Abstract: A method for allowing multiple devices to communicate includes initiating a multi-media communication session between a first device and a second device, each of the first and second device having access to at least one additional device, identifying at least a portion of the multi-media communication session to direct to the at least one additional device, the first device obtaining a unique identifier of the at least one additional device and directing the identified at least a portion of the multi-media communication session to the at least one additional device.

Abstract: A method for prioritizing file delivery includes capturing content at a sending device, establishing a sending priority for the captured content, sending the captured content when at least one condition is true; and at a receiving device, receiving the captured content when the at least one condition is true.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a client device (CD) maintains a contact profile for a user of the CD, the contact profile including a universal identifier (UID) for the user and a list of devices and addresses at which the user of the CD can be contacted. The CD establishes a communication session with a remote CD (RCD) via a given contact address from the set of contact addresses for the RCD. The CD shares, in response to the communication session establishment, at least a portion of the contact profile to the RCD. The RCD generates and/or updates a given contact profile for the user of the CD that is maintained on the RCD based on the shared contact profile. The RCD can also share its profile with the CD in response to the communication session establishment, causing the CD to generate and/or update a contact profile for the RCD.

Abstract: Aspects for enhancing call control for directing a content path over multiple connections may include a method which includes establishing a first connection to a destination to use as a content path, receiving information from the destination for establishing an alternative connection, establishing as the alternative connection a background connection to the destination based on the information received, evaluating whether the background connection is preferable to the first connection for use as the content path, and switching the content path to the background connection when the background connection is preferable.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) bidder negotiates with a VoIP provider and/or a VoIP access network to establish the VoIP provider as a preferred or default VoIP provider for the VoIP access network (e.g., a set of particular WiFi APs, a non-roaming cellular access network, etc.). As the preferred or default VoIP provider, the VoIP access network gives preferential performance and/or contract terms (or VoIP opportunities) for providing VoIP service to user equipments (UEs) via the VoIP provider as compared to one or more other VoIP providers that are also configured to provide VoIP service to the UEs over the VoIP access network. In a further embodiment, one of the UEs connects to the VoIP access network and advertises, to a user of the UE, the preferential performance and/or contract terms available to the UE via the VoIP provider over the VoIP access network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device that receives an optical signal having an authorization code that allows the device to utilize an access point to obtain access to the Internet and other networks. The device may include: a modem; a light sensor; and a processor. The light sensor may receive an optical signal from a light source. The processor may execute operations including: processing the received optical signal to identify an authorization code and to connect the device through the modem to the access point based upon the authorization code such that the device may obtain access to the Internet and other networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing carbon emission credits associated with a vehicle fueling at a fuel dispensing station. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request via a communications network for a vehicle fueling transaction at a fuel dispensing station; determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station; sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for a fuel amount dispensed by the fuel dispensing station; receiving the fuel amount from the store controller; receiving on-board diagnostics (OBD) data associated with the vehicle; calculating a carbon emission adjustment based on the OBD data; and determining an estimated carbon emissions amount associated with the vehicle fueling transaction by applying the carbon emission adjustment to a predetermined carbon emissions amount for the fuel amount.

Abstract: A mobile device uses sensor data related to the type of surface in contact with the mobile device to determine an action to perform. The sensors, by way of example, may be one or more of a microphone and noise generator, a light based proximity sensor, and pressure sensors, such as dielectric elastomers, configured to detect a texture of the surface, and/or pressure waves produced by setting the mobile device down or by a noise generator and reflected by the surface. The mobile device may identify the type of surface and perform the action based on the type of surface. The mobile device may further determine its location based on the sensor data and use that location to identify the action to be performed. The location may be determined using additional data, e.g., data not related to determining the type of surface with which the mobile device is in contact.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for providing relevant user information to devices within proximity of a user. A wireless identity transmitter associated with the user periodically broadcasts messages that include obscured identifiers. A proximate proximity broadcast receiver may receive and relay the broadcast messages to a central server which may process the included information. Based on categories related to the proximity broadcast receiver and the user, the central server may identify subsets of stored profile information about the user that are relevant to the proximity broadcast receiver. The central server may transmit relevant profile information to devices to assist in activities associated with the proximity broadcast receiver. In an embodiment, the central server may only transit relevant profile information that is authorized by the user via permissions associated with the profile.

Abstract: A personal hub for managing notifications across mobile devices and for separating the notification from the content. By separately managing the manner of notification provided to the user from its associated content, the personal hub may give a user more control over a number of mobile devices by allowing the user to escalate or dismiss different notifications across one or more mobile devices. Notifications may be managed based on device settings, priority settings, privilege settings, urgency flags, and/or other factors. In an embodiment, the user may receive an unobtrusive user-perceptible notification of an incoming communication from a personal hub that is less obtrusive than notifications which may be generated by the mobile device receiving the incoming communication.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for uploading files to a social media website, including receiving in a computing device a user input identifying files for upload to a social media website, selecting one or more files representative of the selected files, uploading the representative files to a social media website server, receiving in the computing device from the social media website server a request for upload of files similar to identified particular representative files, and uploading the additional files that are similar to the identified particular representative files. The social media website server may determine the popularity of files based on user interactions with the files, and request additional files similar to the particular uploaded files when the interactions exceed a popularity threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for uploading files to a social media website, including reformatting the selected files to reduce the amount of bandwidth required in the upload, uploading the reformatted files to a social media website server, receiving an indication of the popularity of certain identified files, and uploading from to the server the identified popular files in full or larger format. The social media website server may determine the popularity of files based on user interactions with the files, and request greater resolution versions of the files when the interactions exceed a popularity threshold.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and dealing with a lost electronics device are disclosed. In one design, the device may autonomously determine whether it is lost. The device may destroy at least one component to render it inoperable and may perform other actions in response to determining that it is lost. In another design, the device may determine available battery power of the device upon determining that it is lost, select at least one action in a list of possible actions based on the available battery power, and perform the selected action(s). In yet another design, upon determining that it is lost, the device may prevent access to information on the device based on a secondary security key, which is not used for encrypting information during normal operation. In yet another design, the device may notify at least one contact and may perform at least one additional action upon determining that it is lost.

Abstract: A method and system for completing a purchase transaction includes receiving the non-confidential number to effect a purchase transaction from a caller identifier and requesting that a value account associated with the non-confidential number be debited, wherein the debit amount is associated with the purchase transaction. A request for authorization is transmitted to an operator of at least one of portable computing device and a landline phone, wherein the request seeks authorization to debit the value account. The at least one value account may comprise a credit account in which the telephone number may form part of the primary account number (PAN) governed by the ISO/IEC 7812 card number standard.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method for leveraging a payment token comprising a non-confidential number (i.e., “cellcard number”), such as a phone number associated with a user's portable computing device (“PCD”), to effect purchase transactions against one of possibly a plurality of value accounts associated with the non-confidential number comprises presenting a cellcard number for purchase of goods, requesting that a value account associated with the cellcard number be debited and, before debiting the value account and completing the purchase transaction, transmitting a request for authorization of the transaction to the user's PCD.