Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Abstract: Improved approaches for monitoring status of articles being shipped are disclosed. The monitoring can produce notifications to interested parties. The notifications typically contain status information pertaining to the articles being shipped. Alternatively, interested parties can gain access to status information pertaining to the articles being shipped via a website. According to one embodiment, the status information includes at least position (location) information and shipping conditions information.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein concern mobile gaming environments. Portable electronic devices can be supported by the mobile gaming environments. The locations of the portable electronic device can influence how the portable electronic devices operate or what services or features are available to the portable electronic device or their users. According to one embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern gaming/betting opportunities that can be secured using a portable electronic device even when an individual is located in a location where betting or games of chance are not permitted. According to another embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern an application program operating on a portable electronic device that supports multiple modes of operation depending upon whether the portable electronic device is in a location where betting or games of chance are permitted.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. The eyewear with electronic components can, for example, provide wireless communication, data capture, and/or audio output.

Abstract: One embodiment of a seating arrangement of a transportation vehicle includes at least two rows of upper-level seats in a first zone extending a longitudinal direction, a left row of lower-level seats in a second zone on the left of the upper-level seats, and a right row of lower-level seats in a third zone on the right side of the upper-level seats, with the seats arranged either in an acute or an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal direction, and with the upper-level seats and the lower-level seats being staggered. In the embodiment, the three zones are substantially isolated from one another. For example, going from one zone to the next, a person can go through a door, and each zone can have its substantially separate air ventilation system. In another embodiment, each of the second and the third zones includes single-level seats, with at least an aisle between the single-level seats and the corresponding lower-level seats. The transportation vehicle can be a plane.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. In some embodiments, tethered electrical components can be coupled to electrical components in or attached to a pair of eyeglasses. Tethered electrical components, alone or in combination with eyeglass electrical components can be used for a variety of different applications and uses.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear, such as within an extended endpiece. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for inter-user communication that can provide data transmission management for more efficient communications are disclosed. The methods and systems can provide enhanced electronic communications, such as via electronic mail or text messaging. Improved communication tools can be provided to better management and/or control communications. The enhanced communication tools can be implemented by electronic devices, namely, computing devices, including portable or handheld electronic devices.

Abstract: A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein concern mobile gaming environments. Portable electronic devices can be supported by the mobile gaming environments. The locations of the portable electronic device can influence how the portable electronic devices operate or what services or features are available to the portable electronic device or their users. According to one embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern gaming/betting opportunities that can be secured using a portable electronic device even when an individual is located in a location where betting or games of chance are not permitted. According to another embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern an application program operating on a portable electronic device that supports multiple modes of operation depending upon whether the portable electronic device is in a location where betting or games of chance are permitted.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Abstract: Different embodiments on hearing enhancement enhancing a user's hearing. For example, a system can include an interface unit with a directional speaker and a microphone. The microphone captures input audio signals that are transformed into ultrasonic signals. The speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air. At least part of the output audio signals is modified to enhance the hearing of the user. Based on the system, the user's ear remains free from any inserted objects and thus is free from annoying occlusion effects. Compared to existing hearing aids, the system is relatively inexpensive. In another embodiment, the system can also be used as a phone. In another embodiment, the system can also access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater.

Abstract: A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

Abstract: Novel eyewear apparatuses including a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a frame. The frame includes a side region that includes an extendable arm. The first end of the extendable arm is attached to the frame and a second end of the extendable arm is attached to the display. The side region includes a cavity, where the extendable arm is adapted to retract back. The extendable arm is further adapted to extend out of the cavity and orient the display to be visually observable by a user of the eyewear apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a concave reflective and an image source. The image source and the concave reflective surface are oriented to enable a user of the eyewear apparatus to view at least an image from the image source as reflected by the concave reflective surface.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein concern mobile gaming environments. Portable electronic devices can be supported by the mobile gaming environments. The locations of the portable electronic device can influence how the portable electronic devices operate or what services or features are available to the portable electronic device or their users. According to one embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern gaming/betting opportunities that can be secured using a portable electronic device even when an individual is located in a location where betting or games of chance are not permitted. According to another embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern an application program operating on a portable electronic device that supports multiple modes of operation depending upon whether the portable electronic device is in a location where betting or games of chance are permitted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.