Abstract: Techniques for authentication for key access are described. In the described techniques, interaction between a client device and an assistant device is utilized to authenticate the client device for access to protected functionality and/or content. For instance, proximity between the client device and the assistant device, and physical authentication of a user with the assistant device, are leveraged for authenticating the client device for access to the protected functionality and/or content.

Abstract: Techniques for authentication for device access are described. In the described techniques, interaction between a client device and an assistant device is utilized to authenticate the client device for access to protected functionality and/or content. For instance, proximity between the client device and the assistant device, and physical authentication of a user with the assistant device, are leveraged for authenticating the client device for access to the protected functionality and/or content.

Abstract: A portable electronic device provides adaptive vibration noise reduction by generating a user alert vibration that is one of a first magnitude and a second magnitude, with the first magnitude being greater than the second magnitude. The portable device is configured to alert the user by providing a first magnitude alert vibration except when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low, and to provide a second magnitude alert vibration when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low.

Abstract: Content visibility on a computing device is controlled based at least in part on the proximity of a wearable device to the computing device. When the wearable device is in close proximity to the computing device and the computing device is unlocked, the computing device operates in a full content visibility mode. In the full content visibility mode all user-selectable content on the computing device is displayed. When the wearable device is not in close proximity to the computing device and the computing device is unlocked, the computing device operates in a reduced content visibility mode. In the reduced content visibility mode content visibility on the computing device screen is reduced, such as by limiting which applications (e.g., application icons or widgets) are displayed.

Abstract: Content visibility on a computing device is controlled based at least in part on the current location of the computing device. When the current location is a safe location for making user-selectable content visible on a display screen of the computing device and the computing device is unlocked, the computing device operates in a full content visibility mode. In the full content visibility mode all user-selectable content on the computing device is accessible to a user of the computing device. When the current location is not a safe location for making user-selectable content visible on the display screen, the computing device operates in a reduced content visibility mode. In the reduced content visibility mode content visibility on the display screen is reduced, such as by limiting which applications (e.g., application icons or widgets) are displayed or otherwise accessible to the user.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a user interface device and a wireless transceiver that scans for a wearable device within a threshold distance of the electronic device. The wearable device has an access key. A memory of the electronic device contains: (i) an access data structure; (ii) protected content; and (iii) an access application. A controller of the electronic device is communicatively coupled to the user interface device, the wireless receiver, and the memory. The controller executes the access application to enable the electronic device to determine whether the access key of a detected wearable device maps to a record in the access data structure identifying privileges associated with the protected content of the electronic device. Privileged interaction is enabled, via the user interface device, with the protected content in response to determining that the access key maps to the record having the privileges.

Abstract: A wearable device enables access to VPN endpoint devices for secure data communication and privacy for a computing device. The wearable device stores VPN configuration information for a user, which includes the user's VPN credentials for each of one or more remote VPN endpoint devices. When the wearable device is in close proximity to a computing device and is being worn by a user that is authenticated to at least one of the wearable device and the computing device, the wearable device communicates the configuration information to the computing device. The computing device can then use this VPN configuration information to establish a VPN connection to a VPN endpoint device.

Abstract: A computing device supports the use of multiple different authenticators for a user to unlock his or her computing device and access his or her user account. An authenticator refers to something that the user knows or has that can be compared to known authentication data in order to authenticate the user. In one or more embodiments, the behavior of the computing device varies for different authenticators by displaying user-selectable content in different visibility modes based on which authenticator is used to authenticate the user. In one content visibility mode content is fully visible on the computing device display screen, whereas in another content visibility mode content visibility on the computing device display screen is reduced. Additionally or alternatively, the behavior of the computing device varies for different authenticators by using different authenticators for different contexts of the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a self-aligning user interface in a mobile electronic communications device having a touch sensitive surface include detecting a finger touch on the touch sensitive surface and determining an angular orientation of the touching finger in a continuous angular coordinate system. A user input orientation is assigned to the touch sensitive surface such that it matches the angular orientation of the touching finger. When a finger gesture is detected on the touch sensitive surface, it is then interpreted by reference to the assigned user input orientation.

Abstract: An electronic device, method, and computer program product provide an asynchronous quick connection or reconnection between wireless connecting devices for low-latency transitions in presentation of content to a user. A first device transmits an out-of-band frame sync signal to a second device to prompt the second device to synchronize clocks with the first device and to one of: (i) connect; and (ii) reconnect an over-the-air (OTA) communication session with the first device. First and second devices establish the OTA communication session. The establishment is expedited by the out-of-band frame sync signal. First device transmits output data, via the in-band OTA session, by the first device to the second device to present the output data on a second user output device of the second device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more sensors to determine when the device is in use (e.g., being held or worn by the user) and when the device is not in use (e.g., is in a pocket or purse). Examples of such sensors include a capacitive sensor, a thermal sensor, a light sensor, etc. The device can be placed in a mount that allows the device to be more easily worn by the user. The mount extends the capabilities of the sensors on the device so that the sensors on the device can sense information through (or notwithstanding) the mount. The mount also optionally changes the viewpoints of one or more of the sensors, such as by re-directing a sensor that points to the side of the device so that rather than sensing information at the side of the mount information at the bottom of the mount is sensed.

Abstract: An electronic device, method, and computer program product provide smart audio path routing to a remote audio system. A controller of an electronic device determines whether a configuration setting indicates that primary audio content is to be transmitted to a remote audio system. In response to the configuration setting indicating the primary audio is to be transmitted to the remote audio system, the controller transmits test audio content to the remote audio system. The controller listens, via a microphone of the electronic device, for the test audio content within audio output from the remote audio system. In response to not detecting the test audio content from the remote audio system, the controller enables playing of the primary audio content on speaker(s) of the electronic device. In response to detecting the test audio content, the controller transmits the primary audio content to be outputted by the remote audio system.

Abstract: An electronic device, method, and computer program product provide smart audio path routing to a remote audio system. A controller of an electronic device determines whether a configuration setting indicates that primary audio content is to be transmitted to a remote audio system. In response to the configuration setting indicating the primary audio is to be transmitted to the remote audio system, the controller transmits test audio content to the remote audio system. The controller listens, via a microphone of the electronic device, for the test audio content within audio output from the remote audio system. In response to not detecting the test audio content from the remote audio system, the controller enables playing of the primary audio content on speaker(s) of the electronic device. In response to detecting the test audio content, the controller transmits the primary audio content to be outputted by the remote audio system.

Abstract: This document describes techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) for implementing sensor-based near-field communication (NFC) authentication. These techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) enable a computing device (102) to detect, in a low-power state, environmental variances indicating proximity with an NFC-enabled device (104) with which to authenticate. In some embodiments, various components of a computing device (102) in a sleep state are activated to process environmental variance(s), perform authentication operations, and/or an indicate initiation of authentication operations to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating presence and gesture detection thermal sensors in a mobile electronic communications device entail sensing an ambient temperature and designating the sensed ambient temperature as room temperature, and determining that a user appendage has touched, or is close to but not touching, the thermal sensor. If the user appendage has touched a lens of the thermal sensor, a sensed temperature just prior to that event is used as hand temperature. If the user appendage is close to but not touching the lens of the thermal sensor, the temperature during that event is used as hand temperature. A difference between the hand temperature and the room temperature is then determined and the presence and gesture detection functions for the device are calibrated based on the determined difference.

Abstract: This document describes techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) for implementing sensor-based near-field communication (NFC) authentication. These techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) enable a computing device (102) to detect, in a low-power state, environmental variances indicating proximity with an NFC-enabled device (104) with which to authenticate. In some embodiments, various components of a computing device (102) in a sleep state are activated to process environmental variance(s), perform authentication operations, and/or an indicate initiation of authentication operations to a user.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a housing having therein at least one single-axis vibrator. A processor within the device is linked to the single-axis vibrator and in an embodiment is configured to drive the single-axis vibrator to provide an alert based on an orientation of the device, an ambient noise level at the device, and the vibrator noise level caused by the single-axis vibrator.

Abstract: A portable electronic device provides adaptive vibration noise reduction by generating a user alert vibration that is one of a first magnitude and a second magnitude, with the first magnitude being greater than the second magnitude. The portable device is configured to alert the user by providing a first magnitude alert vibration except when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low, and to provide a second magnitude alert vibration when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low.

Abstract: A method in an electronic device having one or more processors operable a fingerprint sensor and one or more other sensors includes detecting, with a fingerprint sensor, false fingerprint data. After detecting the false fingerprint data, the method determines whether the electronic device is disposed within a pocket. Where the electronic device is disposed within the pocket, the method transitions the fingerprint sensor from an active mode to a low power or sleep mode.

Abstract: This document describes techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) for implementing low-power near-field communication (NFC) authentication. These techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) enable a computing device (102) to detect, in a low-power state, an NFC-enabled device (104) with which to authenticate via NFC. In some embodiments, various components of a computing device (102) in a sleep state are activated to perform authentication and/or an indication is provided to a user indicating an initiation of the authentication.