Abstract: A system for generating a psychographic device fingerprint includes a server in communication with a network and memory storing a program which, when executed by the server, performs steps for (a) detecting reception at a computing device of media content delivered via the network, (b) reading device elements stored on the computing device, (c) reading a geographic indicator from the computing device, (d) reading a content indicator identifying the media content, (e) determining a timing parameter associated with reception of the content at the computing device, and (f) deriving from the device type, the geographic indicator, the content indicator, and the timing parameter, the psychographic device fingerprint as computer readable code uniquely identifying a user of the computing device. The steps may further include recording media content received by multiple computing devices, and generating a viewership report relating computing devices and psychographic device fingerprints to the media content received.

Abstract: A local area social networking server limits social networking activity to people likely to be in close physical proximity to one another and likely to be engaged in similar activities, even people previously unknown to each other, by only permitting social networking between computing devices that are connected to one another through a common local area network. The server identifies recipient devices for a message that (i) are coupled to the same local area network as the sending device, (ii) are associated with demographic characteristics that match those specified for the message as intended recipients, and (iii) are indicated by receptivity data to be receptive to the message and the sender.

Abstract: A local area social networking server limits social networking activity to people likely to be in close physical proximity to one another and likely to be engaged in similar activities, even people previously unknown to each other, by only permitting social networking between computing devices that are connected to one another through a common local area network. The server identifies recipient devices for a message that (i) are coupled to the same local area network as the sending device, (ii) are associated with demographic characteristics that match those specified for the message as intended recipients, and (iii) are indicated by receptivity data to be receptive to the message and the sender.

Abstract: A method for implementing zone-restricted behavior of a computing device includes identifying wireless access points using the computing device, determining a number of authorized wireless access points from the wireless access points identified by the computing device, determining that the computing device is located within a restricted access zone when the number of authorized wireless access points identified by the computing device exceeds a predetermined threshold of authorized wireless access points identified, and enabling a zone mode of the computing device when the computing device is determined to be located within the restricted access zone.

Abstract: A local area social networking server limits social networking activity to people likely to be in close physical proximity to one another and likely to be engaged in similar activities, even people previously unknown to each other, by only permitting social networking between computing devices that are connected to one another through a common local area network. The server identifies recipient devices for a message that (i) are coupled to the same local area network as the sending device, (ii) are associated with demographic characteristics that match those specified for the message as intended recipients, and (iii) are indicated by receptivity data to be receptive to the message and the sender.

Abstract: A system for generating a psychographic device fingerprint includes a server in communication with a network and memory storing a program which, when executed by the server, performs steps for (a) detecting reception at a computing device of media content delivered via the network, (b) reading device elements stored on the computing device, (c) reading a geographic indicator from the computing device, (d) reading a content indicator identifying the media content, (e) determining a timing parameter associated with reception of the content at the computing device, and (f) deriving from the device type, the geographic indicator, the content indicator, and the timing parameter, the psychographic device fingerprint as computer readable code uniquely identifying a user of the computing device. The steps may further include recording media content received by multiple computing devices, and generating a viewership report relating computing devices and psychographic device fingerprints to the media content received.

Abstract: A system for generating a psychographic device fingerprint includes a server in communication with a network and memory storing a program which, when executed by the server, performs steps for (a) detecting reception at a computing device of media content delivered via the network, (b) reading device elements stored on the computing device, (c) reading a geographic indicator from the computing device, (d) reading a content indicator identifying the media content, (e) determining a timing parameter associated with reception of the content at the computing device, and (f) deriving from the device type, the geographic indicator, the content indicator, and the timing parameter, the psychographic device fingerprint as computer readable code uniquely identifying a user of the computing device. The steps may further include recording media content received by multiple computing devices, and generating a viewership report relating computing devices and psychographic device fingerprints to the media content received.

Abstract: A local area social networking server limits social networking activity to people likely to be in close physical proximity to one another and likely to be engaged in similar activities, even people previously unknown to each other, by only permitting social networking between computing devices that are connected to one another through a common local area network. The server identifies recipient devices for a message that (i) are coupled to the same local area network as the sending device, (ii) are associated with demographic characteristics that match those specified for the message as intended recipients, and (iii) are indicated by receptivity data to be receptive to the message and the sender.

Abstract: A method for modular software protection includes steps for receiving, at a server, a license key registered for a software executable installed on a client device and machine fingerprint data generated at the client device, accessing, using the server, stored usage rights data indicated by the license key, the usage rights data specifying a number of client devices on which the software executable is licensed to operate and which features of the software executable are enabled, determining, using the machine fingerprint data received by the server, whether operation of the software executable on the client device would cause the number of client devices on which the software executable is licensed to operate to be exceeded, and creating, in response to the determining step, an encrypted license file for transmission to the client device that defines separate features of the software executable to be enabled on the client device.

Abstract: A health assessment server allows people to conduct their own physical examinations using one or more medical measurement devices that are bound to one or more user devices. The user uses the medical measurement devices herself and submits the results to the health assessment server through a computer network such as the Internet, either directly from the medical measurement devices or through the user devices. The health assessment server determines an improved health state of the user at which benefits accrue to the user and periodically requests updated health attributes to measure progress toward the improved health state and projecting time until the improved health state is achieved.

Abstract: A local area social networking server limits social networking activity to people likely to be in close physical proximity to one another and likely to be engaged in similar activities, even people previously unknown to each other, by only permitting social networking between computing devices that are connected to one another through a common local area network. The server identifies recipient devices for a message that (i) are coupled to the same local area network as the sending device, (ii) are associated with demographic characteristics that match those specified for the message as intended recipients, and (iii) are indicated by receptivity data to be receptive to the message and the sender.

Abstract: Energy resource dispensing terminals can be added one-at-a-time to a wide area resource distribution system very easily where needed as needed. Each terminal can dispense any of a number of types of energy resources such as electricity, compressed hydrogen, compressed air, and waste vegetable oil. The energy dispensing terminal includes a terminal control computer that interacts with customer computing devices, such as personal, portable computing devices or onboard computers installed in vehicles to effect negotiation and fulfillment of energy resource purchase transactions. A resource sharing server facilitates such transactions by maintaining and verifying identities of customers and sellers along with financial account information such that a registered customer can purchase energy resources from any seller registered with the same resource sharing server.

Abstract: A method for modular software protection includes steps for receiving, at a server, a license key registered for a software executable installed on a client device and machine fingerprint data generated at the client device, accessing, using the server, stored usage rights data indicated by the license key, the usage rights data specifying a number of client devices on which the software executable is licensed to operate and which features of the software executable are enabled, determining, using the machine fingerprint data received by the server, whether operation of the software executable on the client device would cause the number of client devices on which the software executable is licensed to operate to be exceeded, and creating, in response to the determining step, an encrypted license file for transmission to the client device that defines separate features of the software executable to be enabled on the client device.

Abstract: A device-bound certificate authority binds a certificate to one or more devices by including digital fingerprints of the devices in the certificate. A device only uses a device-bound certificate if the digital fingerprint of the device is included in the certificate and is verified. Thus, a certificate is only usable by one or more devices to which the certificate is explicitly bound. Such device-bound certificates can be used for various purposes served by certificates generally such as device driver authentication and authorization of access to secure content, for example.

Abstract: A method for preventing redundant purchases of limited items includes steps for providing a commerce client to a user, receiving (a) financial information of the user and (b) a device identifier from a device the user is using to run the commerce client, the device identifier being based on one or more of user-configurable and non-user-configurable parameters of the user device, determining whether a previous transaction has been made with the device associated with the received device identifier, and disallowing the device from executing further transactions for a predetermined period of time. The method may be executed by an apparatus such as a computer server or stored as a series of instructions on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method for near field authentication of sources using an audio transceiver computing device includes scanning a plurality of predetermined frequencies for a free frequency, selecting the free frequency from the plurality of predetermined frequencies, generating a periodic enclosed content message, generating a modulated carrier wave representing the periodic enclosed content message, and transmitting the modulated carrier wave at the free frequency. A method for near field authentication of sources using a microphone input of a receiving computing device includes scanning a plurality of predetermined frequencies to detect a signal using the microphone input, verifying, responsive to detecting the signal, that the signal includes at least one enclosed content message, and extracting a content from the enclosed content message.

Abstract: A method for implementing zone-restricted behavior of a computing device includes identifying wireless access points using the computing device, determining a number of authorized wireless access points from the wireless access points identified by the computing device, determining that the computing device is located within a restricted access zone when the number of authorized wireless access points identified by the computing device exceeds a predetermined threshold of authorized wireless access points identified, and enabling a zone mode of the computing device when the computing device is determined to be located within the restricted access zone.

Abstract: Devices of an individual's device-sphere cooperate with a device-sphere manager to improve continuity of the user's experience using any of the devices. When a device's state changes, the device reports the change to the device-sphere manager. The device-sphere manager modifies the device image for the reporting device and informs other devices of the device-sphere that corresponding changes should be made in the other devices as well. Each device image includes application records representing applications installed in the subject device. The device image for each device also includes partition images of each of one or more partitions of persistent storage of the device. A data image for the device-sphere represents data shared among the constituent devices of the device-sphere.

Abstract: Numerous mobile devices report their respective locations to a server which collects the location reports to provide real-time pedestrian traffic information, e.g., as a map that shows locations of individual mobile devices. Distribution of mobile devices in a geographic area more closely represents overall population locations and densities. Each device is identified by a digital fingerprint, formed from a number of system and device configuration parameters. Each mobile device is configured to periodically report its location, e.g., at a predetermined time interval and/or whenever the mobile device determines its location for another reason. A known location of a wireless network access point to which a mobile device is connected can serve as an estimated location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for implementing zone-restricted behavior of a computing device includes identifying wireless access points using the computing device, determining a number of authorized wireless access points from the wireless access points identified by the computing device, determining that the computing device is located within a restricted access zone when the number of authorized wireless access points identified by the computing device exceeds a predetermined threshold of authorized wireless access points identified, and enabling a zone mode of the computing device when the computing device is determined to be located within the restricted access zone.