Abstract: Many types of earpiece include a memory to which media items stored on a second device, such as music, audiobooks, and podcasts, may be transferred as requested by a user. However, it may be advantageous to configure the earpiece and/or the to fill the memory automatically with media items of predicted interest to the user in the manner of a cache. In such earpieces, interruption of the connection between the earpiece and the second device does not interrupt a currently streaming media item, and the earpiece is capable of playing additional media items of predicted interest to the user even if the user has not requested transfer to the earpiece. Other uses of the cache include adding appointments from a calendar of the second device for presentation by the earpiece as reminders during disconnection, and storing notes on the earpiece that are automatically transferred back to the second device.

Abstract: A device set may interoperate to perform an action, such as providing a message to a user or storing photos taken by a user. Performing the action on all available devices may cause redundancy (e.g., presenting the same message to the user on each device), and depending on user selection (e.g., the user requesting to play music and specifically designating a device) may become onerous. A centralized, server-driven selection of the device to perform the action may be problematic if the server is inaccessible and/or inaccurate if not currently informed of the current state of each device. In accordance with the techniques presented herein, a requesting device broadcasts an action invitation to the device set. Each device provides a suitability report indicating its suitability to perform the action. The requesting device identifies one or more suitable devices, and sends an action request to identified devices to perform the action.

Abstract: Many devices are configured to present alerts notifying a user of device events, but the user may not notice the alert due to a noisy environment. A user may mitigate missed alerts by increasing the alert volume or choosing a vibration mode, but such techniques depend upon the knowledge, attention, and memory of the user to adjust the device before the alert. Instead, a device may compare the noise level of the environment with a noise level threshold. If the noise level is below the threshold, the device presents the alert; but if the noise level is above the threshold, the device defers the presentation of the alert until the noise level diminishes below the threshold, and then presents the alert. The device may also send an automated response to the message, notifying a sender that the user may return the message upon leaving the noisy environment.

Abstract: A device set may interoperate to perform an action, such as providing a message to a user or storing photos taken by a user. Performing the action on all available devices may cause redundancy (e.g., presenting the same message to the user on each device), and depending on user selection (e.g., the user requesting to play music and specifically designating a device) may become onerous. A centralized, server-driven selection of the device to perform the action may be problematic if the server is inaccessible and/or inaccurate if not currently informed of the current state of each device. In accordance with the techniques presented herein, a requesting device broadcasts an action invitation to the device set. Each device provides a suitability report indicating its suitability to perform the action. The requesting device identifies one or more suitable devices, and sends an action request to identified devices to perform the action.

Abstract: Many devices are configured to present alerts notifying a user of device events, but the user may not notice the alert due to a noisy environment. A user may mitigate missed alerts by increasing the alert volume or choosing a vibration mode, but such techniques depend upon the knowledge, attention, and memory of the user to adjust the device before the alert. Instead, a device may compare the noise level of the environment with a noise level threshold. If the noise level is below the threshold, the device presents the alert; but if the noise level is above the threshold, the device defers the presentation of the alert until the noise level diminishes below the threshold, and then presents the alert. The device may also send an automated response to the message, notifying a sender that the user may return the message upon leaving the noisy environment.

Abstract: Many types of earpiece include a memory to which media items stored on a second device, such as music, audiobooks, and podcasts, may be transferred as requested by a user. However, it may be advantageous to configure the earpiece and/or the to fill the memory automatically with media items of predicted interest to the user in the manner of a cache. In such earpieces, interruption of the connection between the earpiece and the second device does not interrupt a currently streaming media item, and the earpiece is capable of playing additional media items of predicted interest to the user even if the user has not requested transfer to the earpiece. Other uses of the cache include adding appointments from a calendar of the second device for presentation by the earpiece as reminders during disconnection, and storing notes on the earpiece that are automatically transferred back to the second device.

Abstract: Many types of earpiece devices are available for various scenarios, such as hearing aids and headphones. However, many types of earpieces exhibit various disadvantages relating to the discretion, privacy, and/or security. For example, some earpieces are observable when worn by the user (e.g., over-head and over-ear headphones); some earpieces play sound that is audible to other users; and some earpieces enable interaction with second devices (e.g., mobile phones) through overt interaction a physical control, such as manually pressing a button on the earpiece. Presented herein are earpieces that rest within an ear canal and selectively transmit audio through a speaker into the ear canal while reducing obstruction of ambient sound, and that enable interaction with second devices through gestures, such as nodding or tilting the head, rather than overt physical interactions. These and other design considerations may facilitate discreet use of the device and the privacy of the user.

Abstract: The aggregation of facts from various sources about an individual may produce an individual profile that may inform personalized services. However, a compilation of facts may be supplemented by monitoring activities of the individual and formulating inferences regarding the individual's individual details, and the confidence of such inferences. Accordingly, a device may compare the detected activities with a behavioral rule set indicating correlations between activities and inferred individual details (e.g., frequently spent weekday evenings and morning departures from a residence imply that the residence is the individual's home; frequent bicycling to work, chosen over other available modes of transportation, implies that the individual is a bicycling enthusiast) to add inferred individual details to the individual profile. Continued monitoring may enable updating based on changes to the individual details.

Abstract: Mobile advertisements often involve advertisements related to the user's detected location. However, additional relevant advertisement opportunities may be identified by also identifying an image captured by the camera of the mobile device (e.g., the user may take a photo of a product under consideration, or may gaze at the product while wearing a gaze-tracking device). Advertisements relating to the product and the user's location may then be presented for a related product sold by the same store, or a lower-priced offer for the same product from a nearby competing store. Advertisements may be presented via augmented reality (e.g., integrating the advertisement with the image of the environment presented to the user), and/or compared with the cost of interrupting an inferred activity of the user. Additionally, image evaluation may be applied when the user is near an advertisement opportunity in order to conserve the resources of the mobile device.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: A user input device includes one or more user controls that enable a user to selectively imports bits of data by activating the control when the user input devices proximate to a display surface of an interactive display system. By depressing or otherwise activating a user control, the user causes an element within the user input device to move through a plane of change so that the state of a parameter sensed by the interactive display system changes and is detected. In the examples provided, the parameter relates to infrared light that is reflected or absorbed or produced by a component of the user input device and is thus detected by an infrared sensitive camera. The input can be a single bit, or comprise a plurality of bits corresponding to a specific pattern.

Abstract: An interactive display table has a display surface for displaying images and upon or adjacent to which various objects, including a user's hand(s) and finger(s) can be detected. A video camera within the interactive display table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the objects to detect any connected components. Connected component correspond to portions of the object(s) that are either in contact, or proximate the display surface. Using these connected components, the interactive display table senses and infers natural hand or finger positions, or movement of an object, to detect gestures. Specific gestures are used to execute applications, carryout functions in an application, create a virtual object, or do other interactions, each of which is associated with a different gesture. A gesture can be a static pose, or a more complex configuration, and/or movement made with one or both hands or other objects.

Abstract: To assist a player in navigating an open grid within a game or virtual environment, a global indicator and a local indicator are displayed within the virtual environment. The global indicator continuously indicates a straight line direction between an object controlled by the player and a next goal unattained within the virtual environment. As the object approaches within a predefined distance from a turn that should be taken to reach the next unattained goal, a local indicator is displayed showing the direction that the object should be turned to reach the goal. The local indicator is removed from the display after a predefined time has elapsed. Preferably, the local indicator is not displayed before a turn so long as continuing to move the object along a current path without turning at the next turn will permit the object to reach the next unattained goal.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: To assist a player in navigating an open grid within a game or virtual environment, a global indicator and a local indicator are displayed within the virtual environment. The global indicator continuously indicates a straight line direction between an object controlled by the player and a next goal unattained within the virtual environment. As the object approaches within a predefined distance from a turn that should be taken to reach the next unattained goal, a local indicator is displayed showing the direction that the object should be turned to reach the goal. The local indicator is removed from the display after a predefined time has elapsed. Preferably, the local indicator is not displayed before a turn so long as continuing to move the object along a current path without turning at the next turn will permit the object to reach the next unattained goal.