Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a cylindrical or other suitably shaped filter container for insertion into a user's nares to filter inhaled air to remove airborne items. The filter container has two open ends forming a container surrounding filter material. In a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, polypropylene may be used to form the container or tube, other suitable material such as rubber or other softer material may also be used. The present disclosure further includes a respiration mask having a peripheral seal composed of treated and fluffed polypropylene fibers. An edge seal according to the present disclosure lowers the respiratory resistance of a mask and improves the filtration efficiency. Treated, fluffed, polypropylene may also be used to form a respiration mask, such a mask may also include an edge seal to improve filtration and comfort.

Abstract: An extended functionality remote control (EFRC) provides a hardware/software implementation of an integrated interface for remote control emulation. A PDA or other portable computing device is used as a platform for the EFRC application software and peripheral hardware. The EFRC also merges information services into remote controls. Implementation of these information services takes the form of, e.g., electronic program guides (EPGs) merged with the functioning of remote controls. In addition to the portable computing device, the hardware portion of the invention according to a preferred embodiment includes a keypad and an infrared transmitter subsystem which are managed by a microcontroller. The microcontroller also exchanges data with application software of the computing device via a serial communications link.