Abstract: A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

Abstract: Device-descriptive data of a multimedia device are obtained by a remote control through a near-field communication (NFC) data exchange. The device-descriptive data of the multimedia device are received by an extended connectivity device through its wireless communication interface. A wireless link is established between the extended connectivity device and the multimedia device using connection parameters in the device-descriptive data. Multimedia data are transmitted to or received from the multimedia device over the wireless link established in accordance with the connection parameters received in the device-descriptive data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying an entity associated with a wireless network access point are provided. An estimated location of a wireless network access point and a network name associated with a wireless network access point can be accessed. The network name can be analyzed to identify at least one text signal. An entity associated with the wireless network access point can be identified based at least in part on the text signal. For instance, a confidence score for a plurality of candidate entities identified using the estimated location of the wireless network access point can be determined based on the text signal. The confidence score can be used to identify the entity associated with the wireless network access point. Information associated with the entity can be presented in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A set-top box apparatus includes at least one input module to receive one or more media content streams, at least one memory device, an Ethernet port, at least one wireless transceiver to access a communications network to enable communication with at least one external media player device, an HDMI connector to provide a communication path to a multimedia presentation device, wherein the set-top box apparatus is configured to process at least one of the received one or more media content streams from the at least one input module into multimedia data, to send the one or more received media content streams to the at least one memory device to be stored, and to convey the multimedia data on the communication path to the multimedia presentation device.

Abstract: A novel system and methodology for conducting financial and other transactions using a wireless device. Credentials may be selectively issued by issuers such as credit card companies, banks, and merchants to consumers permitting the specific consumer to conduct a transaction according to the authorization given as reflected by the credential or set of credentials. The preferred mechanism for controlling and distributing credentials according to the present invention is through one or more publicly accessible networks such as the Internet wherein the system design and operating characteristics are in conformance with the standards and other specific requirements of the chosen network or set of networks. Credentials are ultimately supplied to a handheld device such as a mobile telephone via a wireless network. The user holding the credential may then use the handheld device to conduct the authorized transaction or set of transactions via, for example, a short range wireless link with a point-of-sale terminal.

Abstract: Functionality of a multimedia presentation device is enhanced by establishing a communication path through an electrical connector that is selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device. Output streaming media are conveyed to the multimedia presentation device over the established communication path. A wireless communication channel is established over which input streaming media are received from a multimedia source device. Multimedia data of the input streaming media are stored in a memory that is selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector. A processor, which is also selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector, retrieves the multimedia data stored in the memory and the retrieved multimedia data are conveyed to the multimedia presentation device as the output streaming media on the communication path to the multimedia presentation device through the electrical connector.

Abstract: Cellular-capable computing device and a related system and methodology are disclosed. The computing device includes a touch screen display, one or more processors, a memory device, and a first near field communication (NFC) module and first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of an electronic device. The computing device includes a network transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular communications network. The memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the computing device is configured to transmit to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

Abstract: Cellular-capable computing device and a related system and methodology are disclosed. The computing device includes a touch screen display, one or more processors, a memory device, and a first near field communication (NFC) module and first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of an electronic device. The computing device includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device based on a predetermined wireless communications protocol. The memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the computing device is configured to transmit to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

Abstract: An extended connectivity apparatus provides multimedia data from a multimedia source device to a multimedia presentation device. An electrical connector mechanically couples to a connector of the multimedia presentation device to provide a communication path to the multimedia presentation device. A wireless communication interface, which is selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector, receives multimedia data over a wireless communication channel. A processor, which is also selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector, encodes the received multimedia data into a format compatible with presentation capabilities of the multimedia presentation device and conveys the encoded multimedia data to the multimedia presentation device through the electrical connector.

Abstract: Credential data are obtained by a remote control from a credential-bearing device through a near-field communication (NFC) data exchange. The credential data are transmitted by the remote control and are received by an extended connectivity device through its wireless communication interface. A transaction is conducted with a network-connected service through the wireless communication interface of the extended connectivity device using the received credential data.

Abstract: A set-top box apparatus includes at least one input module to receive one or more media content streams, at least one memory device, an Ethernet port, at least one wireless transceiver to access a communications network to enable communication with at least one external media player device, an HDMI connector to provide a communication path to a multimedia presentation device, wherein the set-top box apparatus is configured to process at least one of the received one or more media content streams from the at least one input module into multimedia data, to send the one or more received media content streams to the at least one memory device to be stored, and to convey the multimedia data on the communication path to the multimedia presentation device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for list accumulation and reminder triggering. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a data processing apparatus, a first input comprising a plurality of terms; determining, by the data processing apparatus, that one or more of the terms in the first input specify an item that belongs to a reminder category, the reminder category being associated with a collection of items that belong to the category and for which reminders may be generated; and in response to the determination, storing data that associates a reminder type with the item specified by the one or more terms.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for detour based content selection. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a data processing apparatus, location data for a plurality of users, the location data describing, for each user, locations of a user device of the user; determining, from the location data, route data for the plurality of users, the route data describing, for each user, a route traveled by the user; determining, by the data processing apparatus, for at least one or more of the users, a detour from the route traveled by the user to a retail location of the offeror; determining, by the data processing apparatus, for each of the at least one or more of the users, whether the user is eligible for an offer of the offeror based on the detour; and for each user eligible for an offer, enabling the offeror to provide an offer to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus to process a request to authorize a payment transaction includes a communications interface coupled to a payment network that is configured to receive a first transaction authorization request originating from a merchant point-of-sale (POS) system, and to transmit a transaction approval or decline response, at least one storage device to store a database including user accounts, wherein each user account contains at least one linked payment account number and at least one token account number, and a processor configured to receive the first transaction authorization request, select a user account using the token credential, select a payment account number, transmit a second transaction authorization request for the selected payment account, receive an approval or decline authorization message in response, and transmit a transaction approval or decline authorization message to the payment network in response to the first transaction authorization request.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to conduct financial and other transactions using a wireless computing device. The wireless device includes an input display part, one or more processors, and at least one memory device. The memory device has stored therein a wallet application for completing transactions based on wireless data communications between the computing device and an external electronic device. The memory device further stores at least one electronic credential. The wireless device permits transmission, via a near-field communication (NFC) module, of at least one electronic credential to an NFC reader of the external electronic device based on comparing a biometric characteristic of a user, detected by a biometric characteristic reader, with stored biometric information.

Abstract: A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

Abstract: A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying an entity associated with a wireless network access point are provided. An estimated location of a wireless network access point and a network name associated with a wireless network access point can be accessed. The network name can be analyzed to identify at least one text signal. An entity associated with the wireless network access point can be identified based at least in part on the text signal. For instance, a confidence score for a plurality of candidate entities identified using the estimated location of the wireless network access point can be determined based on the text signal. The confidence score can be used to identify the entity associated with the wireless network access point. Information associated with the entity can be presented in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

Abstract: A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.