Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device.

Abstract: In embodiments of restricted execution modes, a mobile device can display a device lock screen on an integrated display device, and transition from the device lock screen to display a shared space user interface of a shared space. The transition to display the shared space user interface is without receiving a PIN code entered on the device lock screen. The mobile device implements a restricted execution service that is implemented to activate a restricted execution mode of the mobile device, and restrict access of a device application to device content while the restricted execution mode is activated. The restricted execution service can also allow a shared device application that is included in the shared space access to the device content while the restricted execution mode is activated.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device.

Abstract: Mobile device emergency service techniques are described. In embodiments, a client device includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to implement an emergency service. The emergency service configured to support operations including generating a user interface for display on a display device, receiving one or more inputs usable to form an emergency contacts list that includes a plurality of emergency contacts, and causing the emergency contacts list to be communicated to one or more other client devices for use in generating a message to be communicated automatically and without user intervention to the emergency contacts in the emergency contacts list responsive to a trigger.

Abstract: In embodiments of restricted execution modes, a mobile device can display a device lock screen on an integrated display device, and transition from the device lock screen to display a shared space user interface of a shared space. The transition to display the shared space user interface is without receiving a PIN code entered on the device lock screen. The mobile device implements a restricted execution service that is implemented to activate a restricted execution mode of the mobile device, and restrict access of a device application to device content while the restricted execution mode is activated. The restricted execution service can also allow a shared device application that is included in the shared space access to the device content while the restricted execution mode is activated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a variable flash to improve image detection. One example apparatus includes a digital camera and a variable flash configured to be controllable to operate at different selected illumination levels. The apparatus may be configured to identify a current imaging condition associated with the digital camera and to then determine a lux setting for the variable flash as a function of the current imaging condition. The flash may then be controlled as a function of the lux setting for subsequent image acquisition. The acquisition, analysis, and flash control may be exercised until a desired illumination is achieved. In one embodiment, determining the current imaging condition may include analyzing a frame acquired from the digital camera for attributes including image brightness, and edge detectability. In one embodiment, input from a light sensor may also be considered.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a variable flash to improve image detection. One example apparatus includes a digital camera and a variable flash configured to be controllable to operate at different selected illumination levels. The apparatus may be configured to identify a current imaging condition associated with the digital camera and to then determine a lux setting for the variable flash as a function of the current imaging condition. The flash may then be controlled as a function of the lux setting for subsequent image acquisition. The acquisition, analysis, and flash control may be exercised until a desired illumination is achieved. In one embodiment, determining the current imaging condition may include analyzing a frame acquired from the digital camera for attributes including image brightness, and edge detectability. In one embodiment, input from a light sensor may also be considered.

Abstract: Mobile device emergency service techniques are described. In embodiments, a client device includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to implement an emergency service. The emergency service configured to support operations including generating a user interface for display on a display device, receiving one or more inputs usable to form an emergency contacts list that includes a plurality of emergency contacts, and causing the emergency contacts list to be communicated to one or more other client devices for use in generating a message to be communicated automatically and without user intervention to the emergency contacts in the emergency contacts list responsive to a trigger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for performing a transaction involving a mobile communication device. The method includes receiving at a terminal a transaction request from the mobile communication device over a short-range communication link. An authorization request is sent to an authorizing agent requesting approval to complete the transaction in response to receipt of the transaction request. Approval to complete the transaction is received if the mobile communication device has been determined to be located within a predetermined distance of the terminal. The transaction with the mobile communication device is only completed after receiving the approval.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device.

Abstract: Proximity-based detection is described. In one or more implementations, an identifier is received wirelessly by a computing device from another computing device that is directly communicated from the other computing device such that the identifier is not communicated via an intermediary device. The other computing device is identified by comparing the identifier to one or more identifiers stored locally by the computing device. A notification is output for display that indicates the other computing device is within a predefined proximity to the computing device and that identifies the other computing device using data associated with the identifier that is stored locally by the computing device.

Abstract: A computing device has two or more software stacks, each stack simultaneously running a different operating system. Only one enabled operating system at a time has control of hardware resources of the computing device. Each disabled operating system has its device drivers disabled. The drivers may be disabled by stopping device driver messages to devices at a firmware layer unassociated with any operating system. The drivers may be disabled by having their associated operating system dynamically unload them when the operating system is disabled. In some instances, the drivers may be modified to include a “stop” control that tells the driver to stop communicating with its associated device, and a “resume” control that tells the driver to resume communication. When an operating system is disabled, the operating system may send a “stop” message to its device drivers. Drivers associated with messages passed between operating systems may remain enabled.

Abstract: A user interface having customizable text strings is described. In an implementation, a mobile communication device comprises one or more modules to provide an option to specify a target demographic for the mobile communication device. The option is configured such that a language, intended market, and at least one other characteristic of the target demographic may be specified. One or more text strings may then be obtained based on the target demographic that was specified to be output in a user interface on the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A computing device has two or more software stacks, each stack simultaneously running a different operating system. Only one enabled operating system at a time has control of hardware resources of the computing device. Each disabled operating system has its device drivers disabled. The drivers may be disabled by stopping device driver messages to devices at a firmware layer unassociated with any operating system. The drivers may be disabled by having their associated operating system dynamically unload them when the operating system is disabled. In some instances, the drivers may be modified to include a “stop” control that tells the driver to stop communicating with its associated device, and a “resume” control that tells the driver to resume communication. When an operating system is disabled, the operating system may send a “stop” message to its device drivers. Drivers associated with messages passed between operating systems may remain enabled.

Abstract: In an interactive media environment, a model is provided where applications, each comprising zero or more script components and zero or more markup components, are themselves handled as visual elements having a Z order. A resource-efficient rendering order is provided where the application that has focus in an interactive media environment (by virtue of its receipt of user events) is rendered first. The remaining applications are rendered in top down order, i.e., in reverse Z order. Rendering is performed by drawing into one or more graphics buffers associated with respective applications. Frames for applications are composited from the graphics buffers bottoms up, in Z order, to provide the display with the correct appearance.