Abstract: A step system for access to the interior of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus is located at the front center of the vehicle. Advantageously, the access is for both driver and passengers, allowing close proximity for the driver to reach a seated position from outside the vehicle. In addition, eliminating multiple doors and having one entry point saves construction cost. Access is provided between the front headlights or front left and right wheels, unobstructed by an engine compartment which is typically absent in an electrically powered vehicle. Steps rotate down to provide convenient access from ground level. In the closed position, the step apparatus integrates into the front body of the vehicle thus enabling the vehicle to operate unobstructed.

Abstract: A control circuit determines when a user of a corresponding portable communication device is presently driving a vehicle and then, in response to detecting this use state, automatically answer incoming communications and provide at least two contact options to the sender. One of these contact options can comprise the option to speak with the user during the incoming communication. Another of these contact options can comprise recording a voice message for the user and discontinuing the incoming communication without the sender communicating with the user. The control circuit can determine whether the user is presently driving a vehicle by relying upon a direct acknowledgement of the user and/or by indirect means.

Abstract: A method, computer readable storage medium, and electronic device are provided which operates on hierarchical data having a plurality of levels by detecting one of a plurality of gestures on a touch-sensitive input mechanism of the electronic device. Each of the plurality of gestures is associated with a different level in the hierarchical data.

Abstract: A control circuit determines when a user of a corresponding portable communication device is presently driving a vehicle and then, in response to detecting this use state, automatically answer incoming communications and provide at least two contact options to the sender. One of these contact options can comprise the option to speak with the user during the incoming communication. Another of these contact options can comprise recording a voice message for the user and discontinuing the incoming communication without the sender communicating with the user. The control circuit can determine whether the user is presently driving a vehicle by relying upon a direct acknowledgement of the user and/or by indirect means.

Abstract: A control circuit determines when a user of a corresponding portable communication device is presently driving a vehicle and then, in response to detecting this use state, automatically answer incoming calls and provide at least two contact options to the caller. One of these contact options can comprise the option to speak with the user during this call. Another of these contact options can comprise recording a voice message for the user and discontinuing the incoming call without the caller speaking with the user. The control circuit can determine whether the user is presently driving a vehicle by relying upon a direct acknowledgement of the user and/or by indirect means.

Abstract: An electronic drawing system configured to edit a physical drawing and communicate the edit to a host electronic device that renders a digital rendition of the physical drawing. The electronic system device includes a control circuit configured to communicate with an element that enables erasing at least a portion of the physical drawing. The control circuit generates at least one signal representative of the erasing, where the at least one signal is capable of being processed to edit the digital representation corresponding to the erasing.

Abstract: A method and communication device for determining contextual information is provided. Textual information is received from at least one of an input device and a communication interface at the communication device. The textual information is processed to automatically extract contextual data embedded in the textual information in response to the receiving. Supplementary contextual data is automatically retrieved based on the contextual data from a remote data source via the communication interface in response to the processing. The supplementary contextual data is automatically rendered at the display device in association with the contextual data in response to receiving the supplementary contextual data.

Abstract: System and methods for performing time limited data sharing over peer-to-peer data connections. A sharing data communications device sends a data sharing invitation with an end time specification to another device. Upon accepting the invitation, a data sharing relationship is established that will terminate at the specified end time. The invitation specifies a data set that can be shared over the data sharing relationship. The sharing data communications device is able to send the specified data set to the other device until the end time or until the data sharing relationship is terminated by either device. In one example, the establishment and maintenance of the data sharing relationship and shared data exchange is performed by the two end user devices over a peer-to-peer data protocol without an intermediate data sharing server.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing traffic reminder notifications. The method comprises detecting selection of an input mechanism, determining traffic data to be monitored according to the selection, determining an acceptable traffic condition in a traffic zone by monitoring the traffic data, and displaying a traffic reminder notification.

Abstract: A method, computer readable storage medium, and electronic device are provided which operates on hierarchical data having a plurality of levels by detecting one of a plurality of gestures on a touch-sensitive input mechanism of the electronic device. Each of the plurality of gestures is associated with a different level in the hierarchical data.

Abstract: A control circuit determines when a user of a corresponding portable communication device is presently driving a vehicle and then, in response to detecting this use state, automatically answer incoming calls and provide at least two contact options to the caller. One of these contact options can comprise the option to speak with the user during this call. Another of these contact options can comprise recording a voice message for the user and discontinuing the incoming call without the caller speaking with the user. The control circuit can determine whether the user is presently driving a vehicle by relying upon a direct acknowledgement of the user and/or by indirect means.

Abstract: A method and communication device for determining contextual information is provided. Textual information is received from at least one of an input device and a communication interface at the communication device. The textual information is processed to automatically extract contextual data embedded in the textual information in response to the receiving. Supplementary contextual data is automatically retrieved based on the contextual data from a remote data source via the communication interface in response to the processing. The supplementary contextual data is automatically rendered at the display device in association with the contextual data in response to receiving the supplementary contextual data.