Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.

Abstract: Controlling access to customer data. A customer service agent is provided with indirect access to customer data through an intermediate computer such that it is not necessary for the customer service agent to ask questions about the received customer data or receive such data from the customer directly. Secure data access can be used to validate customers and streamline customer interaction and discussions with customer service agents since many questions a customer service agent may ask a customer directly during a discussion are already answered and known to the customer service agent before the customer speaks with the customer service agent. The customer can select which merchants receive customer data, and customer data can be entered manually or acquired by processing images of customer documents or cards such as personal identification or account cards containing information to be used during customer service discussions.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that provides a user interface of a native application for a portable electronic device. During operation, the system provides an environment for customizing the user interface using one or more custom views. The one or more custom views may include a set of user-interface components, a layout of the user-interface components, and a configuration of a user-interface component from the set of user-interface components. Next, the system enables use of the one or more custom views with the native application through the environment independently of a platform of the native application.

Abstract: Controlling access to customer data. A customer service agent is provided with indirect access to customer data through an intermediate computer such that it is not necessary for the customer service agent to ask questions about the received customer data or receive such data from the customer directly. Secure data access can be used to validate customers and streamline customer interaction and discussions with customer service agents since many questions a customer service agent may ask a customer directly during a discussion are already answered and known to the customer service agent before the customer speaks with the customer service agent. The customer can select which merchants receive customer data, and customer data can be entered manually or acquired by processing images of customer documents or cards such as personal identification or account cards containing information to be used during customer service discussions.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of a native application for a portable electronic device. During operation, the system obtains one or more custom views for a user interface of the native application. The one or more custom views may include a set of user-interface components, a layout of the user-interface components, and/or a configuration of a user-interface component from the set of user-interface components. Next, the system enables use of the one or more custom views with the native application independently of a platform of the native application.

Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.

Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.

Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates interaction between an electronic device and a content provider. During operation, the system obtains a device profile containing a set of properties for the electronic device and a set of classification rules associated with the content provider. Next, the system identifies a device class of the electronic device based on the device profile and the classification rules. Finally, the system provides the device class to the content provider, wherein the content provider selects content to transmit to the electronic device based on the device class.

Abstract: Embodiments of a workflow-based user interface for defining and managing functions implemented on mobile devices are described. A method under an embodiment utilizes a workflow-based mobile device management user interface. The method utilizes a pluggable workflow framework to achieve mobile device management externalization. The mobile device management platform is required to implement a set of basic action blocks that are used as primitives for further management policy composition. The method provides a development environment integrated with a mobile device management platform that allows assembling management (monitoring) primitives into meaningful management policies without changes to a core management platform infrastructure. The method claims addition of new primitives deployed as add-on products to enable new and advanced management policies, best integration practices with a carrier operational support system.

Abstract: A user registers with an automated transportation use and billing system. The user's geographical location/position is monitored and periodically compared with the geographical location/position of one or more public transportation systems. When a determination is made that the user's geographical location/position is the same as the geographical location/position of a public transportation system, an assumption is made that the user is making use of the public transportation system and once the user's geographical location/position data differs from the public transportation system's geographical location/position data, it is further assumed that the user is no longer making use of the public transportation system. Data indicating the users assumed use of the public transportation system, calculated as described above, is then recorded and credited to the user's account.

Abstract: A user registers with an automated transportation use and billing system. The user's geographical location/position is monitored and periodically compared with the geographical location/position of one or more public transportation systems. When a determination is made that the user's geographical location/position is the same as the geographical location/position of a public transportation system, an assumption is made that the user is making use of the public transportation system and once the user's geographical location/position data differs from the public transportation system's geographical location/position data, it is further assumed that the user is no longer making use of the public transportation system. Data indicating the users assumed use of the public transportation system, calculated as described above, is then recorded and credited to the user's account.

Abstract: During a financial technique, electronic devices may exchange, using a first communication technique, information with each other to establish a secure connection between the electronic devices when they are proximate to each other. After the secure connection is established, the electronic devices may hand off communication with each other from the first communication technique to a second communication technique that supports communication at a higher data rate and over longer distances than the first communication technique. Moreover, the electronic devices may communicate, using the second communication technique and the secure connection, additional information associated with the financial transaction with each other to facilitate completion of the financial transaction.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates interaction between an electronic device and a content provider. During operation, the system obtains a device profile containing a set of properties for the electronic device and a set of classification rules associated with the content provider. Next, the system identifies a device class of the electronic device based on the device profile and the classification rules. Finally, the system provides the device class to the content provider, wherein the content provider selects content to transmit to the electronic device based on the device class.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system configured to manage policies, including decision policies and active policies, on an Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) enabled mobile client devices is described. The system is configured to manage policies, including decision policies and active policies, on mobile devices. The system includes a device policy repository, a policy decision point, a decision policy enforcer, and an active policy enforcer. The system includes a server-side process configured to allow creation, modification and transmission of defined policies to the mobile client device, and a client-side process executed on the mobile client device and configured store the defined policies in an OMA DM management tree in the mobile client device as management objects, wherein each policy of the defined policies is represented as a subnode of the management tree.

Abstract: Mobile payments and processing data related to electronic transactions. A near field communication connection is established between a mobile communication device of a consumer that serves as a mobile wallet and an electronic payment device of a merchant. Authorization data is shared between the mobile communication device and the electronic payment device without providing electronic payment instrument (e.g. credit card) data to the merchant. Authorization data is transmitted from the mobile communication device to a cloud computer or resource that serves as a cloud wallet and hosts respective data of respective electronic payment instruments of respective consumers, and from the electronic payment device a payment processor computer. The payment processor computer presents the authorization data to the cloud wallet, and in response, the cloud wallet transmits the credit card data to the payment processor computer, which processes the transaction.

Abstract: A network system management system comprises a set of management services for managing a set of devices through a network, and a set of service containers in which each service container is associated with management services and enforces regulations that are common among the associated management services. Each service container creates service providers that each creates a respective management service, in response to a service request, for use in managing the devices. Each service container comprises a service factory that registers services with an internal registry in association with a service provider, registers the services with an external registry in association with the service factory, and controls access by a user session to the services that are registered with the external registry, based on the pertinent service container-based regulations. The system provides for simple plug-in deployment of services into the system, and management of such services within the system.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for managing configurations on mobile devices are described. A method under an embodiment utilizes one or more advanced commands defined by the OMA DM protocol. One such command is the “Get” command, which can be used recursively to traverse a management tree to access the necessary nodes. A variation of this command is the “Get[Struct Data]” command, which traverses a tree or subtree in a single execution instance. The “Get” command is used to get a snapshot from a management tree starting from a specified URI. For this embodiment, it is presumed that a “golden” copy of device exists. The golden copy can be initially configured either manually or by using a mobile device management platform. The method uses a golden device to make a configuration snapshot to be used later for a distribution to multiple targets.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for enabling new task types to be added to a management server without changing the source code of the management server. To add a new task type, a descriptor file is provided. This descriptor file specifies all of the particulars of the new task type. Any mechanisms referred to in the descriptor file are also provided. At startup time, the management server processes the descriptor file and forms associations between the various aspects of the task type with the mechanisms that are responsible for implementing those various aspects. At runtime, these associations are used to manage the definition and execution of tasks of that task type. By doing so, the management server enables new task types to be added, and enables task instances of the new task types to be defined and executed, without changing the source code of the management server.

Abstract: Embodiments of an intelligent agent for an OMA DM enabled mobile client device are described. The intelligent agent includes modules for storing management property values in one or more nodes of an OMA DM management tree of the mobile client device. At least some of the management values are analyzed and set in a server computer coupled to the mobile client device over a wireless network. The intelligent mobile client is configured to manage itself based on initial instructions and policies provided by a server that are transferred to the client by the OMA DM protocol. For example, a client might notice that the battery is nearly empty and so it automatically decreases its own backlight illumination level.