Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a request for access to a first system and obtaining a visual image including at least a first piece of information associated with the request. The visual image is associated with a first device and obtained using a second device. The method also includes determining if the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted, wherein determining if the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted includes implementing a visual recognition algorithm to process the at least first piece of information. Finally, the access to the first system is granted if it is determined that the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes recording a sequence of online activities of a first user. The online activities include online consumption of online content by the first user. The method includes constructing a path based on the sequence of online activities of the first user. The path includes a sequence of online activity points that each correspond to one of the online activities in the sequence of online activities of the first user, and the path enables a second user to experience personally for themselves at least an approximation of the sequence of online activities of the first user. The method includes communicating the path for traversal of a portion of the path by the second user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using a presence status to generate a list of possible contacts based on a partial entry of a contact address are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes obtaining at least a partial entry of a destination address that identifies a first destination to be accessed. The method also includes identifying a plurality of potential destinations that each includes the partial entry, and determining a presence status of each potential destination. Finally, the method also includes ordering the potential destinations based on the presence status of each potential destination.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method for editing a web page includes identifying a plurality of components that collectively form a programmatic representation of a first web page. At least one of the components has content that dynamically changes in response to data retrieved externally from the content. A second web page is generated. The second web page includes a plurality of parameters. Each parameter of the second web page corresponds to a respective one of the identified plurality of components. One or more modifications made to the plurality of parameters are interpreted. A programmatic representation of a third web page is generated, the generation based at least in part on the interpretation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying when a call to a callee has been initiated by a system. Once the call is identified as being initiated, status information associated with the callee is obtained. The status information is then displayed on the system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a method includes obtaining dialing information from an application that is an active application on a computing system. The dialing information is displayed on a display screen of the computing system. A least one phone number is identified using the dialing information. The method also includes automatically providing the at least one phone number to a dialing interface of a phone device. The phone device is associated with the computing system.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a location of a device relative to a reference, and identifying a first password from a plurality of passwords for use to unlock the device based on the location of the device relative to the reference. The plurality of passwords includes at least one complex password and at least one simple password. The method also includes prompting for input arranged to unlock the device, obtaining the input, and determining when the input matches the first password. When it is determined that the input matches the first password, the device is unlocked.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring activity in an environment, and storing a snippet of the monitored activity. Monitoring the activity in the environment includes operating a device arranged to capture the activity between approximately a first time and approximately a second time. The snippet has a particular duration that is arranged to end at approximately the second time. The method also includes storing the snippet in a storage module and determining when a request to provide the snippet is obtained from a party. If it is determined that the request to play the snippet is obtained, the method includes accessing the storage module to obtain the snippet and providing the snippet to the party if it is determined that the request to provide the snippet is obtained.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a request for access to a first system and obtaining a visual image including at least a first piece of information associated with the request. The visual image is associated with a first device and obtained using a second device. The method also includes determining if the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted, wherein determining if the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted includes implementing a visual recognition algorithm to process the at least first piece of information. Finally, the access to the first system is granted if it is determined that the at least first piece of information indicates that the access to the first system is to be granted.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, computer readable storage media with instructions that carry out methods, and methods of (a) coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression to form codewords, and (b) decoding a bitstream comprising the codewords. The coding combines a position identifying method to identify the relative position of clusters of consecutive non-zero-valued quantized transform coefficients, an amplitude event identifying method to identify amplitude events in the clusters of non-zero-valued quantized transform coefficients, and a coding method to code the position events, amplitude events, and signs of the amplitudes in the clusters. The coding method is particularly applicable to an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients where clusters are likely-to-occur.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a group identity for an audience associated with an event, accessing a plurality of announcements, identifying at least one announcement of the plurality of announcements based on the group identity, and providing the identified announcement to the audience at the event. The group identity is indicative of at least one characteristic of the audience. The plurality of announcements are processed to identify at least one announcement that approximately matches the group identity.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method for editing a web page includes identifying a plurality of components that collectively form a programmatic representation of a first web page. At least one of the components has content that dynamically changes in response to data retrieved externally from the content. A second web page is generated. The second web page includes a plurality of parameters. Each parameter of the second web page corresponds to a respective one of the identified plurality of components. One or more modifications made to the plurality of parameters are interpreted. A programmatic representation of a third web page is generated, the generation based at least in part on the interpretation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a location of a device relative to a reference, and identifying a first password from a plurality of passwords for use to unlock the device based on the location of the device relative to the reference. The plurality of passwords includes at least one complex password and at least one simple password. The method also includes prompting for input arranged to unlock the device, obtaining the input, and determining when the input matches the first password. When it is determined that the input matches the first password, the device is unlocked.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring activity in an environment, and storing a snippet of the monitored activity. Monitoring the activity in the environment includes operating a device arranged to capture the activity between approximately a first time and approximately a second time. The snippet has a particular duration that is arranged to end at approximately the second time;. The method also includes storing the snippet in a storage module and determining when a request to provide the snippet is obtained from a party. If it is determined that the request to play the snippet is obtained, the method includes accessing the storage module to obtain the snippet and providing the snippet to the party if it is determined that the request to provide the snippet is obtained.