Abstract: Automated maintenance of media content such as digital photographs and video in a pool is provided by an arrangement where the time interval that each piece of media content remains in the pool is tracked and modified by user-behavioral factors. This “virtual age” of the media content is depicted on a representative image displayed by a graphical user interface through the use of visual metaphors that simulate the physical characteristics of an object such as a printed photograph as it ages. As the virtual age of the content increases, visual metaphors including fading or yellowing, and physical deterioration such as tattering, creasing, and ripping are overlaid as effects onto the displayed image. Older content is displayed using other respective images which have increased fading or yellowing and greater physical deterioration until, in one example, an image appears to crumble to dust, at which point the associated media content is automatically deleted from the pool.

Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for determining locations of mobile devices. In particular, a set of regions is defined based upon the relative strength of signals received from one or more base stations within the region. Each region has associated location information (e.g., latitude and longitude). The location of a mobile device can be determined by analyzing the strength of received signals, identifying base stations and generating an ordered list of base stations based upon signal strength. The ordered list can be compared to the set of regions to determine the region in which the mobile device is located. The location information for the retrieved region can be used to estimate the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system to transmit multimedia data from a connected capture device is provided. The system includes a capture device wirelessly connected to a secure storage device, which authenticates and communicates with a second communication device. The connected capture device captures multimedia data and metadata and stores the multimedia data in an unprocessed format. The multimedia data and metadata are stored separately and are automatically transmitted to the secure storage device. The secure storage device is polled by the second communication device to retrieve the multimedia data and metadata matching criteria selected by a user of the second communication device. The second communication device receives the multimedia data and metadata and encodes the multimedia data and metadata based on a predefined format. Moreover, the second communication device infers additional metadata from the received multimedia data and metadata and encodes the additional metadata in the predefined format.

Abstract: A system, a method and computer-readable media for associating textual metadata with digital media. An item of digital media is identified, and an audio input describing the media is received. The audio input is converted into text. This text is stored as metadata associated with the identified item of digital media.

Abstract: An annotation is manually and/or automatically correlated with a location and selectively distributed to participants of an associated user network. Thus, network participants possessing a common bond can obtain “trusted” information regarding specific locations. This allows a network participant to locate resources such as friends, restaurants, hotels, and/or entertainment sites, etc. based on the annotations provided by other network participants for those locations. Network users can annotate locations with temporal information, text, audio/video, photos, and/or graphics, etc. The annotations can be provided to the network via mobile devices and/or via non-mobile devices. Annotation information can be entered before a user visits a location, while a user is visiting a particular location, and/or after a user has visited a location. Location coordinates can be automatically provided and/or manually entered. Annotations are correlated with locations and made selectively available to network participants.

Abstract: A unique system and method that facilitates group-based mobile communication around external feed content is provided. The system and method involve adding external feed content to content generated within a group. Both types of content can be viewed on the mobile devices of the group. Updates to the feed content can be obtained and communicated to the group. When multiple feeds are subscribed to by a group, one or more group members can display such feed content in a selective manner. For example, splinter groups can be formed off of the original group for members who wish to receive a subset of feeds (feed content) to assist them in focusing on a topic of interest. Group members can also employ display filters to restrict feed content displayed on their mobile devices. Users can also search for available feeds and form new groups around such content or join an existing group.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates dynamic group formation for social interaction and/or real-time sharing of content with the group is provided. A group formation system includes a user interface component that facilitates a user's entry of information and display of information regarding group formation. For example, the user interface component can be employed, for example, with a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a small, web based mobile or a wireless application protocol (WAP) client, and/or a regular web client. The system can further include a group formation component that forms a group based, at least in part, upon information received from a user via the interface component. The group configuration component can further store information regarding groups (e.g., a name/identifier, member(s), event(s) and/or shared context associated with the group) in a group information data store.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying media describe automatically processing metadata of each of a plurality of shared media objects to determine a display characteristic, and automatically displaying each of the plurality of shared media objects according to its display characteristic. A system for displaying media describes a media library to store a plurality of shared media objects and metadata of each of the plurality of shared media objects, a processor to automatically determine a display characteristic based on the metadata of each of the plurality of shared media objects, and a passive media display apparatus to automatically display each of the plurality of shared media objects according to its display characteristic. The display characteristic may be order, duration, frequency, transition, and effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and maintaining a shared browsing experience are disclosed. A method for establishing a shared browsing experience includes an inviter computer communicating to an invitee computer, via an online messenger communication path,an invitation to establish a co-browsing experience. The invitee computer communicates to the inviter computer, via the first communication path, an acceptance of the invitation. A co-browsing communication path is then established between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to the shared browsing experience is then communicated between the inviter and invitee computers via the co-browsing communication path.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically suggesting a cropped area of a digital image. An area of interest in an original image is determined. A design rule is applied to the area of interest to determine a suggested crop area of the original image. The suggested cropped area of the original image is presented to a user such that the suggested crop area may be resized, relocated, or accepted by the user. The cropped image may be presented to the user. Also, a computer-implemented method of automatically cropping a digital image. An area of interest in an original image is determined. A design rule is applied to the area of interest to determine a suggested crop area of the original image. The original image is cropped according to the suggested crop area. The cropped image is presented to a user or is stored. The design rule may be the Rule of Thirds or another, more sophisticated rule.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) view of a data collection based on an attribute is disclosed. A timeline is provided for displaying files and folders. The timeline may include a focal group that displays detailed information about its contents to the user. Remaining items on the timeline are displayed in less detail and may be positioned to appear further away from the user. A histogram may be provided as part of the view to allow the user to more easily navigate the timeline to find a desired file or folder.

Abstract: A method, system and medium suitable for rendering substantially instantaneously thumbnail data pre-cached in a volatile memory. The thumbnail data is rendered once an indicator or pointer is hovered over an icon that has associated thumbnail data stored in the volatile memory.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) view of a data collection based on an attribute is disclosed. A timeline is provided for displaying files and folders. The timeline may include a focal group that displays detailed information about its contents to the user. Remaining items on the timeline are displayed in less detail and may be positioned to appear further away from the user. A histogram may be provided as part of the view to allow the user to more easily navigate the timeline to find a desired file or folder.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for discovering printers and shares on a computer network. Each domain on the network is identified, and each computer in the domain is identified. In addition, each printer connected to the computer and each share on the computer is identified. Shortcuts to the identified printers and shares are created on at least one computer on the network. Moreover, drivers are preferably installed on the computer for each printer for which a shortcut was created. In the event that the total number of resources (i.e., shares and/or printers) exceeds a threshold, then the process terminates. Otherwise, the present invention continues until all printers and shares on the network are identified, and the appropriate shortcuts are created. Thus, the present invention provides methods and systems for discovering resources on a network.