Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A system and method are provided, the method comprising: receiving, at a registry service, a request to register an identifiable pattern for matching patterns in text; registering, in a registry, the identifiable pattern and a corresponding handler for performing an action; and updating at least one client library accessible to a corresponding client process with the identifiable pattern.

Abstract: A method and a mobile device comprising an address linking module assess a segment of text as comprising an address and create a link. The method comprises: searching a text for a segment of text having at least two character strings satisfying a proximity constraint, each character string being of a different predefined address indicator type; assessing whether or not the segment comprises an address; displaying at least a portion of the text comprising the segment on a display of a mobile device; and if the segment is assessed as comprising an address, including a link for display, the link pointing to at least one application.

Abstract: A method for determining latitude and longitude coordinates for geographic addresses input into an address book on a mobile device is provided. For each geographic address received for storing in a contact record, latitude and longitude coordinates are automatically determined and associated with the geographic address in a database of contact records. In some embodiments, for each geographic address to be input, the method first searches existing contact records for the geographic address and if the latitude and longitude coordinates for the geographic address are in an existing contact record, the contact record for the contact is cross-referenced to the existing record for accessing the latitude and longitude coordinates.

Abstract: A system and method are provided, the method comprising: receiving, at a registry service, a request to register an identifiable pattern for matching patterns in text; registering, in a registry, the identifiable pattern and a corresponding handler for performing an action; and updating at least one client library accessible to a corresponding client process with the identifiable pattern.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for a place in a centralized place database and receiving input to specify which one or more applications on the mobile device are to have access to the place data for the place. In response to a place data request from a data-requesting application executing on the mobile device, the device determines if the data-requesting application has access to the place data for the place and provides the place data to the data-requesting application only if the data-requesting application has access. This technology enables the device to control the sharing of place data among applications on the device.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of presenting place-related content on a computing device entails, in response to receiving input identifying a place, obtaining place-related content for the place from a place database that stores place-related data related to each one of a plurality of places and presenting the place-related content from the place database in a consolidated place-specific view. This technology provides a place-centric view that presents a consolidated view of place-related content for a selected place.

Abstract: A method, performed by a mobile device, of creating place data, the method comprising receiving a place-marking trigger by the mobile device, in response to the trigger, determining current location data for a current location of the mobile device, determining if the current location corresponds to a place for which place data already exists in a place data store, if the place data store does not contain any place data corresponding to the current location, creating new place data for the place corresponding to the current location, and transferring the place data to the place data store.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for a place in a centralized place database and receiving input to specify which one or more applications on the mobile device are to have access to the place data for the place. In response to a place data request from a data-requesting application executing on the mobile device, the device determines if the data-requesting application has access to the place data for the place and provides the place data to the data-requesting application only if the data-requesting application has access. This technology enables the device to control the sharing of place data among applications on the device.

Abstract: A method for determining latitude and longitude coordinates for geographic addresses input into an address book on a mobile device is provided. For each geographic address received for storing in a contact record, latitude and longitude coordinates are automatically determined and associated with the geographic address in a database of contact records. In some embodiments, for each geographic address to be input, the method first searches existing contact records for the geographic address and if the latitude and longitude coordinates for the geographic address are in an existing contact record, the contact record for the contact is cross-referenced to the existing record for accessing the latitude and longitude coordinates.

Abstract: A method and a mobile device comprising an address linking module assess a segment of text as comprising an address and create a link. The method comprises: searching a text for a segment of text having at least two character strings satisfying a proximity constraint, each character string being of a different predefined address indicator type; assessing whether or not the segment comprises an address; displaying at least a portion of the text comprising the segment on a display of a mobile device; and if the segment is assessed as comprising an address, including a link for display, the link pointing to at least one application.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.

Abstract: A method for determining latitude and longitude coordinates for geographic addresses input into an address book on a mobile device is provided. For each geographic address received for storing in a contact record, latitude and longitude coordinates are automatically determined and associated with the geographic address in a database of contact records. In some embodiments, for each geographic address to be input, the method first searches existing contact records for the geographic address and if the latitude and longitude coordinates for the geographic address are in an existing contact record, the contact record for the contact is cross-referenced to the existing record for accessing the latitude and longitude coordinates.