Abstract: A WIFI-enabled and GPS-enabled user device executes a hotspot location utility, which enables the device to detect WIFI hotspots and update a locally-stored hotspot location database (LHLD) containing geographically-mapped hotspots. When a hotspot is detected, the device accesses the hotspot, retrieves identification information and usage terms from the hotspot, and measures performance metrics of the hotspot. The utility stores the identified hotspot with the current GPS coordinate as an entry within the LHLD. When a user later desires to locate hotspots within a particular geographic location, the user enters the physical address of the location, and hotspots with matching (or proximate) GPS coordinates of the entered address are presented to the user. The user may specify certain preferences for usage terms, performance metrics, and location criteria, and the utility filters all geographic hits and returns only hotspots in the geographic location that also satisfy these preferences.

Abstract: A method for identifying product placement props in a scene, the method includes: equipping one or more cameras with individual radio frequency identification (RFID) readers for filming or recording a scene for audio/video (A/V) content; placing one or more product placement props each having an RFID tag affixed thereon representing product placements within the scene; wherein the RFID readers interrogate the RFID tags to determine product placement prop related information including: which of the one or more product placement props are in the scene, and the one or more product placement props relative location with respect to the one or more cameras; and one or more recording devices for retaining the A/V content and the product placement prop related information.

Abstract: A method, system, and program provides for hands free contact database information entry at a communication device. A recording system at a communication device detects a user initiation to record. Responsive to detecting the user initiation to record, the recording system records the ongoing conversation supported between the communication device and a second remote communication device. The recording system converts the recording of the conversation into text. Next, the recording system extracts contact information from the text. Then, the recording system stores the extracted contact information in an entry of the contact database, such that contact information is added to the contact database of the communication device without manual entry of the contact information by the user.

Abstract: A method of regulating electronic message traffic is proposed. The method comprises sending an electronic message as part of a thread, receiving a response to the message, and tabulating said response in a counter. A data processing system compares the counter to a threshold and, in response to the comparing step, designates the thread as off-topic.

Abstract: A method, system, and program provides for hands free contact database information entry at a communication device. A recording system at a communication device detects a user initiation to record. Responsive to detecting the user initiation to record, the recording system records the ongoing conversation supported between the communication device and a second remote communication device. The recording system converts the recording of the conversation into text. Next, the recording system extracts contact information from the text. Then, the recording system stores the extracted contact information in an entry of the contact database, such that contact information is added to the contact database of the communication device without manual entry of the contact information by the user.

Abstract: A system for identifying product placement props in a scene, the system includes: one or more cameras individually equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) readers for filming or recording a scene for audio/video (A/V) content; one or more product placement props each having an RFID tag affixed thereon representing product placements within the scene; wherein the RFID readers interrogate the RFID tags to determine product placement prop related information including: which of the one or more product placement props are in the scene, and the one or more product placement props relative location with respect to the one or more cameras; and one or more recording devices for retaining the A/V content and the product placement prop related information.

Abstract: A method of data processing that converts a set of restricted terms, which is considered prohibited for use in source files, into an encrypted form, which prevents unauthorized users from reading the set of restricted terms. Further, the terms from a selected source file are encrypted with the same algorithm that was used on the set of prohibited terms. Then, a determination is made if the selected source file has one or more of the encrypted, restricted terms. In response to determining that the selected source file has one or more of the encrypted, restricted terms, an indication is given that the selected source file has one or more of the encrypted, restricted terms.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for compressing and abbreviating text messages at a first text messaging device for transport and subsequent interpretation at a second text messaging device is disclosed. A user-defined message length reduction profile for producing human-readable compressed text is associated with a source text message at a first text messaging device. The source text message is then shortened using abbreviations and transformation rules in the profile. The shortened text message can then be transmitted to a second text messaging device. In addition, the compression provided by the present invention, although intended to be human-readable, can be complemented with decompression software to expand the compressed and abbreviated text to its full length and verifying, using a checksum or other error detecting code, that the expanded version corresponds to the original text.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium for mitigating audible acknowledgement volume in a vehicle security system. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes measuring an amplitude of a valid signal, in response to receiving the valid signal; in response to determining the amplitude of the valid signal, comparing the amplitude to a first predetermined threshold; in response to the comparison, adjusting a volume setting of an audible acknowledgement; further adjusting the volume setting in response to measuring ambient noise of a surrounding location; and emitting the audible acknowledgement.

Abstract: A portable data processing device is provided with first and second display devices. The first display device receives signals for displaying a first set of information, and the second display device receives signals for displaying a second set of information. The second display device forms a skin of the portable data processing device. The device also has a graphics engine for receiving data for generating display signals for the first set information and the second set of information. Driver circuits are coupled to said first and second display devices, in which corresponding ones of the driver circuits are coupled to the first and second displays, the driver circuits being coupled to an output of the graphics engine. The first and second display devices have disjoint display areas.

Abstract: A WIFI-enabled and GPS-enabled user device executes a hotspot location utility, which enables the device to detect WIFI hotspots and update a locally-stored hotspot location database (LHLD) containing geographically-mapped hotspots. When a hotspot is detected, the device accesses the hotspot, retrieves identification information and usage terms from the hotspot, and measures performance metrics of the hotspot. The utility stores the identified hotspot with the current GPS coordinate as an entry within the LHLD. When a user later desires to locate hotspots within a particular geographic location, the user enters the physical address of the location, and hotspots with matching (or proximate) GPS coordinates of the entered address are presented to the user. The user may specify certain preferences for usage terms, performance metrics, and location criteria, and the utility filters all geographic hits and returns only hotspots in the geographic location that also satisfy these preferences.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for efficiently generating a substantially accurate list of available hotspots in geographic locations. A computer system configured with a hotspot location utility operates as a Provider. The Provider receives from a mobile device a hotspot operability/ayailability transmission (HOT), which includes an identification of a currently operating and available hotspot. The Provider concurrently receives a current GPS coordinate of the device transmitting the HOT. Then, the provider stores the HOT and associated GPS coordinate within a hotspot locator database. When the Provider later receives a request from a user searching for hotpots within a particular geographic location, the Provider determines which acceptable entries of the multiple entries are in geographic locations in proximity to the particular geographic location and then provides an output of the acceptable entries to the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and program provide for voice mail management. A voice mail filtering controller calculates a separate Bayesian score for each voice mail message from among multiple voice mail message entries received into a voice mailbox for a user, wherein each separate Bayesian score indicates a probability that the associated voice mail message is unwanted by said user. During playback, the voice mail filtering controller automatically deletes a selection of the voice mail messages each with a separate Bayesian score greater than a particular Bayesian score of the last played voice mail message from the voice mailbox.

Abstract: A method, system, and program provides for hands free contact database information entry at a communication device. A recording system at a communication device detects a user initiation to record. Responsive to detecting the user initiation to record, the recording system records the ongoing conversation supported between the communication device and a second remote communication device. The recording system converts the recording of the conversation into text. Next, the recording system extracts contact information from the text. Then, the recording system stores the extracted contact information in an entry of the contact database, such that contact information is added to the contact database of the communication device without manual entry of the contact information by the user.

Abstract: Safe deposit boxes, services, and methods for physically secure data storage are provided that include securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box, receiving, in the network-enabled computer, data transmitted from a remote computer coupled for data communications with the network-enabled computer; and storing the data in the memory of the network-enabled computer. Securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box may be carried out by providing a locked safe deposit box having the networked enabled computer stored within. Securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box may be carried out by providing a lockable safe deposit box having the networked enabled computer integrated within.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for dynamic language checking. Embodiments include identifying questionable language usage; creating a query in dependence upon the questionable language usage; querying a search engine with the query; receiving from the search engine search result statistics describing the search results for the query; and determining, in dependence upon search results statistics returned by the search engine, whether the questionable language usage is proper language usage.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for a portable data processing system for generating a route for completing a set of tasks. A location of the portable device is identified. A route for completing the set of tasks is identified based on a policy and the location to form a completion route. The completion route for the set of tasks is then presented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a graphical representation of an estimated time of completion of a content request and the current progress toward completion of the content request, taking into account the processes being performed to prepare the data for transfer to the requesting client device, are provided. With the apparatus and method, a table lookup in a request database is performed based on parameters included in a content request received from a client device. The closest matching entry in the request database is retrieved which includes an associated estimated time of completion of the request. This estimated time of completion of the request is then used along with current system conditions, to generate an estimated time of completion for the current content request. The estimated time of completion for the current content request is then forwarded to the requesting client device which generates a graphical and/or textual representation of the estimated time of completion.

Abstract: A method of regulating electronic message traffic is proposed. The method comprises sending an electronic message as part of a thread, receiving a response to the message, and tabulating said response in a counter. A data processing system compares the counter to a threshold and, in response to the comparing step, designates the thread as off-topic.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a portable device for obtaining bids for a task. Access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding is provided through a wireless network. The access to the task includes a specification of a selected distance between a bidding entity and a location of the portable device that the bidding entity is required to be located within for generating bids. A bid for the task is received from an entity through the wireless network if the entity is within a selected distance of a location of the portable device. The bid may be accepted for completing the task.