Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a first wireless device to select a wireless network connection to a second wireless device. The wireless network may be a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a Wi-Fi network. To make its selection, the first wireless device detects a beacon signal transmitted from the second wireless device. The beacon signal including a media access control (MAC) address. The first device then applies a set of programmable rules to at least a portion of the MAC address, and selects the second wireless device based on the application of the rules. The rules may also/alternatively be applied to parameters, for example, sensory inputs, such as time and date, temperature, light intensity or user actions (e.g., screen swipes, button pushes), that are immediate or recorded in a database, whereby certain patterns are matched in order to make the selection.

Abstract: A graph access device and block access device can simultaneously access a memory pool shared between the devices. The memory pool may include one or more memory arrays accessed as a single logical memory. The block access device accesses the memory pool as a flat array of memory blocks, and the graph access device accesses the memory pool as hierarchical file system. The simultaneous access is accomplished by monitoring one or more memory block access operations performed by the block access device, while it is accessing the memory pool. The block access operations are translated into a graph data structure including a plurality of pointers mapping the memory pool to the hierarchical file system. A processor regulates access to the memory pool, and is configured to permit the graph access device to access the memory pool concurrently with the block access device, in accordance with the graph data structure.

Abstract: A graph access device and block access device can simultaneously access a memory pool shared between the devices. The memory pool may include one or more memory arrays accessed as a single logical memory. The block access device accesses the memory pool as a flat array of memory blocks, and the graph access device accesses the memory pool as hierarchical file system. The simultaneous access is accomplished by monitoring one or more memory block access operations performed by the block access device, while it is accessing the memory pool. The block access operations are translated into a graph data structure including a plurality of pointers mapping the memory pool to the hierarchical file system. A processor regulates access to the memory pool, and is configured to permit the graph access device to access the memory pool concurrently with the block access device, in accordance with the graph data structure.

Abstract: A graph access device and block access device can simultaneously access a memory pool shared between the devices. The memory pool may include one or more memory arrays accessed as a single logical memory. The block access device accesses the memory pool as a flat array of memory blocks, and the graph access device accesses the memory pool as hierarchical file system. The simultaneous access is accomplished by monitoring one or more memory block access operations performed by the block access device, while it is accessing the memory pool. The block access operations are translated into a graph data structure including a plurality of pointers mapping the memory pool to the hierarchical file system. A processor regulates access to the memory pool, and is configured to permit the graph access device to access the memory pool concurrently with the block access device, in accordance with the graph data structure.

Abstract: A portable communication device (100) includes at least one sensing circuit (101) and a processor (104), and operates in accordance with a corresponding method of operation. The sensing circuit detects (205) either a characteristic of an external environment containing the portable communication device (e.g., a chemical in the air or acceleration of the device) or a characteristic of the portable communication device user (e.g., heart rate or blood sugar content), and generates a signal (207) representative of a feature of the sensed characteristic. The processor receives the signal and initiates an event based at least on the feature of the sensed characteristic as represented by the signal. Events include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: alerting the device user, transmitting a signal (e.g., an emergency call) to a remote communication device, re-sensing the characteristic or sensing another characteristic, and modifying a setting or profile of the device.

Abstract: A system for distributing electronic coupons includes plural wireless mobile terminals, such as cellular phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), a customer profile database, and a server capable of accessing the customer profile database and communicating with the wireless mobile terminals over a wireless network. The database stores customer profiles for each of the wireless mobile terminals. The profiles include customer data, such as customer preferences and the current location of each wireless terminal. The server selectively transfers one or more electronic coupons to at least one of the wireless mobile terminals based on a comparison between the customer profiles and seller filtering criteria. A seller interface permits sellers to enter the seller filtering criteria. The filtering criteria can include the physical location of the seller so that coupons are sent only to those wireless terminals at or near the seller's location.

Abstract: A portable communication device (100) includes at least one sensing circuit (101) and a processor (104), and operates in accordance with a corresponding method of operation. The sensing circuit detects (205) either a characteristic of an external environment containing the portable communication device (e.g., a chemical in the air or acceleration of the device) or a characteristic of the portable communication device user (e.g., heart rate or blood sugar content), and generates a signal (207) representative of a feature of the sensed characteristic. The processor receives the signal and initiates an event based at least on the feature of the sensed characteristic as represented by the signal. Events include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: alerting the device user, transmitting a signal (e.g., an emergency call) to a remote communication device, re-sensing the characteristic or sensing another characteristic, and modifying a setting or profile of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synthesizing an image from a plurality of video streams. The method includes the steps of determining an orientation of a first and second video source of the plurality of video streams with respect to a video object lying within a field of view of both the first and second video sources and selecting an orientation of a synthesized video source with respect to the video object. The method further includes the step of interpolating among corresponding images of the first and second video sources to form a stream of perspective images of the video object from the selected orientation of the synthesized source.

Abstract: Multimedia messages, including video, audio, text, and alarms, are presented on an electronic device (102) in response to an electronic device arriving at a particular location. These location dependent communications are created by a user of an electronic device and stored in the electronic device or a communication system (100) associated with the electronic device. The parameters associated with the location dependent communication include a location (300), the form and content of the location dependent communication (302), a device associated with the location (306), a device for receiving the location dependent communication (304), and other options (308), such as a time, a temperature, a speed, or a profile. The location dependent communication is presented on an electronic device when a device associated with the location dependent communication reaches the particular location (402. 404).

Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment, a processing apparatus is provided. The processing apparatus (10) includes a register (12) including a first and a second programming instruction, a first processing unit (16) responsive to the first programming instruction, and a second processing unit (22) responsive to the second programming instruction. The second processing unit (22) includes a logarithm based processor having at least one digital logarithm converter (80), a digital logic device (82), and a digital inverse logarithm converter (84). In other embodiments, the processing apparatus (10) is incorporated into a communication device (100) and a video system (300).

Abstract: A method for determining an orientation of an object includes determining a plurality of boundary values defining a predetermined range of movement of the object; dividing the range into position segments using the plurality of boundary values; moving a movable portion of the object to a current position; determining a change in object position by comparing a prior object position to the current position; determining the number of position segments corresponding to the change of the object position; outputting a signal corresponding to the number of segments to a control device; determining a scaling value for any or all of the position segments corresponding to a desired position amplification or position attenuation scheme; and controlling movement of a selected image or device based on the amplification or attenuation scheme such that movement of the moveable portion of the object causes disporportional movement of the image or device.

Abstract: A device used for measuring the orientation of a human head about one or two axes and converting that information into an electrical signal in the analog or digital domain includes a headset and includes one or two electromechanical orientation sensors which provide an electrical signal that corresponds to the orientation of the head without any reference to an off-of-the body reference. The orientation sensor includes a signal generating device, such as a variable resistor, coupled to the torso of the user via a mechanical linkage. As the head moves, the linkage moves and changes the resistance of the variable resistor. The change in resistance corresponds to the orientation of the head. One orientation sensor is used to measure the horizontal, or lateral angle, of the head with respect to the torso, or shoulder blades. Two orientation sensors mounted on each side of the head measure both the lateral and vertical angles of the head with respect to the torso, or shoulder blades.