Abstract: The disclosed methods, devices, and systems may enable the user of an input device to be identified based on characteristics of the user's input. In one aspect, an example computer-implemented method may involve: (i) receiving an input signal corresponding to a touch interaction on a touch-based interface; (ii) determining, based at least in part on the input signal, one or more characteristics of the touch interaction, where the one or more characteristics of the touch interaction include at least one behavioral characteristic of the touch interaction; (iii) using the one or more characteristics of the touch interaction as a basis for determining a user-profile; and (iv) initiating at least one action based on the determined user-profile.

Abstract: A mobile device searches for electronic content. The mobile device captures an image from a rendered document, and searches for an electronic version of the image using characteristics of the image and using text within the contents of the image. The mobile device receives a result for the search based upon the image characteristics and the text within the context of the image.

Abstract: A facility for identifying a location in a printed document is described. The facility obtains an image of the printed document, and extracts gestalt information from text occurring in the image of the printed document. The facility compares the extracted gestalt information to an index of documents and, based upon this comparison, identifies a document that includes the gestalt information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems that may enable a touch-based interface to receive dynamic user inputs based on pressure. An exemplary method may involve: (a) detecting a touch interaction including an increase in pressure greater than a first threshold pressure-increase followed by a reduction in pressure greater than a threshold pressure-reduction; and (b) responsive to detecting the touch interaction, initiating an operation based on a region of the touch-based interface that corresponds to the touch interaction, wherein the operation is associated with the touch interaction.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed that apply feedback-based machine learning in order to more intelligently use context information to automate certain actions. An exemplary method involves: determining a first context based on a combination of two or more context signals, using a context-to-action mapping to determine a first action that corresponds to the first context, initiating the first action, after initiating the first action, receiving a data signal corresponding to a user-action, analyzing the data signal to determine a feedback relationship between the user-action and the first action, and based at least in part on the feedback relationship, updating the context-to-action mapping.

Abstract: A visual indicator used to indicate a disposition of an end of a tape comprises a colored layer, and one or more layers of elongate polymer elements, or one or more polarizing layers, or one or more dichroic filter layers. When the tape is stretched as a piece is torn or cut away, an orientation of the polymer elements, or a polarization configuration, or a thickness of the dichroic layers is changed, changing a color, opacity, or reflectance visually evident at the end of the tape. In other embodiments, the visual indicator comprises one or more visible lines that run diagonally across the width of the tape, either in successive sections or along the entire length, so that a discontinuity between the line at the end and at an adjacent point on the remainder of the tape indicates the disposition of the end and an approximate amount of tape remaining.

Abstract: A hand-held optical scanner is described. The hand-held optical scanner has an image sensor, as well as a scan window through which image light is directed toward the image sensor.

Abstract: The system allows a user to use a portable capture device to identify a product that is being examined by the user at a merchant's location. The identity of the merchant is also captured by the system before or after the examination of the product. If the user or a party affiliated with the user subsequently purchases the product from a source other than the merchant where the product was examined, the system compensates the merchant where the product was examined under a referral award program. Awards under the referral award program can take a variety of forms, including cash, advertising credit, or manufacturer rebates.

Abstract: A visual indicator used to indicate a disposition of an end of a tape comprises a colored layer, and one or more layers of elongate polymer elements, or one or more polarizing layers, or one or more dichroic filter layers. When the tape is stretched as a piece is torn or cut away, an orientation of the polymer elements, or a polarization configuration, or a thickness of the dichroic layers is changed, changing a color, opacity, or reflectance visually evident at the end of the tape. In other embodiments, the visual indicator comprises one or more visible lines that run diagonally across the width of the tape, either in successive sections or along the entire length, so that a discontinuity between the line at the end and at an adjacent point on the remainder of the tape indicates the disposition of the end and an approximate amount of tape remaining.

Abstract: A facility for identifying a location in a printed document is described. The facility obtains an image of the printed document, and extracts gestalt information from text occurring in the image of the printed document. The facility compares the extracted gestalt information to an index of documents and, based upon this comparison, identifies a document that includes the gestalt information.

Abstract: A mobile device searches for electronic content. The mobile device captures an image from a rendered document, and searches for an electronic version of the image using characteristics of the image and using text within the contents of the image. The mobile device receives a result for the search based upon the image characteristics and the text within the context of the image.

Abstract: A hand-held optical scanner is described. The hand-held optical scanner has an image sensor, as well as a scan window through which image light is directed toward the image sensor.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system. The keyboard has twelve to sixteen keys, nine of them labeled with numerous letters and other symbols, and those nine plus one more are associated each with one of the ten digits. Textual entry keystrokes are ambiguous. The user strikes a delimiting “Select” key, or a key with an unambiguous character interpretation, at the end of each word, delimiting a keystroke sequence that could match any of a plurality of words associated with the same keystroke sequence. Each input keystroke sequence is processed with a complete vocabulary, and words which match the sequence of keystrokes are presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use. The vocabulary is stored in a special format that supports significant data compression without requiring additional processing. In addition, stems of longer words whose initial letters match the sequence of keystrokes are also presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system (50) having a keyboard (54) with a reduced number of keys. A plurality of letters and symbols are assigned to a set of data keys (56) so that keystrokes entered by a user are ambiguous. Due to the ambiguity in each keystroke, an entered keystroke sequence could match a number of words with the same number of letters. The disambiguating system includes a memory (104) having a number of vocabulary modules (110). The vocabulary modules contain a library of objects that are each associated with a keystroke sequence. Each object is also associated with a frequency of use. Objects within the vocabulary modules that match the entered keystroke sequence are identified by the disambiguating system. Objects associated with a keystroke sequence that match the entered keystroke sequence are displayed to the user in a selection list (76). The objects are listed in the selection list according to their frequency of use.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system. The keyboard has twelve keys, nine of them labeled with numerous letters and other symbols, and those nine plus one more are labeled each with one of the ten digits. Textual entry keystrokes are ambiguous. The user strikes a delimiting “Select” key at the end of each word, delimiting a keystroke sequence that could match any of many words with the same number of letters. The keystroke sequence is processed with a complete vocabulary, and words which match the sequence of keystrokes are presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use. In addition, stems of longer words whose initial letters match the sequence of keystrokes are also presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use. The first word in the presented list is automatically selected by the input of the first character in the next word. The letters are assigned to the keys in a non-sequential order which reduces chances of ambiguities.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system (50) having a keyboard (54) with a reduced number of keys. A plurality of letters and symbols are assigned to a set of data keys (56) so that keystrokes entered by a user are ambiguous. Due to the ambiguity in each keystroke, an entered keystroke sequence could match a number of words with the same number of letters. The disambiguating system includes a memory (104) having a number of vocabulary modules (110). The vocabulary modules contain a library of objects that are each associated with a keystroke sequence. Each object is also associated with a frequency of use. Objects within the vocabulary modules that match the entered keystroke sequence are identified by the disambiguating system. Objects associated with a keystroke sequence that match the entered keystroke sequence are displayed to the user in a selection list (76). The objects are listed in the selection list according to their frequency of use.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system. The keyboard has twelve keys, nine of them labeled with numerous letters and other symbols, and those nine plus one more are labeled each with one of the ten digits. Textual entry keystrokes are ambiguous. The user strikes a delimiting "Select" key at the end of each word, delimiting a keystroke sequence that could match any of many words with the same number of letters. The keystroke sequence is processed with a complete vocabulary, and words which match the sequence of keystrokes are presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use. In addition, stems of longer words whose initial letters match the sequence of keystrokes are also presented to the user in order of decreasing frequency of use. The first word in the presented list is automatically selected by the input of the first character in the next word. The letters are assigned to the keys in a non-sequential order which reduces chances of ambiguities.