Abstract: An electronic device has pair(s) of conductive plates that is coupled to a housing and is electrically isolated by a dielectric material. The pair(s) of conductive plates is positioned to change relative orientation in relation to mechanical force that deforms the housing. Capacitive driver(s) is electrically coupled to pair(s) of conductive plates. A controller is communicatively coupled to the capacitive driver(s). The controller identifies a first capacitance of the pair(s) of conductive plates associated with the housing being in a normal state. The controller detects, via the capacitor driver(s), a change in capacitance from the first capacitance to a second capacitance of the pair(s) of conductive plates. The controller compares the change in capacitance to a threshold. In response to the change exceeding the threshold, the controller generates a notification.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

Abstract: To ensure that an electronic device is a secure electronic device, a communication device transmits a request to authenticate the electronic device to a remote electronic device across a network. The communication device receives a security challenge. One or more processors of the electronic device obtain a response to the security challenge using a secret key stored in an encrypted memory of the electronic device. The communication device then transmits the response to the response to the security challenge to the remote electronic device. If the remote electronic device recognizes the response, it transmits a shared secret content marker, which can optionally be presented at a user interface of the electronic device. The request can be automatically initiated by a companion electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a capacitive driver that is electrically coupled to a pair of conductive plates coupled to a housing and electrically isolated by a dielectric material. The conductive plates are positioned to change relative orientation in relation to deformation of the housing in a first direction. A controller identifies a first capacitance of the pair of conductive plates associated with the housing being in a normal alignment relative to the first direction. The controller presents an object on a user interface device in a first kinematic state. The controller detects, via the first capacitor driver, a change in capacitance from the first capacitance to a second capacitance of the pair of conductive plates. The controller associates the change to a first user input. The controller presents the object on the user interface device in a second kinematic state based on the first user input.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first display on a major surface, a second display positioned on another major surface, and optionally at least one imager collocated with the second display. One or more processors identify a predefined event occurring and select whether to present content on the first display or the second display. The one or more processors can cause an imager to capture at least one image. When image matches a first predefined criterion, the one or more processors cause a presentation of content to occur on the first display. When the image matches a second predefined criterion, the one or more processors cause the presentation of the content to occur on the second display. The one or more processors can also compare sizes of the first touch sensitive display portion and the second touch sensitive display portion to select between the first display and the second display.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

Abstract: A companion electronic device includes a communication interface, one or more processors operable with the communication interface, and an authentication device operable with the one or more processors. The one or more processors can be actuated by power received from the communication interface upon the communication interface establishing electronic communication with another electronic device. The one or more processors can delivering signals to the communication interface enabling one or more functions of the other electronic device upon confirming authentication data received by the authentication device after the one or more processors are actuated belongs to an authorized user of the companion electronic device.

Abstract: A communication device identifies presence of a user in proximity to the device. The communication device includes: at least one input device that captures biometric data associated with at least one user; a network interface device that connects the communication device to at least one second device via an external network; and a processor communicatively coupled to the other devices/components. The processor executes a messaging module to: receive biometric data from the at least one input device; determine if the biometric data matches reference biometric data associated with the at least one user. The processor further, in response to determining that the biometric data matches the reference biometric data associated with the at least one user: generates user presence data, the user presence data indicating that the at least one user is within a vicinity of the first communication device; and transmits the user presence data to the second device.

Abstract: One or more sensors of an electronic device detect either authorization of an authorized user or a cessation of physical contact between an authorized user of the electronic device and the electronic device. A location detector determines a location of the electronic device when the authorization of the authorized user occurs or where the cessation of physical contact occurs. A geofence manager establishes a geofence about the location in response to detecting the authorization of the authorized user or the cessation of physical contact. One or more processors operate the electronic device in a normal mode of operation while the electronic device remains within the geofence and in an enhanced security mode of operation when the electronic device exits the geofence.

Abstract: A method in an electronic device includes identifying an authorized user of the electronic device being present within an environment of the electronic device. The method also includes identifying at least one other person also being present within the environment of the electronic device. The method then includes selecting, with one or more processors of the electronic device, content previously partially consumed by the authorized user and the at least one other person and presenting, with the one or more processors, the content on a user interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more sensors capturing media content from an environment of the electronic device. A location detector determines whether the environment of the electronic device is situated at a location of residence of an authorized user of the electronic device. A user interface receives user input requesting transmission of the media content to another electronic device located outside the location of residence of the authorized user of the electronic device. One or more processors preclude transmission of the media content to the other electronic device in response to the user input when the location detector determines that one or more sensors captured the media content at the location of residence of the authorized user of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power and data usage in a mobile electronic communications device entail detecting a sleep state of a user of the device, and entering an idle mode when the sleep state of the user is deep sleep, wherein the idle mode restricts device CPU and network activities to exclude user-centric operations. When the sleep state of the user changes from the deep sleep state, the device exits the idle mode and enters an operative state to execute any pending user-centric operations.

Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more sensors capturing media content while the electronic device is situated at a media content capture location. A user interface receives user input requesting transmission of the media content to another electronic device at a user input reception location. A location detector determines whether the media content capture location and the user input reception location are substantially different locations. One or more processors at least temporarily preclude, in response to the user input, the transmission of the media content to the other electronic device when the location detector determines that the media content capture location and the user input reception location are substantially different locations.

Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more sensors capturing media content from an environment of the electronic device. A location detector determines whether the environment of the electronic device is situated at a location of residence of an authorized user of the electronic device. A user interface receives user input requesting transmission of the media content to another electronic device located outside the location of residence of the authorized user of the electronic device. One or more processors preclude transmission of the media content to the other electronic device in response to the user input when the location detector determines that one or more sensors captured the media content at the location of residence of the authorized user of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power search and harvesting in a drone device provide execution of one or more tasks, wherein one of the tasks has a higher priority than the remaining tasks. A power mode is determined for executing the highest priority task by sequentially determining whether the highest priority task can be executed in one of a plurality of execution scenarios including from a charging pad associated with the drone, from another location using energy harvested from an existing energy source, from another location using energy harvested from an energy source enabled by the drone, or from another location using battery power alone. The highest priority task is executed in keeping with the first usable execution scenario found during the sequential determination.

Abstract: A method in an electronic device designates, with one or more processors of the electronic device, at least one data item stored within a memory of the electronic device for storage in a plurality of remote electronic devices. The method encrypts, with the one or more processors, the at least one data item to create at least one encrypted data item. The method divides, with the one or more processors, the at least one encrypted data item into a plurality of encrypted subset data items. The method then delivers, with a communication device, at least a first encrypted subset data item from the plurality of encrypted subset data items to a first remote electronic device and at least a second subset data item from the plurality of encrypted subset data items to a second remote electronic device.

Abstract: A method, a mobile device, and a computer program product enable capacitive proximity sensing in a mobile device. The method includes determining, by a controller of a mobile device, whether the mobile device is participating in an active phone call. In response to determining that the mobile device is participating in an active phone call, the method further includes determining if an ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled. In response to determining that the ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled, the method further includes activating a driven shield to at least partially shield a capacitance sensor from sensing object capacitance at a second side of the mobile device that is opposed to a first side with the ear speaker.

Abstract: To ensure that an electronic device is a secure electronic device, a communication device transmits a request to authenticate the electronic device to a remote electronic device across a network. The communication device receives a security challenge. One or more processors of the electronic device obtain a response to the security challenge using a secret key stored in an encrypted memory of the electronic device. The communication device then transmits the response to the response to the security challenge to the remote electronic device. If the remote electronic device recognizes the response, it transmits a shared secret content marker, which can optionally be presented at a user interface of the electronic device. The request can be automatically initiated by a companion electronic device.