Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device that includes a plurality of sensors. The device detects, by a first set of the sensors, information from an environment of the device. The device obtains content for display by the device. It determines, based on the information from the environment, whether a user is in close physical proximity. Based on a determination that the user is in proximity, the device determines using a second set of the sensors a location of the user relative to the device, and an orientation for displaying the content on the display based on the relative location. The device reformats the content for display on the display based on the user location and/or a rotation of the display with respect to the orientation, and displays the reformatted content on the display.

Abstract: A recipient communication device and method wherein a user authenticates a message that is being received. The method includes receiving, by a messaging utility of the recipient communication device, a message transmitted from a sender communication device. The messaging utility determines that one of (a) sender authentication of the message and (b) recipient authentication to open the message is required. In response to sender authentication being required, the recipient communication device transmits a request to the sender communication device for sender authentication of the message, and receives a certification of the message based on an authentication of a user input via the sender communication device. When recipient authentication is required, the recipient is prompted to enter biometric input at the recipient device.

Abstract: A method includes generating location change information of a computing device in accordance with a location resolution level of a reporting approach and sending the location change information to another computing device in accordance with a location reporting frequency of the reporting approach. The method further includes detecting geo-activity change of the computing device and updating the reporting approach based on the geo-activity change to produce an updated location resolution level and an updated location reporting frequency. The method further includes generating further location change information of the computing device in accordance with the updated location resolution level and sending the further location change information to the other computing device in accordance with the updated location reporting frequency.

Abstract: A communication device and method for authentication of a message being transmitted from the communication device. The method includes receiving, by a messaging utility, content of a message provided for transmission from the communication device. Based on a determination that the message requires user authentication before the message is transmitted to a recipient, the method further includes selecting, based on contextual data, one or more biometric capturing components of the communication device; triggering at least one selected biometric capturing component to capture a corresponding biometric input from a user of the communication device; and transmitting the message when the biometric input as belonging to an authorized user of the communication device. In one embodiment, a clearinghouse service authenticates a biometric input from a user of the communication device in order to certify the user and/or the message.

Abstract: A method includes generating location change information of a computing device in accordance with a location resolution level of a reporting approach and sending the location change information to another computing device in accordance with a location reporting frequency of the reporting approach. The method further includes detecting geo-activity change of the computing device and updating the reporting approach based on the geo-activity change to produce an updated location resolution level and an updated location reporting frequency. The method further includes generating further location change information of the computing device in accordance with the updated location resolution level and sending the further location change information to the other computing device in accordance with the updated location reporting frequency.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device that includes a plurality of sensors. The device detects, by a first set of the sensors, information from an environment of the device. The device obtains content for display by the device. It determines, based on the information from the environment, whether a user is in close physical proximity. Based on a determination that the user is in proximity, the device determines using a second set of the sensors a location of the user relative to the device, and an orientation for displaying the content on the display based on the relative location. The device reformats the content for display on the display based on the user location and/or a rotation of the display with respect to the orientation, and displays the reformatted content on the display.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first computing device location transition from a first geographic region to a second geographic region and upon the detecting of the transition, selecting a trusted watcher computing device based on a favorable proximity to the first computing device and a trust protocol. The method further includes establishing a location determination approach of the first computing device that utilizes a location determining resource of the trusted watcher computing device. The method further includes initiating generation of the location synchronization information of the first computing device using the location determination approach and requesting that the trusted watcher computing device communicate the location synchronization information to a second computing device.

Abstract: A method includes determining to report location change information of a first computing device to a second computing device and sending the location change information to the second computing device utilizing an initial communication approach. The method further includes assigning a priority level of the location change information based on one or more environmental parameters. When the priority level of the location change information is greater than a priority threshold, the method further includes selecting a new communication approach and resending at least a portion of the location change information to the second computing device using the new communication approach.

Abstract: A device (102) detects when a user is in close physical proximity to the device, such as within a few feet of the device. While the user is in close physical proximity to the device, the device also detects the location of the user relative to the device, and optionally a speed at which the user is moving. The user interface presented by the device is adapted to the location of the user relative to the device and optionally the speed at which the user is moving, but without needing physical manipulation of the device by the user. The adaptation can include, for example, orienting content presented on a display of the device based on the location of the user relative to the device so that the content appears “upright” or “right side up” for the user to view given their location.

Abstract: A method includes determining to report location change information of a first computing device to a second computing device and sending the location change information to the second computing device utilizing an initial communication approach. The method further includes assigning a priority level of the location change information based on one or more environmental parameters. When the priority level of the location change information is greater than a priority threshold, the method further includes selecting a new communication approach and resending at least a portion of the location change information to the second computing device using the new communication approach.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first computing device location transition from a first geographic region to a second geographic region and upon the detecting of the transition, selecting a trusted watcher computing device based on a favorable proximity to the first computing device and a trust protocol. The method further includes establishing a location determination approach of the first computing device that utilizes a location determining resource of the trusted watcher computing device. The method further includes initiating generation of the location synchronization information of the first computing device using the location determination approach and requesting that the trusted watcher computing device communicate the location synchronization information to a second computing device.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a user computing device of one or more computing devices of a computing system, a location synchronization approach. The method further includes determining a location determination approach based on the location synchronization approach and availability of location assets. The method further includes generating location synchronization information utilizing the location determination approach. For each of one or more synchronization entities of the computing system, the method further includes identifying a communication path for communication of the location synchronization information. The method further includes facilitating communication of the location synchronization information to the each of the one or more synchronization entities utilizing the communication path in accordance with the location synchronization approach.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, where the location tracking communication is based on a first locating category option for an energy consumption function locating category and a second locating category option for a location modality category. The method further includes selecting a different first locating category option and determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of the second locating category option.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, where the location tracking communication is based on a first locating category option for an energy consumption function locating category and a second locating category option for a location modality category. The method further includes selecting a different first locating category option and determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of the second locating category option.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, where the location tracking communication is based on a variety of locating category options of a plurality of locating categories including location modality, locating function, and communication medium. The method further includes selecting, in response to the change indicator, a different first locating category option and determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of other locating category options.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing a user of a portable communications device entail sampling a user utterance via both an air mic (audio mic) and a conduction mic (surface mic or bone conduction mic). The difference between these signals is unique to each user since the tissues of each user will differ with respect to audio conduction. This difference may be characterized via a transform including magnitude, phase and time delay components. If the transform for a prospective user matches a stored transform for an authorized user, then the prospective user may be granted access.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, where the location tracking communication is based on a variety of locating category options of a plurality of locating categories including location modality, locating function, and communication medium. The method further includes selecting, in response to the change indicator, a different first locating category option and determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of other locating category options.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first locating category of a plurality of locating categories based on an initial locating parameter. The method further includes selecting, when available, a first locating category option from the first locating category to produce a first selected locating category option. The method further includes selecting, when available, a second locating category option from a second locating category based on the first selected locating category option to produce a second selected locating category option, and a third locating category option from a third locating category based on at least one of the first and second selected locating category options to produce a third selected locating category option. The method further includes establishing location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device based on the first, second, and third selected locating category options.

Abstract: A method includes determining a presence of a protective liner on a display of a device using a capacitive sensor positioned proximate the display. An alignment guide is generated on the display responsive to determining the presence of the protective liner. A device includes a display, a capacitive sensor positioned proximate the display, and a processor to determine a presence of a protective liner on the display using the capacitive sensor and to generate an alignment guide on the display responsive to determining the presence of the protective liner.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first locating category of a plurality of locating categories based on an initial locating parameter. The method further includes selecting, when available, a first locating category option from the first locating category to produce a first selected locating category option. The method further includes selecting, when available, a second locating category option from a second locating category based on the first selected locating category option to produce a second selected locating category option, and a third locating category option from a third locating category based on at least one of the first and second selected locating category options to produce a third selected locating category option. The method further includes establishing location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device based on the first, second, and third selected locating category options.