Abstract: A mobile computing device can be configured, with an improved user interface, to synchronously play audio (or video) and text associated thereto, and to navigate one using the other, such as text of an electronic book being used to navigate to a corresponding portion of an audiobook. Improved navigability of content using an improved mobile computing device and user interface is provided, because a user of the device can scroll through text of an electronic book that is associated with a corresponding audiobook in order to begin playing the audiobook at a desired location. The user can read a little, then listen a little, seamlessly switching between the two because they are fused together by a synchronization file. If the user selects a particular page or word or range of words, by making a gesture on the mobile computing device, the device can identify a start time for the selected text. The device can then play the audio or video at the identified start time of the selected text.

Abstract: A mobile computing device can be configured, with an improved user interface, to synchronously play audio (or video) and text associated thereto, such as text stored in a synchronization index. Using the synchronization index, the device can periodically compare the current track time with that time associated to a word or range of words, such as a line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text). Improved navigability of content using an improved mobile computing device and user interface is provided, because a user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the audio or video to find a target word or range of words. If the user selects a particular word or range of words, by making a gesture on the mobile computing device, the device can identify a start time for the selected text. The device can then play the audio or video at the identified start time of the selected text.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: A mobile computing device can be configured, with an improved user interface, to synchronously play audio (or video) and text associated thereto, such as text stored in a synchronization index. Using the synchronization index, the device can periodically compare the current track time with that time associated to a word or range of words, such as a line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text). Improved navigability of content using an improved mobile computing device and user interface is provided, because a user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the audio or video to find a target word or range of words. If the user selects a particular word or range of words, by making a gesture on the mobile computing device, the device can identify a start time for the selected text. The device can then play the audio or video at the identified start time of the selected text.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: A mobile computing device can be configured, with an improved user interface, to synchronously play audio (or video) and text associated thereto, such as text stored in a synchronization index. Using the synchronization index, the device can periodically compare the current track time with that time associated to a word or range of words, such as a line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text). Improved navigability of content using an improved mobile computing device and user interface is provided, because a user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the audio or video to find a target word or range of words. If the user selects a particular word or range of words, by making a gesture on the mobile computing device, the device can identify a start time for the selected text. The device can then play the audio or video at the identified start time of the selected text.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Various embodiments each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for mobile device location-enabled service provisioning. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device, data including a customer account identifier and an identifier of at least one beacon device. The method then determines, based on the received data, a location of a customer of the customer account identifier relative to each beacon device for which a beacon device identifier is included in the received data. The method then identifies any activities to be initiated with regard to the customer based on a stored customer profile associated with the customer account identifier, the determined location, and at least one activity rule. The method may then execute instructions associated with each identified activity.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for automated session closing upon location-sensed departure. Some such embodiments may be implemented at retail outlets (e.g., restaurants, salons, stores, etc.) to automatically charge a customer account for ordered items upon an automated detection of a customer retail outlet departure. One embodiment, in the form of a method performed on a server-based system, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device associated with a customer account, first data indicating the mobile device has departed a retail outlet. The method then generates, from stored retail session data, a final bill including an amount payable and then charges an amount payable from the final bill to a payment account associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for entry point validation. Such embodiments may be implemented at entry points to controlled access areas, such as ticketed events, venues, buildings, rooms, elevators, and the like. One embodiment includes receiving a beacon identifier on a mobile device from a beacon device associated with an entry point. This embodiment further includes transmitting, via a network from the mobile device, the beacon identifier and at least one identifier to a backend system with an entry request to electronically cause a credential to be provided to a computing device associated with an entry point.

Abstract: The invention relates to executing an online contest. The contest comprises use of a brand key. The brand key has an owner and is associated to at least one item of a brand key group. A brand key group may comprise a brand, a trademark or servicemark, an indicia of source of origin, a product or good, a place, a person, an event, a character, and a business. A user is provided a user key for tagging an occurrence in a multimedia file of said at least one item. The user key is combined with a brand key to create a unique identifier to mark at least one occurrence of at least one item by a user in a multimedia file. The unique identifier is associated with a discrete time within a multimedia file and tracked as part of the online contest.