Abstract: A method for reverse geocoding location information obtained by a wireless communications device comprises determining the location information for a location, communicating the location information to a reverse geocoding server that reverse-geocodes the location information to generate location description data for a bounding region that geographically surrounds the location, receiving the location description data from the reverse geocoding server for the bounding region containing the location, and caching the location description data for the bounding region in a memory cache on the device. When the current location remains within one or more bounding regions cached on the device, location description data is fetched from the cache, thus improving application responsiveness. Only when the current location is no longer within the bounding region(s) does the device communicate a new request to the reverse geocoding server.

Abstract: Disclosed methods and systems relate to sensing ambient light. Some disclosed implementations operate in connection with a wearable computing device, such as a head-mountable display.

Abstract: Methods and devices for determining whether a head-mountable computing device is donned or doffed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving from at least one capacitive sensor data indicating a rate of change of capacitance, making a comparison of the rate of change of capacitance to a threshold rate of change of capacitance and, based on the comparison, determining whether the head-mountable computing device is donned or doffed. The method further includes, if the head-mountable computing device is donned, causing the head-mountable computing device to operate in a first state, and if the head-mountable computing device is doffed, causing the head-mountable computing device to operate in a second state, where the head-mountable computing device consumes less power in the second state than in the first state.

Abstract: A method that can monitor a milking process is presented and, in particular, a method and apparatus that can effectively determine the stage of the milking process. An additional aspect is to provide a method that may measure a vacuum level associated with the milking process, receive an operational state of a valve associated with the milking process, and compare the vacuum level and valve operational state to criteria to determine the milking stage. Further, the method may be configured to issue an indication of the milking stage or issue an alarm if alarm conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, there is provided a mobile wireless device comprising: a microprocessor and memory, the memory comprising a set of control settings used to control a plurality of device operations; wherein the microprocessor is configured to: receive a first digital signature key for verifying digital signatures on software applications to be installed on the device; determine if any digital signature keys for verifying digital signatures on software applications to be installed on the device exist on the device, and if not, store the received first digital signature key in the memory; receive a software application for installation on the device; verify a digital signature on the received software application using the first digital signature key; and install the software application on the device if the digital signature on the received software application is successfully verified.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a web service description such that the web service description is adapted for use with mobile devices. A web services accelerator is adapted to receive a web service description that defines an interface to a web service, create at least one accelerator output file from the web service description, and transmit the at least one accelerator output file to a mobile device. Accelerator output files are used by the mobile device to invoke web services.

Abstract: A method for receiving geospatial data using a communication device, the method comprising transmitting from the communication device to a server a request for geospatial data, the request including device display information, and receiving at the communication device from the server a subset of requested geospatial data, the subset being generated based on the device display information. The device display information may include a viewport size or a screen size.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for conference expansion in a conferencing system. For example, a method of providing for conference expansion in a conferencing system includes the following steps. At least one port is reserved in an original conference allocated in the conferencing system. A hub conference is allocated, when a maximum number of participants for the original conference is reached. A calculated number of ports in the hub conference are reserved for linking to the original conference and to a corresponding number of expansion conferences when allocation of at least one of the number of expansion conferences is called for. The hub conference is linked to the original conference via the reserved port of the original conference and one of the reserved ports of the hub conference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to prompt a user of a portable electronic device in such a way to allow the user to enter information later. In response to receiving a user input that indicates a request to enter information at a later time, and upon occurrence of a trigger at the later time, the portable electronic device presents a prompt configured to facilitate entry of the information. In one embodiment the user input is specific to a type of trigger or to a type of prompt needed at the later time. Furthermore, the portable electronic device may prepare a contextual cue in response to receiving the user input, and present a portion of the contextual cue at the later time to facilitate remembrance of the information that the user wished to enter.

Abstract: A method for reverse geocoding location information obtained by a wireless communications device comprises determining the location information for a location, communicating the location information to a reverse geocoding server that reverse-geocodes the location information to generate location description data for a bounding region that geographically surrounds the location, receiving the location description data from the reverse geocoding server for the bounding region containing the location, and caching the location description data for the bounding region in a memory cache on the device. When the current location remains within one or more bounding regions cached on the device, location description data is fetched from the cache, thus improving application responsiveness. Only when the current location is no longer within the bounding region(s) does the device communicate a new request to the reverse geocoding server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a web service description such that the web service description is adapted for use with mobile devices. A web services accelerator is adapted to receive a web service description that defines an interface to a web service, create at least one accelerator output file from the web service description, and transmit the at least one accelerator output file to a mobile device. Accelerator output files are used by the mobile device to invoke web services.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a web service description such that the web service description is adapted for use with mobile devices. A web services accelerator is adapted to receive a web service description that defines an interface to a web service, create at least one accelerator output file from the web service description, and transmit the at least one accelerator output file to a mobile device. Accelerator output files are used by the mobile device to invoke web services.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a computing device. Web service descriptions are received that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services. The web service descriptions are processed to identify inputs to first web services obtainable by invoking one or more second web services. A user interface is generated for the computing device that aggregates these first and second web services. By identifying instances in which the input to one web service may be obtained by invoking another web service, a user interface which aggregates these web services may be automatically generated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a computing device. Web service descriptions are received that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services. The web service descriptions are processed to identify inputs to first web services obtainable by invoking one or more second web services. A user interface is generated for the computing device that aggregates these first and second web services. By identifying instances in which the input to one web service may be obtained by invoking another web service, a user interface which aggregates these web services may be automatically generated.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for conference expansion in a conferencing system. For example, a method of providing for conference expansion in a conferencing system includes the following steps. At least one port is reserved in an original conference allocated in the conferencing system. A hub conference is allocated, when a maximum number of participants for the original conference is reached. A calculated number of ports in the hub conference are reserved for linking to the original conference and to a corresponding number of expansion conferences when allocation of at least one of the number of expansion conferences is called for. The hub conference is linked to the original conference via the reserved port of the original conference and one of the reserved ports of the hub conference.

Abstract: A lavatory cleansing block has two parts co-extruded together, the first part containing a chlorine releasing bleach and the second part containing component such as a perfume or colorant which need not be bleach resistant. Migration of components is avoided if there is no common hydrophobe in the two parts. The perceived performance of the perfume is enhanced by its juxtaposition with the bleach.

Abstract: A lavatory cleansing block has two parts co-extruded together, the first part containing a chlorine releasing bleach and the second part containing component such as a perfume or colorant which need not be bleach resistant. Migration of components is avoided if there is no common hydrophobe in the two parts. The perceived performance of the perfume is enhanced by its juxtaposition with the bleach.

Abstract: A solid lavatory cleansing composition comprises: (i) a halogen-release agent containing at least 30 mole % of active halogen; (ii) a substantially non-oxidizable, substantially anhydrous surfactant component; and (iii) a substantially non-oxidizable solubility retardant agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for firmware authentication and methods of operating the same result in software upgradability to firmware without compromising the integrity of the firmware. The apparatus for firmware authentication of a boot PROM comprises a software programmable data section having a plurality of micro-code. An authentication section having a hash generator configured to generate a data hash in response to the plurality of micro-code programmed in the software programmable data section to authorize execution of the plurality of micro-code of the data section.