Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating a plurality of e-books. A first e-book from the plurality of e-books is loaned to a user for a predetermined finite period of time, which comprises transmitting to an electronic device associated with the user, via a communications network, the first e-book including a lending license therefore. Upon expiration of the predetermined finite period of time, data is received from the electronic device relating to the user's reading history of the first e-book. The user's reading progress through the first e-book is determined automatically based on the data. When it is determined that the user has other than finished reading the first e-book, a signal is transmitted to the electronic device via the communication network, the signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.

Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating to one of license data relating to a plurality of e-books and a plurality of e-books. A request to borrow a first e-book of the plurality of e-books for a predetermined finite period of time is received at the e-book lending library. A current lending status of the first e-book is determined as one of available for lending and unavailable for lending. When it is determined that the first e-book is unavailable for lending, a second signal is transmitted to the user via the communication network, the second signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.

Abstract: A method is provided in which time slicing data, including an indication of available time blocks for loaning an e-book from an e-book lending library, are provided to a user in response to the user requesting to borrow an e-book that is not currently available for being loaned. When the user selects an available time block via an electronic device, the e-book lending library provides to an electronic device that is associated with the user, via the communications network, a lending license for the e-book that is valid only during the selected available time block. The e-book lending library enables access to the first e-book via the electronic device, during the selected time block, using the provided lending license.

Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating to one of license data relating to a plurality of e-books and a plurality of e-books. A request to borrow a first e-book of the plurality of e-books for a predetermined finite period of time is received at the e-book lending library. A current lending status of the first e-book is determined as one of available for lending and unavailable for lending. When it is determined that the first e-book is unavailable for lending, a second signal is transmitted to the user via the communication network, the second signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.

Abstract: A method for displaying digital book content comprises displaying to a user, via a display portion of an electronic display device, digital book content comprising first image data relating to a page of a digital book. The displayed digital book content comprise a predetermined region defining a virtual flap, the virtual flap being displayed within the predetermined region of the first image data in one of a closed state and an opened state. The user provides, via the electronic display device, an indication for selecting the virtual flap. In response to receiving the indication, second image data is displayed to the user via the display portion, the second image data relating to the page of the digital book and comprising a predetermined region defining the virtual flap.

Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating a plurality of e-books. A first e-book from the plurality of e-books is loaned to a user for a predetermined finite period of time, which comprises transmitting to an electronic device associated with the user, via a communications network, the first e-book including a lending license therefore. Upon expiration of the predetermined finite period of time, data is received from the electronic device relating to the user's reading history of the first e-book. The user's reading progress through the first e-book is determined automatically based on the data. When it is determined that the user has other than finished reading the first e-book, a signal is transmitted to the electronic device via the communication network, the signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.

Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided, the e-book lending library comprising a plurality of e-books. An e-book and an e-book lending license that is valid for a predetermined loan period is provided from the e-book lending library to an electronic device associated with a first user, via a communication network disposed therebetween. An indication of a time block during the loan period, and other than including an end of the loan period, is received from the first user via the communication network, during which time block the first user agrees to relinquish the lending license. The first user's access to the e-book is disabled at a start of the time block, and the lending license is assigned to a different user during the time block. At an end of the time block, the first user's access to the e-book is enabled.

Abstract: A method is provided in which, during a first period of time, first data relating to a first frame of a digital comic book are displayed via an electronic display device. The displayed first data includes a first content element. During a second period of time, second data relating to a second frame of the digital comic book is displayed via the electronic display device. The displayed second data also includes the first content element. A frame transition effect is displayed during a third period of time intermediate the first period of time and the second period of time. During the third period of time, an animation sequence is displayed depicting translation of the first content element between a location of the first content element in the displayed first data and a location of the first content element in the displayed second data. In particular, the animation sequence is displayed superimposed on the frame transition effect.

Abstract: A method is provided in which a user, in dependence upon purchasing a physical copy of a first book, receives a code comprising an identifier of the first book. The code is provided to an electronic device associated with the user, via an input portion thereof A communication session is established between the electronic device and a digital bookstore via a communication network. The user transmits the code from the electronic device to the digital bookstore via the communication network during the communication session, and in response to providing the code, the user receives from the digital bookstore via the communication network a digital book copy of the first book. The digital book copy of the first book is then stored on a storage portion of the electronic device.

Abstract: A method is provided in which time slicing data, including an indication of available time blocks for loaning an e-book from an e-book lending library, are provided to a user in response to the user requesting to borrow an e-book that is not currently available for being loaned. When the user selects an available time block via an electronic device, the e-book lending library provides to an electronic device that is associated with the user, via the communications network, a lending license for the e-book that is valid only during the selected available time block. The e-book lending library enables access to the first e-book via the electronic device, during the selected time block, using the provided lending license.

Abstract: A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating to one of license data relating to a plurality of e-books and a plurality of e-books. A request to borrow a first e-book of the plurality of e-books for a predetermined finite period of time is received at the e-book lending library. A current lending status of the first e-book is determined as one of available for lending and unavailable for lending. When it is determined that the first e-book is unavailable for lending, a second signal is transmitted to the user via the communication network, the second signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a method of providing mapping functionality in a contact list of a mobile communication device comprises the acts of providing a contact list organizer function in the mobile communication device for use in organizing a plurality of contacts of a contact book or list; identifying, through a user interface of the mobile communication device, a user input request to map a location of a selected one of the contacts of the contact list; and causing a map corresponding to the location to be visually displayed in a display of the mobile communication device in response to the user input request.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in providing map-related file data associated with point of interests for visually-displayed maps in mobile communication devices are disclosed. One illustrative method includes the steps of causing a viewable map region of a map to be visually displayed in a display of the mobile communication device, the viewable map region having one or more selectable map elements (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method are set forth for distributing map content from a server to a communication device by transmitting a request from the communication device to the map server for a maplet index of map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining the map data, receiving the request at the map server and in response transmitting the maplet index to the communication device, wherein the maplet index defines content available the maplet without including all of the data points therein.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a method for use in mapping a location in a computer device includes the steps of receiving an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string having a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates; receiving, through a user interface of the computer device, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message; and in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator: if a predetermined type of mapping application is provided in the computer device, invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device (e.g.

Abstract: A method and system that permits a user to navigate or browse a long list on a handheld device with a restricted user interface, such as a limited display and a limited user input device. The user first uses a coarse search to find a generally desired area in the list. The user then uses finer and finer search intervals in the vicinity of the desired area, until the desired entry is located.

Abstract: A system and method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system using a two-dimensional controller, comprising displaying an Nth level of the multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, scrolling the icons in a first dimension relative to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in the first dimension, and one of either selecting one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in a first direction of a second dimension, or displaying a N+1th level of the multi-hierarchical menu system relative to one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in an opposite direction of the second dimension.