Abstract: Transactions using a bank customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) are authorized based on geographic location. For example, a transaction may be denied if it is determined that no legitimate Point of Sale (POS) terminals are in the area of the e-card.

Abstract: Transactions using a bank customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) are monitored by the card owner's consumer electronic (CE) device and reported to a server associated with the financial institution maintaining the e-card records for analysis of aggregated hack attempts.

Abstract: A bank customer's CE device is used to authorize transactions using the customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”). Biometric input is used to recover the password of the customer device if lost.

Abstract: A bank customer's CE device is texted by a bank computer when the customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) is sought to be used so that the customer is alerted to possibly fraudulent “fishing” of the e-card data by a nearby thief device.

Abstract: A bank customer's CE device is used to authorize transactions using the customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”). If the CE device is determined not to be proximate to the e-card, the transaction is limited.

Abstract: Transactions using a bank customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) are monitored by the card owner's consumer electronic (CE) device and reported to a server associated with the financial institution maintaining the e-card records for reconciliation to reveal possible fraud.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with pieces of luggage, or packages, etc. and companion luggage or packages can dynamically form a mesh network which uploads location information of the nodes and in some cases additional information, e.g., shock signals, to a network. The information may be downloaded to an owner's CE device.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with vehicles and companion nodes can dynamically form a mesh network which uploads location information of the nodes and in some cases additional information, e.g., road condition or proximity to objects.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with competitors in an arena to relay through a mesh network formed by the modules competitor biometric and/or parameter information. This information may be selected to be viewed by individual fans accessing their consumer electronics devices during the competition.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with movable and fixed items in a building such as a grocery store or factory floor to maintain a database of the locations of those items as they are processed through the establishment. The items form a mesh network and relay location information through access points, when in range, to control/monitoring computers.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with pet carriers and companion nodes can dynamically form a mesh network which uploads location information of the nodes and in some cases additional information, e.g., temperature or pet physical parameter signals, to a network. The information may be downloaded to an owner's CE device.

Abstract: Mesh node modules are associated with stadium seats and companion nodes such as fan CE devices can dynamically form a mesh network which uploads information of the nodes to a network. Sporting information may be downloaded to a fan's CE device or services provided to the fan while in a seat based on information sent through the node modules in the stadium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a data storage unit and a data processing unit. The data storage unit is adapted to store a plurality of advertisements. Coupled to the data storage unit, the data processing unit is adapted to detect an operation that alters playback of an advertisement being part of downloaded digital content, and in response to detecting the operation, to select one of the stored advertisements. The selection is based on heuristic information that is maintained for each of the plurality of stored advertisements.

Abstract: An Internet audio video device receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the device to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. The process determines a next content selection from a usage pattern database. The Internet audio video device is set to the retrieved settings. At completion of the boot process the audio video device is operational at the retrieved settings. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A bank customer's CE device passively eavesdrops on NFC communications between the customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) and a third device and alerts the customer when such communication is detected from the e-card. In this way, the customer is alerted to possibly fraudulent “fishing” of the e-card data by a nearby thief device.

Abstract: An information providing system, reception apparatus, and methods thereof are provided for providing content data. The method for providing content includes generating the content data. A digital television pre-broadcast signal, including the content data, is generated. At least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is extracted. The at least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is packaged into one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data packets. A digital television broadcast signal, including the remainder of the digital television pre-broadcast signal, is generated. The one or more IP data packets is provided via a communication network. The digital television broadcast signal is provided on a predetermined radio frequency (RF) channel.

Abstract: A networked-speaker system which includes noise cancelling for active suppression of unwanted sounds. Feed-forward or feed-back cancelation can be used as appropriate for the location of the microphone sensing the noise.

Abstract: In an audio speaker network, the individual speakers of the network have lamps on them that are controlled to present a light show in synchrony with the audio being played by the system.

Abstract: A speaker system comprised of more than one speaker, which utilizes the known characteristics and location of each speaker to enhance low frequency (low (bass) frequency) performance of the system.

Abstract: In a multi-speaker audio system for, e.g., a home entertainment system or other entertainment system, each networked-speaker (wired or wireless) can be assigned a particular voice, instrument, group of voices and/or instruments, or a particular stage location of a performance to reproduce a more realistic and life-like audio experience.