Abstract: A proximity fence can be a location-agnostic fence defined by signal sources having no geographic location information. The proximity fence can correspond to a group of signal sources instead of a point location fixed to latitude and longitude coordinates. A signal source can be a radio frequency (RF) transmitter broadcasting a beacon signal. The beacon signal can include a payload that includes an identifier indicating a category to which the signal source belongs, and one or more labels indicating one or more subcategories to which the signal source belongs. The proximity fence defined by the group of signal sources can trigger different functions of application programs associated with the proximity fence on a mobile device, when the mobile device moves within the proximity fence and enters and exits different parts of the proximity fence corresponding to the different subcategories.

Abstract: The described embodiments provide an electronic device for forming a network connection. In the described embodiments, a first electronic device determines that a network connection is to be made to at least one other electronic device to access a service on the other electronic device. The first electronic device then searches for available electronic devices that provide the service. Prior to finding a second electronic device that provides the service, the first electronic device receives a request from the second electronic device to access a related service provided by the first electronic device. In these embodiments, the request is received on a network connection formed by the second electronic device between the second electronic device and the first electronic device. Based on the received request, the first electronic device then uses the network connection formed by the second electronic device to communicate with the second electronic device.

Abstract: A method for detecting the proximity of a signal source using wireless systems is contemplated in which a wireless mobile device wirelessly receives packets from a signal source and determines a received signal strength for each packet. The wireless mobile device may store information based upon the received signal strength for each packet, and calculate from the information stored for all the packets, a current path loss value corresponding to a current distance from the wireless mobile device to the signal source. The wireless mobile device may then determine whether the current distance is sufficient to be an enabling condition such as tap, for example, for a data transfer or a transaction between the wireless mobile device and the signal source.

Abstract: A commercial transaction method is disclosed. The method first establishes a secure link over a first air interface by a purchasing device. This secure link is between the purchasing device and a point of sale device. The method further identifies a second air interface, which is different from the first air interface, and the second air interface is used to conduct a secure commercial transaction.

Abstract: Providing supplemental audio signal processing for a Bluetooth audio link. A wireless device may establish a bi-directional wireless audio link with a Bluetooth device. An indication may be received that the Bluetooth device supports audio signal processing. A device type of the Bluetooth device may be determined. The wireless device may perform one or more audio signal processing operations on audio data transmitted to and/or received from the Bluetooth device via the bi-directional wireless audio link. The audio signal processing operations may be selected based on the device type of the Bluetooth device, and may be performed in addition to audio signal processing operations which may be performed on the audio data by the Bluetooth device.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. When this electronic device receives a command from another electronic device via a connection using an interface circuit on the electronic device, the electronic device provides the command from the interface circuit to a program module that executes on the portable electronic device, and the program module executes the command. The command may include: starting an application on the electronic device, turning off the application, and/or transitioning the application to a modified presentation operation mode. In this way, the other electronic device may remotely interact with the application on the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. When this electronic device transmits a request packet to another electronic device with a discovery request, the electronic device stores information specifying the discovery request. If a response packet with an answer to the discovery request is received from the other electronic device, the electronic device stores additional information included in the answer. This additional information specifies a position in an information hierarchy in the other electronic device and a data format associated with the position. By partially caching the information and the additional information, the electronic device may significantly reduce the number of request and response messages, and thus the delay, when the electronic device subsequently accesses data in the information hierarchy.

Abstract: During operation in the described embodiments, a transmitting electronic device transmits a first data channel protocol data unit (PDU) with a payload containing data D to a receiving electronic device using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) interface in a sending window for the transmitting electronic device during a regular event, wherein transmitting the first data channel PDU during the regular event comprises using a first frequency to transmit the first data channel PDU. The transmitting electronic device then transmits a second data channel PDU with a payload containing the same data D to the receiving electronic device using the BTLE interface in a sending window for the transmitting electronic device during a corresponding retransmission event, wherein transmitting the second data channel PDU during the retransmission event comprises using a second frequency to transmit the second data channel PDU.

Abstract: A portable computing device can be used to locate a vehicle in a parking structure. In particular, the portable computing device can communicate with a parking system that manages the parking structure and/or with a vehicle in order to locate the vehicle. Communications between the portable computing device, parking system and vehicle can be based on one or more wireless connections, such as Bluetooth and/or Bluetooth LE connections.

Abstract: A primary portable device can access a vehicle by transmitting an activation message including a vehicle access credential to the vehicle. The primary portable device can additionally enable a secondary portable device to access the vehicle by transmitting the vehicle access credential to the secondary portable device. The connections between the primary portable device, secondary portable device, and vehicle can be based on a short-range wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth or Bluetooth LE.

Abstract: The described embodiments include a system for communicating between electronic devices. During operation, a receiving electronic device receives a data channel protocol data unit (PDU) in a link layer of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) protocol stack. The receiving electronic device then reads a field in a header of the data channel PDU to determine if the header indicates that a payload of the data channel PDU contains audio data. When the header indicates that the payload of the data channel PDU contains audio data, the receiving electronic device is configured to send the audio data from the payload to an audio layer in the BTLE protocol stack for processing.

Abstract: A first device and a second device communicate with each other using a first communications protocol over a first communications media. The first device detects a need to modify a communications bandwidth with the second device based on an operating condition of the first device at a point in time. The first device negotiates with the second device to identify a second communications protocol that is suitable for the operating condition based on a set of one or more rules associated with the first device. Both the first and second devices switch, without user intervention, from the first communications protocol to the second communications protocol to communicate with the second device using the second communications protocol over a second communications media.

Abstract: The described embodiments provide an electronic device for forming a network connection. In the described embodiments, a first electronic device determines that a network connection is to be made to at least one other electronic device to access a service on the other electronic device. The first electronic device then searches for available electronic devices that provide the service. Prior to finding a second electronic device that provides the service, the first electronic device receives a request from the second electronic device to access a related service provided by the first electronic device. In these embodiments, the request is received on a network connection formed by the second electronic device between the second electronic device and the first electronic device. Based on the received request, the first electronic device then uses the network connection formed by the second electronic device to communicate with the second electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatuses for imaging material properties in natural-fiber-containing materials. In particular, the images can provide quantified measures of localized moisture content. Embodiments of the invention utilize an array of antennas and at least one transceiver to collect amplitude and phase data from radiation interacting with the natural-fiber-containing materials. The antennas and the transceivers are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, which are between 50 MHz and 1 THz. A conveyance system passes the natural-fiber-containing materials through a field of view of the array of antennas. A computing device is configured to apply a synthetic imaging algorithm to construct a three-dimensional image of the natural-fiber-containing materials that provides a quantified measure of localized moisture content. The image and the quantified measure are both based on the amplitude data, the phase data, or both.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatuses for imaging material properties in natural-fiber-containing materials. In particular, the images can provide quantified measures of localized moisture content. Embodiments of the invention utilize an array of antennas and at least one transceiver to collect amplitude and phase data from radiation interacting with the natural-fiber-containing materials. The antennas and the transceivers are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, which are between 50 MHz and 1 THz. A conveyance system passes the natural-fiber-containing materials through a field of view of the array of antennas. A computing device is configured to apply a synthetic imaging algorithm to construct a three-dimensional image of the natural-fiber-containing materials that provides a quantified measure of localized moisture content. The image and the quantified measure are both based on the amplitude data, the phase data, or both.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments that provide a gateway device dedicated for harvesting content from a content service and harmonizing the content in a content player with the harvested content. Thus, the dedicated gateway device provides a practical, low-cost gateway for downloading desired content wherever a network connection to the content service is available and without the need for the re-installation of a gateway application at each desired new location for content harvesting and harmonization.

Abstract: In a method for communicating meta data between a wireless content source and a sink device, vendor-specific pass-through packets of an Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) header are utilized to communicate the meta data from the wireless content source to the sink device.

Abstract: A multiparameter acoustic signature inspection device and method are described for non-invasive inspection of containers. Dual acoustic signatures discriminate between various fluids and materials for identification of the same.

Abstract: A fermention process is monitored by detecting ultrasound backscattered from the cells as a function of time. A transducer 46 is placed in a fermentor 30 and transmits ultrasound towards a reflecting surface 50. The transducer receives that portion of the ultrasound which reflects from the reflecting surface 50, as well as that portion of the ultrasound which backscatters from cells 34 between the transducer 46 and the reflecting surface 50. Signals from the transducer are conditioned and subsequently processed to provide output to a controller regarding the status of the fermentation process in real time. The backscattering measurements can be used to determine a growth phase transition, such as the transition between the logarithmic growth phase of the cells and their stationary phase.