Abstract: Intention data is used to determine an intent of a sender of a message, or other participant, in an electronic communication system such as an email system. For example, a message that is designated for sending can be compared to the sender's intention data and if a discrepancy or deficiency is detected between the sender's determined intent and the actual message then an action is taken such as providing an alert to the sender or to another person, process or device; requiring an action by the sender such as confirming the message, making an edit, checking information, etc.

Abstract: Management of battery resources of an electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device has a battery, a display in communication with the battery, multiple subsystems in communication with the battery, and a user interface in communication with the subsystems. On the display is presented an indication of usage of the battery resources by the subsystems in executing functions by the device. With the interface, a user directive is received to reallocate the usage of the battery resources. The usage of the battery resources are thus reallocated in accordance with the user directive.

Abstract: A remote control of the present invention automatically identifies one or more peripheral devices which need to be programmed with the remote control. In some embodiments, the remote control is able to visually identify a peripheral device from an image, obtain the configuration information for the peripheral device, and program itself in the background according to the configuration information. These tasks are advantageously performed by the remote control, without user input. The remote control can be programmed to support a plurality of peripheral devices. When the remote control is used to control a peripheral device, the remote control will first present a selection list on the display screen. The selection list includes all the peripheral devices that the remote is communicatively coupled with. Upon the user selecting the desired peripheral device to be controlled, the remote control dynamically outputs a customized user interface associated with the selected peripheral device.

Abstract: Management of power resources of an electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device has multiple subsystems in communication with a power supply, and an interface in communication with the subsystems. A directive is received with the interface to perform a function with the electronic device. A subset of the subsystems needed to perform the function are identified. For each identified subsystem and in response to receipt of the directive, a predicted power-resource quantity needed to perform the function is determined. A determination is made whether sufficient unallocated resources of the power supply are available to accommodate the predicted power-resource quantity for each identified subsystem.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use with a communication system. A plurality of devices employing a plurality of messaging modalities may be used to send or receive message data. In any regard, message data may comprise a plurality of portions of message data in machine readable form. The plurality of portions of message data may be indexed. The indexing may include storing representations (e.g., vectors or other mathematical constructs) representing the content of the plurality of portions of message data in a message data index. The representations of the content of the plurality of portions of message data may be compared to one another to determine a relationship between the various representations. If the relationship between a first representation (e.g., a first vector) and a second representation (e.g., a second vector) exceeds a predetermined threshold, the portions of message data corresponding to the first and second vectors may be determined to be related.

Abstract: A computing device that includes a host processor and a service processor is provided. The host processor is configured to interact with a first user interface. For example, the host processor may be a microprocessor for the device and the first user interface may be a display device. A service processor is provided and can interact with a second user interface. In some cases, the service processor may interact with the second user interface without communicating with the host processor. Accordingly, the service processor can perform functions without relying on the host processor. Using the service processor conserves processing power and also may allow the reduction in size of the device as the service processor may perform the functions previously performed by discrete hardware and the host processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use with a communication system. A plurality of devices employing a plurality of messaging modalities may be used to send or receive message data. In any regard, message data may comprise a plurality of portions of message data in machine readable form. The plurality of portions of message data may be indexed. The indexing may include storing representations (e.g., vectors or other mathematical constructs) representing the content of the plurality of portions of message data in a message data index. The representations of the content of the plurality of portions of message data may be compared to one another to determine a relationship between the various representations. If the relationship between a first representation (e.g., a first vector) and a second representation (e.g., a second vector) exceeds a predetermined threshold, the portions of message data corresponding to the first and second vectors may be determined to be related.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling allocation of one or more computing resources for a process. The method includes providing a user option to execute a process using local or remote computing resources and then executing the process using a selected option. A more specific method includes predetermining two or more allocation options; displaying a plurality of the predetermined allocation options, wherein each option indicates a different allocation of resources between at least one resource on a local computing system and at least one resource on a remote computing system, wherein the resources; determining, by using the local computing system, a function to be performed; accepting a signal from a user-input device to select one of the plurality of options in association with performing the function; allocating the resources in accordance with the selected option; and then using the selected resource allocation to accomplish a task.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video signal is displayed on a display screen in two or more resolutions. The video signal may be of a first resolution and the display screen may be set to a second resolution. In one embodiment, the video signal resolution is of a size that is greater than the size of the display screen resolution. The method includes displaying a first portion of the video signal in a first resolution in a first region of the display. A second portion of the video signal is then displayed in a second resolution in a second region of the display. The second resolution is a resolution that displays at least a portion of the video signal that would be off screen if the video signal is displayed in the first resolution. Accordingly, more of the signal can be displayed on the screen.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for moving a gamepiece in an electronic game where gamepieces are moved by user movement of devices. For example, cell phones may be used to control gamepiece movement on a table top or other surface. Each user moves their respective cell phone to control the movement of their gamepiece. Other user controls can be used to provide additional interaction. One embodiment discloses a tank game where each user operates a tank that is used to shoot at other user gamepieces in real time as the users move about a table top surface. Details are provided of two specific types of movement, but other types of movement are possible.

Abstract: Management of power resources of an electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device has multiple subsystems in communication with a power supply, and an interface in communication with the subsystems. A directive is received with the interface to perform a function with the electronic device. A subset of the subsystems needed to perform the function are identified. For each identified subsystem and in response to receipt of the directive, a predicted power-resource quantity needed to perform the function is determined. A determination is made whether sufficient unallocated resources of the power supply are available to accommodate the predicted power-resource quantity for each identified subsystem.

Abstract: Management of battery resources of an electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device has a battery, a display in communication with the battery, multiple subsystems in communication with the battery, and a user interface in communication with the subsystems. On the display is presented an indication of usage of the battery resources by the subsystems in executing functions by the device. With the interface, a user directive is received to reallocate the usage of the battery resources. The usage of the battery resources are thus reallocated in accordance with the user directive.

Abstract: A controller that automatically identifies one or more peripheral devices which need to be programmed for use with the controller. In some embodiments, the controller is able to visually identify a peripheral device from an image, obtain the configuration information for the peripheral device, and program itself in the background according to the configuration information. These tasks are advantageously performed by the remote control, without user input. The controller can be programmed to support a plurality of peripheral devices. When the controller is used to control a peripheral device, the controller may first present a selection list on the display screen. The selection list may include all the peripheral devices that the remote is communicatively coupled with. Upon the user selecting the desired peripheral device to be controlled, the remote control may dynamically outputs a customized user interface associated with the selected peripheral device.

Abstract: A remote control of the present invention automatically identifies one or more peripheral devices which need to be programmed with the remote control. In some embodiments, the remote control is able to visually identify a peripheral device from an image, obtain the configuration information for the peripheral device, and program itself in the background according to the configuration information. These tasks are advantageously performed by the remote control, without user input. The remote control can be programmed to support a plurality of peripheral devices. When the remote control is used to control a peripheral device, the remote control will first present a selection list on the display screen. The selection list includes all the peripheral devices that the remote is communicatively coupled with. Upon the user selecting the desired peripheral device to be controlled, the remote control dynamically outputs a customized user interface associated with the selected peripheral device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for moving a gamepiece in an electronic game where gamepieces are moved by user movement of devices. For example, cell phones may be used to control gamepiece movement on a table top or other surface. Each user moves their respective cell phone to control the movement of their gamepiece. Other user controls can be used to provide additional interaction. One embodiment discloses a tank game where each user operates a tank that is used to shoot at other user gamepieces in real time as the users move about a table top surface. Details are provided of two specific types of movement, but other types of movement are possible.

Abstract: Intention data is used to determine an intent of a sender of a message, or other participant, in an electronic communication system such as an email system. For example, a message that is designated for sending can be compared to the sender's intention data and if a discrepancy or deficiency is detected between the sender's determined intent and the actual message then an action is taken such as providing an alert to the sender or to another person, process or device; requiring an action by the sender such as confirming the message, making an edit, checking information, etc.

Abstract: A method for automatically selecting resources to be used by a given computing process. The method includes determining resources that will be required for execution of the process and then ascertaining availability at and capabilities of local and remote resources at a desired processing time. An appropriate combination of resources is then selected from local and remote resources that will satisfy one or more predetermined criteria. A second method represents a method for allocating local and/or remote computing resources. Local computing resources include local processing power and local storage. Remote computing resources include remote processing power and remote storage. The method includes receiving an indication of a function to be performed at a future time; then determining a local resource limitation of performing the function at the future time; and then automatically allocating one or more of the remote computing resources for performance of the function.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling allocation of one or more computing resources for a process. The method includes providing a user option to execute a process using local or remote computing resources and then executing the process using a selected option. A more specific method includes predetermining two or more allocation options; displaying a plurality of the predetermined allocation options, wherein each option indicates a different allocation of resources between at least one resource on a local computing system and at least one resource on a remote computing system, wherein the resources; determining, by using the local computing system, a function to be performed; accepting a signal from a user-input device to select one of the plurality of options in association with performing the function; allocating the resources in accordance with the selected option; and then using the selected resource allocation to accomplish a task.

Abstract: Intention data is used to determine an intent of a sender of a message, or other participant, in an electronic communication system such as an email system. For example, a message that is designated for sending can be compared to the sender's intention data and if a discrepancy or deficiency is detected between the sender's determined intent and the actual message then an action is taken such as providing an alert to the sender or to another person, process or device; requiring an action by the sender such as confirming the message, making an edit, checking information, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video signal is displayed on a display screen in two or more resolutions. The video signal may be of a first resolution and the display screen may be set to a second resolution. In one embodiment, the video signal resolution is of a size that is greater than the size of the display screen resolution. The method includes displaying a first portion of the video signal in a first resolution in a first region of the display. A second portion of the video signal is then displayed in a second resolution in a second region of the display. The second resolution is a resolution that displays at least a portion of the video signal that would be off screen if the video signal is displayed in the first resolution. Accordingly, more of the signal can be displayed on the screen.