Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically detecting the damage that has occurred to an item and assessing the repairs needed to restore the item are provided. A notice of loss associated with a damaged item may be received. An apparatus may analyze the damaged item to determine damage information for any damage elements present on the damaged item. The damage information may be transmitted to a damage estimate server to determine a line-item cost estimate for the damaged item based on expected costs of repair for the damaged elements. The line-item cost estimate may then be presented to a repair service provider as an offer to repair the damaged item.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically determining damage information and publishing said damage information are provided. A notice of loss associated with a damaged item may be received. An apparatus may analyze the damaged item to determine damage information for any damage elements present on the damaged item. The damage information may be transmitted to a damage estimate server to determine a line-item cost estimate for the damaged item based on expected costs of repair for the damaged elements. The line-item cost estimate may then be presented to a repair service provider as an offer to repair the damaged item. Further, a database comprising the damage information and/or line-item cost estimate may be published to a marketplace for use by service providers.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cell phone or a mobile device in a vehicle that includes a phone enhancer and a cradle to hold the cell phone in the vehicle, a keypad wirelessly connected to the phone enhancer, and a phone enhancer application installed and operated on the cell phone. The keypad includes a Bluetooth connection for wireless connection of the keypad to the phone enhancer. The keypad receives one or more keypad instructions that include one or more of the following: answer the cell phone, hang up the cell phone, pause and play music from the cell phone, adjust the volume of a phone call on the cell phone, adjust the volume of the music on the cell phone, and dial a phone number for a phone call on the cell phone. The phone enhancer application determines a driver of the vehicle when multiple users are in the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically determining damage information and publishing said damage information are provided. A notice of loss associated with a damaged item may be received. An apparatus may analyze the damaged item to determine damage information for any damage elements present on the damaged item. The damage information may be transmitted to a damage estimate server to determine a line-item cost estimate for the damaged item based on expected costs of repair for the damaged elements. The line-item cost estimate may then be presented to a repair service provider as an offer to repair the damaged item. Further, a database comprising the damage information and/or line-item cost estimate may be published to a marketplace for use by service providers.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cell phone in a vehicle that includes a cradle assembly to receive a cell phone or a mobile device and a speaker assembly removably connected to the cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle rotatably attached to the cradle base. The cradle rotates such that the cell phone is located in either a portrait configuration or a landscape configuration. The cradle includes a pair of cradle arms and a pair of grips to hold the cell phone. The speaker assembly includes a speaker housing and one or more speakers located within the speaker housing. The cradle base includes a cradle release button that when pressed, releases the cradle assembly from the speaker assembly. The cradle arms and the grips creates a twist-to-release securement system such that when a user twists the cell phone in the cradle, the cell phone is released from the phone holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cell phone or a mobile device in a vehicle that includes a cradle assembly configured to receive the cell phone or the mobile device and a speaker assembly. The cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle attached to the cradle base, wherein the cradle base includes a power charger adapter connection and a USB connector connection. The speaker assembly connects to the cradle assembly and includes one or more speakers, wherein the speaker assembly includes a Bluetooth connection for wireless connection of the one or more speakers to the cell phone.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cell phone or a mobile phone in a vehicle that includes a cradle to receive a cell phone or mobile device. The cradle includes a base plate, a latch button, and a latch mechanism. The apparatus also includes a triangular hold securement system connected to the cradle, wherein the triangular hold securement system includes a first grab post, a second grab post, and a third grab post. The first grab post and the second grab post are positioned to contact and engage on one of two long sides of the mobile device and the third grab post is positioned to contact and engage on the opposite long side of the mobile device. The three grab posts are connected by one or more arms and a linkage element which provides biasing forces to the grab posts to secure the mobile device to the cradle.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cell phone or a mobile phone in a vehicle that includes a cradle to receive a cell phone or mobile device. The cradle includes a base plate, a latch button, and a latch mechanism. The apparatus also includes a triangular hold securement system connected to the cradle, wherein the triangular hold securement system includes a first pair of dual grab posts, a second pair of dual grab posts, and a third grab post. The first pair of dual grab posts and the second pair of dual grab posts are positioned to contact and engage the corners along one of two long sides of the mobile device and the third grab post is positioned to contact and engage on the opposite long side of the mobile device.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing content information between members of a virtual user group without compromising the privacy of the members. A user can identify content information to be shared with other members of a virtual user group using a user computer system. The content information is then communicated to the other members of the virtual user group and can be accessed by members of the virtual user group in such a manner that the privacy of the user and of the other members of the virtual user group is not compromised. The present invention preserves user privacy by controlling and minimizing the amount of user-related information available/accessible to server systems hosting the virtual user groups.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing content information between members of a virtual user group without compromising the privacy of the members. A user can identify content information to be shared with other members of a virtual user group using a user computer system. The content information is then communicated to the other members of the virtual user group and can be accessed by members of the virtual user group in such a manner that the privacy of the user and of the other members of the virtual user group is not compromised. The present invention preserves user privacy by controlling and minimizing the amount of user-related information available/accessible to server systems hosting the virtual user groups.

Abstract: A method for creating personalized user profiles using a client computer. A client computer executes a method which monitors user activities and collects content and context information based on the monitored user activities. The client computer processes the content and context information to determine concepts of interest to the user and the user's level of interest in the concepts. Information related to the concepts and the user's interest level associated with the concepts is used to create a personalized profile for the user on the client computer.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying and accessing documents (e.g., web pages) of interest to a user in a network environment without compromising the user's privacy. A user system receives index information comprising information related to documents stored in a network environment. The index information is then used to identify and access documents of interest to the user. The identification of documents of interest to the user is performed on the user system thus obviating the need to provide any information to search engines executing on remote servers. The present invention preserves user privacy by controlling and minimizing the communication and collection of user-related information from the user system. Merely by way of example, the present invention allows users to identify and access web pages from web servers coupled to a communication network such as the Internet without compromising user privacy.

Abstract: A system and method for compressing or predicting data information received within an input stream, wherein contextual information is utilized in the selection of dictionaries for encoding or predicting of a next phrase within the information stream. The present invention utilizes contextual information in conjunction with dictionary-based Lempel-Ziv compression processes.