Abstract: Collage making apparatus for assisting in the production of a collage by duplication apparatus may comprise a layout area contained within the collage making apparatus. The layout area accommodates at least one object that is to be contained in the collage. The collage making apparatus is convertible between a layout mode and a duplication mode. During the layout mode, the layout area is observable by a user so that the user may observe an arrangement of the at least one object within the layout area. During the duplication mode, the layout area is reproducible by the duplication apparatus so that the duplication apparatus produces a copy of the arrangement of the at least one object within the layout area.

Abstract: Systems for providing information to a user are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes an identification device. The identification device incorporates a locator and a transmitter. The locator is configured to facilitate determining a location of the identification device so that information corresponding to a user of the identification device and information associated with the location of the identification device can be transmitted via the transmitter to a services system. In response to the information provided by the identification device, the services system can provide information to the user via the first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of the identification device. Image-capturing devices also are provided.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the appliance comprises capturing a plurality of image data, grouping the image data into a group, receiving new image data, and attaching the new image data to the group such that the group comprises the plurality of image data and the new image data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for personalizing an electrical device. In one arrangement, the system comprises an electrical device having a plurality of button openings that are adapted to receive buttons that control operation of the electrical device, and a plurality of removable buttons that can be interchangeably disposed within the button openings of the electrical device, the buttons being provided with a variety of discrete features so as to be selectable by a user for provision on the electrical device in an arrangement chosen by the user to personalize the device as desired by the user.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the capturing and viewing appliance comprises displaying a page on a display, the page corresponding to one of a plurality of image data, the plurality of image data each being contiguous members of a group; displaying a flipping animation on the display in response to operating a navigation button; and displaying a new page on the display upon conclusion of the display of the flipping animation, the new page corresponding to another one of the plurality of image data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for conserving power in a battery-powered electronic appliance having a communications interface including receive mode circuitry and a battery that supplies power to the receive mode circuitry when the receive mode circuitry is enabled. Upon power up of the appliance, the communications interface is initialized, and the receive mode circuitry is enabled to operate in a receive mode. A predetermined enable time is then timed. When the predetermined enable time expires, the receive mode circuitry is disabled.

Abstract: Systems for providing information to a user are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes an identification device. The identification device incorporates a locator and a transmitter. The locator is configured to facilitate determining a location of the identification device so that information corresponding to a user of the identification device and information associated with the location of the identification device can be transmitted via the transmitter to a services system. In response to the information provided by the identification device, the services system can provide information to the user via the first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of the identification device. Image-capturing devices also are provided.

Abstract: A method for allowing appliance-to-appliance communication transactions wherein an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances receives a connection request from a source appliance. A phonebook having a plurality of phonebook entries, and stored in the appliance communications manager, is then accessed. Each of the phonebook entries includes a destination appliance identifier and associated destination appliance communication information. A user of the source appliance is presented with a list having a plurality of the phonebook entries. The appliance communications manager receives the identity of a destination appliance selected from said list and, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link is established with the selected destination appliance. When a communication message is received from the source appliance, the communication message is sent to the selected destination appliance.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the capturing and viewing appliance comprises a photoelement array for acquiring at least a first image data and a second image data, a memory for saving said image data, a processor in communication with the memory, a display in communication with the processor for exhibiting one of the image data, and program code stored in the memory and executed by the processor for viewing one of the image data, the program code comprising a page view software module for viewing the image data on the display of the appliance, and for displaying an animated sequence on the display after ending display of the first image data and before displaying the second image data, wherein the animated sequence is the first image data sliding off the display.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.

Abstract: A method for automatically cropping, rotating, and scaling a scanned image to ensure that a printed copy of the scanned image is the same size as the original, when possible. The method attempts to honor the default or operator designated orientation of the printed image, but will automatically rotate the image if that will eliminate unnecessary image reduction. Optimal orientation and scaling factors are automatically determined based on the target page size and the size and shape of the information of interest in the original image (not the boundaries of the original document). The operator selects a desired printed orientation (or accepts a default orientation) and selects a desired printed paper size (or accepts a default printed paper size). If an image will fit within the printable margins without rotation or cropping, the image is simply printed without modification. If the image will fit without rotation by cropping white space, then white space is cropped.

Abstract: A system for improving the performance of a plurality of peripheral devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a first peripheral device associated with a first software component and having a first functionality, and a second peripheral device associated with a second software component and having a second functionality, the second peripheral device being coupled to the first peripheral device, the first and second peripheral devices together performing functionality in addition to the first and second functionalities and having a common user interface.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to such systems and methods for personalizing an electrical device interface. In one arrangement, personalization involves presenting a variety of different default interface options to the user, the interfaces being configured to control operation of an electrical device, receiving selection of a default interface made by a user, and presenting the selected interface to the user. Several other examples of interface personalization are described in detail in this disclosure.

Abstract: Systems for providing information to a user are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes an identification device. The identification device incorporates a locator and a transmitter. The locator is configured to facilitate determining a location of the identification device so that information corresponding to a user of the identification device and information associated with the location of the identification device can be transmitted via the transmitter to a services system. In response to the information provided by the identification device, the services system can provide information to the user via the first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of the identification device. Image-capturing devices also are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for personalizing an electrical device. In one arrangement, the system comprises an electrical device having a plurality of button openings that are adapted to receive buttons that control operation of the electrical device, and a plurality of removable buttons that can be interchangeably disposed within the button openings of the electrical device, the buttons being provided with a variety of discrete features so as to be selectable by a user for provision on the electrical device in an arrangement chosen by the user to personalize the device as desired by the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides subscriber unit for obtaining and distributing calendar information from a collection and distribution unit, a specified calendar source or other subscriber unit. Calendar information is imported or otherwise incorporated into a calendar database associated with the subscriber unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for obtaining and distributing calendar information from one or more calendar sources, as may be defined by a user, in a manner that allows for easy incorporation of the obtained calendar information into a personal or group calendar database. A collection and distribution unit is provided for obtaining calendar information from a predetermined calendar source. If necessary, the collection and distribution unit may convert the obtained calendar information into a predetermined format. Calendar data is distributed by the collection and distribution unit in accordance with preferences specified by a subscriber record.

Abstract: A data warehousing system, method, and logic for use with a plurality of uniquely-identifiable data capturing devices, and a warehouse for storing multiple sets of captured data from each device according to an identity of the device that captured each data set. The warehouse may comprise a service for that uniquely-names each data set from a single capture device and a service that maps the data sets to a domain of the warehouse corresponding to the device that captured the data set. The warehouse may also comprise a service that registers each data capturing device to an owner and a service that synchronizes data sets in the capturing devices with data sets in the warehouse.