Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for modifying key functionality based on context of a user interface. A system configured to practice the method presents a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface providing a user interface element for data entry, and analyzes a user interaction via the user interface element and a context of the user interaction within the user interface element. Based on the user interaction and the context, the system activates a non-default mode for a key having a default mode. The key can be a physical key or a key in a virtual on-display keyboard. The default mode can be inserting a character such as a period or a comma, and the non-default mode can be launching voice input. The system receives, via the key, input directed to the user interface element, and performs an action associated with the non-default mode in response to the input.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products for making and writing data to NFC-enabled “smart” posters, and posters made in accordance therewith.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call at the mobile communication device; determining that the received call is directed to subscriber identity information associated with a short-range enabled communication device; selecting on which of the mobile communication device and the short-range enabled device to answer the call; and directing the call to the selected device.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device, including a touch-sensitive display, includes detecting a gesture associated with a gesture character entry mode and determining a direction of the gesture on the touch-sensitive display, determining ones of a plurality of characters associated with the gesture based on the direction, and adding the ones of the plurality of characters to candidate character strings.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a movable display screen is used to capture image data. The movable display screen is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position a first portion of the display screen is hidden from view and a second portion of the display screen is viewable, and in the second position the first portion and the second portion of the display screen are viewable, the handheld electronic device having an image sensor, an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the handheld electronic device, and at least one position sensor for sensing a position of the display screen. Device orientation information is received from the orientation sensor, display screen position information is received from the position sensor and image data is received from the image sensor representing an image. An image orientation for the image is determined in dependence on both the display screen position information and the device orientation information.

Abstract: A housing has a front surface and a back surface. A keyboard and a corresponding bottom surface move between a non-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration. A tray slides in and out of the housing along one or more slots that are formed internal to the housing. This tray can include an internal surface having a first side that contacts the keyboard and an opposing second side that contacts the aforementioned bottom surface when the latter components are non-deployed. When moving to the deployed configuration the keyboard and bottom surface first move substantially parallel to the housing and then move substantially perpendicular to the housing. Projections on these components can interact with corresponding tracks formed in the housing to direct at the least this perpendicular movement.

Abstract: A handheld electronic communication device including a body including an input device facing a first direction, and a display device coupled to the body. The display device has a first display screen and a second display screen. The second display screen faces an opposite direction as the first display screen. The display device is rotatable between a first position in which the first display screen faces the first direction, and a second position in which the second display screen faces the first direction.

Abstract: A support for a flexible display of a portable electronic device includes: a first hinge element coupled to a second hinge element in a side-by-side arrangement, the first hinge element having: a display-receiving surface extending at least partway along a length of the first hinge element, the display-receiving surface for coupling to the flexible display; and a guide coupling the first hinge element to the second hinge element and guiding movement of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element along a path between a first stop and a second stop, the first stop for limiting movement in a first direction and the second stop for limiting movement in a second direction; a neutral plane associated with movement of the first hinge element relative to the second hinge element is external to the support and located adjacent to the display-receiving surface.

Abstract: A device includes: a housing having a first component and a second component coupled to one another by a pivot member and movable relative to one another between an open position in which the first component and the second component are in the same plane and a folded position; a first slider slidably received in the first component and a second slider slidably received in the second component, the first slider and the second slider being movable toward the pivot member when the first component and the second component move from the open position to the folded position; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first slider, the second slider and the pivot member; wherein, in the folded position, the flexible membrane is located between the first component and the second component.

Abstract: A device includes: a first component and a second component coupled to one another by a pivot member and being movable relative to one another between an open position in which the first component and the second component are in the same plane and a folded position; a first slider coupled to the first component and a second slider coupled to the second component; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first slider and the second slider, the flexible membrane being exposed in the folded position; wherein the first component and the second component are coupled to one another to maintain the flexible membrane at a constant length when the flexible membrane is moved between the open position and the folded position.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling the display of an mobile device by: capturing an image using a camera device of the mobile device, the camera device being directed in a same direction as a display of the mobile device, the image comprising one or more subjects (e.g. users or other humans seen in the image); determining a point of regard in the image for at least one of the one or more subjects, the point of regard being indicative of an area on the display at which a gaze of the corresponding subject is directed; determining, based on the point of regard, an instruction for controlling the display; and controlling the display according to the instruction, wherein controlling the display includes reducing visibility of at least one portion of what is displayed on the display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of directing calls on a mobile communication device comprises receiving a call signal at the mobile communication device from a short-range enabled communication device operably connected with the mobile communication device, accessing subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, preparing an outgoing call signal using the accessed subscriber identity module data of the short-range enabled communication device, establishing a communication session between the short-range enabled communication device and a network, and transmitting the outgoing call signal to the network.

Abstract: A communication system may include a plurality of conferencing endpoints at different locations and capable of being coupled to a telecommunication network, a respective near field communication (NFC) device associated with each conferencing endpoint, and a plurality of electronic devices. Each electronic device may be configured to register at one of the conferencing endpoints for a teleconference between the plurality of conferencing endpoints based upon communication with a respective NFC device associated with the one of the conferencing endpoints. At least one of the electronic devices may be further configured to provide a notification based upon a security level associated with another electronic device being registered for the teleconference.

Abstract: A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plurality of NFC devices each including an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol, and a processor coupled to the NFC circuit. The processor may be configured to synchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal, cycle power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal, and initiate peer-to-peer NFC communications with another one of the plurality of NFC devices when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith.

Abstract: A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented mapping method comprises determining a fixed reference point, displaying a static-scale map on a display screen of a computing device such that the map always includes the fixed reference point, and displaying a graphical discontinuity indicator on the map to represent a discontinuity in the map, the graphical discontinuity indicator dividing the map into a first map area surrounding the fixed reference point and a second map area that is geographically spaced apart from the first map area.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a hinge assembly comprising an axle, the hinge assembly coupling a first mating end of a first housing to a second mating end of a second housing, the second housing being movable relative to the first housing from an open position in which the axle is in a first position near to the first mating end and the second mating end and a folded position in which the axle is in a second position spaced from the first mating end and the second mating end such that the first mating end and the second mating end are movable toward one another to move the portable electronic device to a partially open position for clipping to an object; and a processor in electrical communication with electrical components in one of the first housing and the second housing.

Abstract: A method of capturing information from an application at a portable electronic device includes receiving an OS-level screen-capture trigger from a user interface of the portable electronic device, and in response to the OS-level screen-capture trigger, reporting to an active application running on the portable electronic device a virtual resolution higher than a native resolution available on a display of the portable electronic device receiving high-resolution content from the active application formatted by the active application based on the virtual resolution, storing the high-resolution content at the portable electronic device, and, reporting the native resolution to the active application.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a two-part jack socket for a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device having the same. In accordance with one example embodiment, the jack socket includes a first part having a contact surface; a second part having a contact surface and being moveable with respect to the first part between a first position and a second position, the contact surfaces of the first part and second part defining a cavity, the cavity having a retracted state when the second part is in the first position and an expanded state for receiving a jack plug when the second part is in the second position; and one or more contacts located in the contact surface of the first part or second part.

Abstract: A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid.