Abstract: An apparatus (625) with a first plurality of input keys (635). Some of the first input keys may be associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout. The apparatus (625) is further provided with a second plurality of input keys (645), positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys (635), and being associated with at least one alphabetic value. Some of the input keys of the second plurality of input keys (645) may be arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the first alphabetic keypad layout. Further, in various embodiments, at least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys (635) have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout. Additionally, in various embodiments, at least some of the alphabetic values of the second keyboard layout are arranged at least partially based on a frequency of use of such alphabetic values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is equipped to operate in an unauthenticated and an authenticated mode of operation, depending on whether a user has been authenticated. In one embodiment, the wireless mobile phone includes a finger print reader to enable a user's finger print to be inputted and be used for authentication. In one embodiment, the finger print reader includes a light source and sensors, and having complementary logic to process emitted light reflected off a user's finger into an input finger print. The user is authenticated using privileged mode the inputted finger print. In one embodiment, the finger print reader is integrated with a power on/off switch, which may be disposed on an end surface, a side surface or a front surface of the body of the phone.

Abstract: A calendar owner designates access privilege to his or her calendar for an individual user, a defined user group, or a user type at a time slot granularity level. A non-owner party attempts to access selective time slots of the calendar owner's calendar. The access privilege is checked at the time slot level. Both explicit grant as well as implicit grant, by virtue of either being affiliated with an authorized user group or having an authorized user type, are checked.

Abstract: Multiprocessor circuit cards and communication devices that employ such cards are described herein. In some instances, the multiprocessor circuit cards may be subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and the communication devices may be wireless mobile telephones that are compliant with a communication standard such as ISO/IEC, 3GPP, GSM consortium or other standards.

Abstract: A method for distributing digital media content, including the use of a digital performance right key that is unique for a media content and a subscriber of the digital media content distribution service, and apparatuses configured to practice the method or portions thereof, are described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating input of data to an electronic device using selectively illuminated chambered keys is disclosed. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of chambers is to be illuminated. An indicia assigned to a region on the surface of the key above a selected chamber is highlighted by illumination(s), that is (are) based at least upon the determination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating input of data to an electronic device using overlaid inputs is disclosed. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of terminating hand members is being used to activate a key. A first character value is assigned to an activation of the key, based at least upon the determination.

Abstract: Identification based operational modification of a portable electronic device includes detecting the presence of an employee identification badge, authenticating the identification badge as an eligible identification badge based at least in part upon data associated with the identification badge that is individualized to at least the employee and/or employer, and modifying one or more operating characteristics of the portable electronic device resulting in an identification badge authenticated mode of operation for the portable electronic device based upon successful authentication of the identification badge.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).

Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with at least a first and second audio resources and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate various audio signals in a more context sensitive manner, while multi-media resources are being utilized. The instructions/circuitry cause the mobile client device to determine a first audio volume level at which the mobile client device is being utilized by a user for a first audio signal. Once the first audio volume level is determined, instructions/circuitry cause a second audio signal to be provided at a second audio volume level to the user. The second audio volume level being based at least in part on the first audio volume level initially.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is provided with the capability to visually convey various information to users, using a number of light emitting devcies (LEDs). The information may include notification of an incoming call, text messages of a call (in Morse code representations), complementary graphics for non-graphics contents, and visual representations of attributes of sound. In various embodiments, the implementations may include a visualization controller to selectively activate and deactivate the LEDs, and applicable ones of an event, text and sound visualization clients. In various embodiments, all or selected combinations of the elements may be part of the base unit of the wireless mobile phone, while the remaining elements, if any, may be part of an interchangeable face plate or a covering skin.

Abstract: The present invention includes a wireless mobile communication device with a body casing having an exterior surface, and a number of light sources (LS) disposed on the exterior surface. A machine accessible medium is provided with instructions to selectively activate the number of LS in a spatial movement dependent manner to spatially paint luminescent images. Additionally, a processor is coupled to the machine accessible medium to execute the instructions. As a result, spatial painting of luminescent images utilizing a wireless mobile communication device is facilitated.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses associated with the serving of data from a wireless mobile phone, including a wireless mobile phone, are described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a user device to avoid undesired state transitions when the user is present but not performing activities is provided. The method provides for detection of activity in the proximity of the user device by monitoring for sounds via an audio input device connected to the user device. The method further provides for analysis of the detected audio signals on the audio input to determine if the sound detected matches a voice reference sample of the user of the user device. If the detected sound matches the existing voice reference sample of the user, the method provides for simulation of activities on the user device, thereby preventing the user device from performing an undesired state transition, and in turn pre-empting resource saving operations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display and a keypad. The keypad has a plurality of keys, a first subset of which are adapted to define a first arrangement of keys, and a second subset of which are adapted to define a second arrangement of keys. Further, the apparatus includes a light provision arrangement that has at least one light source. A controller coupled to, and adapted to control the operations of, the light provision arrangement, to highlight the first and second subsets of keys during a first and a second mode of operation respectively. The keypad has a first and a second different relative operational disposition to the display, in said first and second modes of operation respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a first plurality of input keys. Each of the first plurality of input keys is associated with at least one numeric value and at least one alphabetic value and arranged in a numeric and first alphabetic telephone keypad arrangement. The apparatus is also provided with a second plurality of input keys that are at least partially surrounding the first plurality of input keys. At least some of the second plurality of input keys are associated with at least one alphabetic value. Further, input keys of the first and the second plurality of input keys are arranged relative to each other to form a second alphabetic arrangement.

Abstract: An enhanced email program/service is provided to facilitate provisioning for a user an expanded addressee ordered listing of emails including expanded listing entries for emails addressed to one or more addressees of interest as secondary and/or member addressees, in addition to listing entries where the one or more addressees of interest are addressed as primary addressees. In various embodiments, the enhancements include facilities that enable the user to easily request for the expanded listing, from an addressee ordered or non-addressee ordered listing of emails, with or without explicitly specifying the addressee or addressees of interest. In response, the email program/service provisions the expanded listing, including the re-ordering if necessary, accordingly. As a result, the user may easily obtain a listing of all emails addressed to one or more addressees of interest, independent of the position and/or manner the addressees of interest are addressed.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) enables application programs in a multitasking operating environment to classify portions of their code and data in a group that the operating system loads into physical memory all at one time. Designed for operating systems that implement virtual memory, this API enables memory-intensive application programs to avoid performance degradation due to swapping of units of memory back and forth between the hard drive and physical memory. Instead of incurring the latency of a page fault whenever the application attempts to access code or data in the group that is not located in physical memory, the API makes sure that all of the code or data in a group is loaded into physical memory at one time. This increases the latency of the initial load operation, but reduces performance degradation for subsequent memory accesses to code or data in the group.

Abstract: A cover of a mobile electronic device is provided with data or location information for retrieving the data, to provide or customize a plurality of functionality of the mobile electronic device, including at least a first provision or customization that is semi-persistent, conditionally effective when the cover is not mated with the device after an initial mating. In various embodiments, the mobile electronic device includes a repository to store the data associated with the semi-persistent provisions or customizations, and facilities for a user to select a previously mated cover, and/or a function associated with a previously mated cover. In various embodiments, the cover may be a housing cover or an accessory cover.