Abstract: An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to said envoy device, said envoy device comprising a data store, a processor; a first communication device configured to communicate with said further device that is located close enough to said envoy device to establish a first communication link; and at least one further communication device configured to communicate with said further device using at least one further communication link; said envoy device being configured to respond to detecting said further device close enough to said envoy device to establish said first communication link to: establish communication with said further device using said first communication link; receive information from said further device regarding said at least one further communication link that said further device is capable of communicating via and communicating at least one access key for connecting said further device and said first envoy device via said at least one further communication

Abstract: Techniques for controlling the provision of data to a requester use a local device communicating with a personal computing device. The personal computing device has an authorized state and an unauthorized state. If the personal computing device is proximal to the local device when the local device receives the request for data from the requester, then the personal computing device uses permission data it stores to determine whether the request is or is not a permitted request. If the request is a permitted request, then the personal computing device sends a message to a token issuing device to issue a token request to the requester. The requester then uses this token to access a third party device holding the data to which it seeks access.

Abstract: A system for automatically ascertaining the location of wireless functional devices, such as lights and switches, in a building. Information from the devices is generated by receipt of electromagnetic signals from other devices, to calculate a best fit for the relative location of the devices in relation to each other. Preferably a map of the building is adduced to refine the location process, for instance by tying the location of a light switch to a wall or a light to a ceiling. The information is used to ascertain that, for example, two devices are in the same room and can be associated with each other. Account can be taken of variable features of the building such as partition walls, to update device settings. There is thus no need to survey the building manually.

Abstract: Proximity of a wearable processing device to a data processing apparatus is detected based on wireless signals received by the data processing apparatus from the wearable processing device. A user input operation is detected which comprises a physical interaction with the data processing apparatus. In response to detecting the user input operation, at least one detection parameter is calibrated for the proximity detection. This provides a convenient technique for calibrating the proximity detection which does not require complicated operations from the user.

Abstract: A method of creating, at a permissions management resource, access permissions relating to a subject device for at least one data processing device, the method comprising: obtaining, at the permissions management resource, input data; generating, at the permissions management resource, at least one permission relating to accessing the subject device in response to the input data; transmitting, from the permissions management resource to the subject device and/or the at least one processing device, a communication comprising the at least one permission.

Abstract: A wrist-worn device clasp that secures a strap of the wrist-worn device. A first mechanical part of the wrist worn device interlocks with a second mechanical part by motion in a first plane in order to resist motion perpendicular to said first plane. The first mechanical part also inhibits a first securing part and a second securing part being separated by tension along the strap substantially perpendicular to the first plane when the first mechanical part and second mechanical part are engaged with each other. The first securing part and the second securing part inhibit separation of the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part by motion parallel to the first plane when they are engaged with each other by motion perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: An optical cable includes an optical core and an external sheath surrounding the optical core. The external sheath includes a first material having a first, higher fracture toughness and a second material having a second, lower fracture toughness. The first and second materials are arranged so that the second, lower fracture toughness material is accessible from outside the cable along at least one longitudinally extending area of the sheath outer surface. For accessing the optical core of the cable, a short longitudinal cut, namely, few centimetres, is made with a blade in the accessible second, lower fracture toughness material. Then, its cut edges are pulled apart by hand. The pulling force causes the lower fracture toughness material to fracture, thereby propagating the initial short cut longitudinally along the sheath through its whole thickness.

Abstract: A wrist worn device having a main body portion and a strap portion. The main body portion comprises a housing for housing a processor, communication circuitry, a screen and tin antenna. The strap portion comprises a strap for attaching the main body portion to a wrist. The housing comprises a central portion that supports the screen and edge portions arranged around the central portion, one of the portions comprising a non-conductive section on an outer surface of said wrist worn device facing away from said wrist when worn; wherein the antenna is supported within the housing in the one of the edge portions comprising the non-conductive section, such that there is an electromagnetic wave path from the antenna to the outer surface through at least a portion of the non-conductive section wherein a portion of the strip overlays the antenna and a portion of the non-conductive section at the outer surface, the portion of the snap comprising a non-conductive portion.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program without a first commercial, the recorded program recorded from a first program having the first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of obtaining location information of the first commercial in the first program responsive to a command to play back the recorded program; inserting a second commercial at a first location according to the location information of the first commercial; and playing back the recorded program with the inserted second commercial.

Abstract: An optical cable includes an optical core and sheath enclosing the optical core. The optical core includes a number of optical units having respective colors and being wound about a longitudinal axis of the cable. The sheath includes at least one non opaque longitudinal section through which a sequence of colors of the optical units is visible from outside the cable. The color sequence acts as an identifier for the cable. The cable may therefore be easily identified (e.g. amongst other cables laid down within the same duct) by a simple visual inspection of the cable's inner structure through the non opaque section(s) of its external sheath.

Abstract: A trusted device, such as a wristwatch, is provided with authentication circuitry, used to perform an authentication operation to switch the trusted device into an authenticated state. Retention monitoring circuitry monitors the physical possession of the trusted device by the user following the authentication operation and switches the trusted device out of an authenticated state if the trusted device does not remain in the physical possession of the user. While the trusted device remains in the physical possession of the user, communication triggering circuitry is used to detect a request to establish communication with a target device that is one of a plurality of different target devices and communication circuitry is used to communicate with that target device using an authenticated identity of the user.

Abstract: A trusted device, such as a wristwatch 2, is provided with authentication circuitry 26, used to perform an authentication operation to switch the trusted device into an authenticated state. Retention monitoring circuitry 32 monitors the physical possession of the trusted device by the user following the authentication operation and switches the trusted device out of an authenticated state if the trusted device does not remain in the physical possession of the user. While the trusted device remains in the physical possession of the user, communication triggering circuitry 38 is used to detect a request to establish communication with a target device that is one of a plurality of different target devices and communication circuitry 40 is used to communicate with that target device using an authenticated identity of the user.

Abstract: A data processing device 2 has a processor 4 which executes software directly from non-volatile memory 6, 8. The processor 4 has a runtime component 20 which dynamically maps software element identifiers specified by the software to corresponding software elements in memory 6, 8. Mapping information 22 is used to determine which software elements identifiers correspond to which software elements. This provides a level of indirection which can be used to make software updates more efficient, by updating only parts of the software while leaving old parts of the software as they are. Updated software elements can be stored to memory and the mapping information updated to point to the new elements, while existing mappings may be retained.

Abstract: An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to said envoy device, said envoy device comprising a data store, a processor; a first communication device configured to communicate with said further device that is located close enough to said envoy device to establish a first communication link; and at least one further communication device configured to communicate with said further device using at least one further communication link; said envoy device being configured to respond to detecting said further device close enough to said envoy device to establish said first communication link to: establish communication with said further device using said first communication link; receive information from said further device regarding said at least one further communication link that said further device is capable of communicating via and communicating at least one access key for connecting said further device and said first envoy device via said at least one further communication

Abstract: An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to the envoy device, the envoy device comprising: a first communication device configured to communicate with the further device that is located within a predetermined distance of the envoy device using a local short range communication link; at least one further communication device configured to communicate with the further device using at least one longer range communication link. The envoy device is configured to respond to detecting the further device within the predetermined distance of the envoy device to: establish communication with the further device using the local short range communication link; receive information from the further device regarding any further communication links that the further device has access to; transmit to the further device information regarding the at least one longer range communication link; and to commence a transaction with the further device using the local short range communication link.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program having a first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of if a date of playing back the recorded program is less than a date associated with the recorded program, playing back the recorded program including the first commercial; and if the date of playing back the recorded program is more than the associated date, replacing the first commercial in the recorded program with a second commercial and playing back the recorded program including the second commercial.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) 700 is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program without a first commercial, the recorded program recorded from a first program having the first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of obtaining location information of the first commercial in the first program responsive to a command to play back the recorded program; inserting a second commercial at a first location according to the location information of the first commercial; and playing back the recorded program with the inserted second commercial.