Abstract: The smart card, with a built-in microphone, is used to perform a transaction. The consumer may then record a voice annotation that is associated with the transactional data. The voice annotation is stored with the respective transactional data in the smart card memory. The voice annotation can later be played back or printed out with the respective transactional data.

Abstract: The print content is received and parsed to determine if different priority levels have been assigned to any section of the content. If any section of the content has been assigned a priority level, an ink rationing process is invoked. The manner in which the content is printed depends on the ink supply level and the priority assigned to each section. If the ink supply level is low and a particular section has been assigned a low priority, that section is printed in grayscale or degraded in some other way that uses less ink. Other higher priority sections of the content are printed in normal mode.

Abstract: An audio messaging system receives audio input and records its contents. The audio input is then converted to a machine-readable representation for later audio playback. The audio input is also converted into a text representation using voice recognition techniques. The machine-readable and text representations are associated with one another and sent to selectable media for retrieval by the intended recipient. By associating the machine-readable representation with the text representation and providing them together, an immediately recognizable text message is provided whose contents can be verified precisely through playback of the machine-readable representation in at least one of a plurality of selectable media formats.

Abstract: Software driver installation is automated. An automated installation object is run on a computing system. The automated installation object determines which peripheral devices are attached to the computing system. The automated installation object determines for which peripheral devices found attached to the computing system the automated installation object is able to perform automated installation. For each of these peripheral devices the automated installation object determines a network location that contains a driver installation program for the peripheral device. The automated installation object downloads the driver installation program from the network location. The automated installation object runs the driver installation program on the computing system to install a device driver for the peripheral device.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for tracking updates that occur in predefined network sites such as, for example, web sites available on the World Wide Web. In one embodiment, a network update tracking system is provided in a server. This network update tracking system includes a processor circuit having a processor and a memory, and update detection logic stored on the memory and executable by the processor. The update detection logic comprises logic that detects a number of updates in a corresponding number of network sites, and logic that generates an update report to be sent to a client via a network, the update report listing at least one of the updates.

Abstract: A system, method, and/or computer readable medium, allows a user to interactively indicate content preferences. An interactive representation of at least of a portion of a document is displayed, such as on a display device. The interactive representation may have a layout substantially the same as a resulting document that would be displayed or printed. The interactive representation includes one or more content areas associated with content item preferences and/or rules for selecting content items to populate the content areas. When a new selection for a content area is made, the interactive representation is automatically updated. Thus, according to an embodiment, the user's view during the interactive process is substantially similar to that of the final document to be produced.

Abstract: A user of a portable device may request a full-length information set be sent to a high capacity presentation apparatus for printing. A truncated or compressed information set is displayed on the portable device, which the user may select for later printing of the full-length information on the high capacity presentation apparatus when the portable device is synchronized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a computing device to support a plurality of pointing devices or a singular pointing device that can provide a plurality of functions. The computing device may be a desktop or portable unit. Several graphics menus for assigning functions to a pointing device are disclosed as well as logic for executing the assignment/configuration.

Abstract: The versatility of a portable computer is expanded by placing a hinged connector on an outside of a case of the portable computer. The hinged connector includes an electrical connector to which a handheld device is connected and disconnected. A hinge connects the hinged connector to the case. The hinge allows the handheld device, when connected to the electrical connector, to rotate position with respect to the case.