Abstract: When a driver leaves a vehicle as indicated by a separation event such as the driver's portable wireless communication device (WCD) losing Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle, the WCD uploads to a cloud server its GPS location before the driver has been able to walk away from the vehicle an appreciable distance. The location is recorded and the driver subsequently can use its WCD to communicate with the server to obtain map information showing the current location of the WCD and the location recorded at the separation event, so that the driver knows the location of her vehicle relative to her current location.

Abstract: A user of a wireless communication device (WCD) is reminded to stop at a store along a route of the user's vehicle based on a list of items needed, geographic location, and previous established behavior patterns, e.g., whether the user has stopped at a particular store close to the current time of day, along the current route of the vehicle, one or more times before. Shopping locations are verified at the location with a simple confirmation dialog on the WCD and suggested names are provided from a list of points of interests. Items to be purchased can then be added to a location-based shopping list by using a digital camera on the WCD to image the item and/or the barcode of the item and find the item in a database of images and barcodes.

Abstract: A local teleconference participant can view a near-life-size image of a remote teleconference participant on a thin transparent upright display. Because the display is transparent, local background images that surround the image of the remote participant can be viewed through the display just as they would be if the remote participant were present locally.

Abstract: When a driver leaves a vehicle as indicated by a separation event such as the driver's portable wireless communication device (WCD) losing Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle, the WCD uploads to a cloud server its GPS location before the driver has been able to walk away from the vehicle an appreciable distance. The location is recorded and the driver subsequently can use its WCD to communicate with the server to obtain map information showing the current location of the WCD and the location recorded at the separation event, so that the driver knows the location of her vehicle relative to her current location.

Abstract: Two friends can pair wireless communication devices which subsequently exchange positional information peer-to-peer or through a cloud server. Each device presents a map showing its location and the location of the paired device. Instructions can be provided to the device playing a follower role of how to reach the current location of the other device, which plays a leader role. In turn the leader device can present information as to the location of the follower device so that a user of the leader device can ascertain if the follower is off-track.

Abstract: A viewer of a UHD may configure one or more home screens that are associated with that viewer at viewer login by selecting one or more home screen templates, each of which includes multiple content panes arranged in a unique layout. The viewer may modify the layout. Each home screen may be associated with a respective content genus so that, for example, when a sports program is presented and the viewer selects a “home” key on a remote commander, a sports-related home screen is presented based on the viewer-selected sports home screen template, whereas when a feature movie is presented and the viewer selects the “home” key, a movie-related home screen is presented based on the viewer-selected movie home screen template.

Abstract: A host device can establish a date and time for an online event such as a movie and send invitations out to join viewing the movie to, e.g., friends on a social network. Accepting friends, along with the host, can enter a theater page prior to the start time to view thumbnails of related recommended movies and can also enter a lobby page to chat and view who else has been invited to attend the movie.