automation system and the host controller via an in-home LAN, data interactions related to the home automation system are performed between the mobile app and the home database over the in-home LAN. When there is not this connectivity, data interactions related to the home automation system are performed between the mobile app and the configuration database over the Internet. If the host controller is reset or replaced, the home database may be restored by synchronization with the configuration database of cloud services.

Abstract: An architecture for a home automation system is provided that utilizes a home database stored in an in-home host controller that is synchronized with a configuration database maintained by remote cloud services. In one example embodiment, the home database of the host controller is synchronized over the Internet with the configuration database of cloud services. When there is connectivity between a mobile app used to configure and/or control the home automation system and the host controller via an in-home LAN, data interactions related to the home automation system are performed between the mobile app and the home database over the in-home LAN. When there is not this connectivity, data interactions related to the home automation system are performed between the mobile app and the configuration database over the Internet. If the host controller is reset or replaced, the home database may be restored by synchronization with the configuration database of cloud services.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a user profile for a handheld computer in a shared, scalable computing resource is described. The method includes receiving user profile data from the handheld computer at the shared, scalable computing resource, the user profile data comprising a user security factor. The user profile data is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the handheld computer. The method includes storing the user profile data on the shared, scalable computing resource as a portion of a user profile, the user profile further comprising user preference data. The method further includes receiving the user security factor from a second computing device. The user security factor is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the second computing device. The method further includes downloading user preference data to the second computing device.

Abstract: A system (and method) discloses migrating data of a first client device to a second client device. A second client device transmits configuration information of the second client device to a remote server. The remote server compares this data to data from the first client device that was previously sent to the remote server from the first client device. The remote server prepares data that is in a format that is compatible with hardware or software configuration of the second client device and that corresponds to the data from the first client device. Thereafter, the remote server transmits this data to the second client device, which uses it to initialize (e.g., restore or reinitialize) the second client device.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a user profile for a handheld computer in a shared, scalable computing resource is described. The method includes receiving user profile data from the handheld computer at the shared, scalable computing resource, the user profile data comprising a user security factor. The user profile data is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the handheld computer. The method includes storing the user profile data on the shared, scalable computing resource as a portion of a user profile, the user profile further comprising user preference data. The method further includes receiving the user security factor from a second computing device. The user security factor is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the second computing device. The method further includes downloading user preference data to the second computing device.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a user profile for a handheld computer in a shared, scalable computing resource is described. The method includes receiving user profile data from the handheld computer at the shared, scalable computing resource, the user profile data comprising a user security factor. The user profile data is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the handheld computer. The method includes storing the user profile data on the shared, scalable computing resource as a portion of a user profile, the user profile further comprising user preference data. The method further includes receiving the user security factor from a second computing device. The user security factor is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the second computing device. The method further includes downloading user preference data to the second computing device.

Abstract: A client device may be managed in the event of, for example, device loss or mislocation. In such a case, a user can effectively cause a restriction command to be generated, where the restriction command is wirelessly transmitted to the client device. The restriction command can be specified to either lock user data on the client device or erase user data on the client device.

Abstract: A system and method for lending digital content in which a user employs her contacts list to lend and borrow the digital content. The lender initiates the lending process using her local device by generating a lending offer. The lending offer contains an identification of the lender, an identification of the contact and an identification of the digital content to be lent. The lending offer is communicated from the lender's local device through a communication channel to a server which generates a lending offer email and/or a lending notification. The lending offer email and notification are sent to the potential lendee. The potential lendee can click on a URL contained in the email or respond to the lending offer notification to accept the loan. The server processes this acceptance by the lendee and transfers the loaned copy of the digital content to the lendee.

Abstract: A system and method of backing up a data file from a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method can include receiving a data file from the mobile computing device at a server computer and storing the data file on a storage device. The method can include receiving data indicative of changes made to the data file on the mobile computing device. The method can further include changing the data file stored on the storage device based on the data indicative of changes made to the data file on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A mobile computing device comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote server, a memory; and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured in a restore operation to receive first data from the remote server, to receive a source indicator for second data from the remote server, wherein the first data and second data represent data previously stored in the memory of the mobile computing device or in a memory of another mobile computing device, and to send a request for the second data based on the source indicator using the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A cloud based data service provides a mobile device ability to define one or more sources of contact data and fetch a set of composite contacts populated in the cloud. The cloud based service automatically aggregates one or more “similar” contacts into a “composite” contact.

Abstract: A system and method for lending digital content in which a user employs her contacts list to lend and borrow the digital content. The lender initiates the lending process using her local device by generating a lending offer. The lending offer contains an identification of the lender, an identification of the contact and an identification of the digital content to be lent. The lending offer is communicated from the lender's local device through a communication channel to a server which generates a lending offer email and/or a lending notification. The lending offer email and notification are sent to the potential lendee. The potential lendee can click on a URL contained in the email or respond to the lending offer notification to accept the loan. The server processes this acceptance by the lendee and transfers the loaned copy of the digital content to the lendee.

Abstract: Selecting a service for a mobile computing device includes receiving a message from the mobile computing device via a wireless network, storing data from the message, querying the data to identify a characteristic, selecting a service from a plurality of services based on the identified characteristic, and sending the selected service to the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for recommending digital content in which a user employs her contacts list to recommend the digital content. The recommender initiates the recommendation process using her local device by generating a recommendation. The recommendation contains an identification of the recommender, an identification of the contact and an identification of the digital content to be recommended. The recommendation is communicated from the recommender's local device through a communication channel to a server. The server processes the recommendation from the recommender and generates a recommendation email and/or a recommendation notification. The recommendation email and notification are sent to the recommendee through a communication channel selected by the recommender. The recommendation email further contains a URL that directs the recommendee back to a summary of the recommended digital content.

Abstract: A client device may be managed in the event of, for example, device loss or mislocation. In such a case, a user can effectively cause a restriction command to be generated, where the restriction command is wirelessly transmitted to the client device. The restriction command can be specified to either lock user data on the client device or erase user data on the client device.

Abstract: An over-the-air device services and management system includes a web applications server for providing a software download service, an account management server for providing an account maintenance service, and a synchronization server for providing a data management service. The suite of services offered by these servers may be wirelessly accessed from a client device.

Abstract: A client device may be managed in the event of, for example, device loss or mislocation. In such a case, a user can effectively cause a restriction command to be generated, where the restriction command is wirelessly transmitted to the client device. The restriction command can be specified to either lock user data on the client device or erase user data on the client device.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a user profile for a handheld computer in a shared, scalable computing resource is described. The method includes receiving user profile data from the handheld computer at the shared, scalable computing resource, the user profile data comprising a user security factor. The user profile data is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the handheld computer. The method includes storing the user profile data on the shared, scalable computing resource as a portion of a user profile, the user profile further comprising user preference data. The method further includes receiving the user security factor from a second computing device. The user security factor is received via a secure wireless communication protocol having authentication of an identity of the second computing device. The method further includes downloading user preference data to the second computing device.