Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes an earpiece that includes at least one switch that senses physical contact with an end user operating the apparatus. The contact triggers an application to be initiated for the apparatus. In more specific embodiments, one or more additional switches are provided to sense physical contact from the end user and trigger the application based on at least two of the switches sensing the contact. In still other embodiments, a microphone is provided and is coupled to a body element and operable to receive voice data from the end user.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for assigning a network address to a computing device. In one embodiment, a network device such as a router may be responsible for assigning a network address (e.g., an IP address) to a connected computing device. For example, in IPv6, the network device provides the computing device with a 64-bit prefix that the computing device then uses to generate a 128-bit unique IP address. The network device typically receives this prefix from another server located in the WAN. In case of a communication failure with the WAN, the network device may be unable to attain the correct prefix. Instead of assigning a random prefix that may cause a conflict if the computing device uses the incorrect prefix on the WAN, the network device may assign a different IP address using a different communication protocol—e.g., IPv4. The computing device can then use IPv4 to access both the LAN and the WAN without risking a conflict.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes an earpiece that includes at least one switch that senses physical contact with an end user operating the apparatus. The contact triggers an application to be initiated for the apparatus. In more specific embodiments, one or more additional switches are provided to sense physical contact from the end user and trigger the application based on at least two of the switches sensing the contact. In still other embodiments, a microphone is provided and is coupled to a body element and operable to receive voice data from the end user.